A Trip Home during Covid 19

My sons and I drove down to Iowa for 5 days last week to visit my parents. It was partly for our mental health, partly for my mom's mental health (plus it had just been mother's day), and partly because my 101-year old grandmother wasn't doing very well.

The boys still had their school work to do while we were there, so that was most of their days before the weekend. But they took some time on a sunny day to help grandpa pick some aspargus in the ditches. And splitting firewood. There was also some hammock time, time building forts are exploring the farm, a little hiking, and driving around the countryside.

My parents' church has been having church in the parking lot. The pastor and musicians broadcast over a radio on an FM signal from the entrance to the church while the congregants are in their parked cars. I was a different experience. It was rainy so it was hard to see others in their cars. But it was nice to know people were nearby and not be on a computer to worship.

It was good for all of us. It decreased the stress of all of us being in the house. My mom needed some family around--especially in the midst of dealing with dealing with her mom's failing health and planning a funeral (grandma is still alive, but she's 101, so it's also good to have some of that planning done). It was good to be on the farm with fresh air and starry skies.