Good morning/evening Cuties. It's just gone 5.30 here Thursday morning in Newcastle and it's going to be a hot day. I can't sleep as I have so many thoughts going through my head.

Your plate is full.
It’s nice you’re getting away from the routines at home. I will be thinking of you having to cope with mum and her maybe being confused traveling. I hope Jewels can relieve some of your load while there. Have safe travels ❤️Toogie

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by pennifold 18 Feb 2022

Thanks so much Toogie, I think it will be an interesting trip! Thankfully I've got a wedding to go to next weekend down past Canberra. Trev's brother's daughter is getting married at Lake Crackenback Mountain Resort. It will be a nice getaway. Mum will be on her own for the 5 days we are away. Thankfully Ben will still be here as he can't get away due to work commitments. Amy, Steve and the girls and Dana and her 3 are coming though. Love Chris

Oh Chris, You are going through soooo much. I can't imagine disassembling your church, which has been so much of your life! I hope your congregation will be able to stick together to meld with the already exhisting church. That alone will be an adjustment. Do you think came about because of Covid? There have been so many repercussions here in the US too. So many things related directly and indirectly.
I'm so sorry your mom has dementia, I know from my mom having Alzheimers it is sooo hard. There were lots of hard times, but also some very sweet times too. I'll pray for you, your mom and family and also for your home church, your congregation and that you will be able to do all you ned to do. Be sure to take care of your own health. Only sew when you need the stress relief and just do tiny projects. We all love you, Chris. Hugs from freezing Colorado! jan. Maybe this pic will help you cool off.

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by pennifold 18 Feb 2022

Oh! thank you my dear friend for this beautiful message and gorgeous picture of snow. I don't get to see snow often as you know I live on the east coast of Australia and Newcastle never gets snow. It's been super hot here again today and they said that yesterday was the hottest for this year. I knew it was, as I just know with my body!

I'll definitely be looking after myself and my church. I know I can do it with God's help.

With regard to the sales of the churches I've mentioned before somewhere on Cute it's due to the Redress for the Sexual abuse by the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle over the past 30 years!!!!!!!!!

I hope all goes well with all of that! You have a beautiful life and while change is ever occurring, it is not always fun to deal with. I do not do well with change and usually have an immediate reaction and then move towards acceptance. Happy travels.

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by pennifold 18 Feb 2022

Hi Chris, I, on the other hand love change and can't wait to see what eventuates with my new Church. With Mum that's a different kettle of fish, I never know what to expect day by day. Thanks for your good wishes, love Chris

I had also missed you and wondered if your time was looking after your mum more. You must think about yourself as well Chris and Trevor. Your mum is extremely fortunate and I hope she appreciates what you are planning to do.
I have already spoken to my girls about when I become a burden and it will be their decision to do what they think.
Look after yourself.

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by pennifold 17 Feb 2022

That's great that you've spoken with your girls Sarah. Mum will get to the stage where I can't look after her and then she will have to be in full time care, so until then I'll do as much as I can. Jewls knows what I'm going through as she lost her partner last July from complications associated with Vascular Dementia and Covid! There are so many people going through all sorts of things at the moment. Love Chris

I had noticed you hadn't been posting much, and now I understand why. I'm glad you got help in making the list for everything in the church. Wow! That is a huge task, but room by room, it will get done.

I'm so sorry to hear your wonder mum is deteriorating so quickly. I pray you will all have a wonderful time away seeing family and friends and doing activities you enjoy. Make many happy memories to cherish.

You will certainly be in my prayers. Now rest up and finish the inventory so you can rest up again before your trip. And I hope it will help your Mum to have you stay with her at night.

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by pennifold 17 Feb 2022

Thanks Karen, yes, I hope it will help too. I think once we all get back from our trip to Adelaide will be the time to do it.
I can't start the inventory till next week, so until then I've got my Italian ladies gathering every Friday to look forward to and of course having my morning coffee at my local Coffee shop just down the road from my home. Love Chris

Oh Chris, I feel for you and what you are going through. I too am giving help to my oldest sister. It is difficult to see her decline. My heart and prayers go out to you. I am glad you have made some great travel plans with Mom. Love, Suzanna

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by pennifold 17 Feb 2022

Thanks Suzanna and I feel for you too. I know what you are going through. I can't wait to see Jewls and she knows what I've been going through. Love Chris

It is so sad to think of your churches closing. I hope you get help with listing all the items that have to be sold etc.
Sorry to hear your Mum is not doing well. It is a lot for you to care for. I send prayers that you can get help that she will be happy with.
I hope you all have a nice break at Easter. Take care. Hugs

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by pennifold 17 Feb 2022

Thanks Shirley, yes, my counterpart at the Redhead Church said she'd help me now that she's done her 'lists'. We are actually buying one of the Pews and giving it to Amy for their back deck. There are only 10 in the old Redhead Church and there's only 2 left now what with the parishioners wanting one. We haven't told Amy yet, it will be a surprise. Yes, I hope our trip to Tumby Bay will be a good one. Mum is really looking forward to it. I'm not looking forward to packing her clothes though. Jewls told me when she took her to her Holbrook property last year when Trev and I went to New Zealand Jewls had packed her bag ready to leave in the morning and when she went to put it in the car Mum had unpacked it and was still trying to work out what she was to take!!!!!!!!!!!! Love Chris

Wow Chris. You really need prayers and your family as well. That is a lot on your plate. I can identify since I had my husbands brother and wife staying with me for about a year. One with Alzheimers and the other with Dementia. In my case it was not for a long time.

I am amazed that so many churches are closing in your area and I wonder if it had anything to do with Covid. I am not much help when it comes to inventory taking. I just pray that you will get help. I had to smile at your last comment about not getting too much sewing done. You have amazed me at the amount you produce considering all you have going on in your life.

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by pennifold 17 Feb 2022

Hi Angie, well you know all about the diseases. So sorry to read about your family that had them.
With regard to our churches being sold in the Anglican Diocese it's because of the Sexual abuse by Priests and others in the Anglican Church over the past 30 years. So to help pay for it, our churches are being sold off!!!!!!
Ha ha ha, re the sewing comment, thanks. I've actually not done anything these past 2 weeks. I did do a couple of hand towels for my girlfriend that we visit up in the Hunter Valley and that's about it. I'll get back to it eventually as I want to use my new sewing machine! Love Chris

I totally understand and you have my thoughts and prayers.
We had my mom with us for 17 years after my dad passed..the last year she had cancer and it went to her brain in the end. It was a very difficult time for the two of us as I have no siblings and we had no help.
These last two years have been very trying for us also as my husband has been diagnosed with a serious blood condition...so with that and covid we have been out of the loop too.
So you vent and so will I as it does help! Hugs, Nadyne

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by pennifold 17 Feb 2022

Wow! Nadyne, 17 years is a mammoth effort, my hat goes off to you for looking after your Mum for all those years. Yes, these past 2 years have no helped and I feel that that has exacerbated things much quicker. Love Chris

Wow! Chris! The only task I can relate to like the Warden's list is when I helped my mother update her will. She wanted to stipulate every item in her house to one of her children and was quite overwhelmed. But, when I came to visit, she saw her chance, as we were both list makers. It really helps to have two people make the list. I would work around the clock in each room calling out first the furniture and then the smalls, while she designated. We opened every door, drawer and closet. When we tired, we traded jobs and I left the designation space blank for her for later. It took a full day. I remember after all that work, we sat at 10:00 at night and had some hot cocoa and talked and talked about life in general (My favorite part). She was so grateful that she would never have to do that again. I made her promise that she would keep a new list of things added or subtracted. I wish you the best in your venture. So sorry you are having to adjust to mom's changing situation. Strangers probably concern her. There will probably come a time when it doesn't bother her at all. You, Jewls, Trev and of course, your sweet mom will be in my prayers as you continue finding the way to support her needs. You've just gotten through with the children and grandchildren challenge! In America we call this "the sandwich generation" - being surrounded on both sides by generations that need help and little time or money to meet our own needs. God bless you.

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by pennifold 17 Feb 2022

Great idea about the list taking Betsey, I'll get the warden from the Redhead Church to help me too. Thanks so much for your prayers and I agree with the "sandwich generation". I feel like I'm the filling at the moment! he he he. Love Chris

Wow, Chris....you have a lot on your plate...take time to breathe and take care of yourself....

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by pennifold 17 Feb 2022

Hi Kim, yes, but I'm sure with patience and love I'll get through it, even though some days I get a bit short with her after telling her so many times what to do, but that's the nature of the disease. Love Chris

Chris, you have so many responsibilities. I hope you will get help with each of these things ahead of you. It would be wonderful if your family could take a night to stay with your Mom or help with all the other things you must take care of. You must feel overwhelmed. Prayers for you and you know you can always vent here - our Cute family cares about you!!! Bunches of hugs, Laura

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by pennifold 17 Feb 2022

Hi Laura, now that's a good idea about the family, but I think they all have too much other stuff going on in their lives. Me, it's easy to just pop over as Mum is only a 5 minute drive from my place. Thanks so much for your prayers as I do appreciate them. Love Chris