The End of the Covid Pandemic

 Almost two years exactly after the Covid pandemic started, it finally came to an end.

It was an experience I hope to never live through again. 

We learned a lot, and there was some good things that came from it, but it was mostly really hard and frustrating.

In March 2020, the world shut down. We thought it might be for a week or two. We can clearly remember when we were driving to Lethbridge to go watch zones basketball games, and a message on the radio said that there could be no gatherings in Alberta over 250 people. Then they decided to cancel all of the rest of the basketball games for the zones tournament. Then within a week or two, schools shut down, churches shut down, sporting events were canceled, the Olympics were canceled, the borders closed to people outside of their own countries, and so on. Stores had restrictions on how many people could be in the store at a time. Then the mask mandates started. Then 2-week quarantine requirements started if you left Canada. The kids had online school from March through the end of the school year. By summer, things had improved a little bit and we were able to have a few outdoor events.

Then when fall came, the numbers increased again. School was back in session, but kids had to wear masks. We had sports in our school division, but only parents could come and watch. If any person tested positive for covid, everyone who had been in any of their classes at school had to stay home and quarantine for two weeks. Lucy and Carly each had to stay home for 3 different 2-week quarantines because someone in their class had tested positive. Then at Christmas they had an extra long Christmas break because the covid numbers were so high.

I had to quarantine twice during the pandemic from going to the U.S., once to pick up Hanna and her horse from school and once when I went to Jill and Larsen's college graduation. Luckily my job adapted through all of this so we figured out how I could work from home.

Finally covid vaccinations were developed, but it took a long time to get enough produced for everyone. At first, only the critically ill or people over 70 could get the vaccine. Then it would move through different categories. And it came with a lot of opposition. President Nelson encouraged everyone to get vaccinated 3 times. But still so many people did "their own research" and read forwarded emails about the hazards of the vaccine, and spread the statement that you would never be able to have children if you were vaccinated. We all got ours as soon as we could.

The restrictions in Canada were excessive. We couldn't sing in church for almost two years, even with masks on, because singing would send our germs into the air.  Did that really save lives? I could go on and on.

We didn't have in-person church for a really long time. We just had at-home church, and we did eventually set up zoom church with extended family. The Nunns met each week. The extended Nunns met once a month or so. We had Waite zoom calls occasionally. Then we could start going to church, but only half the ward at a time, and only for Sacrament Meeting. Then they did start broadcasting church so we could watch even if it wasn't our turn. The church did allow has to have the Sacrament in our homes on the days we couldn't go to church.

Temples were also closed for a few months. Then they slowly re-opened with only sealings, then only own ordinances, then really small endowment sessions. We were so thankful when all restrictions were opened, but they did keep the appointment system that started during covid.

Hanna endured extreme lock-down conditions on her mission in Toronto. They did most of their missionary work online. She went months without any dinner appointments. They would have baptism where only 10 people could be there. They were only supposed to leave their house to get groceries. It was so hard for missionaries. They can testify that the only way they survived was through the strength of the Savior.

Just as it started in March, the gathering restrictions and the mask mandates ended in March 2022. Our first gatherings without restrictions were going to the zone basketball games. 

Thank goodness we survived.