Changes

The changes in Mary's wellbeing have taken their toll. Though they continue to press for more. I am in no way considering giving up, that's just absurd.
This evening, she tried to cook one of our favorite dishes for the first time in a long time. It simply did not go well. Don't get me wrong, the end result was delicious.
It comes down to a loss of independence. She used to be able to do it without my help all the time. Tonight, though, I had to open cans and jars for her, help her transfer food from the pan into the baking dish, then transfer from the baking dish to the plates.
This realization hit her pretty hard tonight. I know she wanted to do something special for us, but it ended up with both of us working together on it. It hit her so hard, she nearly cried over it. "I just can't do things myself anymore."
I reassured her that I love her, and that I'm right here to help out however I can.
Overall, it was the lowest point of the last few weeks. The changes themselves are causing us some concern. Plus, the stress of working from home and schooling from home after so much time working and learning with a group of people just sapped me. I ended up withdrawing from school, just to give myself a break.
A couple things brightened our lives, though, as we have amazing friends. One of our dear friends in Wisconsin and a family dear to our hearts in California sent us things to enjoy. They both brought tears to our eyes.