new normal

Mariah has graduated with the class of 2020.She has overcome many challenges this year, starting with a concusion car crash,  to mono, and surgury. I am so proud that she continued on and finished high school. we are now figuring out the new normal-- with so many changes in society now we are gradually figuring out what we can do. Utah is in Yellow now, which means we can swim, but who wants to use the public restrooms if someone isnt healthy?? and who is to judge?? I feel happy and healthier with more oportunities to be outside as the spring weather opens up to more hiking and biking and visiting. Soon we will be able to have larger crowds and return to some kind of church meetings. Right now 52 temples are open for marriage sealings only for  living ordinances.

so now Jim and I love biking to different temples, Here we are at the Payson temple.

Another way to keep active and explore is just North of us, hiking Dry canyon.

Nik is finding his own way of social distancing!!!

Missy and Jake, Kallie, Layla and Izaak on Mothers Day

Mariah, Natalie and Peter with Koki

Biking down Provo canyon

End of the school year here, Mariah has made it!!!

Here we are with Emily as we celebrate her prom in the new normal. Emily will continue to study this summer. We love being so close to Jan and Jarons family now that they have moved to Lehi,, and I have biked to and from their place now,,, 3 times, which means the whole Murdock trail. The ride is easy but it takes a few hours, It is just another way for me to enjoy this beautiful area and mediate and listen and solve questions with my life

. Things are getting easier, but as I contimplate the last 3 months with the pandemic I pray that I will remember the things that I needed to change to be  better, faithful person

things starting to open up

Saturday we took a bike ride up to Bridal veil falls and were shocked by all the people out and about. The wonderful weather and the fact that Utah is opened to Orange brought some renewed hope to many. Nik road up the canyon without any gears and is a real trooper. Karina was working this day with her first covid patient! She is an amazing women~ We honored her and all the many other health care workers this week.

Here is Karina and the 3 youngest boys on one of the many hikes and adventures we have. You can see the beauty that we love in Utah---family and nature.!!!

We celebrated Cinco de Mayo by making a pinata. We decided to kill the virus.

notice our masks!

Jims latest invention,, a hydrogen converter,, at least I think I got it right--- alternative engery. he wishes he could convert some of my energy!!!In the mean time I am hiking and biking and trying to find ways to serve,

so I have knitted --almost 3 blankets

and made many masks

Our temples arent open yet, but we enjoy hiking around them

We still cant take selfies, oh well.

April --almost over

Usually my fav month, I love April forbringing on Flowers 

starting gardens

fruit trees in bloom

soft rain showers

proms

and reading in the sun.

This year was a long April. We celebrated quite times together by reading and knitting and listening to talks and books. We took walks and hikes and bike rides,--6 feet apart. We talked to friends on the phone and renewed old friendships by phone and zoomed meetings. We cleaned and cleaned and then cleaned those same places again. We planted our gardens and trimed our trees. Our animals loved all the extra attention. 

One thing I rediscovered was music. I danced and choreographed a number about this experience . It is hard to explain my creative dance but it came to two dreams. starting in the fetal positon, one dancer down and hands wondering where to be, not touching anything. other dancers join but cant touch  but want to help, but cant... try to lift one another  cant,,, use elbows ,,use legs,,, cant,,, then everything goes in slow motion.

We are almost out of slow motion now as the world has bloomed into spring. Lets take our time and readjust our lives to  the new normal.

What will that be?

It is up to each of us to figure that out.

Hope for the best to win

Quaratine: almost finished!

 Love being outside!  As we move into warmer weather we have started our garden as you can see behind me. Flowers are in bloom but still snow in the mountains. The old push mower  is my favorite way to cut the grass,

Jim loves his creations. He is always thinking of inovative ways to solve a problem. This is a secrete invention that has to do with hydrogen

It is hard to tell, but here we are playing cards, just another way to be together during this time of quaratine from everyone else.

Easter ham was Jims request, With such a hugh amount I have made lima bean soup , gave some away, froze some .then v

few days ago we made quiche, It was fun working together.Jim does the chopping and I figure out what ingredients we have to use up and make it healthy and tasty. I am still working on this quilt which keeps my hands loose and busy.

Most of the time I am reading here in my sunroom. I must admit this quarantining is hard for me.One day I  cleaned and ironed the curtains and when I was done I thought, I will never do that again!!!! I clean everyday now!

 As I reviewed what my life was like before I figured out that after my work out, scripture study, and lessons, most of my time is spent serving.  Now I have a very clean house, much more organized. I feel blessed to have  been healthy during this time. So many others have lost so much, I have nothing that I should complain about.  

social distant 3 weeks quarantine 3 days

yes, it is true. After a healthy happy time serving and loving the Mercado family  near Detroit Michigan, I flew home to quarantine myself for 2 weeks. I am very glad to have been able to be safe and cleaner than anyother place in the airport and flying.! Ask me about the experience and I will give you more detail. But, basically, we all want to conquire this virus and we all need to do our part.

 While at Valeries we made masks and as Detroit became third in the worst American cities, we changed my flight to come home sooner, Originally way last fall I bought these tickets for 3 weeks so that Val and Jason could go to Chili. When things got worst in Europe and Asia they canceled their trip but I decided I could still serve , visit, and share my love with them.  Valerie ran a tight ship for the grandkids, this included, of course music and recess, so I could use my talents and skills in teaching and see how much the grandkids have grown. When one shares space during challenging times so much adaptation can happen.

Jason worked from home and kept us updated.

Erik started us on a great geography lesson that kept us studying more and more detail about States and the world.

Victoria and Austin participated in a Cook off competition and increased their cooking skills

Baketball and trampoline and biking riding outside and lots of dancing and stretching inside

Music everyday uplifts

Fun hugsS

I knitted a blanket while I visited and Austin said I should enter this in as a world record for fastest knitting!!!

Karissa surprised me with an early birthday celebration

Of course we missed Jim, He stayed home to keep safe with his asthum and every day we saw grandpa,  We loved sharing each confernce session with him side by side as we zoomed together

thanks for the lovely memories as I now am in my 3 day of quarantine.

here is my quarantine,  not bad so far.