Since Bri's shoulder is recovering well, we decided to get out and see some pretty sights in Virginia.  We made it to Great Falls Park.  It was amazing, that in the middle of suburbia, the Potomac river runs freely and beautifully at full speed with such magnificently large rocks.

We loved being outside in perfect May weather, and seeing something new!

Thomas' foot and knee were bothering him from hitting his bed, so he didn't feel like walking very much.  He found a picnic bench and entertained himself with play dough and music on his Sansa mp3 player.

The next week, we escaped the apartment again for a few hours and went to Baumont Park on the border of Falls Church and Arlington.  It's been one of our favorite parks here in VA, so we had to go visit.  When we were here a few years ago, we bought bikes and rode for miles on the 5 mile fun.  But this time, we didn't buy any bikes.  Rhea got a bike for free from the Murris, and she also brought her roller skates and all the kids have Ripsiks, so everyone had something with wheels to ride except mom and dad.  ;)

We had fun for an hour or so, but dad had to get home to study Mandarin.  So I ran him home, and then I took the kids to McDonalds, and then to another part of the park that is full of beautiful rose gardens, fields, and a playground.  It was nice relaxing, hanging out with the kids without them on technology!

I had to capture this sign we passed on the way home that the nursing home made to honor "essential workers" that are still working during Covid in hospitals, mail delivery, trash collecting, stores, restaurants, etc.

At this point in in our time in Virginia, we were expecting to be spending time our last moments on the Mall, going to the top of the Washington Monument, seeing museums we haven't yet, spending time with friends, etc.  This is different, but we're glad we have some convenient, beautiful places we can get to that gets us outside!

Savannah: Middle school. I have lived in two different countries for my years of middle school. One was Latvia, one of the Baltic states in Europe, and the other was here, in the States. I have to say that my first year of middle school was a huge adjustment for me. The year before, I had a very relaxed schedule and one teacher for everything not encore related. Middle school was one teacher for every class. That meant that I had to get used to different ways of grading, submitting assignments, and the class structure.

6th 7th 8th

                     

The thing that teachers usually want for the students is to do well, but also to have a trusted adult that they could talk to if things ever bothered them. That was my band teacher Mr. Martin in Latvia. He was the most funny, relaxed teacher I have ever had. It’s hard to explain how he was but let me say this: He was the most perfect teacher. Ever. 

Our second and last year in Latvia, I was home schooled. That was 7th grade. That year was full of learning for me. I learned so much from my amazing mom that they don’t teach you in school. Sure, you have FACS class. But it’s not the same as cooking for a family. That year, I really got into sewing and crafts that by the middle of the school year, our house was full of little creations that I had made. My room in our house was sort of small, but filled to the brim with cardboard houses, drawings, paper origami and the like. My love of reading and writing were also kick started with homeschooling. I had time to read, and my mom chose wonderful books, some that we read together and others we read independently that were historical fiction that had to do with the countries we were studying. I also fit in time to read the entire series of "Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites." :) I loved the Cover Story writing curriculum my mom chose because I truly began to enjoy expressing myself and my creativity through writing. Now, I can't stop writing!

Because we started homeschooling, we had a free schedule. I had been begging my mom for horse riding lessons because the year before, I had been riding. So, we went to lessons and Thursdays were like Christmas. I would go to the stables and ride for an hour or two before going back home, but those hour(s) were like heaven to me.

          Something else that I started in Latvia during homeschooling in 7th grade was ASL. My mom bought me an online program and I loved learning how to sign to songs I found on YouTube. When we moved here to Falls Church, we were happily surprised to learn that they were starting an ASL program at the middle and high schools! So I've been able to grow my ability and love of ASL in 8th grade as well. My first few songs I learned were "Audition, Fools who Dream," from the movie La La Land, and "This is Me" and "A Million Dreams" from the movie Greatest Showman.

I remember, when my dad had the day off or something like that, we would go out to Sigulda, which has castles and the most amazing views. My brother was still in school, but me and my sister were out exploring with our parents.  It was nice to have that kind of freedom. I also loved doing my work laying on the trampoline with Rhea.

When we moved, everything changed. No flexible schedules, no horses, just school, school, school. But it’s been fun. 

         I’ve learned so much and have made so many friends. The library is a great place to socialize. I have met so many good people there. One of the best things about the library is that you become best friends with the librarians. All in all, despite missing out on normal middle school life the past few months with Covid, I have great memories of my middle school years.

Moving into high school is going to be scary, but something new is always good. Just like moving. I will meet new people and make new lasting friendships. Time for excitement!

At the end of 10 weeks of quarantine and some states just now starting to open some things back up, this article summed things up perfectly. 

May 22, 2020 View in browser   BY JAKE SHERMAN AND ANNA PALMER Presented by Listen to today's Audio Briefing DRIVING THE DAY HAS THERE EVER BEEN this much uncertainty 165 DAYS before a modern-day presidential election? UNEMPLOYMENT is nearly 15% , and even the president’s top advisers say they expect it to rise. … CITIES, STATES AND MUNICIPALITIES have suggested they may have to lay people off if Congress doesn’t pass a new economic stimulus package. … REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS are split on whether they need to pass more aid. Some of the president’s allies say more aid is plainly unnecessary. Others want to wait. Others are calling for a massive public works program. … … WE HAVE NO IDEA whether either party will be able to hold an in-person presidential nominating convention. … WE HAVE NO IDEA whether President DONALD TRUMP will agree to participate in the traditional presidential debates, or whether he’ll push for alternative arrangements. … … COVID-19 has killed nearly 100,000 people, and we have no idea whether the outbreak will spike again in the fall. … WE HAVE NO IDEA whether it will be safe to go to polling locations to vote in November. … OR IF KIDS will be going back to school … WE HAVE NO IDEA if the federal government will back some sort of plan to bolster remote voting. … WE HAVE NO IDEA if the United States Postal Service will be solvent. … WE HAVE NO IDEA if most Americans will view the election as legitimate. … THERE’S NO CLEAR FAVORITE to win the Senate. … A VACCINE could be on its way by the fall, but what’s Plan B if not? And I'll add, that for our family, WE HAVE NO IDEA when or if we will be able to get our Visas to go to China.  Things are so uncertain right now, especially because the Chinese government believes that it was foreigners that took Covid to China.  Not getting our visas and getting to post on time has a slew of negative impacts on an already difficult Covid situtation--it could delay us getting the kids to Beijing to start school on time (there are academic and social ramifications), it may mean that we're here in Virginia past 365 days which means we have to start paying VA taxes and won't receive Per Diem pay to help with the high cost of living here, and it may mean that we have to find housing outside of Oakwood and pay for it ourselves and will have to receive all of our personal effects.  It may also keep us from going out to UT as a family this summer (and doing work on our house that needs to get done), and it leaves packout and everything associated with preparing for Beijing up in the air.  This is hard for people that generally know months in advance where and when we're headed there.  I'm trying to exercise faith in Heavenly Father's plan, because I know that He knows what we need better than we do.  It's an exercise in patience and faith at the same time.

So many things are different with Covid.  Not only are schools closed, but restaurants, gyms, most doctors' offices, stores with "nonessential items," etc. are also closed.  The roads are so empty compared to what they used to be.  But also most noticeable to us is that churches are closed.  No weekly children or youth activities on Wednesday nights and no Sunday meetings.  Briant is zooming for his stake meetings on Sunday mornings and Thursday evenings instead of meeting at the church, and then we have our own church here at home on Sundays.  We love the "half-dressed" look of the white shirt and tie with pajama bottoms.  :)

Every family has permission to administer the ordinance of the Sacrament at home if you have a priesthood holder (Priest or higher), so Bri and Thomas bless and pass the Sacrament for our family.  At first, some priesthood holders took the sacrament to single sisters or those without a priesthood holder in their home, but after a few weeks with the numbers of Covid cases going up here in Northern Virginia, it became apparent that it was a huge risk and we needed to play it safer and not take the sacrament into others' homes or give blessings.  Just recently, we received word that priesthood holders could use sound judgement on a case by case basis related to these issues and possibly start to administer the sacrament to others.

What has been sad is watching the canceling of church youth summer activities.  We just found out last week that for sure the Stake Youth Conference trip to Palmyra that was going to be over Savannah's birthday, was canceled.  And Stake girls camp that was a few days later is canceled as well.  And about a month ago, I got an email saying that Thomas' BYU AEFY week in Moab with his friend Justin M. was canceled, Savannah's week of BYU Author's Academy with her friend Zaya that was coming from Chile to join and be roommates was canceled (author Grace Lin who wrote the "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" series was going to be a keynote speaker!), and Rhea's gymnastics camp was canceled.  And other programs that I was looking into for the kids like possibly horse riding for Savannah, theater performance camp for Rhea, etc. are probably also out of the question now.

We are soooo grateful for our local Bishop and leadership!  Without missing a beat, Bishop Jardin is leading the ward through emailed newsletters, along with the Elders Quorum and Relief Society Presidents, and he's leading the youth through texts on the LDS living Circles app, zoom meetings with Thomas and other priests, and is still having Bishop Youth Discussion meetings and special firesides on Sundays a few times a month

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 I couldn't believe it yesterday when we got a call from Bro. Glenn in the bishopric saying that he was outside our building with a treat for after the Bishop's youth discussion.  The kids ran down to grab their treat and they waited to eat it until after the meeting!

As far as missionaries go, they are coming home from their foreign missions and are being reassigned stateside, after they wait to get the new assignment.  We just got to hear from two of our ward missionaries "report" to us after we got to hear from our two new sisters assigned to our ward that we haven't met yet.  Bless their hearts, I don't know how the missionaries aren't going crazy right now without being able to be in the streets finding people.  This is when it is really important to have member missionaries!  Elder Johnson served in Brazil and now he's getting reassigned to Salt Lake!

I think most members of the Church are seeing the hand of the Lord, as we are, in how He's been preparing us for Covid.  Just within the last few years, the Church has been pushing for and emphasizing a home-centered-church supported church, instead of church that's supported at home.  The emphasis on home centered learning has affected the quantity and quality of scripture study, and the wonderful discussions we have.  Church cut down from 3 hours to 2 hours to allow us more quality time teaching in our families.  Youth and children's programs have changed, the Come Follow Me home curriculum was introduced and in practice for a little over a year before Covid, and the rules changed for missionaries to allow them to call every week and on special occasions, not just two times a year on Mother's day and Christmas.  We can see how important this is right now with families needing to support their missionaries in the field during Covid.  And amazingly, seminary is all online, including their zoom meetings on Tuesdays and Thursday evenings.  Thomas misses being together with his friends in the morning, but we're grateful that he still has the gospel learning every day.   One night, Elder Hamilton, a general authority, joined in for Thomas' seminary zoom meeting!  He's Sister Keysor's (one of Thomas' teacher's) brother-in-law.  Pretty cool!Kristen M. and Rosalie K. were awesome teachers!  They were perfect for what Thomas needed his first year of early morning seminary.  After an email I sent months ago to tell them how much I appreciated them and their efforts to teach Thomas (especially because this might be his only year having "in person" seminary), Kristen replied:  "Such big things ahead for your dear family. The kids who are going over seas have been talking about it. They are such wonderful kids!  Truthfully I tell my husband often I am sad they won’t be here. My son is in the class and I love the influence these great kids have. I’m sad he won’t be able to associate with them through his high school years. Thomas is an absolute joy. He is going to do such wonderful things in life. I love his energy for life and learning all rolled in with goodness and a sense of humor. He is terrific."We're so grateful for all of the wonderful church members that have taught, helped, inspired, motivated, and loved our children while here in Falls Church!  There are so many selfless people in the "villages" that have helped raise our children, and we're grateful for their continued efforts despite the quarantine and not being able to meet!  The update from SLC most recently, is that each area can start to phase church meetings back in slowly as long as they are able to follow local and state Covid guidelines and are able to follow the appropriate CDC guidelines of social distancing.  Every stake will have to evaluate how that's possible to do in their area, if at all possible.  We're guessing it will be months before we're back to a normal 2-hour block with primary, sunday school, R.S., and Priesthood meetings.  This is a new thing for everyone...no one really knows how this will all play out.  But Elder Renlund shared:  

"Because of revelation, the senior leaders of the Church have never expressed fear as the COVID-19 pandemic has affected world populations.  There is not a hint of fear. Instead, we are asking: ‘How can we do things better? How can we improve? How can we bless our people?'  There is no fear.  He said it has been amazing to see the leaders of the Church “packed with full confidence that the Savior will get us through this. And the only concern is, ‘Are we going to learn what we need to learn?’”

Bri had shoulder surgery about 10 days ago.  Luckily the Virginia Governor started allowing elective surgeries a few weeks ago, so his surgery that was canceled and canceled again, was able to actually happen through Ortho Virginia. We were worried that it wouldn't get done before we leave for China, so our prayers were answered!  The surgery was a "fix up" of a rotator cuff surgery he had 25 years ago.  On the MRI, it looked like one of the anchors from the previous surgery was out of place, but the Dr. unfortunately couldn't find it.  He thinks it got embedded into the bone.  So they fixed up the other things like smoothing down the cartilage and fixing and lifting his frayed bicep.  Recovery from the surgery went well.  He only needed the heavier meds for about 3-4 days, and then started using Ibuprofen because he was tired of feeling loopy and tired.  It's much easier to be a Mandarin student when you're not feeling out of it!  Luckily the pain has been nonexistent since the beginning and he's been able to mostly function.  We all laugh at him when he's trying to brush his teeth, open jars, stir, lift things, etc. with his right hand and little "t-rex" short arm that's in the sling.  We have had fun making fun of him and he's quick to point out that he is "differently-abled."  :)

 Savannah has been called in to be the lovely assistant in cooking as needed.  ;)

Ten days after the surgery, I took Bri to his follow-up appointment.  He forgot his face mask, so he used Savannah's mask that was in my purse from borrowing it from her last night to help take someone's dog to the Vet.  Luckily I had a "1st edition" of Savannah's masks she made from cutting an old pair of leggings.  Bri couldn't fit it around the top of his head.  :)  We don't go out usually more than once a week to go grocery shopping, so grabbing the face mask has not become a habit for us yet, even after 9 weeks!  Here we are in the elevator, standing on the X's that are marked that allow only 2 people in the elevator at a time and keep the appropriate social distancing.

We were laughing at how the mask made his ears bend. :)

Now we're on to P.T. appointments twice a week for the next 6 weeks before we go.  Bri and Thomas will go together since Thomas' foot issues with bone bruising and edema persist.  We've got to get these boys better before we go to China!