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Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Thanksgiving
It's almost Thanksgiving and my Dad is doing so well. He is eating more and even walking a little bit with the walker, gait belt and my help. It is such a joy to see how far he has come in such a short period of time. Since I have been home, he has requested: Goulash, seafood salad, pot roast, fish fry, salmon and too many other things I don't even remember! It is all homemade with the exception of the fish fry -- you have to go out on a Friday night and get some. It's one of the best things I like about Upstate New York. It's not a Friday night without a fish fry!
Speaking of Thanksgiving, my sister, her husband, my niece Jessica and her two daughters will be here. I'm going to make all homemade dinner with the Turkey: Stuffing, bread, mashed potatoes with gravy, cranberry relish, green bean casserole, apple and pumpkin pies! I enjoy cooking for my family and it is such a treat to be able to do so. It's a lot of work and preparation; however, it is for my family and after being on the road for 12+ hours, I want them to sit at the table and eat -- not have to worry about cooking.
I hope everyone out there has a great day with their family and friends and you don't forget what the day means. Be grateful in everything and to everything give praise, glory and honor to Jesus!
Speaking of Thanksgiving, my sister, her husband, my niece Jessica and her two daughters will be here. I'm going to make all homemade dinner with the Turkey: Stuffing, bread, mashed potatoes with gravy, cranberry relish, green bean casserole, apple and pumpkin pies! I enjoy cooking for my family and it is such a treat to be able to do so. It's a lot of work and preparation; however, it is for my family and after being on the road for 12+ hours, I want them to sit at the table and eat -- not have to worry about cooking.
I hope everyone out there has a great day with their family and friends and you don't forget what the day means. Be grateful in everything and to everything give praise, glory and honor to Jesus!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Happy Birthday
I'm edging closer to the 50 
mile marker -- yikes! When did this happen? Why did this happen -- can't we just turn back the clock? I have been told that I look around 15 years younger than I am. That is good news but it doesn't help the fact that in two more years I will turn 50! And, this happens in 2012
. I just knew there was going to be a disaster in that year. There has to be if I'm turning 50 -- see there is a connection!
mile marker -- yikes! When did this happen? Why did this happen -- can't we just turn back the clock? I have been told that I look around 15 years younger than I am. That is good news but it doesn't help the fact that in two more years I will turn 50! And, this happens in 2012. I just knew there was going to be a disaster in that year. There has to be if I'm turning 50 -- see there is a connection!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Yo Mama's Care -- Not Obama Care
I am now officially the Family caregiver! Yes, that means, "me!" This isn't going to be Obama Care
and I pray it never will be! Instead, I choose to think of it as "Yo Mama's Care. Is it going to be about how you would treat your mother and/or father -- not universally, but personally. Are you going to make a way for one or both of your parents in your life or home if it comes down to that instead of sending them to a nursing facility or a "home?" Is it the kind of "home" that you want to be placed when you get older? I certainly don't want to be put in a nursing home when I get older so I am planting good seeds
that will bring forth a good harvest. On a positive note -- I don't have any kids that will "send me" to a home.
I do have a few trepidations. I have never taken care of another person as intimately as I will need to do for my father. To transfer him in and out of the bed and his lift chair
, dress and undress him, take him to the bathroom and clean up after him, change his Depends, wash him, give him his medicine, feed him, etc. Am I going to be able to do all of this? My sister was a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) so she has had a lot of training with older people and with people that are not able to walk or take care of themselves. One of my gifts is hospitality but I'm not sure if this will be pushing the envelope in what I can actually do.
Ironic. Funny. Twenty-four years ago at this exact same time, I was moving to Texas and not sure what was going to happen. Now I'm going full circle and moving back to New York -- at least for an undetermined amount of time.
I arrived on July 4th to hot weather. Remember I lived in Dallas for 24 years so I know a little bit about "hot" weather! What is it doing reaching almost 100 degrees in New York? I don't remember it being this hot when I lived here and I emphatically declare, "I did not bring it with me!" I was hoping to be greeted with a little bit more open arms and cooler temperatures. Well, at least my sister was glad to see me since she had to go back to Tennessee in less than a week. I will have a few days with her to get caught up and for her to teach me how to transfer, bathe
, and feed Ensure
through the G Tube in his stomach.
and I pray it never will be! Instead, I choose to think of it as "Yo Mama's Care. Is it going to be about how you would treat your mother and/or father -- not universally, but personally. Are you going to make a way for one or both of your parents in your life or home if it comes down to that instead of sending them to a nursing facility or a "home?" Is it the kind of "home" that you want to be placed when you get older? I certainly don't want to be put in a nursing home when I get older so I am planting good seeds that will bring forth a good harvest. On a positive note -- I don't have any kids that will "send me" to a home.I do have a few trepidations. I have never taken care of another person as intimately as I will need to do for my father. To transfer him in and out of the bed and his lift chair
, dress and undress him, take him to the bathroom and clean up after him, change his Depends, wash him, give him his medicine, feed him, etc. Am I going to be able to do all of this? My sister was a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) so she has had a lot of training with older people and with people that are not able to walk or take care of themselves. One of my gifts is hospitality but I'm not sure if this will be pushing the envelope in what I can actually do. Ironic. Funny. Twenty-four years ago at this exact same time, I was moving to Texas and not sure what was going to happen. Now I'm going full circle and moving back to New York -- at least for an undetermined amount of time.
I arrived on July 4th to hot weather. Remember I lived in Dallas for 24 years so I know a little bit about "hot" weather! What is it doing reaching almost 100 degrees in New York? I don't remember it being this hot when I lived here and I emphatically declare, "I did not bring it with me!" I was hoping to be greeted with a little bit more open arms and cooler temperatures. Well, at least my sister was glad to see me since she had to go back to Tennessee in less than a week. I will have a few days with her to get caught up and for her to teach me how to transfer, bathe
, and feed Ensure through the G Tube in his stomach.Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Goodbye Girl
"Let me tell you goodbye doesn't mean forever ...." That's funny, it reminds me of a song 
and a movie!
Elevate Life Church has meant so much to me for the past 5 1/2 years that I was a member and servant leader. In my opinion, there is no better group of people that love the Lord and the people! Many people's lives have been transformed out of alcoholism, drugs, sex, etc. Whatever your vice is and we ALL have them, it is a great place to THINK, BE and DO. Our life is a journey and it is up to us to lead ourselves so that we can lead others. It never ends and if we don't get it right the first time, God has a way of taking us around the track and it is up to us to stop and decide we no longer want to keep going around that merry go round.
When I made my decision to move back home to take care of my father, I spoke with Gwyn Armendariz (or armed and dangerous!) who is on staff at this wonderful church. I served with her and the fabulous, do-it-all-never-stop Glenda Miner who is Pastor Sheila's personal assistant under the women's ministry. I wanted to treat them to lunch and tell her of my decision to step down from the SHINE ministry where I was the captain. To make a long story short, her husband told her ahead of time so she already knew when we met for lunch. When she and Gwyn arrived, she said she was expecting someone else to join us. I asked, "who else is going to be joining us?" She said, "Pastor Sheila" (i.e. Pastor Precious!). I knew at that time she knew what I was going to tell her! We ended up having a wonderful lunch and spent about 1 1/2 - 2 hours together. I was so blessed to have Pastor Sheila join us. When she found out I was leaving, she wanted to join us for lunch and be able to love on me a little bit. I am so thankful for the time I had there to serve with ALL the wonderful ladies in my SHINE team and the wonderful people on staff at Elevate Life Church.
It is certainly not easy saying "bye" to friends and not knowing when you will be back and see them again. If you know that you are headed in the right direction and your steps are ordered by the Lord, you also know that everything will be all right.
On the last night at my home, it had been raining almost non-stop. When I woke up that morning to put the rest of my stuff in the car, it was pouring down. The rain resembled what I was feeling inside -- all torn up, empty and crying. I knew if I started crying out loud, I would not be able to stop. What kept me going was the fact that I had a 12 hour drive for the day and since I wear contacts, I wanted to be able to see while I was driving and not have them all tear stained!
Pastor Ray Harmon called me after I had been on the road for about six hours and that was when I finally broke down. There was some part of me that wondered what I was moving away from and the covering that I would no longer have with this church and what my future held. Every day all we can do is walk by faith and do what we have been called to do. Never think that what "little" you might do is insignificant because it isn't! I always told my SHINE team that when we are together, especially for Girls Night In, you never know what anyone is going through and to be gracious to them (talk, smile, love on them) because you can make a difference. Who knows what a kind word or smile can do for someone? It can be the turning point in their life to bring about a positive change and direction.
"If you elevate your thinking, you will elevate your life." Keith Craft
SHINE Ministry: Spiritual Hands Inspiring and Nurturing Eternity
and a movie!Elevate Life Church has meant so much to me for the past 5 1/2 years that I was a member and servant leader. In my opinion, there is no better group of people that love the Lord and the people! Many people's lives have been transformed out of alcoholism, drugs, sex, etc. Whatever your vice is and we ALL have them, it is a great place to THINK, BE and DO. Our life is a journey and it is up to us to lead ourselves so that we can lead others. It never ends and if we don't get it right the first time, God has a way of taking us around the track and it is up to us to stop and decide we no longer want to keep going around that merry go round.
When I made my decision to move back home to take care of my father, I spoke with Gwyn Armendariz (or armed and dangerous!) who is on staff at this wonderful church. I served with her and the fabulous, do-it-all-never-stop Glenda Miner who is Pastor Sheila's personal assistant under the women's ministry. I wanted to treat them to lunch and tell her of my decision to step down from the SHINE ministry where I was the captain. To make a long story short, her husband told her ahead of time so she already knew when we met for lunch. When she and Gwyn arrived, she said she was expecting someone else to join us. I asked, "who else is going to be joining us?" She said, "Pastor Sheila" (i.e. Pastor Precious!). I knew at that time she knew what I was going to tell her! We ended up having a wonderful lunch and spent about 1 1/2 - 2 hours together. I was so blessed to have Pastor Sheila join us. When she found out I was leaving, she wanted to join us for lunch and be able to love on me a little bit. I am so thankful for the time I had there to serve with ALL the wonderful ladies in my SHINE team and the wonderful people on staff at Elevate Life Church.
It is certainly not easy saying "bye" to friends and not knowing when you will be back and see them again. If you know that you are headed in the right direction and your steps are ordered by the Lord, you also know that everything will be all right.
On the last night at my home, it had been raining almost non-stop. When I woke up that morning to put the rest of my stuff in the car, it was pouring down. The rain resembled what I was feeling inside -- all torn up, empty and crying. I knew if I started crying out loud, I would not be able to stop. What kept me going was the fact that I had a 12 hour drive for the day and since I wear contacts, I wanted to be able to see while I was driving and not have them all tear stained!
Pastor Ray Harmon called me after I had been on the road for about six hours and that was when I finally broke down. There was some part of me that wondered what I was moving away from and the covering that I would no longer have with this church and what my future held. Every day all we can do is walk by faith and do what we have been called to do. Never think that what "little" you might do is insignificant because it isn't! I always told my SHINE team that when we are together, especially for Girls Night In, you never know what anyone is going through and to be gracious to them (talk, smile, love on them) because you can make a difference. Who knows what a kind word or smile can do for someone? It can be the turning point in their life to bring about a positive change and direction.
"If you elevate your thinking, you will elevate your life." Keith Craft
SHINE Ministry: Spiritual Hands Inspiring and Nurturing Eternity
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