This morning, all 5 of us woke up at home. Annah drove all 3 kids to the Benton's house for breakfast, then Sylvia and Caeden went to school. Annah and Allison then went back to the church in Bloomington to join the choir for the rest of their tour. They spent part of the day in Springfield, visited some historic Lincoln sites, went to the mall and Annah got 2 more piercings in one ear, they ate lunch and got back on the bus to head back to GU campus for the night. Tomorrow they were scheduled to sing in the beautiful basilica in St. Louis, then have their end-of-tour concert back on campus Sunday before starting classes back up on Monday.
When the choir bus was about an hour from campus, the students received an email from the school that their spring break would be extended another week and classes would be going online for the rest of the semester. Their situation was a little different, since they were bound for campus already, but other students were told not to come back to campus until after April 6 to get their things.
Annah FaceTimed us (Jeremy was working from home, as it was announced yesterday afternoon he will be doing for at least the next few weeks) and we could hear Doc answering questions for the students after having just talked with campus administrators. Although, Annah was in tears last night about not wanting to return to campus to finish the rest of the semester, she now said she was in a bit of shock to learn she wouldn't be.
Jeremy grabbed some trash bags and a couple suitcases and went down to meet Annah on campus right away. The choir was met by campus security and debriefed. They checked to see if any of them had any symptoms of the virus--none did. They allowed them to ask any questions they had, and took the students' advice to make a video for the rest of the student body answering these questions. The choir was able to come together and cry through The Lord Bless You and Keep You before saying goodbye as their minds whirled with the thoughts of all the moments they've shared and those they are now sacrificing. They were blessed to have hugs and tears together today.
Annah FaceTimed me again as she and Jeremy packed up her things from her dorm room.
She said she was overwhelmed by so many emotions, as anyone would expect. She was so fortunate to have her daddy there for a little comic relief and a strong arm to carry almost all her things down the 3 flights of stairs to the Prius. They couldn't fit everything, so at some point we will have to go back to campus.
Over the course of the day, Disney World has closed, so Sylvia and Caeden will not be going on their band/choir trip to perform there over spring break. More places are closing and more sporting events and concerts and performances and gatherings of large groups of people are being canceled by the minute today. Sylvia is dreading the musical being canceled. But everyone is beginning to sacrifice and stay home in order to prevent the spread of the virus.
Jeremy and Annah stopped to eat and to get gas in Greenville before heading home, and were home by 9:30--less than 15 hours from when Annah left home this morning. That is a lot to change and emotion to fit into one day, and a lot of stuff to fit in a Prius!
I know it will be challenging in many ways to have all 5 of us at home and working through emotions of all that is lost in these days. However, I will choose to be grateful to have my family together!
I am so thankful we have Jesus to walk us through the challenges of life!
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