We are back from Utah and it is a STRUGGLE! We spent four weeks with family and friends. We had a fun-packed time. Lots of people surrounded us the whole time. We're lonely and in quarantine for the next two weeks.
It took us a while to decide when and if we would go on the trip. With COVID numbers still strange and scary, we weren't sure it was the right decision. Jason had taken leave to spend 3 weeks with us there, but found out his command wouldn't allow him to go and then quarantine for 2 weeks upon his return. We held out hope that he would be able to join us once July hit, but no such luck.
I'll get around to journaling about the adventures we had in Utah. We were go, go, go and there were kids everywhere all the time, but we miss them all terribly. I've cried on and off since we got back and I'm struggling today.
We came home to many of our friends having moved away. The Baggett family is gone. Graham and Ben's best buddies are in their fam. Eli and Turner. The Forch's are gone...Drew. And one of my closest friends, Caitlin Whittle, has left with her family to Virginia. We're all sad and depressed.
School is going to be strange. Hawaii has decided to do a blended experience for schools this year. The boys will be going Tuesdays and Thursdays and Graham will also go every other Friday. They'll be doing online assignments on the other days. They'll have to wear masks. I took a job at Navy Hale Keiki Private school as their Physical Education specialist. It's only 3 days a week and about 6 hours a day, but I've been so anxious about whether it's the right choice. We've decided that Jason will telework one of the days I'm working so the boys aren't ever here alone trying to do school work. We'll see how it goes. I've started planning activities and units. Minimal equipment and lots of social distance games required.
One of the hardest parts about leaving Utah was leaving Lucy. It makes me cry thinking about it. I don't think I was ready! I thought I'd be able to go back in August to help her settle in to her apartment, but the quarantine has been prolonged and I don't think I'll be able to. She got a job at Wingers as a waitress in Kaysville until school starts at USU. She's living with Beth and I'm so jealous!
I let myself fantasize to much about living there. I was looking at the prices of homes and thought a lot about what it would be like to live close to my parents and help them. I get panicked when I think about them getting older while we live away. I wish my kids lived near their cousins and were making more memories with them.
So...we'll keep truckin' along. Taking it one day at a time. Just me and the boys here...missing Lucy Goose and wishing the years could rewind, but wanting them to speed up so we can live closer. Such a weird time to be a mom. I hope she's ready and she knows how loved she is. My heart breaks thinking about missed opportunities to help her feel the Spirit and helping her know how extraordinary she is.
