Six Months Later. . .

It's hard to believe that almost six months have gone by since we returned from our mission. We think we've adjusted to being home, though, and are enjoying the slower pace of our lives.  We've done some fun things with our family and are looking forward to the holidays this year.  Our daughter, Julie, has improved, but she is still not well.  We have some very hard days, but she has attendant care during the week, which enables us to work outside, go shopping, or have some time to ourselves, and we're hopeful that she'll return to "normal" one of these days.

We enjoyed attending the annual Mackie Family Reunion in June, and in early July we flew back to Oakland for our granddaughter's wedding.  Julie attended a week-long camp for mentally handicapped adults in late Julie, and Ken and I went to Colorado in September to be with my sister during surgery.  In October twenty-three family members (all but one of our children and most of our grandchildren) drove or flew to Orlando to celebrate Julie's 30th birthday at Disney World.  In November we're going to Washington, DC, for another granddaughter's wedding, and in December, Ken and I will celebrate our anniversary in Oakland.  After that, we hope to spend more time at home!

This is Julie in March as a bridesmaid in a best friend's wedding.  She was happy and independant.  On April 11, 2011, she went into psychosis for unknown reasons, but according to her psychiatrist, it could possibly be due to the stress caused by our long absence, along with inflammation from the flu.  Inflammation can affect the brains of those with seizure disorder, we've been told.  We miss our happy Julie but trust in the Lord's goodness and his great love for her.

Julie at the Birmingham Alabama Temple

Some of my cousins, daughters, and granddaughters attended a fantastic Viking Cooking School class during our family reunion in Mississippi.  I'm on the far left, sitting next to my granddaughter, Jessica, and my daughter, Susan.  Julie wasn't able to attend, since she wasn't doing well that day.

Viking Cooking School in Greenwood, Mississippi

The three of us flew to Oakland in early July for our granddaughter, Jessica's, wedding in the Oakland temple.  They had planned the wedding for early July, because we were supposed to still be on our mission there!  Jessica's husband is from Petaluma, which is in the Oakland temple district. Julie was having a fairly good day.

Oakland Temple Grounds After Jessica's Wedding

Julie attended a week of Civitan Camp in July and had a great time.  She did very well and it gave us a needed break.

Julie at Civitan Camp

Ken and I drove to Colorado to be with my sister during delicate brain surgery.  We were gone almost three weeks and were glad to be able to serve her.  The surgery turned out well.

Julie's 30th birthday was on September 19th, and she had a fun time at a surprise party her three sisters gave her.  We promised her several years ago that when she turned thirty, we'd all go to Disney World.  Twenty-three of us went.  Even though Julie was not well and the crowds and noise seemed to bother her, she had fun with the characters and on the rides.  We're glad we were able to do this for her.  My daughter, Faith, had tee shirts made for everyone, and we all wore them on the day we celebrated Julie's special day.

Julie's 30th Surprise Birthday Party

Back of Disney World Tee Shirts

Julie - Showing Off the Back of Her Shirt