We were hoping to go to the temple all together, but it just started getting complicated with working around Brinley's classes. She was available and willing to go really early, but Tanner wasn't too excited about that. We decided to just take Tanner and do baptisms while Brinley was in class, and then she and Tanner could do lunch and play racquetball during her break.
I was also hoping to do a session with Brian while Tanner did baptisms. He was like, "uh-uh--you crazy, you ain't leaving me alone." So on Wednesday morning, we did baptisms together, and it was wonderful, of course. I hadn't been to the temple with Tanner since he had been ordained as a priest, and I loved that I could be baptized by him for a few of our ancestors. Brian was a witness and helped with confirmations.
A little bit after we got out of the temple, we learned that General Conference would be delivered by technology only due to the Coronavirus. The MTC (mission training centers) in the US and England would not be accepting new missionaries and those needing to report would get their training online. Brinley was really sad about this step. She is hoping everything will be resolved by July 15th when she is supposed to report. And from this point on it seemed that every few hours, some other major steps were being taken to stop the spread of the virus.
That evening, Bri and Tanner rented scooters, and ate out. I think they just hung out at the hotel after that. Brian wanted to get a good rest that night before the drive home.
I picked Bryn up after her last class, and we had a girls night. It was pretty tightly packed. First we got pedicures and then headed to her dorm to load a suitcase and a bag of clothes into the van. (We were trying to figure out how to get everything home by plane once the semester was over.)
Next, we went to Great Harvest bread and purchased a couple of slices of yummy bread to go with our Jamba juice. (Probably my favorite lunch or dinner in Utah....love that smoothie and fresh bread combo.)
Then we squeezed in a quick trip to the grocery store. The Coronavirus (Covid-19) concern was spreading, and Brian and I wanted to stock her up just a bit before we left. The lines were long and crazy. There was no toilet paper, but we purchased fresh fruit and canned fruit and a few different kinds of crackers and paper towels and toiletries. It took so long in line I was afraid we were going to miss our feature event for the evening.
We were glad we went to the temple too because a few days later the church announced it would only be open for live ordinances.
Craziness. Covid-19 is really beginning to wreck havoc on the world.
That night as we brought the groceries in to her apartment and said goodbye, I teased her that maybe she should just come home with us know. I was totally joking though, and she was not remotely interested. It was so great to spend our spring break in Utah with family and especially our girl.
On Thursday morning at 5:00 am, Bri, Tanner and I began our 18 hour drive home to Texas.
On Thursday afternoon, at 4:45 pm Brinley sent this:
BYU had cancelled classes and would move all courses online in a week. WHAT?????????
We were 12 hours in to our 18 hour drive. Should we turn around and get her? Should we go home and have Bri drive back up in the next week or two. (Drive back up for the longest drive ever?!) We paused in Albuquerque, bought dinner and texted back and forth with Bryn.
We decided to head on home and see how things panned out.
Too make a very long blog post even longer....by Friday afternoon, Brian and I both felt she should probably come home. We had booked a ticket for her to fly home at the end of March but with more things shutting down and the virus spreading more, we just weren't sure airports would be opened. We were hoping she could ride home with Joseph on Tuesday, but he decided to stay because Kate was flying in from England. Her other option was to catch a ride with Emma King. So Friday afternoon at 3 Brinley began packing, and she was on the road home by 7 am the next morning.
And since the events of this post which took place March 12-14th:
-church (for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) has been cancelled worldwide
-Grandma and Grandpa Gwilliam, Karol and family, and Scott and family are on a three week mandated shelter in place
-missionary service has been adjusted (shorter missions for young men serving in the states and Canada, missionaries being flown home from the Philippines, older missionaries and those with health problems being released etc...)
-There are shortages of food, cleaning supplies, toilet paper and more throughout the US because people are panicking and trying to stock up in case of a quarantine.
-President Trump has encouraged meetings of only 10 people or less
-all have been challenged, at the very least, to practice social distancing
-There was a 5.7 earthquake in Utah today. The airport has been shut down evacuated due to burst pipes and other possible damages. (So glad we felt like Bryn should come home sooner rather than later via Southwest airlines.)
It's Crazy, and yet I feel fine. I am really glad all of my chickies are under one roof. I love that we have had prophets who have warned us for my entire life to be prepared. We have had a lot less scrambling and a lot more peace because we have a years supply of food and some other necessities. I am grateful that our sweet prophet today, President Russel M. Nelson, had the insight to implement Come Follow Me to help us be better prepared to study the gospel in our homes.
Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, upheld by my righteous,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
(Hymn 85, How Firm A Foundation)
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