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Friday, May 8, 2020

Seeking safety.....and winning a $10 gift card! Roxanne Rustand

From the safety of our cellphones, our three grown children and their families have been keeping in close touch with my husband and me.  It's always wonderful to hear their voices, though there is a certain poignancy to conversations involving traditional family events that just can't happen right now. Gathering for Mother's Day.  Birthdays. Sharing a supper now and then--especially now that it's grilling season.

How have you been faring throughout these weeks of isolation, with potential  danger lurking in the most common of places--a trip for groceries, a stop at a gas station. A delivery of boxes on the doorstep.  It adds a bit of suspense to life these days--not to mention the tremendous stress on the families of those who are hospitalized with this terrible virus.

I love to read suspense and thriller novels--to enjoy the vicarious thrill of danger and the battle of a hero or heroine to overcome great odds. But in daily life? Not at all. I'm working on a new romantic suspense indie series as well as a proposal for my publisher, and that suspense is enough for me.

If you are an essential worker who is working out in your community,  my heartfelt thanks to you, with prayers for your safety. If you are one of the many who are now away from employment, you are in my prayers as well.

Those who leave a comment will be entered in a drawing for a $10 Amazon gift card.

Take care, and God bless.
Roxanne Rustand


Roxanne





37 comments:

  1. With my children and grandchildren living between 4 hours away to 13 hours, I'm used to getting together on the phone or Facetime, so not seeing them hasn't been as hard for me. You would think that since I work in isolation as a writer, isolation wouldn't bother me, but it does. Maybe because before this I was the one who chose isolation. lol Enjoyed the post.

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  2. Starting mid March our family 3 different household social distanced and self quarantined. Our youngest son had moved back home to Michigan from Texas. With his 1400 mile move, he was quarantined in the back part of the house for over a week. He and his roommates all in the food business had self quarantined before moving. My daughter in law, a dental assistant had been in contact with somebody who had been near a person who had been exposed at a concert with a person who tested positive for the virus. Since our family has been virus free and only have limited contact with the outside world, on warm days we have visited. While I have hugged the youngest granddaughters, no kisssing, etc. we have been careful. As a senior, I eat healthy, wash hands, take walks, get fresh air, wear mask, drink probiotic tea with honey and lemon. Allergy season with leaves and flowers budding. Happy Mother’s Day.

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  3. Last summer my adult nephew and his 8 year old son moved in with us. Abandoned by his mother and hurting. New schools, no friends, two strange older people with lots of new rules. Confused, just trying to find his way. Being out of school and having me homeschool him has finally bonded us. 7 months later. We have put in a garden, painted a fence, and talked long and hard about God and the devil, and that his mom's choices are influenced by the devil and not his fault. In a crazy way, the COVID has finally given us the 3 generational family.

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  4. We’ve been Zooming for special events. That’s really fun, easy and free. We always mess up a little but we just laugh it off. Have a great Mother’s Day, Rox...❤️

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  5. My daughter lives with me but how I miss my best friend! (I try to talk to her once a week.)This isolation feels like we live in different states and not across town. I miss going to church, too!

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  6. I am a essential worker so trying to stay safe be I g out in the world yet missing the interaction with friends.

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  7. I was doing pretty well up until the last few days. We're on our second 14 day quarantine because two different family members got Covid-19. I am very thankful that they have started the healing process though.

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  8. It has been interesting to have my husband and our 29 year old daughter at home all the time. I am at home anyway, so for me it wan’ that different - lots to read and review to write and post. However, the lack of income has definitely made creative bill paying a new way of life. My daughter has gone back to work a few days a week and my husband’s restaurant is opening on the 18th, so I will once again be home alone. I am not sure how I feel about that yet, but my sister lives in this area, so hopefully we will be able to get together more frequently.
    Praying that as the weather improves all over the country there will be less and less illness!

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  9. It is such a scary time. My husband is a two time stroke survivor & we're in our mid 60's, so I only go to the grocery store when I have to, wearing a mask & gloves. I'm so thankful for all of the essential workers. Stay safe. Happy Mother's Day!

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  10. It's all so different that you sometimes wonder if anything will ever be normal again. I try to keep busy at home in the house, in the yard and on the computer.
    Theresa Norris
    weceno at yahoo dot com

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  11. I miss Church and singing in the choir the most. We have progressed from Facebook services to drive in services, which is one step closer. I'm learning how to place grocery pick up orders. I pray for God's protection. Stay safe and God bless!
    lhanberry1 at gmail dot com

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  12. While I have stayed home most of these recent weeks, I have gone to the grocery store and to the bank occasionally, and recently to a few medical appointments. We've had a few workmen over to repair different things, and our daughter and her beau come over to help with cleaning and yard work or to have a meal for Easter and Mother's Day. I've been able to attend my Bible study, Sunday school, and WW meetings via Zoom.

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  13. I have to go out and babysit so my daughter who works at the VA can work. My son-in-law drives a tow truck so he has to work as well.
    debby236 at gmail dot com

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  14. I'm sure that I am finding quarantine easier than most simply because I already worked from home to begin with. I am used to being home most of the time. That being said, I miss hanging out with my sister and seeing my best friend. Even though I'm keeping up with news, I am still amazed by the number of deaths. It's a scary, crazy time. We're doing what we can... staying home, washing hands constantly, ordering as much online as possible and wearing a mask and gloves when going out.

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  15. My family has had quite an eventful time of isolation. I had my first ever kidney stone which led to a diagnoses of a kidney disorder I didn't know I had. Then my 15 yo daughter was diagnosed with a heart condition. So we've been busy figuring out the best course of treatment for her. It's strange dealing with medical issues during this time, but we're doing well!

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  16. Hi, Roxanne. Trying times for sure. I've had my salary and hours reduced but am still working a few days each week. I'm a little teary about not spending Mother's Day with my mom due to this virus. But on the flip side I'm happy to be spending the day with my sons and daughter-in-law and not having to cook! Thanks for the chance to win a prize! Boxtooscrazy at gmail dot com. Happy Mother's Day!

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  17. I'm thankful that, despite all of this, our church has been able to meet, whether at our ownbuilding or elsewhere. It is a blessing I too often take for granted. racheltirzah(at)gmail(dot)com

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  18. Since we are retired, we are use to staying at home. However, we do love to travel occasionally. We have had to cancel one trip we would have taken last month that we had planned over a year on. We wonder how many others will go to the wayside along with it.

    Very thankful to have a guaranteed income coming in. Although not huge, at least we know we can pay the bills. So glad that when we sold out, downsized and moved to a place we had always wanted to live that we made sure to put a big front porch on the new home. Now that the weather is turning warm, instead of being couped up inside, we can relax on the porch, enjoy the sunshine and get to see our daily critter visitor better than through the windows.

    Thankful for that my Mom taught me the importance of a well stocked pantry. Although we might now have that dish that sounds delicious at the moment for lack of one ingredient, we have food on the table and more than a lot of folks. Since we are seniors and I have underlying medical conditions, we don't venture out where there are other people very often at all. A quick in and out to get the few items we have to have or to pick up medicine doesn't come around but about every 2 weeks or so and wear gloves and masks when we do washing everything once we get back home.

    Now that there's talk of slackening up the rules and businesses are starting to open, I just pray they people don't do too much too soon. As with most illnesses, relapses are usually worse than the first go round. We will remain cautious. Understand that with so many struggling with lack of income and business' fighting to stay alive, that folks want to move that way. I pray for them all every day and that they come up with a vaccine or medicine to fight this disease.
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  19. It has been a challenge as my Mom has just been diagnosed with Dementia and I had to bring her to stay with me. My daughter and grandchildren live in Virginia and Florida, thankfully we're all healthy.

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  20. We are staying in. We're having to miss a family beach trip next week, but with high-risk people in the immediate family, we're choosing to stay home, but it's hard. We're homeschoolers, so we're continuing with our studied but in very different ways since we can't go out to parks, museums, clubs, etc., but we are thankful for our favorite history competition as it's continuing and the kids are doing well with it this year.

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  21. We have been staying inside and my kids are bored so it's hard on everybody.

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  22. My hubby live high in the Rockies and are used to staying at our home since we work out of our home for the most part. The Lord has everything in control and we just have to rest him Him!
    faithdcreech at gmail dot com

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  23. What a different time we are experiencing!
    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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  24. Staying healthy. We are retired but active in our daughter's family so have the 4 grandchildren with us unless they are w/their dad.
    anne at rightler dot com

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  25. Packages are being delivered so far. still have my medicines delivered & still pay friends to take me for groceries & the bank. also going to my daughters tomorrow for mother's day & I do have to go downstairs to the 1st floor to get my newspaper but that isn't a problem as it is delivered so everything for me is the same except I can't see my blood cancer doctor nor my counselor & can't go get my bras from befitting you. I can't complain though nor am I. I am reading more which I love.

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  26. I'm single, and live alone, and am about to start my 5th week of being laid off. I am thankful for social media, or I wouldn't have much contact with the outside world. My family - parents, 2 sisters, their husbands, and 6 nieces and nephews - have gotten together a few times, so that helps

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  27. We're glad you and your family are well and doing ok. Having cell phones and the ability to see pictures while not the same as 'in person' do help during this unusual time with more than just keeping in touch! Thank you for the opportunity to win an Amazon gift card! Suzan B and sister Sandra R

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  28. Stay safe! I miss my church family and all the hugs that I receive.

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  29. My husband and I are retired. We have 2 now grown children with families of their own. It has been hard but not so bad , big Thanks to Social Media. We walk our pup every day and work on the garden and do other things during the day and the evening. Yes, things are different now a days, and we have to be very careful, my husband has been going grocery shopping about every 2 weeks or so wearing his mask and taking precautions, and I have been staying at home while he goes grocery shopping. We are pretty much home bodies, so it does not bother us being at home at all. Our daughter and her little family live here in our same town, our daughter is an R.N. and works full time in our local hospital pharmacy , and our son in law is a retired R.N. , but he has been working 2 days a month , he works the night shift when he does work, and our daughter works the day shift, so we have been taking care of our granddaughter and our grandson when they both work. Our son and his little family live 6 hours away, so he will call us and I always stay in touch with both my children and my siblings on Social media, all I can say is Thank God for Social media! Have a Great weekend and stay safe. God Bless you and your family. Have a Happy Mothers Day.

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  30. My prayers to you as well and stay safe. I've got family graduations, graduation parties not to mention Mother's Day and help my elderly parents through this tough and uncertain times. I sure miss hugging my family being close to them. You sure don't miss something until you don't have it.
    My family and do manage to converse at times and we were discussing how some of things happening are similar to "The Left Behind Series" and the similarities in Revelations.
    Thanks for chance to win an Amazon gift card. This would help in these uncertain times.
    Thank You,
    Crystal

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  31. We are plugging along here in MI and staying healthy. My husband works his job from home, One of our two daughters is working her job from her home. Our other daughter works 2 jobs, both of which she is considered an essential worker. She has been working about 60 hours a week. We thank and trust God for His continual protection. We have been playing games, doing puzzles, reading, and going on bike rides and walks. We do miss fellow shipping with family, friends, and our church family.

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  32. I've had the virus and have recovered and so has 1 of my brothers, he has recovered as well, thank goodness. This stuff is no joke, I get tired just being awake sometimes.

    So social distancing has been a must. 2 of my daughters and 2 nieces are pregnant, so lots of video chats with them to keep up with growing tummies. And we're having all girls, oh my! I already have 2 granddaughters... Lol

    I have been helping to home school my oldest granddaughter via video chat. But I sure miss seeing my kids and granddaughters! But thank God for the technology. We did one of the baby showers on zoom last week, that was cool.

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  33. Monday my local library reopened! Tuesday, I was able to attend my Bible study. I've been reading through my personal library.

    I'm exciting to see the blessing the Lord will bring forth from this SELAH time.

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  34. I like my daily life to be calm. Keep the drama to books and movies.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  35. I prefer my drama to be in books. We've been being careful here in northern Utah, although we haven't had many cases of the virus. We just made a short trip to central Utah for our granddaughter's baptism. They've been pretty lucky there, too, although my son-in-law is a family practice doctor there. They live in a small town. It was fun to see our daughter and her family. They have our 4 youngest grandchildren. Our other daughter lives about 20 minutes from us, and we've been able to have a couple of socially distanced get togethers on our patio.

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  36. I prefer to read about drama. We had our own this week. Bad storm came through and we lost power for 72 hours. 96 feeder poles in our town were damaged. 20 on the street perpendicular to ours had to be replaced. Some will be without power til Tuesday. Then on Tuesday we had to drive 2+ hours north to a VA hospital for hubby’s cataract surgery. Weds. 45 minutes south for the follow up. Surgery went well! All is good! We are retired and lots of birds visit us in the backyard. Some new species this year! Our daughter in Texas thinks she had the virus in November! I’ve been hearing some more reports of people having it that early.
    My birthday is next Friday! Hope some shopping and restaurants open up by then!

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  37. I’m not sure anything will ever be the same again. We are looking at a new normal. Our church will begin services this next week with several restrictions. One is encouraging those 65 and older to remain at home and watch via video. Guess I’ll still get to attend church makeupless and in my night clothes!
    tumcsec(at)gmail(dot)com

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