springdellgirl: COVID-19 Quarantine: Days 316-320

Day 316: 1-23-21 (Saturday)

We had a bunch of errands to run today...Costco/grocery store...the typical Saturday. Tyler, the girls, and I also ran into TJ Maxx and Target looking for Valentine's Day items and a birthday present. We are letting Bryn go to an "outside" birthday party for her good friend Micah. They will be ice skating downtown and having a bonfire in Micah's backyard with everyone wearing masks.

Tyler, Ailey, and I dropped Bryn off downtown at the ice ribbon and then walked over to River Park Square... the downtown mall. We haven't been in there in almost a year. It is hard to believe. So many stores and restaurants have closed and are out of business. It is incredibly sad. We were all looking for workout clothes so we shopped around at Athleta and Nike and wandered through Nordstrom. Today I found a couple of things and a bunch of stuff for Tyler. He got two new pairs of shoes and some joggers. Unfortunately, nothing for Ailey. It's hard to know what exactly she will need for dance team if/when it ever starts up again.

We grabbed dinner to go from Miso and Ailey got ice cream from Ben and Jerry's. On our way back to the car we watched Brynnie ice skate for a few minutes before heading home. She was having a blast!

Tyler and I watched a couple of episodes of the Joanna Gaines cooking show. I love it! In sad news...

My dad's son-in-law passed away today. That is three members of Gayle's family...including Gayle who have passed away in less than 6 months. Heartbreaking. This son-in-law had been battling pancreatic cancer.

Day 317: 1-24-21 (Sunday)

Today was an extraordinary Sunday!! Our whole family was at church *together*! That is my love language! A full bench at church! Today we were a full *virtual* bench and it was wonderful!! Bryn was asked to speak in Sacrament Meeting. This was her first official talk. Her topic was The Importance of Agency in the Plan of Salvation.

Ailey and I were in the chapel in person and Tyler, Reilly, Hunter, and KAMERON were all watching the livestream and cheering her on. One of the things that I love most about our kids it that they SHOW UP for one another and they CHEER each other on! They come to concerts, recitals, sporting events, church functions... you name it... they come out in force. Since our ward livestreams over Facebook even Kam was able to watch live and sent her the sweetest message. Bryn had no idea that Kameron was watching her but she knew that Tyler and Reilly were so when she was done speaking she gave the camera a huge grin!

Picture taken by Kam from the live stream.

One of the legacies that Tyler and I want to leave with our four kids is that they always love and support one another and continue to be each other's biggest cheerleaders. This is something that Tyler and I have felt a lack of in our own sibling relationships. Quite a bit of Bryn's talk was about Kameron and he had no idea. Tyler sent me screen shots of the sweetest messages going back and forth between Reilly and Kameron after Bryn finished speaking. They were full love and pride. Cue my happy tears! We have some freaking awesome kids!!

Bryn's First Sacrament Talk:

The Importance of Agency in the Plan of Salvation

My name is Bryn Johnson. I was asked to speak on the Importance of Agency in the Plan of Salvation.

In 2 Nephi 2:27 it says:

"Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.”

Agency is a huge part of the Plan of Salvation. It is the freedom to make our own decisions and to act for ourselves. Part of our life on Earth is to show Heavenly Father what choices we will make. We are responsible for our own choices and actions and their consequences… both good and bad. If we were forced to choose the right Heavenly Father would never know what choices we would have made on our own. We are also happier when we make our own choices. Agency is a great gift from Heavenly Father.

My brother Kameron has been a good example to me of using his agency to make good choices and decisions. He made the decision to serve a mission. This wasn’t an easy decision to make even though he always said that he wanted to be a missionary because he wanted to go to college with his friends. He had a great girlfriend. He had a good job. He also found out when he went to get his missionary physical that he had a heart condition that he didn’t know about. He had to have a heart procedure and then be watched by his doctor for several months. This made him have to wait almost a year longer to submit his mission papers. It was hard for him. He could have decided not to go. Instead he made the decision that he still wanted to go on a mission and he worked two jobs and saved a lot of money.

One week after he got his mission call to Minneapolis, MN COVID-19 hit and we had to go into quarantine. He found out that his date to leave for his mission was five months after he got his call. He was disappointed to have to wait even longer. Then he found out that he couldn’t go to the MTC he had to train at home. He didn’t think that sounded very fun and was sad not to get to go to the Provo MTC. But he still made the decision to serve a mission and he ended up liking online MTC and it was really cool for our family to have our house be the MTC.

Then before he left for Minneapolis there was violence and riots there and it was kind of scary but he still made the decision to go. When he got to Minneapolis he found out that his mission wasn’t going to be like what he thought. He doesn’t get to go door to door to talk to people about the gospel. He doesn’t get to ride a bike everywhere. He doesn’t get to go into people’s houses. He sometimes doesn’t get to go to church. Sometimes he can’t even see other missionaries except for his companion because they are always in strict quarantine. Almost everything he does for his mission has been online.

He has been on his mission and serving the Lord and the people in Minnesota now for over 6 months. My brother has set a good example for me about making good decisions even when it’s hard because he chooses every day to stay on his mission and teach people the gospel. Every day he wakes up and chooses to serve the Lord as a missionary and he is experiencing positive consequences. He has loved his companions and the other missionaries. He loves the people of Minnesota. He loves the ward members. He loves the Savior and is learning so much about the gospel and the scriptures. He says he doesn’t even mind the cold weather which is huge because Kameron HATES the cold!

We talk to him every Monday night and he tells us what he is learning and experiencing. Kameron is a good example to me and shows me how important our agency is… when we make good decisions we are HAPPY even when life is hard! This has helped me to CHOOSE to be happy during COVID. It has been hard. Our family has had to be in very strict quarantine. I miss my friends, my school, and all of my activities and sports. I have had to CHOOSE to have a positive mind set, to be kinder to my family, and to have a cheerful heart. The consequences of my choices has been that I have had a lot of fun with my family and we have grown closer. I appreciate going to church more than I ever have. I can’t wait to go back to school and I won’t complain about it. I have prayed a lot and have grown closer to Heavenly Father than I have been before.

President Nelson said:

“Your commitment to follow the Savior by making covenants with Him and then keeping those covenants will open the door to every spiritual blessing and privilege available to men, women, and children everywhere.”

I bear my testimony… Heavenly Father and Jesus loves us and that agency is a great gift that we have been given. They will help us to make good choices throughout our lives. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Day 318: 1-25-21 (Monday)

Today is a snowy and cold day. I talked to my dad. He said the closing prayer in Sacrament yesterday. His first public prayer in 44 years. He was so happy to do so. I love how much joy and happiness he is finding in letting God prevail in his life once again.

The best part of our day was that Reilly came over and we got to HUG her for the first time since Thanksgiving!! We all wore masks just to be safe but we hugged her! It felt great. Tyler helped her change the headlights on her car. We also video chatted with Kam and he is doing great! He also finally sent out an email. Good grief. It's been about 6 weeks.

Remember when I asked if anyone else's kids (like Ailey and Bryn) were wearing blue blocker glasses all the time just for kicks? Well... we have another one. He thinks he looks so cool in them and wears them so much now that he says that he "can't even remember what his face looked like before." We have weird kids.

After that we had to have a family meeting and kick some butts about the girls not doing a good job with their chores, homework, and staying organized. The joys of parenting. After the butt kicking... we had an impromptu late night with the girls watching hilarious Jimmy Kimmel clips of "Texts from Moms" which then inspired the girls to read some of my texts. *Someone* has a flair for the dramatic in her texts. LOL. Then they read some of Tyler's. Equally hilarious. We were dying laughing! We made a batch of baked fudge and didn't go to bed until late...on a school night... and after we had just had a family meeting about "Expectations Around Here!" Oh well.

Day 319: 1-26-21 (Tuesday)

Today we got more snow. Bryn had piano lessons. Online school and being home more has amplified Bryn's piano practicing and playing. She has really improved and is now playing more exciting songs which she enjoys. It is so fun to hear her play! It reminds me of when Reilly lived at home.

Tyler and I did a beautiful snowy walk this afternoon. I also did some buying for Sister Creed and found some fantastic items. Ailey did another rush hour drive with her Drivers Ed instructor. He says she is doing great! Good to know. So far Tyler is the only one who dares allow her to drive him around.

Tonight was book club. We are still meeting on Zoom rather than in person. It was such a fun night! I was the moderator which I love! We read The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth and had such a great discussion. One of our best! It was fun to gather with friends and talk about books even via Zoom.

Day 320: 1-27-21 (Wednesday)

Today we woke up to a blizzard. We had another very snowy walk. It was actually quite pretty. My dad called to say that his bishop had gotten him an appointment for his COVID vaccination. Wow! That was so nice of him. My dad was having great difficulty trying to make an appointment. The online site was always down or glitching. His bishop just called him out of the blue with the appointment. Now... we need one for Tyler.

Tonight the girls had a YW meeting with the parents about goal setting and the new youth program. The girls and I snuggled up on our bed and watched. I kind of hope we never have to go back to all in-person meetings. LOL. After that we grabbed Tyler and watched another episode of Magnolia Kitchen. We love it.

And another picture of the cutest dog in the world: