We know that Alzheimer’s Disease can teach us several things: patience, the importance of each day and how we should make memories while we can. But another, rather negative lesson also surfaces. Strongholds endure. A stronghold is any type of behavior or attitude that has a strong hold on us. Sometimes, it is the result …
Part 1 of this series encouraged us to be patient. Part 2 reminded us that each day counts. What is another lesson that Alzheimer’s Disease can teach us? Make Positive Memories. When our memories begin to deteriorate, we’ll want our children and other family members to remember good times we’ve shared together. Life is so …
In the first post of this series, we considered how Alzheimer’s Disease teaches us about patience. Another lesson to learn is one we may know, but don’t always keep in the forefront of our minds. Each Day Counts. Although most of us aspire to the philosophy of carpe diem, do we really live every 24 …
As a Christian, I try to focus on the positives in life – those creative surprises that God brings out of any situation. He promises that he can bring something good out of our struggles. We look for the good. We trust that He knows a better way. Truthfully, a belief in the positives has …
Every towel in Mom’s house was worn thin and bleached out. Drying off after a shower felt like rubbing sandpaper all over my body – great for exfoliation, not so great for comfort. So I decided to update my mother’s towels. I bought Mom a beautiful set of pastel blue towels, embroidered with a band …
We used to chat for at least 30 minutes about recipes, her grandson or my latest writing project. She asked me about life in Kansas, and I listened to her descriptions of life in Oklahoma. We discussed the weather because it affected the various crops, and she knew the farm life still flowed through my …
As my siblings and I checked out the room in assisted living, we talked about the various pieces of furniture that best fit the space. We wanted to bring Mom’s furniture and accessories that would help her feel most comfortable in her new surroundings. Family pictures—of course, artfully displayed on the corner cabinet that belonged …
All my life, Mom made my birthday special. One year, she made the most decadent gooey chocolate cake I’ve ever tasted. I walked into the house after a long basketball practice, plopped into my chair at the kitchen table and eagerly sliced a piece of that wonderful cake. It tasted like love. During my first …
Use the Life Story. Each of us has a life story and while we’re living it, we often don’t realize how important it is. The life story defines us, leaves a legacy and tells our loved ones who we were and how we dealt with each day and each situation. For caregivers, the life story …
A TV pastor recently said, “White lies don’t exist. A lie is a lie, and deception is always wrong. Tell the whole truth.” While I understood what he was trying to teach, I wondered—does he have any loved ones with Alzheimer’s? One of the struggles my siblings and I now face is that we sometimes …