~MARCH~THE FIRST VISION AND THE DEDICATION OF THE KIRTLAND TEMPLE

Before you get very far, reading the March blog, I just want to explain that I always start the blog early in the month, so I had no idea how this horrible month was going to play out.  As I read the blog, I feel that I may have taken the threat of this deadly disease too lightly at first, never knowing how devastating it was going to be.  I tried to add more thoughtful words where I could.  Today is the 31st, and our family has been going through the fires of Hell for the last few days, hoping that Joel fully recovers from Covid 19.  We have been fasting, praying, weeping, texting, praying, calling, weeping and praying for 5 solid days.  He is finally beginning to turn the corner.  Stephanie has become sick and is trying to keep from getting as sick as Joel is, and comfort her boys.  Docker has a few symptoms, but is still trying to help care for his family, Crew is scared for his family, but is also trying to help,  and Levi is in charge and trying to hold everyone all together.  I am publishing a separate blog with some of the texts and thoughts of our families during this time.  I'll wait a few days before I publish it so that I have all the information about his recovery. (Notice the positive attitude.)  April 1...I waited until today so that I could find out how Joel is progressing.  He is! They have taken him off the steroids, decreased his medicines and are slowly trying to bring him back to consciousness and be able to take out the ventilator.  It's as if we have been holding our collective breath all the while Joel was having such a hard time breathing.  Now we are finally able to breathe.

This Spring marks the 200th anniversary of the First Vision.  Joseph Smith recorded that the First Vision took place early in the spring of 1820.  I am going to assume that it was near the end of March.  The First Vision is the reason for everything else.  Inspired by a verse in the Book of James in the Bible, Joseph Smith, a young boy in his 15th year...in other words, 14 and 3 months or so... sought answers to his burning desire to know which church to join.  

He had read "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him."(James 1:5)

I love what he said about the verse he read: "Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine.  It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart." 

Determined to put the scripture to the test and to ask God which church he should join, he went into a grove of trees next to his parents' home in Palmyra, New York, and fervently prayed for an answer.  At first, he was attacked by an evil spirit which almost forced him to give up.  He said he was "seized upon" by a power of darkness.  But gathering his courage, and knowing that he surely would die without help, he sought help from God.  In glorious response, God, the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to young Joseph and told him not to join any church, but to wait to be led to know what to do.  Joseph was amazed at what he learned from this vision...that God the Father and Jesus Christ were two separate beings, that they cared about him and knew his name and actually listened to him and that none of the churches were approved.

It was from this magnificent communion with Deity that Joseph began his long, dangerous, thrilling journey to set in motion the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The courage of that young boy, and subsequently, that young man, is what made it possible for God to restore the church of Jesus Christ, with all its attendant blessings, including eternal families.  

As a family, we visited the Sacred Grove in 1985.

The Kirtland Temple was dedicated on  Sunday, March 27, 1836, in a 7-hour meeting which included the lengthy dedicatory prayer, the singing of hymns, the passing of the Sacrament, a two-and-a-half-hour sermon by Sidney Rigdon and a solemn assembly sustaining Joseph and other authorities.  The dedicatory prayer, revealed to Joseph can be found in D&C 109.  The service concluded with the singing of "The Spirit of God like a Fire is Burning" by W.W. Phelps, followed by the sacred Hosannah Shout, in the same manner as is done in Temple dedications to this day. Many in the congregation saw visions and heard angels singing. 

That evening at a Priesthood meeting at which over 400 men attended, they witnessed an event that showed that the temple was accepted by God.  Joseph had asked in the dedicatory prayer, earlier that day, that the temple "be filled, as with a rising mighty wind" to show that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ were pleased.  This very thing happened at the Priesthood meeting that evening.  The prophet recorded, "A noise was heard like the sound of a rushing night wind, which filled the Temple, and all the congregation simultaneously arose, being moved upon by an invisible power...I beheld the Temple was filled with angels...The people of the neighborhood came running together (hearing an unusual sound within, and seeing a bright light like a pillar of fire resting upon the Temple), and were astonished at what was taking place."

A week later, Joseph and Oliver Cowdery went to the Temple to pray privately, and were rewarded with a vision of the temple as just the first of many temples in this dispensation.  They also were visited by the Savior, Himself, who came to personally accept the Temple.

The Saints at that time were poor and had been driven from their homes to congregate in Kirtland.  They sacrificed all they had, including time and hard work, to build this magnificent structure.  We have all heard the stories of the women donating their heirloom china to be ground up and added to the finish so that it would sparkle in the sun.  Of course, it has been painted many times since then, so the sparkle is not there any more, but that sacrifice, and others, were noted in heaven and have been rewarded, I'm sure.

Although the Kirtland Temple wasn't used for the same ordinances that our temples are used for today, it set the pattern for all modern temples.   It is sacred ground in that many heavenly beings, including the Savior, appeared within its walls, communing with the Saints and with Joseph, restoring the Priesthood keys for Temple work.  

Thomas served his mission in that area and was able to visit the temple.  In fact, if you have not already surmised, his first child Kirtlyn, was named for that place.  We, as a family have also visited it, and I think, maybe didn't give it enough consideration because it is currently owned by the Reorganized church...or whatever their name is now.  But it should be reverenced in the same way as the Sacred Grove as a place where Jesus stood. 

Dad and Mary and I visited Kirtland when we went to pick up Thomas from his mission.t

 Our March birthdays are surely a blessing to our family.  Springtime babies bring a special joy into our homes...and they are all so exceptionally good looking too!

Soren turned 12 on the 7th.

 

Esther's birthday was the 8th.

Jeremy and Erika's silver anniversary was the 9th.
Lucy Worth Biggs entered this world, and our family, on March 11.  What a beautiful spring baby.

Esther and Shad's 21st anniversary was the 12th.

Jenn's birthday was the 14th.

Seth's birthday was the 17th.

Harvey turned 4 on the 17th.

Crew's 18th birthday was the 19th.

Shauna's birthday was the 22nd.

Hannah Joy's birthday was the 23rd.

Daniel's birthday was the 26th.

Emma turned 14 on the 29th.

And Levi turned 26 on the 31st.

(In case you're wondering, I tell how old you are until you are married 😉)
The 31st is also Grandma Hiatt's birthday. This is her with 6 of us at Disneyland when it first opened.

March has been a memorable month in so many ways, beautiful, horrible, joyful, boring, cautious and stressful.  We were so happy to welcome a sweet new baby girl into our family this month...Lucy Worth...Stetson and Lindsay's baby, and another prospective grandson;  Rylie and Brandon Cook became engaged this month.  We were going to have a baby blessing of our darling Steele, Isabel and Logan's baby, but it had to be postponed because of the coronavirus restrictions.  Docker returned from his mission, a little early due to Covid 19; birthday celebrations have had to be tamed down or skipped; trips have had to be cancelled, like Emma's school trip to Mexico, Jeremy's stake's trek, and our trip to Portugal with Tyson and Mary; graduations are cancelled; Dad's eye surgery had to be postponed.  So a month of happy events has been overshadowed by this horrible virus that is sweeping the globe.    Even the temple is closed, as are all the temples around the world.  No church meetings, no school, no movies, no dine-in at restaurants, no gathering of anyone at all.  "Social distancing" is the watchword for March, and maybe April and May.  However, weatherwise, March has been perfection.  We've had a wonderful variety of weather conditions, sunshine and shadow, blossoms and rain.
Dramatic cloudy days from Rachel's house, Rebecca's house and Mary's house.

Brynlie took these pictures of thunderous clouds.

Springtime at the Temple.  I found the beautiful sunset picture on line.

 Blossoming trees at home, El Charro, Stake Center and car wash.

Mary suggested that we drive out to the freeway on the way to Willcox to see this spectacular field of flowers.  She had seen it on her way to the Tucson zoo.  It is totally worth the drive.  It is not just one field.  It is multiple fields.  Where Dad is standing, you could do a 360 pano and be completely surrounded by glorious yellow blooms.

These gorgeous lilacs are from Rebecca's garden.

The one thing we didn't have was snow.  Daniel's family got enough of that for all of us.  On the first day of spring, this is what they woke up to.

Daniel and Connie's family is the March calendar family.

~OUR MARCH~

We started March in a good way.  We had Rebecca and Scott to dinner after church.

Then that afternoon, Rachel and Thomas' families came to visit.

On Monday, we watched Kirtlyn play in her first tennis match.  She did so well.

On Wednesday, we went to Carson's Jr High orchestra concert.  I have to say that it was better than most high school orchestras I've heard.

Logan had an emergency appendectomy that night and it turned out to be more complicated than usual because he had a bullet wedged into the tissue surrounding the appendix.  He  had accidentally shot himself many years before and still carried the bullet.  Strangely, they left the bullet in when they took out his appendix.  Anyway, we took him a medicinal milkshake (blizzard) on Friday when he got home and got to visit with Isabel and Steele too.

That's Wendy at El Charro.  She came with her daughter who was playing basketball here, and stayed with us.  We had a great visit. She and her family live in St. Johns so she knows everyone from St. Johns that we know.  It was fun.

Mary's little boys and Maya came over one afternoon.

On Sunday, the 8th, we celebrated Esther's birthday by going to 9th Ward and listening to Camille and Tony give talks.  Their subject was The Restoration and they were both very good talks.

We ate dinner with Thomas that afternoon.  He made delicious corned beef hash.

That day, my cousin's husband, Bob Llewellyn, passed away.  He was married to Marilyn Flake, Sandy's sister.  They were on a mission back east and he suddenly lost consciousness for some reason.  They took him to Johns Hopkins Hospital back there and he was there for almost a year without getting well.  He would drift in and out of consciousness enough that they always had hope.  Finally, their insurance ran out and they were forced to put him in a rehab facility where he continued the same way.  I think in all, it has been almost 2 years!  He finally died on the 8th of March.  I really believe he and his family are so happy that he has finally been able to go home and be well again.  He was an amazing man, so smart and faithful, serving as a Bishop and a missionary and a wonderful husband and father.

On Tuesday, when Rachel brought Sara over for her occupational therapy, Isabel came, bringing Steele.  What a treat.  We tried on some of his blessing outfit or as Logan calls it his "yarn suit." Rebecca and DeWitt and Patrick Eady also came by.

Alex came by to get his tooth pillow.  Just in time.  His tooth fell out and he was glad to have somewhere to put it.

On March 11, Lucy Worth was born.  She was 8 pounds and 9 ounces of beautiful, black-haired baby.  She and mother, Lindsay, are doing well.  I was bragging about her in the Temple the next day and Paula Layton, her other grandmother, said, when I told her we had a Lucy named for me (Lucy Joyce) and a Lucy name for Dad (Lucy Worth), "Now you have a Lucy Grandma and a Lucy Grandpa!"  I love it :-)

That day at the temple was the last day for us.  It was opened the next day, but closed on Saturday as per the order of the First Presidency.  We were closing for 2 weeks anyway, for maintenance, but who knows how long this covid-19 social distancing closure will be.

On the 14th, we visited Jenn on her birthday and took her a card.

One afternoon that week, Rebecca surprised us with a visit, bringing Shannon Beard with her.  They just seem to pick up where they left off the last time they saw each other, never missing a beat.  It was fun reminiscing with them about the old St. Johns days.  Shannon remembers a whole lot more than I do, that's for sure.

~CORONA VIRUS-COVID 19~

(I wrote most of this about the middle of the month before I knew how much it would be affecting us on a very personal level.)

I hesitated about even including this section because it is so depressing, but since this is my journal, I need to mention this disease that has had such a great impact on our family, the Church, our country and the world.  Corona viruses often are those that originate in animals and somehow get transferred to a human and then from human to human.  We have no natural or acquired immunities from these viruses, so they are highly contagious and devastatingly toxic.  We have seen them before, but none on the scale of this one, Covid19.  It originated in a little market in China where they sold infected bats for food. From there it exploded all over China and then, at last, to us.  

              I am putting this section here because it was about this time that things began to change for us.  Until then, it seemed to be something affecting people in China and other parts of the world, even other states, but not us, especially not here in our safe little valley.  However, a teacher's aide in Pima was infected when she visited her boyfriend in Mesa and brought it to the Gila Valley.  So far, at this time, only one of her students has tested positive for it, and now they are both well.  

     But now it has truly hit home. Not only have prominent people such as Prince Charles of England and Tom Hanks...tested positive, but so has our own son, Joel.  That is the hardest to bear.  Joel has been so sick and, strong, and healthy as he is, he has been brought down by this disease.  Stephanie has been at his side through the whole thing and we are so thankful for her.  When he had to go to the hospital, one of the hardest things for both Stephanie and Joel was that she was not allowed to go in with him.  We pray for them constantly.  (As of today, the 31st, Stephanie has also been sick with the disease.  So far, she hasn't been as sick as Joel, and we fervently pray that she will be able to overcome the illness and be well soon.   Docker is having symptoms now, but so far her other boys are well.

President Nelson has suspended all church gatherings, even in temples, and President Trump has asked that people voluntarily practice "social distancing," working from home, not traveling, not going to movies or restaurants, not gathering in any way...isolating themselves at home...to prevent further spread of the disease.   Arizona schools have been closed for the rest of the year, so our kids are doing online lessons, even seminary.  I think other states are the same...Colorado, at least.  President Nelson addressed the Church, and the nation...if anyone in the world was willing to listen, giving comfort and hope, and calling for a day of fasting and prayer.  At the end of the day of fasting and prayer, March 29, the FDA approved the use of the "malaria drug" (hydroxichloroquin or HCQ) for the treatment of Covid19.  It was being used experimentally, with success, by some doctors and hospitals, including Daniel's hospital, but maybe insurance companies wouldn't pay for it because it wasn't approved for Covid19.  I'm sure that being approved means that companies that make it will make more of it and it will become more available.  I certainly hope so.  It has helped Joel.  We feared for his very life and called upon our family, our extended families and anyone who followed our kids on social media, to pray for Joel.  I have included those posts, among other messages, in the next blog.  Surely a miracle occurred.  Joel was moved to the ICU when he got so bad, and was put on a ventilator, and was pumped full of drugs, including HCQ (the malaria drug) that doctors thought might help.  On Monday morning, the hospital called to tell Stephanie that he was better.  Another miracle.

President Trump has taken extreme measures to protect our citizens, closing our borders, closing schools, restricting travel into the country, and calling for a national day of prayer.

Erika posted this quote.

 Thankfully, most people have been able to look at it realistically and laugh about our situation. (Later: I feel ridiculous that I put funny things about it in here.  It isn't funny.  It is deadly serious.  I think these memes were by people who hadn't yet been affected by it or were not seriously ill from it.  But maybe we have to laugh at something so terrible so we feel we have control over it.)

Except that all the stores have run out of toilet paper!  It has become a national joke.

Or not

On Sunday, the 15th, the first Sunday we had church at home, in our families, Dad and I went to Thomas and Jenn's to have church with them.  It was truly a spiritual experience. I know that all our family and families all around the Church were gathering together to worship.  The prophet was truly inspired to emphasize a "home centered church" for the last year, getting us ready, without our even knowing, for these events of the last days.  I'm sure Covid19 isn't the last of the things we will see in these troubled times.  Since then, we have Facetimed with Mary and were able to sit in on her family's Sunday services and then with Thomas's family again also via FaceTime.  These have been special experiences and make Dad and me so thankful for your righteous efforts to teach your children. Thomas and his boys came one week to do the Sacrament, and  Dad did it himself the last week.

Mary has taken the lead in making sure we are quarantined for the duration of the virus scare.  She even gets our Walmart order for us and brings it over, and Rebecca has also been bringing us groceries.  

Throughout the enforced isolation, kids have been bringing us yummy things to eat.  

  We have felt so loved.

Even things for our Easter baskets

Then to add to the confusion of a pandemic and worldwide church closures, Salt Lake City had an earthquake that shook the Salt Lake Temple enough that Moroni lost his horn!

I've spent a lot of my quarantined time crocheting things for great grandchildren.  When Isabel's Alder nephew was blessed, he was wearing an outfit that his grandmother had crocheted for him.  Logan saw it and said he wanted a "yarn suit" for Steele, so I made one that would fit him perfectly when he was supposed to be blessed at the end of March.  

Ha Ha.  The best laid plans of mice and men, etc. So Isabel dressed him up in it and took pictures anyway.  I guess I'll have to start over when they decide to bless him later.  I also made a blanket, sweater, hat and booties for Lucy Worth and a little dress for Junie.   Then I made a blanket, sweater, hat and booties for Dallin and Sara's baby.

On Monday, Carson came over to mow our vacant lot.  He stirred up enough dirt to completely cover himself.  He looked like the original sand man.

The little boys also came, and were told by their mom that they couldn't give hugs.  So I sat outside and watched them play and water the flowers.

Dear Deanna Brockmeier passed away this month.  She was a good friend and advisor to Joel when he served as EAC student body president.  They got to be special friends and she never failed to mention him to me over the years whenever I saw her in the Temple.  I didn't even know she wasn't well.  She was taking care of her sick husband, so I was surprised that she died before he did.

Nancy has been going through Grandpa and Grandma's papers, and found these letters from my great grandpa James Monroe Hiatt.  If you don't want to read them, I'll just tell you a little about them.  They are a personal witness that a man told him he visited with the son of a man,  James Belton, who claimed to have shot Joseph Smith.  The man had told him his father said, "I took as good aim as I ever did at a squirrel."  When he visited the man on his death bed, he described him as covered all over his body with running sores and his eyes that had been "eaten out" were stuffed with rags.

Dad suggested she get in touch with the Church Historical Department to see if they want it even though it is not  a certified or official document.

We have been trying to help El Charro in the face of social distancing by ordering meals for the kids here.  We drive up to the curb and a worker (this time it was Thomas) brings it right out to us.  Then we take it to whichever kid it goes to.  It has been a fun project.

We have also been eating from there ourselves.  This is an apple-pecan salad with mango dressing.  Absolutely delicious and very filling.

At Mary's suggestion, we drove out to where the freeway to Willcox starts and saw the fields of flowers.  So beautiful, especially when you realize what a harsh, environment surrounds them...rocks, cactus, weeds, sand.  

And yet, they burst forth in all their glory...a symbol of hope in hostile circumstances.  These are the tiny yellow flowers that you see, all massed together, and also little purple flowers growing on the side of the road.  Arizona really dresses up for Spring.

On Saturday, the 21st, we went to Noon Creek with Mary and her family.  Rachel and the twins also drove up.  It was nice to be with people again and not just cooped up inside.

On Sunday, (Shauna's birthday) Thomas and his boys came over to give us the Sacrament; we studied the lesson together, then Mary Facetimed us so we could join in their church.  I love home-centered Gospel learning. 

We Facetimed church with Mary the second week, and with Thomas the last week

On Monday, the 23rd, Mary and Carson brought us our Walmart order and stayed to fix our leaky refrigerator.  It was a bigger job than we expected.  Good thing she is so handy.

Rylie and Brandon Cooke are engaged.  The other guy is the photographer.

Mary and her big kids came over and cleaned my bathroom for me.  They worked really hard and I was so thankful.

 Jeremy and Ellie came to bring a trailer to Thomas, so he stopped by Walmart and picked up a new TV that we had ordered.  Ours was going dim and we wanted to have a good one for conference.  Because he was coming, Rachel and the twins, Thomas and Jenn and Rebecca and DeWitt and Polly also came over.  Mary got nervous because she has been so protective of us with this whole corona thing, but it was good to have a full house again.  Jeremy didn't stay long, but he and Thomas hooked up and programmed the TV and we had a really good visit...all while Mary and her kids were cleaning the bathroom :-]

Besides crocheting for the babies and working on a Temple apron, for the rest of the month, one of my projects was to make a "Quarantine Coloring Book" for the kids 16 and under.  
Dad is always busy with his bookwork for Joel's business and keeping up with the news, so we are ok.  We miss having a full house but we enjoy the times one or another of you drop in to bring something.  And I am so grateful for modern technology that allows us to constantly keep in touch via text or phone...even pictures that can be sent immediately.  I remember when we had to take our film to the store and have it sent away to be developed and we might get them back in a week or two.  This is truly a blessing.

~NATHAN AND SHAUNA~

Their home Sunday service with all their kids.

Seth with his brothers

Seth had a birthday on St. Patrick's Day. He celebrated with a piñata.

Hooray for Jovie!  She completed her potty-training chart and got a princess Aurora gown as a reward.

And enjoying the Arizona springtime.

It's comforting to see Joshua still taking pictures of beautiful buildings.  He is isolated away from his family and everyone, so I'm glad he still goes out and enjoys historic buildings.

~JOEL AND STEPHANIE~

Before Covid-19 became such a big issue, Joel had an event scheduled in Orlando.  However, schools cancelled their reservations because, I guess, Florida is a hot spot, so the event was called off and the boys who went to work just enjoyed the trip.  I guess they could because they are not the owner of the company whose event had to be cancelled.  I actually wonder if Joel caught the germ on the plane home when he sat near a man who coughed.

One of the happy highlights of March was the birth of beautiful little Lucy Worth.  She arrived quickly and safely and weighed 8 pounds 9 ounces.  Her mother is exhausted but fine and her Dad is exhausted and proud, and I think Junie is going to love having a baby sister and best friend.

Their first home Sunday service, before Docker came home.

Docker came home! The airport crowd was drastically reduced from the usual family gathering, but those most important to Docker were all there.

They went right home, didn't have a party or open house or anything.  He had to be quarantined for 14 days.  Some came by to welcome him and he gave them a 6-foot-away-air hug.

Quarantining at its finest.

Junie and family at Grandma's house to see Uncle Docker

And to blow bubbles with Uncle Crew

 Crew's birthday was the 19th 

Baby Lucy  Worth

Lucy and Junie trying on the things I sent

For the last week of the month, Joel was so sick.  He had fever, cough, difficulty breathing and other horrible symptoms.  They figured it was probably the flu but got a covid19 test anyway.  Erika administered it and they got the results on the 26th.  Positive.  Actually, I am so glad that if he had to be so sick that it wasn't for nothing, that hopefully he is getting immunities from it and will be safe from it.  Stephanie said that maybe he'll be the one who can go to give people blessings. Erika told them to just assume that everyone in the family will get it.  We have been so worried about him and worried about his family, too, of course...especially Stephanie, who has been at his side, tending to his every need.  I am so thankful for her and to her.  And I am very impressed with her strong spirit and willingness to sacrifice for Joel.  Since this is my  journal and I want to record important spiritual things as well as happenings, I will include a text from her that has touched my heart.   He has had a rough day and was nearly beside himself an hour ago. Very nauseous. Extremely uncomfortable and at the end of his rope. The boys gave him a blessing and he is sleeping very calmly right now. 🙏 this is as calm as I’ve seen him all week. I am kicking this virus out!  Tomorrow I am determined to have Joel at least comfortable and on the mend. His fever has been almost back to normal for the last 5 or 6 hours. Praying that this is the last hard night (or maybe he will continue to sleep). 
I’ve been praying A LOT this week. Asking for many miracles and help. It’s been hard to watch Joel endure this. I said a specific prayer last night, to show me what I could do to help Joel. As I sat pondering/meditating, grandpa Hiatt entered my mind so suddenly and I knew that he was here and attending to Joel. I had never even thought of him (I should have!) but I had asked for angels to attend to Joel earlier that night.  Anyway, I thought you might appreciate that. I don’t want to sound weird, but it was a very real experience for me. The last few years have taught me how very close our loved ones are who have passed. 
Feeling very grateful right now. It’s been a week......
 Since then, he often seems a little better, with medicine, during the days, though lethargic and uncomfortable, but reverts to fever and pain at night no matter what.
Also I must mention Erika's courage in coming to give him the test.  Also, she and Jeremy brought groceries to help them in this terrible time.  They may have exposed themselves over and over, but I hope they don't get sick, or at least as sick as Joel has been.
By now, everyone knows how seriously ill Joel became, fighting for his very life.  He had to be admitted to the hospital when they found pneumonia and eventually put on a ventilator in ICU.  A day of fasting and prayer by his families across the country, valiant healthcare workers, and modern medicine helped him get a little better so that they were able to reduce his oxygen from 100% to 40%.  He's still in ICU, on the ventilator today (31st) but we are hopeful. The sad news is that Stephanie is sick.  Docker is starting to exhibit symptoms, Crew is scared to death for his parents and Levi is trying to hold it all together.  Of course, Stetson and his family have to stay far away.  Erika and Jeremy and Esther take things to them and leave them on the doorstep.  I'm sure Stephanie's sisters are doing the same.  I wish I could go help.
~DANIEL AND CONNIE~

Porter, Aila, Shannyn and Alonzo had a fun day at the Glenwood Caverns  Adventure Park.

They got baby chicks again.

Social distancing is not so bad when you have a place like this in which to be quarantined.

Daniel is on the front lines of this war against Covid19.  As a hospital administrator, he is concerned not only about patients but about his doctors and nurses and other medical personnel.  We worry constantly that he, too, is being exposed.  He can't stay home and practice voluntary isolation or social distancing.  Neither can his hospital staff.  They wear masks and sterile gowns, of course, but those have been running short.  He took the problem of not enough face masks and gowns into his own hands...and those of his employees.

They even got some news attention for their innovativeness and have inspired other hospitals and care facilities around the country to do the same.

This is a picture of Shannyn's online seminary because of school closures.

Snow welcomed the first day of spring for them.

Daniel's birthday was the 26th, and this is his Amazing Connie Cake (ACC)

For Emma's birthday on the 29th, her ACC represents shark attack...school mascot? Favorite song? Movie?

~REBECCA AND SCOTT~

They started off their March at a baby blessing for their niece's baby.

Kelin building a gun

Sara and our future new baby girl great granddaughter.

Because Polly and DeWitt work for American Airlines as baggage handlers, they get to fly wherever American flies.  Polly and some friends took advantage of that perk and flew to NYC...before everyone was so scared of Covid19.

And DeWitt and Scott flew to Mexico City...before everything got crazy with the corona virus.

He and Rachel Rose and friend also enjoyed a Renaissance fair somewhere.

Harvey turned 4 on St. Patrick's Day and had a birthday party.  Allison says "Harvey loves birthdays!"

And Lucy loves to dress herself.

Fun-loving Aunt Rebecca thought of a cool way for her nieces and nephews, as well as children, to have an entertaining project for their isolation time.  She challenged them all to come up with a corona hula and to send her a video of it.  If they did, she would give them a prize and a treat.  Dallin and Sara and Polly all sent one, as did DeWitt and Rachel Rose.  Also the Alder twins, the Brown boys, and the Richins kids all sent her creative videos of corona hulas.  It was so entertaining for me to watch it all come in and to see how it was making their confinement more enjoyable.  Excuse the blurry screenshots.

These are the prizes they got.  Perfect for extending more hours of fun.

Dallin and Sara and Parley with their version of corona hula.  Notice the toilet paper leis.

Polly's lovely hula DeWitt and Rachel Rose doing a modern hula/African rendition.

Lillian and Kelin doing crazy things with vehicles in impossible terrain...no time for hulas.

The Dallin and Sara and Parley family

Lucy got the biggest kick out of hitting her daddy with a plastic sword.

Young peoples' version of social distancing.

~JEREMY AND ERIKA~ 

Not one bit concerned about Covid19.

I don't know what this is, maybe Tayte and a friend at a play at Gammage?

Jeremy and Erika, Hayden and Ellie were going to go on a trek with their stake, but it got cancelled due to the virus, so they went to San Francisco instead.  Reygan and Daynen and his family went too.  Daynen had a film gig in San Francisco, so it worked out really well for him.

This is the "Full House" street in case you're wondering where you saw it before.

Erika posted these gorgeous buildings, built on a slant to accommodate the hilly terrain in San Francisco.

Jeremy's boys mowing Daynen's lawn.  Dad reminded Jeremy that he was raising boys so he had Tayte and Hayden mow the lawn that Daynen could have done himself :-)

Getting compost for their spring garden at Arizona Worm Farm

They made a raised garden

 Which Victoria loved.  I told Jeremy it looks like the perfect background for a wedding reception someday.

Jeremy and Erika have been so faithful in checking on and helping Joel's family.  Erika's medical experience and Jeremy's willingness have been a great blessing.

~RACHEL AND TONY~

The day Isabel and Steele met Rachel over here.

He loves his bath.  Isabel says that sometimes when he can't stop crying, they give him a bath.  This one is at Rylie's house.

A photo shoot of a beautiful girl

Logan's emergency appendectomy.  Isabel stayed with him in the hospital and Rachel kept the baby.  He had to stay an extra day because of the scar tissue around the appendix due to the bullet in his abdomen. 

Facetiming Dad at the hospital.  He missed his family.

When we brought his medicinal milkshake.

On the day that Camille spoke in church, Brynlie had to teach the lesson in YW.  Rachel said she did a great job.

Rylie moved into her house and Brandon even planted some bushes.

Home Sunday Service

Beautiful baby cowboy.

Brynlie painted this gorgeous sunset picture.

On St. Patrick's Day, Brynlie and Camille followed the Leprechaun's clues and found his golden treasure.

Logan and his brother with their babies.

 The twins' corona hula.

During their isolation, they put together a puzzle.  It took a while but was worth it.

Online home school

And school lunches

Rachel still takes care of Sara even during this isolation time.  Cathy Konopnicki put toys and games and treats all over a big tree by her house and called it "the giving tree." She is so generous and creative.

 They came up to Noon Creek

Isabel and Logan have had to postpone their baby's blessing, so because Steele is growing so fast, they are pretty sure his "yarn suit" won't fit him when he needs it later.  They put it on him and took pictures of him in it...mainly for my sake.  He was so cooperative and cute while they were taking pictures of him, but I guess he finally figured, "that's enough!"

 Rylie and Brandon are engaged!  He surprised her with a beautiful diamond.

Fun way to spend isolation...hopefully those friends are covid19 free.

Brynlie sent this dramatic picture of Mt. Graham at night.

~ESTHER AND SHAD~

Soren got to go to science camp before the virus stopped everything.

And celebrate his birthday at a restaurant before that was banned.  Esther made him his own special blanket.

Also Marlie got to have her guitar recital before social distancing set in.

Dave the Turtle, from the long-ago-preschool-days has reappeared.

The Brown boys in Florida with Crew and Levi.

Bridger got his license!  Good job Bridge.  Drive safely.

Shad helped their leprechaun write clues to search for their treasure.  Polly joined in too.

Leprechaun waffles?

The Brown's corona hula

~THOMAS AND JENN~

Sunday, March 1.  That tree was just so beautiful that I had to get their picture in front of it.

We went to Kirtlyn's tennis match on the 2nd.

Kirtlyn got invited to Brianna's Friday party.  Brianna originally planned to do something fun every Friday, but, alas, that has been postponed along with everything else.  

She did have party on the 6th to which she invited some high school friends and Kirtlyn, one of whom was Kirtlyn's other cousin.

Henry's school program...pre closure of schools.

Looking for Leprechaun treasure.  Oops! in the freezer :-P

Social distancing is catastrophic to a restaurant, but Thomas has risen to the challenge by offering curbside service, and even free home delivery.  I think he has been able to keep things going and keep his employees employed.

From the newspaper:

~MARY AND TYSON~

Favorite character dress up day.  Lindsay is Fancy Nancy.

Lindsay also had an orchestra concert but because it was on Thursday, before the temple was closed, we were not able to go.

Brianna's friends and Kirtlyn at her Friday party.  They made cakes with no recipes.

Alex lost his first tooth

Brianna tried out as a "call back" for the Gila  Valley Idol
competition.  There were many call back contestants and only one could make it to finals.  It was open to voting by the public, and she won!  The finals have had to be postponed, of course, but will happen later.

Their first Sunday Service at home.

St. Patrick's Day

The only thing these two know about corona virus is that everyone else is home too.  They are having fun just the same.

Lindsay fills her time sewing... and crocheting, among other things. Brianna, Carson and Lindsay have been doing online school and seminary for Brianna.  The other kids get packets to work on from the school.

Jared made a fire in their driveway and the kids roasted hot dogs.  They even squirted water to make sure it was out.

Loving their El Charro supper

Carson has to fill his time helping the grandparents.  He mowed our field and got filthy, as well as helping to fix our refrigerator.

 A day of escape at Noon Creek

 And at the Tucson Zoo

Their corona hula...with ukulele accompaniment.  Carson was the choreographer.

They visited the Konopnicki Giving Tree

Carson and Tyson are building a beautiful, huge chicken coop.

~MISSIONARIES~

The corona virus has even affected our missionaries.  Albert is the only one still in the field, and he is having to do missionary work from his apartment via computer.  They are confined for their own good, but it's frustrating, I'm sure.  He posted this encouragement.

He is currently in Crescent City California...a beautiful place on the ocean.

They even got to go baptize someone, but mostly just staying in their apartment, working and doing puzzles (?)

Voting time in Boston.  And I think the bottom picture is Facetiming the missionaries, telling them they are going home.

So Docker and his companions went around taking pictures of some of their favorite places.

Also, packing up.

Harrison, whose call is mostly to serve at Lauren's school for special needs kids and in the Temple is staying home for now as those places are closed for the duration of the corona scare.

~SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT~

Chic-fil-A delivering free food to health care workers.

Jenn found these in their house when they moved in.  Only you older kids will remember colored toilet paper.

 I LOVE this one.  He's a germaphobe, in case you're not up on Monkisms.

Our high school seniors are really being shortchanged of their senior year and graduations.  Shannyn, Marlie, Crew and Jonathan are all seniors this year.  We also have 8th graders missing their promotion activities, and even 6th graders in Gilbert.

It's interesting how t-shirts say things I want to say.

And finally, it gives me comfort to imagine all our babies (young and older), currently afflicted and at risk from this dreaded disease, in the Savior's arms.

~LAST WORDS
As I was printing the 2018 Blog book, I found this "Last Words" and thought how well it applies to our precarious circumstance today.

 I hope you will excuse the repetition.                    I recently read a story by a forest ranger who responded to a fire in Yellowstone.  After the fire was out, they found the perfectly petrified ashes of a bird at the bottom of a burned out tree.  They wondered why it hadn't just flown away at the first hint of fire.  When they moved it, three little chicks scurried out from underneath.  That mama bird had stayed to protect her babies.  She knew they couldn't fly away and she wouldn't leave them.  The author then quoted Psalms 36:7 How excellent is thy loving kindness, O God!  Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.  Also, in the song, Jesus Lover of My Soul, the last verse says Cover my defenseless head with the shadow of thy wing.  We are all children of God and brothers and sisters to each other.  We are not defenseless or unprotected from the fires of this life.  He gathers us "as a hen gathereth her chicks beneath her wing," with pure love and understanding for our trials, our weaknesses, our sins and the desires of our hearts.

I have also included this picture of Jesus calming the storm.  We might feel, today, as if the tempest is raging, and it is, but He is here; He is in control; He loves us; He knows what is happening, and what will happen; and He has provided us with preparation and protection...no matter what.