by Hope
While we were in Texas, two of my five children were called and told they had been exposed to COVID. Now that was my worst nightmare, especially since we were already taking a calculated risk to visit my parents. While my of the kids took it in stride, the other had a complete meltdown.
The same goes for my siblings that were around during our visit (3 of my 4 siblings came to my parents while we were there.) My sister took it in stride and continued to see us the remainder of our time there while my brothers both disappeared completely. I’m not judging just explaining the differing reactions.
Thankfully we are now well past the 2 week window and neither of my children has shown any symptoms. (Yes, I know they could still be positive and asymptomatic.) But back in Texas, one of my brothers has tested positive. Thankfully, his case seems to be very mild and he hasn’t been bed-ridden, etc. at all. It is a good thing that we have covid testing in dallas, in fact, it’s great that we have them in all states, especially as we are all on the edge of our seats waiting for something to get worse.
While I can’t rule out that we brought the exposure with us, I also know that we might not have. He owns several bars in town and they were open and operational until the week we arrived. And he was definitely to exposed to multiple people with COVID.
Thankfully, neither of my parents is exhibiting any symptoms and while I offered to spend our final days in Texas in a hotel or AirBnB, they refused.
Continuing to Prepare
I firmly believe that three of us have already had COVID, back in February. History Buff and I are going to give blood and get tested for anti-bodies this weekend.
As the numbers spike and the worry about schools grows, I continue to prepare for another quarantine period. I am buying a little extra food each week. I am freezing a few gallons of milk. And I plan to make one more Sams Club run in the next couple of weeks to buy a bit more meat. (I’ve gone twice over the last month and meat has been scarce or limited.)
Hope is a resourceful, solutions-driven online business manager with over two decades of experience helping clients streamline operations, manage projects, and grow their businesses through digital marketing and technology.
But life has a way of rewriting your plans.
A year ago, Hope made the decision to move in with her aging parents full time – a season she wouldn’t trade, even as it came with its own financial and emotional weight. Earlier this year, she lost her mother, and is now walking the tender, disorienting path of grief while learning what “forward” looks like from here.
Hope came to the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015 as a single mom raising five foster and adoptive children. She’s written through job changes, financial setbacks, and the bittersweet transition to an empty nest. Her kids are finding their footing in the world now – and so is she.
Rooted in faith and fueled by the same perseverance she’s brought to every hard season, Hope is ready to face her finances with fresh eyes and an honest pen. She believes that clarity, courage, and community can change the trajectory of anyone’s story including her own.
She lives in Austin, TX with her dad, loves adventures with her dog Addie, and is figuring out, one step at a time, what this next chapter is meant to be.
