We left Apache Junction where we live in the winter and drove to Puyallup where we live in the summer. With three stops along the way it took us several days to get home but we had a lot of fun along the way.
We live in two amazing places. From the brown jagged ridges and cliffs of Arizona
To the white and green snow and forest covered volcanic mountains of Washington.
First stop was in Utah to see Nathanael's family. Although Nathanael was gone on a deployment to Texas to help fight the coronovirus with his reserve unit, we got to visit with Mary-Anne, Jacob, Hannah, and Jonathan. There was no school because of the virus and all the children are schooling at home. Also we got to visit with Amery and Josiah and got to see their new home. We did walks around the neighborhood and got to play a lot with the kids. The weather was beautiful. One day we went on a hike to Bridal Veil Falls.
Jacob climbing up some rocks.
Mary-Anne with Jonathan and Hannah.
Amery and Josiah with Jonathan. The water was icy cold.
Second stop was in Idaho. We got to see Joshua and Rebecca and their family. Joshua was working from home because of the virus.
We did a hike in Pocatello at Ross Park and saw some some interesting rocky walls. Julia and Asher in this picture. We also saw all these marmots that the kids had fun chasing.
Ethan, Agnes, Christian and Elliott in a hole in the wall. They love to climb.
We also went fishing one day. Christian reeling in a rainbow trout.
The fish was biting and Agnes got one here.
All five of the kids that came fishing bagged their limit. Even Asher here catching fish. Made a total of 10 rainbow trout. Joshua cooked them up and we had fish tacos.
Last stop along the way was in Spokane. We saw Tianna, Jim, James, Ashton, and Evan. We played a lot of games and watched some good movies on TV in the evenings. It was almost time for Evan's graduation ceremony, which is not going to happen and got cancelled because of the virus. We visited a display the school set up outside the High School. It reads: Mead Class 2020 Spokane.
They couldn't have a ceremony so they painted their names in the grass where they would have sat. Congratulations Evan. Now on to bigger and better things.
Back in Puyallup everything is still mostly shut down because of the virus. Still under a stay at home order with no school and all places of business and recreation shut down, except for essential businesses such as grocery stores, hardware stores, gas stations, and take out restaurants. Lots of people here are wearing masks and lots of people staying in their homes. Malachi and Layne are not allowing visitors at their home yet.
As of today there have been:
343,000 deaths worldwide
97,906 deaths in the USA
1,055 deaths in Washington State
74 deaths in Pierce County
9 deaths in Puyallup and South Hill
We personally know one person that has died. The physical, mental, emotional, and economic impact has been tragic.
