Hey Gang, It has been a crazy time, and after a different kind of October with some fruitful outreach in Salem, I am now in Long Beach, California.

I am staying with my mom, and for a season, I am becoming her full-time caretaker. She has come to the point that she cannot take care of herself on most days, and consequently, she needs some regular care. My brother and sister have done their best to try and hold it together, but are unable to devote full time to it, so they have done it on evenings after work and weekends.

She had a season of falling with some regularity, but somehow has been able to do so without hurting herself. On the flip side of that, she also could not get up afterwards, and the place she lives is a retirement community, but it is not licensed for elder care. So, if she falls they have to call 911, even if she is not hurt. She had fallen enough over the course of a couple months to make it questionable whether she can stay there on her own. So, enter stage left – me. I will be taking care of her full-time for a season. I have had to register with the state of California as her In Home Social Services Caretaker. This morning, I went to an orientation as the last official part of this preparation. Now, this is a good thing that I am able to do this at this time, but there is no question that it will be a difficult season. I’ve had two days off in the last month-and-a-half, and caring for mom is a pretty much a 24/7 on-call type of job right now.

It looks like I will be here until early May at the least. At that time, I need to travel to Austin for the MultiFaith Matters gathering, where I hope to see some of you. At this point, my schedule after that is still up in the air, so in a very real way, my commitment here is an indefinite affair.

Help with dressing, bathing, cooking, cleaning, and other assorted duties are all a part of this season. One day, mom can seem limitedly independent, and the next day requires that all the basic care items are in need of help: dressing, toileting…. My life is filled with cleaning, walking her little Miniature Dobie – Charlie, cooking, bathing mom, administering meds, and being there enough hours to make sure she does not get herself into trouble. I am also staying at her place, which is quite small. Consequently, if she gets up so do I. And yes, she gets up a couple times a night.

Prayer is welcome. It has been an exhausting month-and-a-half as I adjust to the new schedule, which, as it turns out, can only be semi-scheduled, and is full-time in the truest sense.

I am trying to keep my writing and podcasting going, and am hoping to have an occasional free weekend to develop a speaking and outreach schedule. I have posted most of my Wild Theology Podcasts on YouTube and you can follow me there at this link.

I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to be here now, and hope to get to a point where study and writing can continue, and preparation for the next season of outreach can begin. An example of how busy this has been, I’ve wanted to get this email out for at least a month, but by the time I have a few free moments they are either interrupted, or my brain has turned to mush. So, belated Happy Guy Fawkes Day, Thanksgiving, and Merry Christmas to you all!