Abba's Girl

Over the weekend my mother was hospitalized again. Sunday it became evident to the doctors, it was time to make a decision regarding my mother's future. I made the painful but correct decision to put her in hospice care at the Alzheimer's facility.  For over 10 years, I've pushed, pleaded, cajoled, organized, scheduled, and "controlled" major portions of her life as Alzheimer's grip increased. With hospice, she is being made comfortable and I am once more her daughter.  She said I want to go, I told her when He calls you by name go. Since my mother is from another generation my husband told her how much he loves her and not to worry, he would take care of me.  She smiled and said thank you and I love you too.  Yesterday her BFF Karen and I read a few of her favorite passages from Psalms and various books in the New Testament. I will share one now, Psalm 121, from the ESV: I  lift up my eyes to  the hills.      From where doe...

A few hours after my last blog post, my mother tripped and broke her hip. It has been a hard week for her, due to Alzheimer's she forgets it is broken and doesn't understand why she is no longer at home. I've signed so much paperwork, I may have signed away one of my dog's kidneys. Tomorrow I will take an orchid plant to the hospital where she stayed several days. The nurses and CNAs were excellent at their job and poured out love and compassion on her. Today she will be transferred from a skilled care facility to an Alzheimer's community. So now, I must clean out her house which will take me for quite a ride down memory lane and prepare it to be a rental house. I must be wise in what to keep, donate, and discard. I also will learn how not to schedule my day around her needs and what if she needs mentality. As the demands increased over the last 10 years, and her life became more and more narrow so did mine, I didn't realize how much so until it dawned o...

Christmas is so far back in the rear view mirror I can barely see it. Many of my days are the same which is to be expected working part-time and caregiving full time. There is little deviation from the schedule, as a result, most days typically pass slowly. In the last 8 days, I've made plans to see a friend Sunday after church and to see another friend for dinner next week. Human contact outside my husband (I love him and am thankful for him, but I need time with my friends.) and care recipient. So far, I have not scheduled time for my online French course. I also signed up for an online stretch class. The class to work the calves, ankles, and feet seemed easy enough. Then, 4 hours later, each step was agonizing. Illustrates just how much I need the stretch class!  So my 2019 goals thus far are: Spend time in person with a friend/friends at least once a month.  Send greeting cards once more. Complete online French course. And I added the stretch class, ...

Today is the 11th Day of Christmas, it seems like Christmas and New Year's sped by more quickly than in years past. My house is still decorated, my Episcopalian roots are showing, I will pack away the Christmas decorations on Epiphany. No resolutions for me this year, I did set 3 goals: See a friend/friends in person at least once a month. As a caretaker, I let friendships slide without meaning to do so. I've also been slipshod about mailing cards to friends and family whether it is a birthday card or a card to encourage them. Valentine cards are purchased and will be mailed next month. Another goal is to complete an online French course. The book is purchased, the course is paid. Time to schedule it a couple nights a week after work. Short but sweet list, I think it is doable. I may add to it next quarter. As always I encourage you to spend time in the Word and prayer each day. For God so loved  the world that he gave  his one and only Son,  that whoever ...