Moments Like This...

I took this photo 4 days before we closed on our house. It was a Saturday. Our last weekend in the home we had rented for almost 8 years. Everything aside from the most essential kitchen items were packed. It was a very stressful time, but we got through it. 

On this particular Saturday, the only thing we were waiting for was a closing date. All of the paperwork was done. Monday was a holiday. We did not find out until Tuesday that our closing date was the following day.

Lisa went out and bought Paczki for breakfast. We shared these bundles of love with our kids. 

If you have ever bought a house, you know what I'm talking about when I use the operative word "stressful."

Prior to closing on our house and moving, I remember sitting at the kitchen table and reading about the Corona Virus in China. I watched videos. By then, it had spread to other countries. 

Including ours.

Less than a month after moving, this whole COVID-19 virus thing spread like a wildfire during a drought. 

I had that gut feeling that we were not immune to this virus or the devastation.

I was right.

Over the past couple of weeks, it has put a strain on our Bodacious Dog Mom household. 

At the top of the list, our governor has announced a "Stay Home, Stay Safe" order. And, all non-essential businesses will be closing shortly.

Lisa is considered an essential worker. She's in management at a distribution center that is responsible for keeping one of the large drug store chains stocked.

What a lot of people don't realize is that essential workers, like Lisa, are working behind the scenes to keep the shelves stocked whether it's at a grocery store or drug store. 

A lot of people assume that truck drivers pick up products and deliver directly to the stores. That's not the case. Warehouses/distribution centers are the "middle man" to those items that are stocked every single day.

Let me give you a little looksie into the process as an example...

Truck drivers pick up products from various companies whether it's water, paper products, grocery items, etc.

The contents of their load need to be distributed to 10 local grocery stores or drug stores. The truck drivers do not make 10 different stops at all 10 locations.

The truck drivers are received at warehouses/distribution centers. They are unloaded. After they are unloaded, they are picked and sorted and toted per order of the 10 retail locations.

Once they are picked and sorted, they head to the shipping department. The shipping department loads the totes onto trucks that will deliver specific orders to all 10 locations.

When the trucks deliver orders to the 10 locations, it's the responsibility of the retail workers to stock the shelves.

That is an "in a nutshell" explanation because I do not work in a warehouse/distribution center. Lisa could give more specifics on the process, but she's working 12+ hour days to assist with keeping the store shelves stocked.

However.

With all of the strain and Lisa working long hours, we are still excited and loving our new house.

We are still in awe at how quiet it is here and embracing the distance between those who caused unnecessary havoc. We have healed. Our kids have healed.

We are humble and grateful that we continue to have a generous income, but we are also scared. Because all it takes is one person in the distribution center to test positive for COVID-19.

We are taking all precautionary measures necessary during this time.

We continue to give a world of gratitude for those on the front lines every single day. The essential workers and volunteers. Whether it's in the healthcare field or those busting ass in the warehouses/distribution centers to keep the shelves stocked. Or those who are volunteering their time to deliver meals and shop for those who are not able to.

Let's continue to spread the love. Kindness. Gratitude. Inspiration. Understanding.

We need it now.

More than ever.