Two Years Ago, Our World Changed

Part One of our story

A flower on the ground by the pool (S.E. Fairbanks)

Two years ago, in March of 2020, our family went on the first real vacation we had been on in quite some time. We flew to a small island east of where we live to enjoy a quieter rest than the tourist-saturated beaches of Bali could offer.

It was a beautiful time together as a family, a proper sabbath rest. We got up each morning to enjoy breakfast at the beach. As we ate, enjoying the waves retreating from their early morning high tide, the fishing boats dotted the background, their owners catching some of the fish we would eat later in the day.

Fishing boats at rest during the heat of the day (S.E. Fairbanks)

Over the course of three days, we swam in the pool, walked the beach, attempted snorkeling (though the waters were a little rough, making all of us a little nervous), kneeboarding, and enjoyed a nightly meal and the rustic little seafood cafe not too far down the beach from us.

Nuf Said Grills and Seafood Cafe (S.E. Fairbanks)

Coronavirus

Before we departed for this vacation, we had begun hearing some of the first…