Finally!

I know, I know, it's been a while.  A long while, no excuses, I just did not have any inspiration.  So, what's been happening, well almost 9 months after my Dad died, I don't think I think about him any less or miss him any less but I have gotten to a point that when I do think about him, it's not him in a bed with limited memory or faculties.  It's more like him sitting and the kitchen table in the early morning drinking his coffee staring out of the back window looking for deer in their backyard.  That's the memory that I carry with me now along with many conversations with him during this time, I suppose this was our quite time, J hadn't come downstairs and my Mom hadn't gotten up yet, so it really was our time together.  And on another note my Mom seems to be turning a corner in finding out what her life is like without my Dad.  She's going out more on her own, like just this weekend she went to a wedding and this past week she went to a luncheon at the church, I can't tell you how proud I am of her.   Well until next time...

Great Article

If you have the time this is a good article about early onset Alzheimers ..... http://abcnews.go.com/Health/AlzheimersNews/story?id=7571166&page=1.  

Blessings,

Magnolia

Wordless Wednesday!

Blessings,

Magnolia

Kayleigh Freeman

As many of you may know by now, Kayleigh has gone home to be with the Lord.  I for one am torn by this because this little girl has been through so much and I am so glad that she is with our Lord and Savior right now, but of course my heart breaks for the family that she left behind.  So please pray for that family now that they may have the peace in knowing that she is whole now and they will one day see her again.

NOT ME MONDAY

That's right!  Since Stellan is safe and sound at home, MckMama is back at it with another NOT ME MONDAY, and so are we.....

I did not recently buy 2 long maxi dress just so that I don't have to shave my legs as often in the summer, that would be just lazy and ridiculous (I mean come on, who would have one for every day of the week now, just in case they went on a shaving sabbatical).  Not me!  Also, I would never use an excuse like the school field trip to get out of work, I mean did they really need another adult to be at the tours of our manufacturing facility.  I also did not take my camera with the cover of taking pictures so that we could put them in our news letter, that would be just silly.  And I also did not go trotting around town on Saturday without a stitch of makeup praying that no one would see me (thank goodness it's a BIG town).  And lastly, I would not be overly excited that my hubby is coming home from a 2 week class in TX, no NOT ME!

Blessing and a Great Week!

Magnolia

THE LAST STAGE

Stage 7 as defined by the Alzheimer's Association

Very severe cognitive decline (Severe or late-stage Alzheimer's disease)

This is the final stage of the disease when individuals lose the ability to respond to their environment, the ability to speak and, ultimately, the ability to control movement. Frequently individuals lose their capacity for recognizable speech, although words or phrases may occasionally be uttered Individuals need help with eating and toileting and there is general incontinence of urine Individuals lose the ability to walk without assistance, then the ability to sit without support, the ability to smile, and the ability to hold their head up. Reflexes become abnormal and muscles grow rigid. Swallowing is impaired. This is the stage that is the hardest for families, or at least it was for me.  I would sit and talk to my Dad and he'd just stare at the TV or the ceiling fan or what ever. It really stunk that I couldn't communicate with him at all.  He'd mumble sometimes  but that was about it.  I've put off this last stage because it's how I remember my Dad the most and I don't want to.  Although I have forced myself to think about times when he wasn't sick to get those images out of my head.  I remember the times when he and I would play basketball and when we'd ride bikes at our beach house and go to my grandmother's for breakfast almost every morning in the summer when he was on vacation.    Okay enough about that.  I do want to ask you all to keep praying for  Stellan, he and his family have had a time of it.  They are currently in Boston being seen by one of the top doctors in this field in the country.   Love & Blessings, Magnolia

ANOTHER YEAR OLDER!

Yes, I am another year older.  I am now labeled "mid to late 30s".  Do I feel older, in some ways yes and in some ways no.  I don't feel like I look any older and I don't feel any older, but my thought process is maturing.  I don't just do things nowadays, I think about what I'm doing and what the results or consequences are.  I also have grown in my walk with God, he has taught me so much in the last few years, I couldn't begin to go through everything.  The biggest thing is patience.  I have become more patient with others, especially with J and his missions with the Army.  I remember when he told me a couple of years ago that he would have to go back on active duty.  The first thing that I did was pray for patience and understanding.  You see the 1st time he was on active duty I was not the most patient person and I was definitely not understanding.  And God has sure answered my prayers.  To date, my pitching fits has been minimal and J and I are more understanding of each others feelings.  So therefore, I have grown in that aspect of my life.  There are a ton more examples that I could give but then I'd be babbling.  So onto the fun part of my birthday, Wednesday was my birthday and was fairly uneventful, but J and I had a nice time yesterday.  I asked to go to the zoo here in town for my birthday outing and of course he being the good husband that he is we went.  Along with everyone else in this city obviously!  But all in all, we had a great time and I got some great photos.  

Blessings,

Magnolia