It was during this time that Janice and I were preparing to travel to Ontario to visit with Scott and Tiffany and see our grandson. Just hours before we were scheduled to leave I received notice that our flights had been changed, but the changes only took as far as Edmonton! I spend two hours just trying to get through to the ariline and another two hours on hold before we could get this matter resolved; to say it was a bit stressful would be an understatement! But, we are so grateful to have had a few days with them, to hold Riley and celebrate his birth.
But even during that week, there was concern about what was unfolding and about getting back home; in the end Janice cut her visit short and we were able to return together. I was also in discussion with our Leadership Team Chair, Don Hargrave about the possibility of having to cancel our Worship Gatherings, which we did, to comply with the directives from our government leaders and health officials.
When we arrived home on the 21st of March, it was indeed a different world for all of us. We scrambled to take our Worship Gathering online, to record a modified worship experience for our people. I am grateful that this has been a means to connect and stay 'in the Word' over the past eight weeks -- thank you for all the positive comments received. It's not a perfect solution and we are limited in what we can do, but we've been able to make it work for our purposes. It has been for me, a steep learning curve to prepare and quickly get up to speed with some new software / technology; I am grateful for your patience and kindness!
As many of you know it was shortly after arriving home from Ontario that we learned our son had been infected, he spiralled quickly and within hours was in hospital in Hamilton; that was a very difficult night. Scott spend four days in hospital and has been off work since the end of March. He has now received a second negative report and is able to go back to work this week. Riley was also infected but thankfully had mild symptoms and has recovered -- they are all doing well now. Thank you for sharing that journey with us and for all your prayers and words of support and encouragement.
In some ways we have 'settled' into a new and much different routine, as we all have had to do. It has been a time of reflection and a time to re-affirm what it is we have as a people of faith. We have been able to continue to experience the hand of God leading and blessing our lives. We have what we need and have been able to stay safe and stay connected.
For me, the overwhelming sense I have right now is that of gratitude. I think of the words of the worship song we have used in our Online Gathering the past two Sundays...I come before You today and there is just one thing I want to say, thank You, Lord. For all You've given to me, for all the blessings I cannot see, thank You, Lord. To you, my friends at Valley, 'thank you' for sharing this journey together. Give thanks to Lord, for He is good. (1 Chronicles 16:34)