Not the Best of News

So we heard yesterday that the quarantining rules have changed.  We aren't surprised.  This whole journey has been scattered filled with news such as this.  In fact, when we told the girls, there was no reaction.  Well, except for a slightly sad facial response.  They're used to it too.  But we will be in this hotel until May 27th.  Disappointing.  

I do have to note that our ability to respond to such disappointing news is an expanded spiritual gift.  Our natures have been changed and been expanded.  A year ago, I'm sure our responses would have been more negative but through the process, the Lord has expanded our capacities to respond better than we have in the past.   That doesn't mean this won't be hard or we won't have difficult things to push through.  It just means that in that initial disappointment, we have been expanded to respond better so that going into it, we don't drag ourselves down with complaining.

As one of Tom's friends put it:  Don't think of it as quarantining time together, think of it as quality time together.  It's up to us to make it be that.  So we must!

In talking to the Branch President in Shanghai who has been quarantining for 40 days, he said their standing joke is:  Don't ask a man how much money he makes.  Don't ask a woman how old she is.  And don't ask someone in Shanghai when they will be out of quarantine.  Hopefully it doesn't come to that.  I'm 50 years old!  Now you don't have to ask!