Father Isaac and Very Reverend Father Don Malin

It is our privilege to have become members of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Parish this year.  Gene and I have grown in faith and have acquired new friends and spiritual partners in this parish.  The two priests serving at the parish are the Very Reverend Father Don P. Malin, V.F. and Father Isaac Kariuki, originally from Kenya. Here are a few pictures  of them over the past months.

Father Isaac Kairuki, fall of 2015 at RCI

 

Fr. Isaac, June, 2016

 

Fr. Isaac and Gene, June, 2016 at dinner

 

Father Don Malin, January, 2016, blessing our house

 

Father Don, March 2016

 

Father Don, March 2016 at Easter Vigil

 

 From this week at IHM:



'Just Believers'

Fr. Don Malin's band, 'Just Believers' will be performing after the 4PM mass at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church on Saturday, June 11th. The Knight's of Columbus will have a cook out and offer hot dogs and hamburgers! Come offer Fr Don and Fr Isaac a Happy Birthday!  

Fr. Don and the Just Believers, June 11, 2016





The Just Believers performed about a dozen pieces last night to an enthusiastic crowd.  Great meal, fun time

It is June

It has been a year since Julie has been back in Colorado and I was reflecting on May 30 a year ago.  (back post here)  

Personally, since last May, I am now able to eat and my appetite has returned.  Last year at this time, I was not sleeping very well, and now that problem too has somewhat dissipated.  My relationship with the Lord is stronger, perhaps through much more prayer.  And I became Catholic!

Julie has been hospitalized four times over these past 12 months, with another one upcoming.  She continues to live, and dare I say, thrive in her new environment. Caregivers, now friends, yesterday took her across the street for a meal out.  She loves that.  How kind these women are and continue to be.  After a long shift, they all gathered round and wheeled her not only to the hospice restaurant, but also for a blood draw at the nearby health care office.  They went above and beyond their manor duties.

This is a picture of Julie on Tuesday.  And one of Mercy.



Last year it was if I were just going through the motions of daily living, but now I am painting again.  Usually on Wednesdays at the manor, but sometimes at home as well.

Yesterday I made German Chocolate Pie (Pinterest link here). Gene is making bread and a main dish since tonight we are having dinner with two couples from the neighborhood.  Last year, I did not have the energy for entertaining.  Another positive change since last summer, energy-wise, that is, as Gene continues to share and provide with his excellent cooking abilities.

In two weeks, several residents from the manor are coming over with the activity director and several staff, now friends, for an afternoon tea.  We are scouring up hats for party time for the women to wear; they look forward to a few hours away from the manor, and I want to make it special. 

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Life is returning to a new normal.  God is good.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
(2 Corinthians 9:8)

Views from the Porch

Flowers planted in 2012 for my wildflower garden have grown. Some have not flourished, and a few have succumbed to over-watering and too much sun and summer heat.  The picture above shows most of the original plantings, plus a few others. Bluebells, where are you? Was the soil not to your liking?  I have been putting used coffee grounds around the wildflowers every morning to increase acidity uptake.

Iris are blooming

Penstemon are almost ready to bloom

Jupiter's Beard *transplanted two summers ago from slips*

Phlox that will go into earth at the end of the season

A new painting started (oils) from this reference photo:

And from the kitchen:

Rhubarb for this recipe (a yum, thanks, Marianne)

Mrs. Tittlemouse, do you recognize your pretty crochet?

Julie is coming over today from the manor.  We have had quite a few days, and maybe that is why I have neglected blogging for a while.  Last week, she had an optometry appointment that was a bust.  Her wheelchair would not go through the door of the examination room because of its width, 36 inches.  The optometrist was a bit embarrassed since his offices were supposedly "wheelchair accessible".  But she did finally get a referral to an ophthalmologist, which she needed to begin with, but the manor Powers That Be would not listen to me.  It might take another few months to get that scheduled, however.

Then there was the issue of dealing with Julie's headaches that lasted a few days...nothing more to report than worry resulting in a natural resolution to her headaches.  And then another visit scheduled to the surgeon who first helped out with the diversional colitis resection, which has still not been resolved.  That appointment will happen at the end of the week.  Perhaps infection is still evident?

I leave you with this verse that struck me from Sunday's homily, referring to Romans 5:1-5:

...affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts...

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