April was a full month–highlighted of course by a wedding (discussed in the previous post). We are managing to make the most of this season of lockdown and social distancing.

Jeremy continued to practice his drawing skills, incorporating current events in this picture. Note the plane off in the distance.

Speaking of drawing skills, signs of Derek’s pen are found unexpectedly from time to time. This one made us both chuckle and cringe.

We have joked for several years that we have an unseen member of the family. Whenever something breaks or goes wrong and no one fesses up, we blame our unseen family member, Carlos. Lo and behold, I noticed him in the kids’ picture the other day. Derek’s pen strikes again.

Speaking of Derek, he had to complete a couple ruck runs for ROTC last month. These 8 and 12 mile march/runs are challenging for the average cadet. All the more for one with a solid football build. He completed both, and has the blisters to prove it!

He tried on his service dress for the first time. This was originally in hopes that he would wear it as a groomsman in Jake’s wedding… but then the travel ban happened.

We celebrated Jim’s birthday, and as usual, the one thing he asked for was a carrot cake.

And a carrot cake he received.

Before the weather warmed up, we enjoyed indoor activities like Axis and Allies,

Minecraft games with Jake (pre-marriage) and cousin Hannah signing on to the server remotely (here’s Peter FaceTiming Hannah while they all play),

and reading.

Easter morning, after live-streaming our church service and eating a delicious brunch, Derek hid 120 plastic eggs (that we received from a neighbor) around the house for Ruth to find.

He left some clues…

while she scurried around the house collecting eggs. It took three days to find all 120 eggs.

We–along with everyone else–were very thankful when the weather turned warm so that we could play outside. As has been the case every April for the past few years, there was that one heavy overnight snow smack in the middle of the month…

but which quickly melted and made way for some warm sunny days. First the work of landscaping:

With Molly supervising.

Then the whiffle ball field was prepared. Jim literally mowed just the field in the backyard. The grass outside the field was scraggly and long, but the baselines and infield were nice and sharp. The pitcher’s mound was refitted as well.

Then it was time for the season opener.

Unfortunately, after only a few games the beloved corked whiffle bat snapped in half. Too much muscle cranking on the plastic!

One day the boys took the bows, arrows and target to the softball field.

Our little neighbor friend joined them and helped retrieve arrows.

Meanwhile, Ruth has learned the art of whittling, as did all of her brothers at age 10.

Jeremy gathered a couple neighbor boys to demonstrate a smoke bomb he made.

Signs of social distancing are everywhere. College student working at home, in his makeshift dorm room upstairs.

Ruth’s playtime habits with the neighbors have changed. Social distancing in the yards…

and in the trees.

How we grocery shop is different. Six feet between carts, please!

And don’t forget the beautiful masks.

I have been on the prairie path nearly every day since the lockdown began, but alas, there’s no escaping reality even there.

My 94 year-old grandfather is holding up well, even as he is quarantined to his room. Thankfully he has ample access to the outside world via the internet and email, and enjoys regular visits through the window by his daughters. Sometimes my mom needs to wait outside the window for him to finish up work.

Our furry family members don’t mind the current stay-at-home orders, because that means more attention paid to them.

Molly makes sure the piggies stay in line.

Speaking of Molly, who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? The boys are teaching her to “smile”. Ahem.

We’ve had an uninvited guest attempting to make her home connected to our home. We have tried just about every humane deterrent we can think of to convince Mrs. Robin not to build her nest on our front door. I think I finally found a successful one: aluminum foil. After all, it is a little unnerving to walk past the front door an see this:

Despite the world feeling like it’s giving way, God continues to be our refuge and strength. If anything reminds me of this, it’s the sight of birds building nests and flowers blooming. Spring still arrived, despite our entire lives being in lockdown!

God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling.  (Psalm 46:1-3)