Changes

How quickly things change!  In the past 24 hours, I've received messages about all of the following:

LDS Church meetings suspended worldwide
Expanding Your Horizons STEM day at SLCC--cancelled
Wasatch Family Art Night--cancelled
Emerson Parent Teacher conferences--cancelled
Cello recital--cancelled
California choir trip--cancelled
A'Capella concerts--cancelled
Barber of Seville Opera night--cancelled
Classes at the U of U--cancelled
Schools in Seattle area--closed until April 24th
Omaha Public Schools--closed for a week
NCAA tournaments--cancelled
College World Series--cancelled
Ultimate Frisbee games--cancelled
Salt Lake County Library--closed
Avenues baseball--postponed until the end of March
Spirit Bowl--cancelled
After school activities--cancelled
Disneyland--closed
Girl Scouts-large gatherings cancelled
Cello lessons--changed to Skype
Etcetera...

Needless to say, we are reeling.  It feels like our entire world has been turned upside down in an instant.  Our ridiculously overscheduled calendar is suddenly empty.  Salt Lake City Schools are currently open, but it feels like a matter of time before they close as well.

It's hard to see our children confused, disappointed, and frightened.  Brooklyn is naturally bummed about missing her choir trip to Disneyland.  Eli is distressed about the College World Series with his grandpa.  While it hasn't been cancelled yet, I suspect Annika's Ninja Warrior class will be put on hold.  She will doubtless be heartbroken.

As a response to all the chaos, Jason and I slipped away to go night skiing for a couple hours this evening.  It's peaceful up the mountain with the cold, fresh air in your face.

While riding the chair lift, we got a phone call from Grandma Susie.  Great-Grandpa Hansen passed away this evening. Due to the final stages of dementia, he started sleeping more and more until he stopped waking to eat or drink.  After five days without fluids, his body shut down.

How quickly things change.  Many of these changes are hard.  After 94 years of meaningful living, I feel deep in my heart that for Grandpa Hansen, the transition to the other side was a joyful one.  Even so, he is missed here.

We love your grandpa.  Praying for peace of mind and health of body for all in this world we share.