Watching Him

It's a very challenging and humbling thing, to watch someone you love go through a difficult, elongated season of sickness.  The emotions are hard to categorize, they come in waves of urgency, gentle pushes, pangs of fear, and overwhelming sadness, as well as thanksgiving that he's still here, enduring and trying his best to fight.

I have the gift of time these days to serve him.  There are errands to run, bathrooms to keep clean, surfaces to sanitize, phone calls to doctors' offices and hospitals, medications to organize, along with all the regular household chores.  One of our specialists told us at the outset that having cancer was like having a full-time job.  He is right.

So what do I do when he's hurting, enduring side effects from the tsunami of chemicals that chemotherapy has introduced into his body?  I stay near, not always in the same room. I rub his feet, one of the only things that helps him forget for a while.  I make sure I have his few favorite things ready to eat in the fridge and on the counter.  I'm desperately trying to keep weight on him.

And today I made him a favorite meal, stuffed peppers and garlic-rosemary mashed potatoes.  Of course he helped me and made sure that I was seasoning correctly.  😋

With the practice of quarantine these days, I realize that Tony is in the dreaded "immuno-compromised" category that the doctors warn about.  He won't be leaving the house anytime soon, nor will I.  I'm trying to watch over his soul, making sure he is well in this lonely, shut-in state.

And while I'm watching him, I'm also staying near to God, listening to His still small voice, reading His word so that I might be able to be useful to my beloved.  

Tony’s Simple Marinara Sauce

Good Italian cooking is simple.  Here's one example:

Tony's Marinara Sauce

8-10 minced garlic cloves
1 chopped medium sweet onion
1 / 2 cup+ extra virgin olive oil
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can crushed tomatoes
1 tablespoon tomato paste (if needed to thicken)
salt, pepper, crushed red pepper, Italian seasoning

On medium-high  heat lightly brown garlic and crushed red pepper (to taste) in olive oil.
Add onions and saute until soft.
Add salt and pepper.
Add tomatoes and Italian seasoning.
Simmer on low  for 15-20 minutes and it's done!

Serve immediately over cooked pasta.  Add grated Romano cheese (or Parmesan) and enjoy.

This is a nice pizza sauce.  Spread over dough, top with cheese and bake!

April 2020 - Hope Springing Up

In the midst of this quarantine

my yard is awakening from its winter's sleep.

The plants aren't afraid to face the future,

and neither am I.

So with prayers and hope, I offer these

photos from my humble garden.