What a decade so far!

 I can’t believe it is now 8 years later!  I have embraced this decade but what a decade it has been!  Looking back I can understand how I got off track from this blog. My Mom passed in 2016. Since she was living with us for over 13 years, that was quite an adjustment in life as we know it as well as the home.  

And one if our adult children moved back home for awhile. Another adjustment.  

Then the Covid lockdown hit!  We were quite busy doing nothing while making it seem like something!  Zoom get togethers and bible studies.  Home school with with Stephen. Ordering groceries and dinners.  As well as traveling (anyway!) to see our two new grandchildren.  

So we have resurrected from all that and now are on the other side.  

I am still in the decade, but sometimes I think it is embracing me!  I have just begun another year of guitar playing for St. Michael’s.  And I’m glad to do it. Stephen is in his last year there in the post graduate class Exploration Academy.   What a treasure!

Life is good. Our Christian community, the People of Praise, is still thriving  here. We are learning how to care for one another no matter what decade you are in! 

A school begins yet again I pray you all have a great school year and that the Lord surrounds you with his protection!  

  The year in review ,:
 December is a very busy month,  not a whole lot of time to sit and reflect.  But I did just want to post while I'm thinking about it :
 How have I embraced this year when I entered my 60th decade ?
 Embrace the decade has been my motto.   I have done three pretty amazing things (for me) this year.
 I already posted about finishing my first 5K. I don't know if I'll do any others but I did that one in under an hour which is amazing for me.
 Secondly I actually finished the manuscript for a book I have been dreaming of for many years.   Mom's Psalms is at the publisher and almost ready for publication.   I will keep you posted.
 Thirdly thanks to certain circumstances at Stephen's school I am now playing my guitar again for a weekly mass.   Due to some painful arthritis in my thumb I had  pretty much stopped playing my guitar.   But the need arose for a guitar player and I asked the Lord to heal me so that I could do this for the children.   Well it worked!  Even though I still have the arthritis I am able to play the guitar pain-free and make a difference for the wonderful special kids at St. Michael's.    And I really love playing and singing.   As the saying goes "he who sings prays twice"!
 Blessings for Merry Christmas and hopefully we all have a wonderful new year!
 Embracing the decade!

Still moving forward!

So I walked quickly the 5 K race in May!  My goal was to finish in an hour.  I didn't expect to because I realized my app was counting my steps wrongly  and I wasn't training as hard as I thought. However as I approached the finish line, the clock read 1:00.23! There was time to cross before it got to 1:01!  So I sprinted painstakingly, .35,.36,.37 got closer and finished at 1:00.45!  Whew!

I have also still been reading. I read Hope for the Workplace by Bill Dalghety, wonderful examples of bringing Christ to the work environment without ever mentioning him. I am working on the Great Reformer, a story of our current Pope Francis. Also just finished Just Alice, a story written from the patients point of view about early onset Alzheimer's disease. Very insightful!

And today is my 40th anniversary! How blessed I feel to have been happily married to Phil for 40 years.  That's longer than my parents has before my dad died. In a way it doesn't seem that long. But it's been a pleasure going through life with a mate, someone who cares about what you think,what you do during the day,who you talked to, where you went. We matter to one another. It's very good.  Thank you Lord!

Embrace the decade!

My new motto, Embrace the decade!  I turn 60 this week!  The 50s weren't so bad, but I do look a tad older now than 10 years ago.   I fear the 60s will do worst!  However, there is not much I can do about the passing of time so I will embrace this decade and give it a run for the money!
🔹First of all, I will keep my brain sharp.   I have resolved to read one book a month, I am on target for that.  January's read was A Light Will Rise in Darkness.  An intimate sharing of growing up black and Catholic in New Orleans.   Interesting that I always felt welcomed as a Catholic in New Orleans because of the large Catholic population.  However among the African Americans, that distinction was not favored.   An insightful read.
February's  book was Switch.  How to help situations and people change and accept change.  I learned a few things.
I am beginning my Godson TC Elliott's book, Axes of Evil for March.  It is a cold case Murder investigation of the 1912 Ax Man murders.  Not sure what to expect but knowing the author makes it worthwhile.
🔹Secondly I am getting my body in shape to tackle this decade!  I began last year by completing the Couch to 5K app and worked up to  jogging 30 minutes.   This year I have decided to actually jog/walk a 5 K race in May. (To benefit the Women's New Life Center) Never did that before.
Of course I continue my weight loss journey.  It's slow but it is happening!  Every pound lost means my knees have a better chance of making it through this decade unscathed!
🔹Spiritually I am upping the ante.  I will not slow down my service to the Lord or to build his kingdom!  I am going to work (through prayer and medication ) to get past the arthritis that plagues my thumbs and continue to play the guitar.  I am determined to do it because there is a need.  Younger folks, please learn to play the guitar!
🔹Embracing this decade means I will most likely be seeing my mom off to the heavens at some point. I hope that the Lord will give me the grace and peace to do it right.   At this point she is my biggest fan!  ("You're so pretty!") 😊

Time for me to get to prayer and my workout. Peace to all who read this.

Happy New Year

Last year I restarted this blog with a healthier me in mind.  I was somewhat successful, though the journey continues. 

Mom on the other hand had a year of decline.  She will be 90 next month.  Falling and breaking her leg twice and the surgeries and ensuing hospital stays took their toll.  She is still living with us and I have sitters to help care for her.  Don't know how long she will be with us but we try to make her life as comfortable as possible.  

Aside from that pending sadness, I approach 2015 with a positive outlook. 

We ending 2014 so wonderfully!  All the family was in town for many joyous gatherings.  I really am quite blessed and feeling much love!  Even celebrated (a little early) my 60th birthday coming up.  I plan on embracing the decade (rather than letting it overtake me!) 

So here's to moving forward. Perhaps I'll find a way to post pics from my phone to the blog!

Have a fantastic year everyone!

Fall already!

Well it's been awhile since I've posted obviously!
I think I have dug out from under the craziness of Mom's situation.  She is home and we have a rhythm of  care for her.  Thank God for Joan and Gloria who sit with her!  And clean up when she is sleeping!  Mom has not improved mentally.  Her decline continues.  But the leg is healed and we did manage to get some physical therapy to help her get steady on her legs again. I don't know how well she will do.   It's driven by her mental state.  If she is fearful or overly sleepy then
Nothing gets done.
Stephen loves the high school program at St Michaels.  And I have resumed Rhythm Band classes there once a week. Lots of fun!
I have continued the Couch to 5K training on and off.  I just finished week 5 and jogged for 20 minutes straight.  Quite an accomplishment for me!  Feeling energized by that!
We hosted another Pentecost Seminar for some Tulane students this past weekend.  So exciting to see God's work in his people.
I have also restarted the bible study.  We have 12 people coming!  Quite a crowd in my den!  But a great group of women!
God is good!

In Summer!

Ah summer.   June was an amazing vacation month.  We went to disneyworld with Joanna and kids.  Then to Pensacola beach - just me and Phil.  Very nice and relaxing.

 Then July was consumed by taking care of my mom who fell once again and is in a skilled nursing facility (SNF).  Even though she is not at home, the trips to see her (20 minutes across the river) and the talks with therapists, doctors and nurses has been very time consuming!  Thus I haven't had a chance to even post to my blog.  So I will try to update at least weekly.

This Tuesday she will be four weeks out from the fall, break and surgery. Can't walk on the leg for another 5 1/2 weeks.  Will probably be coming home with hospice when she does return. The doctor has decided that her advanced dementia is terminal.   Sounds awful.   But she has had some really "out of it" days.  Today however was a much better day.  Taking it week by week.

Personally, my fitness had taken a back seat, so not doing too well there.  I did however begin the "couch to 5 K " program.  I'm two weeks into it.  Hopefully it will get me back on track.

Also I was making progress on my book project- "Mom's Psalms" ©2014.  Trying to find a venue to publish me. Moving forward on that is very rewarding.

School starts in a week and a half. Then summer will be over.
Wonder what good news August will hold?

Friday

It's a week later and we are home and settled in from our trip.  Mom and I are sitting on the back deck since the rainy day is over and the sun didn't have time to heat things up!
Disneyworld was great, but I wouldn't do the 5day pass again. 3 is plenty wear and tear on the body!
We Did take a break on Sunday to visit my Aunt Phyliss and cousin Marsha and family.  That was a treat for all of us!  Played in the Atlantic Ocean as well.  Went with them to an upbeat youth Pentecost mass.  Very nice especially for the kids.
The only drama was the last night at Epcot, we misplaced Stephen for about 20 minutes.  Thank God for friendly strangers who sat with him till his family came to get him!  Stressful ending to an otherwise very fun and exciting trip.
And I was right, all the walking negated any over eating on my part.  Yay.
Now we gear up for Stephens visit to Lions camp, the sleep away special needs camp.  He loves it.

Here is my thought for Thursday:  Disney world touts that they are the  place where your dreams come true.   I think that is  intended for little ones whose dreams are uncomplicated and whose responsibilities are few.   For Stephen, he proclaimed, "all my dreams are coming true!"  It was magical to watch his wonder and amazement.  But since my dream for him is his happiness, I guess my dreams came true as well.  😊

Vacation

Who knows what day it is!  Getting away from the demands of caregiving and relaxing at disneyworld!  Wouldn't call it relaxing, but definitely a change of pace!  Lots of happy colorful faces,  costumes and perfect hair (wigs). The nights are a bit late for me.  Even when we come back to the hotel before 8 we still don't get to Bed before midnight.   Stephen has much more stamina than he did 8 years ago.  (My profile picture is from then. Guess I'll update!).  However Joanna's kids are giving out earlier.  But really it's been very nice.  Every show is amazing.   Stephen is having an awesome time.  And the characters are so very nice to him.
Looks like Grace Marie and family are taking good care if grandma and the dog.  They have grandma playing cards and monopoly.  So sweet of them!
Health wise I figure I am walking off whatever I eat right??

Thoughts for Thursday

So it's been pretty busy. Stephen had graduation today.  It was very nice.  He will
Not go to the last half day of school tomorrow. That's his birthday anyway.
.  Phils co worker came fir dinner - BBQ burgers to celebrate Stephen.  It was a nice evening.  He is 33!  Glad to get to know someone from work.
Good news is that we did have a visit with Bobby and Sloan on Sunday.  And the dr did ok the PT to
Come reevaluate mom.  he agreed we could use a few more weeks to get her up and down steps and in and out of bed.  So I'm grateful For that.
Health wise, this low carb plan has been working. Down 8 lbs in two weeks.  Need to Keep sticking to it!
I think there is a vertigo virus going around. I keep getting an off balance sensation. A few of my friends had some really bad dizziness just last week.  Craziness!
Might get to bed early tonight.
Planning a birthday swim party for Stephen on Sunday.
Thoughts for today- if you are caring for someone, you child or parent, you have to be an advocate for them. Don't be afraid to ask questions and talk to doctors.  Your loved ones depend on you!
Thanks for reading!

Sleeping Saturday

Mom us having a sleep day.  A predictable one since she was very awake and active yesterday.  And after two days of normal relating, she began to not make sense. It a her pattern of life now.
The physical therapists have completed their twelve visits.  She still needs help so I guess I'll have to
Petition the dr for more. Unsure of the outcome. Although the sitter and I have learned the routine, she definitely responds better to the therapist!

Have been enjoying yet another cool spell in the
Mid of May!
Sitter is here now so we can go to
My nieces (Chelsea) graduation party
Hope to see my brother Bobby and son Sloan passing thru tomorrow.

The new "normal" and thought for Thursday

I love my iphone.  I feel like I won't waste a minute of time waiting as long as I am connected.  Yesterday I brought my van toToyota for service.  While I waited I updated my budget and sent out emails.  Today I am Bringing Phils car in for service and decided to do a blog entry.  I am sitting outside enjoying the morning breeze ignoring (sort of) the interstate car sounds just 100 yards away.

So the new norm is  that I have a sitter everyday because mom can't get up by herself and walks very slowly with her walker. But it's only been three weeks since she broke her hip so I think she is doing really well considering.  Thankfully the home hospital bed has a side rail that keeps her safe overnight. So we all sleep well. The goal is to get her stronger and back to a regular bed that she can get in and out of herself.  Good to have goals.
In the meantime my life continues.
Stephen will make his confirmation next week and graduate elementary school the next.  Then school is out and we are planning summer trips.
Phil goes out of town on business trips and with the help of our sitter(Joan - who
Mom likes) I hold down the fort.  This prolonged spring has been glorious!

In the health column, a sure sign of my stress is that my weight was going up!   But now that I have come up for air, I decided to get serious and do atkins for awhile.  Down5 lbs so far.  Nothing breeds success line success.
So that's life in a nutshell for now.
Thoughts for Thursday - whatsoever you do to the least of my people, that you do to me..

Life changes

So mom is home now - came home on Friday.  A lot of recouperating needed. Though her sitter Joan works wonders with her. She even got in the wheelchair and sat outside for a while.  Not walking yet. Just enough to transfer. And mentally she is here and then she is somewhere else in time and space.
We have had Theresa's family in town.  A rare treat.  They are a blessed diversion from the geriatric scene.
I started this blog trying to motivate myself on eating and exercise.  These last two weeks have been an eating disaster. Gotta get back to some kind of plan.  Hard to take self time with so much else happening.

Hospital

Well here we are again.  Sitting with mom in the hospital. She is having a bout of "sundowners" wanting to get her car and go home now!   I am staying the night.  Hope I get some sleep. Hope she gets some sleep.

On the bright side, even though she fell and broke her hip, the  surgery repair went well.  Now comes the hard part, getting her mobile enough and breathing enough O2 to go home.  Prayers are appreciated!

I haven't written in a week.  I tried to take a break from a few things to slow down just a bit.  Getting ready for Seder meal,this week, plus Theresa's family coming in town!  And Michael and Piper coming in town last minute. 

And because of mom, I'll see two of my brothers also this week.  Lots of comings and goings! 

I am trying to recommit to WW.  And was down 1 pound at weigh in. It's a restart.  Hospital sitting and eating probably won't help.  But gotta keep moving forward!

I'm tired now so I'll close.  Gotta stop grandma from unhooking her wires!

Sunday

It's been a busy weekend, (I need to find another word instead of "busy"). Had some yummy meals lately, crawfish salad, charbroiled oysters, lamb kabobs.   Not all at once of course.  But savoring the delicious food of New Orleans.  Not helping my diet at all!

However I did go weigh in on Friday and vowed to get a grip and work at reducing calorie intake.  Had a good walk today. Gotta plan.  

Stephen and I saw Jesuits production of Damn Yankees.  It was a very good show.  Stephen was very interested. The director said she tweaked a few of the lines and lyrics to make it more affirming of women.  That is so encouraging to hear that.  

Tonight mom is a bit confused.  Wants to go home and can't believe that "home" is here with me for the past 11 years!  The thing is she will forget this incident tomorrow.  I just hope that she doesn't get all worked up about it.  Funny because she had two really good days where I started to think that maybe her thinking was clearing up.  Then she starts packing to go home.   

Well she is quiet now and I hope she goes to bed soon.  

Another adventurous week lies ahead.  God good and in control.  

Thoughts for Thursday

It's good I went to the  eye dr. And I was right the contact lens did protect my eye, that's the good news. I was spared a serious cornea abrasion because I was wearing the contact lens.  The bad news is the contact lens was ruined, it got dented!  Thankfully my eye is healing and I am able to wear an old contact lens until I get a new one ordered. Craziness!

My women's group went out with me on a gondola ride in city Park last night. It was a belated celebration for my birthday. The weather was perfect and the boat ride was so much fun. I loved seeing city Park and the sculpture garden from the view of the lagoons.

Today was busy as well and ended with the trip across the lake to go help out Joanna. I picked up her three kids from school and got them supper at the " best place in the world to eat "which was raising canes!  It was a fun evening even though Joanna was under the weather.

Thought for the Thursday : God loves my children even more than I do!

Tuesday

As I write this I am recovering from being bopped in the eyeball by an
 Empty water bottle that Stephen tossed at me.  Feels a little strange. Hopefully it will be ok.  I think my contact lense actually protected my eye.  Goodness!

Anyway, the more I write here in my blog the more I am following other bloggers. Interesting reading the lives of people.

Mom has been sleeping most of the last two days.  Her O2 level seems ok so,I guess she is ok.

The Pentecost seminar we gave went very well. We were pretty exhausted  afterward.  Now it looks like there are six more Tulane students who want to come so we may do another seminar next week.
No grass growing under our feet!

Speaking of grass growing, I enlisted the help of grand kids Cy and Kerri to get my garden finished -planted and mulched.  It looks beautiful!  They earned some spending money and I saved my back and knees!  I like this arrangement!  What other projects do I need help with?

A few of us are continuing a bible study on Tuesday mornings.  Right now we are reviewing a Word Among Us lenten study from a few years ago.  It is short, but insightful and gives us something to think and share about.

Also on Tuesdays we have been having dinner around the corner with seem friends of ours. Kathleen does the cooking mostly. I am getting spoiled.  I don't cook much on Monday and Wednesday because that's when I bring Stephen to swimming right at supper time.  Now I am basically not cooking on Tuesday either.  Doesn't bother me!

I better sign off. My eye still doesn't feel right.  Lord, heal me.

Thursday's thoughts on Friday

Busy week again.  Wednesday  I helped mom clean up and wash her hair. Later that day, she came out with the scissors and had cut off a good bit of hair.  She wanted me to cut the  back!  So much for the perm she got last month. Then on Thursday she woke and told me she wasn't well and didn't want to go to bingo.   So I met Grace's family for lunch for Zelie's birthday.  Afterward I was going to shop, but something told me to go home and check on mom.   Sure enough, she was up and ready to get dressed to go! We were there halfway through the games.   But it was ok even thought the sign said "no late birds" (what?).  We played and I actually won $5.  Mom was glad to go and I'm glad I listened to that nudge from The Lord to check her out.
Phil was out of town Wed and thurs which makes life a bit crazier.  And I had a seminar  to prepare for.  I say this so I can rationalize the eating I've been doing.  Ah well, I am trying Lord.
Friday night I got to give  the Rachel talk.  I do this in costume that is customized.  And I have to memorize a 20 minute soliloquy.  Al went well though.
We have six college students at our Pentecost seminar.  I think The Lord is working here.
And I am playing guitar as well.  .  Thankfully it is just a few songs and the arthritis in my hands does complain much!
Now that my " Rachel" talk is over, I am more relaxed.  I do need to get to bed though.  I am falling asleep as I write this, even while I was playing candy crush. I'm on level 143 however,   Not bad.
Well God is good and the Caribbean rum is kicking in.  My thought for the day:
Enjoy The journey and the anticipation of the journey.  Life is too short not to
 stop and smell the flowers!
Happy birthday to Zelie and to Kristen tomorrow.

Sunday

I just finished a weekend retreat for the People of Praise gulf coast women.  It is such a joy to get together  with them.  Ladies from Shreveport, New Orleans, biloxi and mobile.  Some I only see once a year. God showed me his mercy and love more then once.  I am grateful.
On the home front things were a bit crazy.  Mom was "up" as we say.  The sitter thought she was hilarious.  I would describe it as  manic.  She wasn't making much sense at all.  But I took her and our retreat speaker, Chris, on a ride to the French quarter to see the river.  We found an excellent parking spot and got out and sat on a bench to watch the steamboat, barges, cruise ships and tugboats on the busy Mississippi. There was a jazz band playing.  Quite the happening place.   I think,the drive was good for mom.   However on the ride back she told us about the people she talked to (she did not) and that we were really all on the subway the whole time.  Crazy!  Phil was a good son-in-law taking care of her while I was gone.

Didn't post a thought for Thursday but just know what scripture says about God :
"Greater than his majesty is the  mercy that he shows"

Tuesday

Well it seems I have had a busy weekend since I didn't post here.  I have very busy this week.  Phil was out of town but returned on Sunday morning. Thankfully.  I kept a quiet pace with Stephen and mom for the most part.  Saturday evening I took them both to Grace's house where her family and Joanna's family and us all enjoyed a yummy meal for my birthday.  Things got a little crazy near the end especially where grandma was ready to leave and Stephen wasn't!
I ate a lot that night.

Sunday we went to the St. Patrick's day parade that happens to pass just six blocks away from here. We rode our bikes down and stayed long enough to get quite a haul of vegetables and beads.  We gave away all but one of the 8 cabbages.

Sunday afternoon we had a baby shower for a friend who is expecting to adopt a baby being born this weekend. Our prayers are that it all goes through.

Fitness wise I fear all my busyness gets my eating and exercise off track. I remain stuck at the same level.  And this week I will probably not be going to weigh in just because of time restraints.

Tomorrow my rhythm band plays at a Ladies Guild mass at St. Michaels. Friday we go on retreat for the weekend.  I am Basically in charge though not giving the retreat.  The little details will be my concern. Getting lots of prayer time in so I can be at my best.  I have hired sitters to help Phil with mom while I'm not there.  It will be good for me to get away.  I'm sure The Lord will be there.
Got a lot to do between now and then.  But keeping busy means  life is happening and that's a good thing!