Coronavirus March 20 – March 27

Friday: Another work day and school day for us. We jumped on the trampoline and watched movies. Randy’s family figured out how to rig up Jackbox TV games and stream it so we could all play together which was a blast.

Saturday: We woke up and ate waffles together as a family which is my favorite Saturday tradition. We colored some pictures to take to family that we can’t see. We dropped off pictures on my grandparent’s porch and at Randy’s parent’s house. Graham napped and Randy and I took long, much-needed naps. We gave Graham a Woody and Buzz toy a little early (they were supposed to be for his birthday but whatever) and they have been LIFESAVERS. He is absolutely OBSESSED and plays flying them around our house, putting them down the slide, and everything else all day long. It’s amazing. We cooked a yummy dinner and put Graham to bed.

Sunday: Randy blessed the Sacrament in our home and we talked about the parable of the olive tree. We had planted Easter Grass at my mom’s a few days prior and talked about how to take care of this grass well. It was a really beautiful lesson. We went to my mom’s and played outside, a good six feet apart, and ran behind the kids to sanitize every bike they touched. We made homemade mac and cheese and cake for our Sunday meal and went to bed early, prepping for the week ahead.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday: More work and school and lots of time not feeling like the best mom. The week was incredibly busy for me work-wise with lots of demand for Coronavirus related content. We went for walks and saw my family when we could, trying to keep the kids apart. I went to the grocery store for some fresh produce on Monday and almost started to cry walking up the empty pasta aisle. It’s unnerving. Everyone shops with their heads a little down, carefully eyeing people to keep their distance. We went through a drive-thru and the workers were wearing gloves, so careful to keep us safe. It made me very grateful and sad at the same time. We make crafts and try new games with Graham every day. I online shopped in the name of helping small businesses (haha) and cried every night, worried about what was ahead and how long this would last. We found out my sister is coming home from Brazil—nearly all missionaries are coming home from foreign missions to their home country. She is upset and sad, understandably so. We all have no idea what is ahead. They postpone the Olympics and more states and cities go to full shelter-in-place orders.

Thursday: Thursday was full of great meetings at work making me feel so reassured that my job would be OK. Graham is adjusting to the new normal of not leaving and we’re getting good at long walks, even in the snow. Randy goes for long runs since he can’t go to the gym and I do my workouts in the morning and take long walks with Graham. We are getting good at making treats and Graham loves helping. Almost all the drawers and closets are cleaned out and we talk to family on the phone every day, which we don’t normally do. It’s a nice change. The Church closes all temples for proxy and living ordinances. It hits my heart. The government approved a stimulus package finally and I’m hoping it will help. But I don’t think it will be enough. We go over to my parent’s to give them hugs before my sister gets home from her mission – we will stop by but we won’t go in to play or hug them for 2 weeks while she’s in quarantine. We are their shoppers and take-out deliverer’s since they won’t be leaving while she’s home and in quarantine. I don’t cry going to bed and that’s good.

There are ups and downs. Randy is my rock. On Sunday while we drive home he tells me that he’s so grateful he gets to be with me even though we can’t be with anyone else. He does the dishes and plays with Graham and is always so solid. I’ve never been more grateful. There are good things out there. And I am determined to trust, to have hope, to be grateful, to find joy, even amid all the scary and hard things.

Coronavirus – March 12 to March 19

Coronavirus has been around since November 2019. It originated in Wuhan China and very quickly began to spread to other areas and countries.

Here in the US, I had heard about it. I thought that it sounded horrible, I felt so sorry for the people dealing with it. I didn’t think it would be an issue for me.

March 12, a Utah Jazz player tested positive. The NBA was shut down. I couldn’t believe it. This virus had only impacted a few people in the U.S. and now they were shutting down the NBA? I hoped it was overly cautious and that soon things would return to normal.

I had no idea.

Thursday seemed to be business as usual, but then more sports organizations were shutting down. The numbers started coming out for big cities and I was shocked.

I was planning to go into my office on Friday to do some meetings and things. Thursday afternoon, my office along with thousands of others, shut down. Everyone was told they’d be working from home until further notice.

They moved many universities to online instruction only.

They shut down church meetings for the foreseeable future.

In a period of 24 hours, our lives changed.

The news reports came out that people were going crazy at grocery stores, that places were out of toilet paper completely. I couldn’t believe it.

The government said to not have gatherings of more than 100 people.

Friday I worked from home and we tried to figure out what would be normal. In the morning I decided to go to the temple and it was really wonderful. I really needed that time there. The second I walked into the front door, I got the breaking news alert that all LDS temples would be closed for proxy work until further notice. And then the government closed all public schools, moving them all online for at least a few weeks.

Saturday I had a baby shower that I was supposed to be throwing, and since there would only be like 6 of us, I decided to still throw it. It was for one of my BEST friends and it was such a good little get together. Just a few of us and some yummy food, lots of hand washing, gifts, and some fun chatting and a little bit of an escape.

Sunday we had our first home church and it was amazing. We sat in our PJs and ate ramen around our table. We taught Graham some new Primary songs and talked about Jesus. Graham is really into SHOUTING the prayer right now and it makes me so happy. I felt afraid on Sunday. I wasn’t sure what was ahead and was mourning the loss of normal life. I was stressed and sad. And the sun steamed in just right through our kitchen window and I felt like it was God telling me that it would be OK. We watched Frozen 2 (huge thanks Disney+) and now Graham is obsessssed with the song Into The Unknown (thanks Disney+). 
Monday I worked from home, which is fairly normal for me. I work from home 95% of the time, so working from home wasn’t a huge deal. We cleaned out some closets, and replaced the hardware on my dresser which I’m OBSESSED with. It cost me 15 bucks to get 20 new handles and so now my dresser and nightstands look high-end and brand new! We took a fun walk around our neighborhood, talked to my missionary sister who said that things in Brazil aren’t too crazy, just people washing their hands and keeping their distance. Graham got to wash dishes in the bathtub which has quickly become his favorite thing. We had our own personal music class since we couldn’t go to our normal music class and Graham loved it! I went to the grocery store to buy some fresh food and it wasn’t as bad as I was expecting! No toilet paper or paper towels or anything, no chlorox wipes, very little frozen food, but honestly the things I needed I could get easily.
Tuesday was Saint Patrick’s Day! I forgot and didn’t do anything fun, but luckily my sister leprechaun left some fun things on our doorstep for Graham! After working and letting Graham nap we decided to go on a hike. We went up Adams Canyon and it was honestly so awesome! Graham was a trooper, sang the whole hike down, found some sticks and just loved it so much. It was such a blast and a great chance to be out together as a family. 
Wednesday things flipped upside down again. I woke up at my normal early time (4:30) and worked until 6:30. I was supposed to work out but we’d been up late the night before and I wanted to go back and close my eyes for a few minutes. At 7:09 I heard a low rumble. The family that lives upstairs is super handy so I was wondering what kind of project they were working on so early. I realized in a split second that it was an earth quake. I leapt up, Randy was at the kitchen table working and I called out to see if he was OK. He was fine, and I ran into Graham’s room. He was kind of awake, and I grabbed him as the shaking finished. A few of our pictures fell off our shelves and things, but nothing too crazy. It was just unsettling with everything else going on, I felt like I was shaking for hours after.  Easter bunny sugar cookies helped soothe my soul hahaha. Graham was fine and very unbothered, but I just felt so unnerved as all of the things around me seemed out of my control. But I got some pom-poms for Graham to play with and we had a huge cardboard box from a delivery, and he was in HEAVEN. Scooping pom poms out of the box, using tongs to move them between bowls, it was a great project that he absolutely is obsessed with now. I worked and we stayed in the house, waiting for aftershocks and trying to do school and work. In the afternoon we went to see how my family was doing and let the kids play together. I went to bed feeling nervous and unsettled.
Thursday we tried to adapt back to normal. It was a busy work and school day for us, we ventured out to get the mail and not much else. Graham helped me vacuum which is his FAVORITE chore ever. My mom made some bread and dropped it off in case the stores don’t have any next time. Graham and Randy built a fort while I had meetings and shot nerf guns at each other. I got a bunch of stickers and drew lines for G to follow with the stickers. Graham is into singing nonsense right now and it’s hilarious. We also rotate between listening to Into The Unknown, You’re Welcome, the Chicken Dance, Pete The Cat and His White Shoes, and We’re Going On A Bear Hunt.
I teter back and forth between feeling fine and feeling so insanely overwhelmed. I feel sick when I see people losing their jobs, not being able to get the groceries they need, being sick and losing loved ones. I’m terrified for the economy and what this will mean for our future. I’m so sad for Randy who had his last semester of his master’s degree and his schooling taken away. I’m worried that the world will get worse and worse and I can’t protect Graham. I’m worried my faith isn’t enough. 
But I also have seen so many beautiful things. I see people promoting and helping small businesses. I see people sharing what they have and giving kind words. I see people working hard to obey the rules and keep others safe. I see people trying to make others laugh and smile. I feel SO BLESSED for my company that has been sending emails about fun prizes and games they want to do while we’re all at home. They are sending emails about how they can help and be there when employees need it. I see my little family growing closer and enjoying time together in a new way. 
I fully believe in the power of AND. Our lives can be hard and scary and confusing AND beautiful and amazing, at the same time. It doesn’t have to be one or the other. We can live with both. And that’s how I feel right now. I’m living in the hard AND the beautiful. The scary AND the amazing. That’s OK with me for now. I’m working to trust in God and know that good things are coming (which is our family motto). Humans are good. We have goodness inside us. And we can help each other and get through this crazy time.
Can’t wait to see what next week will bring.

Finishing Out February/Starting March

The rest of February went by so fast! We had a great extra Leap Day and spent our time celebrating my parent’s birthdays (which are in the beginning of March). We surprised my mom at Thanksgiving Point for her birthday and had a blast playing in the butterfly biosphere. Graham has been OBSESSED with taking my phone and snapping pictures. It’s absolutely adorable. 
March 8th was International Women’s Day and that is SO important to me. It’s important as I think about my mom, sisters, sisters-in-law, mother in law, my friends, colleagues, bosses, and the women in history that I so look up to. It’s so important to me that Graham understands how important women are to the world and the changes they have made. I know how it feels to see the wage gap. I know how it feels to be discriminated against. I know how it feels to be thought of as less. But I also know how it feels to have colleagues and bosses who want to help me succeed. I know how it feels to have a husband and partner who always encourages and supports me. And I know how it feels to know that my Heavenly Parents are rooting me on. 

Happy 26th To My Babe

We’ve been loving eating Buddah Bowls for dinner! Spinach, quinoa, salmon, chick peas, and a sauce a for an amazing dinner!


We went to the museum for President’s Day and had the best time playing around! The kids loved it and it was so fun to for them to all play together. Graham was super into the cars, the blocks, THE BALLS of course he loves playing with balls, and the grocery store!





AND my love turned 26! We went to dinner the night before, had breakfast in bed, went to the trampoline park, ate a DELICIOUS lunch, Randy went to teach at the gym, we had presents and celebrated with cookies. It was just a perfect day! We also had a great dinner and cake with my family before his actual birthday which was way fun.

AND last night we surprised Randy and our friends met us at the Jazz Game for a fun night! We lost, which was a bummer, but it was SO fun to watch the game with all our friends and go get fries and shakes after. We’re so lucky!

I’m so excited to get to spend my life with Randy and celebrate all his birthdays with him. I love you babe.

Valentine’s Day

We had a great Valentine’s Day! It started on the 13th, and we made some AMAZING lobster tails, lemon pasta, had shrimp cocktail and sparkling cider and some delicious bundt cakes my mom and sister brought. It was DELICIOUS. We also got to talk to Bethany in Brazil which was SOOO fun. She’s doing so good and I’m so insanely proud of her.

On Valentine’s Day Randy and I exchanged gifts and he got me a BEAUTIFUL trench coat that I’m dying over.

We made a trail of candy from Graham’s room to his little DINOSAUR toys and he was SO excited. It was adorable.

We had a regular work day and then went off to In N Out for a great dinner date. Randy stayed with Graham so I could go to the ballet Giselle which was so sweet of him! It was the perfect V Day.

And I had to include this photo cuz he was sooo sweet.

See you soon Sister Richards

We said the saddest goodbye to Aunt Beth this week! We’re going to miss her like CRAZY but we are so excited for her adventures as a missionary in Brazil! We said an airport goodbye after a crazy morning when her original flight was canceled, and trying to get her rescheduled was nuts. But it was the first time we’ve said an airport goodbye to a missionary and it was so hard! We watched her walk through the security line and cried. We’re going to miss her lots! But we’ve already heard from her and she arrived safely, and already loves Brazil.

Her setting apart the night before was such a great experience and she’s going to be such a killer missionary. Her friends came over and we laughed and joked, having a great time on her last night in the USA for a while. Good luck Sister Richards!!!

January Adventures

We’ve been knee-deep in working and studying for the CPA over here! We have been having tons of fun with Graham and enjoying January!

We went sledding with my sisters which was SO much fun. It’s been great doing things with Beth before she she leaves to Brazil!

Beth had her farewell talk and she did SUCH a good job! I was crying and just so so so proud.
My siblings were all there which was SO fun. It was great to get together with them all for a last time before Beth leaves!

Graham is getting SO fun and his personality kills me. He says goodbye to the bath every night, and even likes saying goodbye to the snow when we walk to get the mail. He loves singing to himself in the car and begs to have dance parties in the kitchen which is so cute. He argues with me that the cow is called MOO which kills me. He is the best helper with dishes and vacuuming and laundry. He likes reading books to himself and tells us all where to sit when we play. He’s saying SO many words and being able to understand him is seriously the best. He also is so good at knowing what we’re asking which makes my life so much easier! He’s the best little guy in the world and I am just obsessed with him.

Sledding, afternoon tea, Little Women

We’ve already had a great 2020!

We have been sledding, which Graham was NOT excited for at first. But we went down the hill a few times and then he was BEGGING to keep going! He absolutely loved it.

My mom and sisters and I had afternoon tea at the Grand America which was SO fun. It was delicious, beautiful, and so grand. We loved every second!

My sisters and I went and saw Little Women which is a childhood favorite of all of ours. It was so amazing to see it together. And the movie itself was breathtaking. Absolutely incredible.

Randy is back in the swing of school and studying to take the first CPA this month. He and Graham are best pals and it’s absolutely adorable.

We can’t wait to see what the rest of January and 2020 has in store.

 

This Decade

Wow. 10 years, a whole decade. I don’t want to go back and rehash all the little things that happened this decade, but I do want to focus on some of the huge highlights of my life.

2010: I was a sophomore/junior in high school. I did dance company and ballet and loved every second of it.
2011: I was a junior/senior I did the musical and other theater, I did the TV at my high school which spurred my eventual college career, started dating Randy Low, took AP classes, and loved high school.
2012: Graduated from high school, worked at Cherry Hill, went off to BYU and had the best first semester of college.
2013: Said goodbye to Randy, got my dream job at BYU radio, got into the Journalism program, and loved my college friends.
2014: Interned at KSL and landed a job there, made amazing friends and had great experiences at BYU, welcomed Randy home from his mission with open arms.
2015: Got engaged and married to the love of my life, graduated from college, got my first grown-up job.
2016: Traveled with Randy to Boston, figured out more about my career goals, enjoyed the best time with Randy making dinner and shopping on the weekends.
2017: Traveled to Disneyland and New York and Japan, decided it was time to start our family, changed jobs a few times, and got pregnant.
2018: Welcomed Graham to our family and had the best year loving him.
2019: Randy graduated from college, landed an internship at Ernst and Young that turned into a job, started his master’s degree, traveled to Hawaii and D.C., loved our time with Graham, grew my career and loved every second of it.

It’s been such an amazing 10 years. I can’t wait to see what the next 10 have in store!