Tag Archive | faith

Never Truly Alone, Walking It With Him

May13

I live in a Catholic world. It is not an easy path to follow at all. In truth, it can be quite hard. I have friends from many different walks of life. I love my friends who live in the secular world, even if I do not always approve of their choices. Regardless, I still love them unconditionally. I wish them well and want the best for them, even the ones who have hurt me. I try never to hurt anyone, even when I disagree with them. Admittedly, I have foundered in that area lately and feel horrible. All I can do is apologize.

Catholicism is integrated into my daily life. I fail terribly at times. I strive to honor God in how I live, but being human, temptations can easily pull me off that narrow path. My chosen way of life is strict in many ways, yet when I stay on that path, I find peace. It is usually when I veer away from it that I find confusion, sadness, and misery within myself. That confusion, sadness, and misery can easily affect others as well. I have to remind myself of this daily. Everything I do and say has consequences, and those consequences matter to me and to the people I love.

For me, that faith also shaped my understanding of marriage. There was trust, loyalty, and commitment between Dave and me. That does exist outside the Catholic faith too, of course, because goodness exists in many people regardless of religion. Still, I believe my faith gave our marriage structure, accountability, and purpose. In a world that often feels chaotic and uncertain, that stability mattered deeply to me. Dave and I knew where we stood with one another.

I struggle to understand modern relationships sometimes. So much of the world now feels temporary and disposable. People move in and out of each other’s lives quickly, often leaving hurt behind them. Perhaps they are searching for happiness, but I sometimes wonder if they are truly finding it. Yes, there are miserable married Catholics. I feel very blessed to have shared life with a man such as Dave. He wasn’t passionate, but he loved me, and that matters more than anything. I’ve had passion. It is absolutely marvelous, but passion itself isn’t enough. Love, however, is.

I miss the stability our marriage brought. I miss the protection I had. I don’t know if I will ever encounter it again. I have to find a way to hold that stability within myself now that my Dave is gone. It will take time, I know. Somehow, I will find it.

Ultimately, Catholicism gives me direction, meaning, continued spiritual growth, and above all, peace—when I stay on the path I believe I am meant to follow. I am learning how to continue, even while falling occasionally, and with God’s grace, standing back up, brushing myself off, and carrying on this journey—never truly alone, but walking it with Him.

He’s in God’s Hands

Apr29

I’ve been doing really well lately. Today, however, was a bit harder. I woke up sad and burdened with a confused and heavy heart. My husband isn’t here, of course. His death came on January 7, 2026.

The only times we were ever separated overnight were when I had to travel for work, or when I went on the occasional overnight trip with my daughter. So today, I decided to go for a two-mile walk. I took in God’s handiwork, created for all of us to enjoy and embrace if we choose. I took many photos, and as a result, my two-mile walk took almost three hours because I kept stopping often.

The sun felt so good on my bare head, warming me from the inside out. I’ve missed the sun. Our winters are so long, and this one seemed longer and darker than ever. I longed—and still long—to see flowers again.

The waterfowl have arrived, and more are still arriving. I took some lovely photos at Creamer’s Field. I intend to return this Friday and enjoy the exciting noise and cries of our long-awaited annual visitors.

hope to wake up early enough to attend Mass tomorrow. With the warmer weather, I hope to get into the habit of daily Mass. I always feel comforted and at peace in His presence in the sanctuary. I don’t know what I would do without Him.

I need to start spreading my wings again and getting out to enjoy the life God has graciously given me. I love my husband deeply, and I have to remind myself not to feel guilty for learning how to live again. Granted, it still feels strange to wake up and not have something immediate to do for someone other than myself. It feels awkward.

Thankfully, I have my dogs. They get me up and give me motivation.

I’m going to blog my memories and anything else that comes to mind. Much of it will be memories of caring for my Dave—not in chronological order.

The last four months were so hard. Before that, life with Alzheimer’s was becoming harder day by day. Poor Dave—he didn’t understand and was so confused. By the end, he thought I was his mama or his sweetie.

Gads I miss that man of mine. I know he is okay. He’s in God’s hands.

Goodnight,

kj

Balancing Love, Faith, and Caregiving in the World of Dementia

Feb3

Yesterday, my daughter and I created a memory that will forever hold a special place in our hearts. After carefully measuring twice, we ordered her beautiful wedding gown. Then came the exciting part: finding the perfect pair of shoes to match! With so many stunning options to choose from, she finally discovered ‘The One’ – an absolutely gorgeous stiletto sandal. It was quite a surprise, considering her usually conservative style, but I couldn’t be happier and more excited for her.

The 4-inch heels will certainly require some practice, as she rarely wears anything higher than a sensible heel. But I’m sure she’ll rock them on her special day! Even though the dress and heels were quite inexpensive, they are simply stunning. I would have gladly spent more, but she loves the dress, and that’s what matters most.

She truly deserves the best, but being the wise woman she is, she’s opting for a conservative wedding and reception, preferring to invest in house upgrades instead.

Her dad was with us the whole time, laughing along as we browsed and letting out ewwws and awwws together. But when he saw the shoes she chose, his jaw dropped in surprise! It was really special to see him enjoy the planning process as much as we were. Unfortunately, his dementia is progressing, and it’s hard not to worry about the future. I can’t help but wonder if he’ll be able to walk her down the aisle when the big day arrives. It’s always been a dream he’s had. No matter what happens, I know everything will be okay. I just want her special day to be perfect and filled with love.

I’m excited to see them tie the knot in a beautiful Catholic sacramental wedding, as this is an important part of their faith and values.

My beloved’s dementia is progressing, and it’s been challenging for both of us. Recently, he caught a nasty stomach bug that was particularly difficult for him to handle. Unfortunately, he couldn’t make it to the bathroom in time. It’s heartbreaking to see him struggle with tasks that used to come so easily. He tried his best to clean up, but ultimately let me help him. As a mother, dealing with bodily messes doesn’t faze me, but I know it can be humiliating and traumatizing for him.

Despite his declining memory, he still has some problem-solving skills and a strong desire to contribute. Even with a bad hip, he managed to throw a bag of pellets on a shovel and dragged it into the house. I was so proud of him and even clapped at his accomplishment! It was quite a surprise because he usually shook his head when he saw me using a sled, wheelbarrow, or shovel to move heavy things.

He continues to experience delusions and hallucinations. Just the other day, he told me he had a friendly spider sitting on his lap, visiting with him. I played along, thankful that it was a friendly spider rather than a terrifying one. His delusions often involve scenes from the likes of Tom Clancy novels, which can be quite amusing at times.

His memory issues are also progressing. He sometimes forgets who our dogs, Kaya and Starfire, are, referring to them as ‘hes’ instead of ‘shes’ and asking if we can keep them since they are such nice dogs. 🙂 On one occasion, he needed help putting on their collars as he’d forgotten how to connect them.

One key element of caregiving is to never shame the person for any issues they may face, including bodily accidents. As a caregiver, it’s important to take these incidents in stride and reassure the person that accidents happen to everyone. By doing so, you can help them feel less embarrassed and more comfortable with the care they’re receiving. Above all, the person should feel safe and secure. Imagine yourself in their position—how would you want to be treated when needing help with your physical needs?

I love my husband. Yes, as a couple we have our ups and downs, but we always get through it. We will get through his dementia ordeal as well. I had an eye opener one day when watching a training video.It made me realize that he is to receive pallative care as his brain disease is terminal. It’s now my responsibility to ensure he feels safe, loved, and as happy as possible until the very end. This level of care and comfort is something I believe he wouldn’t receive in any facility.It is up to me to ensure he feels safe, loved, and happy as he can be to the very end.

Bye for now, Kelly

Mass is My Respite

Dec29

As a 24/7 caregiver, attending Mass is a much-needed source of respite and rejuvenation for me. Amidst the constant demands of caregiving, being in Jesus’s presence allows me to pause, reflect, and recharge. The serenity and spiritual nourishment I find in Mass give me the strength and comfort to face the challenges of the coming week.

To this day, I still mourn the loss of my regular connection to His presence through my volunteer work in the sanctuary. The absence of that spiritual nourishment felt like a form of withdrawal, as being in His presence had become an addiction of sorts. The sanctuary was truly a place of refuge and solace for me, and adjusting to life without it has been a difficult journey.

As I grapple with accepting this change, I find myself searching for a way to experience His presence in the same profound way I did within the walls of the church. I yearn to bring the Eucharist home, but that is not a possibility.

So, I am left wondering how I can forge that deep connection with God once more. I am feeling empty and a bit lost. I am feeling a lot of frustration and sadness.

As I am writing, I realize I am mourning several big losses in my life. I miss my husband. Granted he is here physically, but he is so different. Dementia has changed him. I never know what I’m going to get from one day to the next.

Side note: For my non-Catholic readers, I know our beliefs might differ. Just keep in mind that my perspective on faith and Mass is deeply rooted in my personal experiences, and it’s something that really helps me navigate life. I respect your beliefs, and I hope you can respect mine too.

God bless

Reflections on Mercy, Justice, and Childhood Memories

Dec4

I’m going to have to remind my hubby to drink more water throughout the day. He had charlie horses off and on through the night. He eats bananas but that isn’t enough. Anyhow I woke at 10:00am. That’s late for me. The fire was out, but the house stayed surprisingly, warm. I had gotten up at 7:00 am to give Starfire her meds. I went back to bed for a little me time. It was so peaceful, and quiet for a change. I didn’t expect to go back to sleep.

It’s Advent, and I am listening to the daily podcast, “Face to Face: Advent with Fr. Mike Schmitz from Ascension”. There are 25 episodes. Today is about getting justice. Every time we turn around we compare what we received to what others received and think it’s unfair. But, do we really want what we deserve from God? It’s all up to what we have chosen in life. Have we chosen to be kind, helpful, and considerate or are we choosing to be liars, bullies, and thieves? Thankfully, God is merciful. I’m choosing mercy because I definitely need it. I’m human. I make mistakes. I lose my temper, but I also try to be a good person; but because I am human, I slip up. Therefore I am asking God for mercy. Thank you, Lord Jesus. I don’t deserve mercy, but I’m choosing you. I’m choosing mercy. I truly believe my salvation is dependent on how I handle my hubby’s dementia, how I treat him, and how I love him. I think many of us will be judged for how we care for others; especially those who are vulnerable or in need. Check out the Ascension app and listen to these episodes. They are very thought-provoking.

I’m also organizing Christmas dinner. I hope to purchase what is needed this Friday when I go to Fairbanks. I have a dental appointment that day and I like getting as much as I can taken care of when going to town. It burns a lot of gas, and fuel is costly. As a child, I recall at the gas stations the attendants coming out and changing the prices on the signs undercutting one another. I was perplexed and queried my Granny. Why are those guys running back and forth like that changing the signs? “Gas War”, she exclaimed. Wars are supposed to involve guns and explosives, right? I was a literal child, and I am still very literal. Gas was cheap then. Not anymore sadly.

Today is garbage day. I have to warm up the rig, pick up my kids’ garbage at their homes and then go to the dump. I also have to run to the post office. Later, I will write about one of Dave’s delusions.

Cheers!!