Randy went with me on a stroll through the surrounding neighborhoods. I showed him where I do my morning power walks.
I made a new recipe for breakfast, similar to German Pancakes, except it is much smaller and made in a pie pan - so great for two. It included a blueberry topping. We are using up the last of our frozen blueberries from the summer pickings I did with Sister Truman in the fields her cousin had connections to. What a treat they have been!
W left the apartment for church a little early, because it was being shown again. We went to the Elm Street church house to take a picture of a picture frame :) which was an item given to us by a slightly strange lady who donated a lot of pretty nice furniture she had had in storage. Some of this will be used to furnish apartments for seniors, as well as other missionary apartments.
We enjoyed our block at Oxnard 2nd Ward and were taking Sister Richards home from church, when I checked my telephone (which I leave in the car during church). Three missed calls and a voicemail. All from Kim. Things at the Belisles had deteriorated (a whole other story I will not go into) and Kim packed up her kids and left. Sad situation. She called us from a pay phone. On our way up to meet her in the church parking lot in Ventura, I called Bishop Hooke to let him know what was happening. He met us in the parking lot, and it ended up that we all went over to the Hooke's for a nice dinner. It was a honestly pleasant time and fun visit. [Lori had just returned from taking daughter Emily to BYU, driving to Bear Lake and picking up daughter Katherine, who was there with friends, driving up through Soda Springs and Pocatello to Boise, and visiting her parents who live there.]
Randy and I left after dinner, and bishop counseled with Kim. We later learned that he (the church) put her up in a motel for three nights. She found additional help from somewhere and was able to get a few more nights paid for. Since then, I have talked with Kim on the phone, and last evening (Friday) we picked up some items at the dollar store to help entertain the kids and went over to the motel and visited for a few minutes.
Kim is trying (again) very hard to somehow find a place to live and a job. Some sort of stability for her little family. She is very determined and trying to be optimistic. My heart aches for her and especially for the children. We hope and pray that she will be able to make a go of it. Without Mikey. If she lets him back into her life and there is another domestic violence issue, her kids will be taken away from her. She had him arrested last time. There must not be a next time. At this point, I know she is determined there won't be. But we've seen her at "this point" before . . .
Later this morning, after I take Randy to the office, I am taking her family to breakfast. And I think for a walk over at the channels. She does still have her van, which is getting pretty banged up (??) and which has no gas. It is very hard to know how to help and how much to do or not to do.
Soon, we will be far removed, physically, from this situation. Wish we could whisk her off to Idaho and a place to live and job and a whole new start. Of course, that's not realistic. Besides, she has two older children in this area.
Prayers for Kim!
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