I realize that it’s been awhile since I had hours at a time to play board games, ride bikes, have long and lazy conversations with my kids. I am beginning to understand how very much I have missed in all the busy-ness and how much we needed a slow-down, even if the circumstances are extreme. For now, we are healthy and happy and soaking up each day, and I have a new awareness of how special each hour together really is.

They say you don’t miss something until it’s gone. Today we sit in our homes under restrictions from the government. We hunker down with our Netflix and our homeschool and our travels that lead us no further than the backyard. We watch the stories pouring out of bigger towns and wonder when the bad news will pass, when we can stop worrying about whether or when this virus is going to hit our community.

In these days, I miss the sense of security I had when I stopped and chatted with friends. I miss the freedom to go places and do things, to see the inside of stores and restaurants, to watch my kids play sports and perform dance recitals. I miss my church. I miss the rhythm of a school and work week.

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