My daddy is in the hospital. My daddy has Alzheimer's and it's getting worse. Not so noticeably to those who don't know daddy so well...but oh-so-noticeable to us. How to open a coke can? How to pull out a chair to sit on? How to find that word that he wants to say?
Daddy got taken to the emergency room last night by ambulance. He had a raging fever, shaking, and major incoherence. My mom, brother, and I met daddy at the ER and began the process of finding out what was wrong and the incredibly long process of getting checked in!
He didn't recognize any of us really, but certainly seemed to have seconds of at least knowing that he should know us or knowing that we were "friendlies". How scary for an Alzheimer's patient to not know anyone around them!
He was diagnosed with urinary tract infection and antibiotics were given. The thought was that he'd be better in no time. Not quite so....tonight he is spending another night in the hospital and is having to be fed by mom...not quite sure how to open his mouth, chew, and swallow.
I sat in the room watching my mom taking sweet care of daddy! I almost felt like an intruder in their life watching my mom feeding daddy, wiping his mouth, coaxing him to open his mouth...keeping his dignity.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Fun Website!
I wanted to share a really fun website. I know that so many of you moms are always looking for creative, easy, fun things to do with your kiddos....of all ages!
Well...I was just introduced to a site: www.instructables.com ! It has step by step instructions for all sorts of things!
My kids and I just made the 5 Minute Chocolate Cake! You put all the ingredients in a coffee mug and bake it in the microwave for 2.5 minutes! Each person then has their own personal cake. It is especially yummy with whipped cream on it!
Ben thought of using these as a welcome for new neighbors! Bake the cake in a mug from your church and bring one for each adult in the house...along with the recipe so that they can do it again. What a great way to be neighborly and witness at the same time!
Enjoy!!!
Well...I was just introduced to a site: www.instructables.com ! It has step by step instructions for all sorts of things!
My kids and I just made the 5 Minute Chocolate Cake! You put all the ingredients in a coffee mug and bake it in the microwave for 2.5 minutes! Each person then has their own personal cake. It is especially yummy with whipped cream on it!
Ben thought of using these as a welcome for new neighbors! Bake the cake in a mug from your church and bring one for each adult in the house...along with the recipe so that they can do it again. What a great way to be neighborly and witness at the same time!
Enjoy!!!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
My Frustration!
I have the hardest time keeping my house straightened! Why is that? I feel as though I work at it ALL the time and it might stay that way for maybe as long as a day, and then BAM!! it's back to looking like garbage!
Aarrgghh....very frustrating....If I had money, I would hire someone to clean my house and someone to change my sheets each and every day! I do love clean sheets!
Back to my life now....after venting for a few minutes!
Aarrgghh....very frustrating....If I had money, I would hire someone to clean my house and someone to change my sheets each and every day! I do love clean sheets!
Back to my life now....after venting for a few minutes!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
A Surprise Friend
I have a surprise friend.
What is a surprise friend? Well...it's a surprise to me that we are friends AND she surprises me with phone calls periodically for the sole purpose of making me feel better!
She called yesterday out of the blue just to tell me that she heard some story on the radio that reminded her of me! She always has a laugh in her voice! She makes me feel better each time I speak to her. I've never heard her down about anything, and she has had things to feel down about! She inspires me to be a better person.
Why is it a surprise that we are friends? Well...I am probably technically old enough to be her mother! (ok...it would have had to have been a big surprise baby for me...but still...) I am probably supposed to be mentoring her, but the truth is that she mentors me. We really are so different.
Thank you friend...sorry I couldn't talk longer.
I hope that all of you have a surprise friend too! They are the best kind!
What is a surprise friend? Well...it's a surprise to me that we are friends AND she surprises me with phone calls periodically for the sole purpose of making me feel better!
She called yesterday out of the blue just to tell me that she heard some story on the radio that reminded her of me! She always has a laugh in her voice! She makes me feel better each time I speak to her. I've never heard her down about anything, and she has had things to feel down about! She inspires me to be a better person.
Why is it a surprise that we are friends? Well...I am probably technically old enough to be her mother! (ok...it would have had to have been a big surprise baby for me...but still...) I am probably supposed to be mentoring her, but the truth is that she mentors me. We really are so different.
Thank you friend...sorry I couldn't talk longer.
I hope that all of you have a surprise friend too! They are the best kind!
Monday, May 17, 2010
My First Pioneer Woman Concoction
The morning after getting the Pioneer Woman Cooks, I read it cover to cover and used my handy little sticky tabs to mark the recipes I wanted to try right away! Each red dot is a tab! Needless to say, very few recipes are not marked.
This morning I started with this one: French Breakfast Puffs.
Here are my little beauties in the oven! Looking good...
Prior to the butter and cinnamon sugar concoction...pretty plain looking...
OH!!! They look so much better now that they are dressed.
You can see how close my mouth is to the Puff....
Couldn't resist...a large bite jumped into my mouth! Ohhhh! The fluffy-ness! It is light and oh-so-edible. My mouth is watering again...I think. I. must. have. another. bite.....Sunday, May 16, 2010
Love God, Serve Others
I have learned something about myself recently. I have learned that one, if not THE, reason that I get involved in so much is that I am afraid others will think that I am lazy.
Why is that?
I discovered this a couple of weeks ago at our homeschool co-op's year end gala. I had chosen not to participate in the planning of the gala due to not being able to add one more thing at that time. I barely was able to get us dressed for the event!
It WAS nice to be able to get to the gala on time and not two hours early. It was lovely to just be one of the crowd and just watch.
The problem came when other moms were up helping to clear tables and I wasn't. It began to bother me....not that I WANTED to get up and clear tables; but I felt like I should.
It was then that it dawned on me that I didn't want all those around me to think badly of me. I was feeling guilty for not getting up.
I am working on this. I want to do things that God calls me to do. I want to serve, but I want to serve for the right motives. I want to love God first, and the serve others from that love.
I think I will be working on this for quite a while!
Why is that?
I discovered this a couple of weeks ago at our homeschool co-op's year end gala. I had chosen not to participate in the planning of the gala due to not being able to add one more thing at that time. I barely was able to get us dressed for the event!
It WAS nice to be able to get to the gala on time and not two hours early. It was lovely to just be one of the crowd and just watch.
The problem came when other moms were up helping to clear tables and I wasn't. It began to bother me....not that I WANTED to get up and clear tables; but I felt like I should.
It was then that it dawned on me that I didn't want all those around me to think badly of me. I was feeling guilty for not getting up.
I am working on this. I want to do things that God calls me to do. I want to serve, but I want to serve for the right motives. I want to love God first, and the serve others from that love.
I think I will be working on this for quite a while!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
One Down!
I am so proud of Ben! He has just completed his first semester of seminary. After deciding in August to start classes in January, he jumped in with both feet and did it! There were several surprises along the way, but he persevered.
By the way, I haven't heard his once-famous mantra lately: how hard can it be?
He is already signed up for summer and fall classes!
Way to go, Ben! You make us proud!
By the way, I haven't heard his once-famous mantra lately: how hard can it be?
He is already signed up for summer and fall classes!
Way to go, Ben! You make us proud!
Monday, May 3, 2010
There IS Hope!
Kally loves to set up a "breakfast cafe. It's a short white table that she drags in from the garage and fills with cereals, yogurts, fruits, etc. The boys just love walking into the dining room and seeing the "cafe" set up!
It brings a smile to my face to see her doing this for others. She really does love to serve other people. It brings warmth to my heart to see my boys, standing there oogling the offerings, pondering what they want to choose. And it brings a laugh to my lips to hear Rawley say, "Oh! I am going to the cafe! What will I pick today?"
These days, my kids are not always so pleasant with each other. But when I see mornings like this, I think there is hope! Hope that they will one day be kind to each other. Hope that they will be able to serve others in similar ways. Hope that they will live out their faith and the words of Jesus!
It brings a smile to my face to see her doing this for others. She really does love to serve other people. It brings warmth to my heart to see my boys, standing there oogling the offerings, pondering what they want to choose. And it brings a laugh to my lips to hear Rawley say, "Oh! I am going to the cafe! What will I pick today?"
These days, my kids are not always so pleasant with each other. But when I see mornings like this, I think there is hope! Hope that they will one day be kind to each other. Hope that they will be able to serve others in similar ways. Hope that they will live out their faith and the words of Jesus!
Saturday, May 1, 2010
The Love Chapter
My kids have been really at each other lately. It's quite annoying, aggravating, and sad. So...our new scripture memory is I Corinthians 13. The love chapter. Actually the kids are just learning the 15 things that love is and isn't; does and does not do.
I have a large poster with the list on a wall close to the table where we have been doing school. We read from it daily. It's been fun to hear them begin to say some of it independently. All I have to start saying is, "Love is..." and they chime in "patient and kind". They are getting the rest slowly.
It is changing their behavior a bit, I am happy to say. It won't take long and they will have all 15 memorized....and hopefully living them out as best as they can.
Learn longer sections of scripture with your kids....all of you will benefit greatly from it!
I have a large poster with the list on a wall close to the table where we have been doing school. We read from it daily. It's been fun to hear them begin to say some of it independently. All I have to start saying is, "Love is..." and they chime in "patient and kind". They are getting the rest slowly.
It is changing their behavior a bit, I am happy to say. It won't take long and they will have all 15 memorized....and hopefully living them out as best as they can.
Learn longer sections of scripture with your kids....all of you will benefit greatly from it!