Care Meeting...

Yesterday was my mom's care meeting at the Nursing home. As I was getting ready to head there, I was thinking...Most people my age go to Parent/Teacher conferences, not care meetings for their mom's at a nursing home. But this is the journey God is taking us on. I knew it was going to be a pretty good meeting and not much to talk about. I was right. But it was nice to hear from the staff about my mom. The activities lady told me that they do one on one activities with her. Although, she doesn't really do much because of how the dementia has affected her brain, they still meet with her. Christina says she likes to sit with my mom and just hold her hand. I know my mom likes that because I do that with her too. They always take her when there is an activity with music. She still loves her music. I guess there is also a lady that comes in once a month that does aroma therapy with soothing music. Yup, they know my mom!

The nursing manager told me my mom is one of their favorites. I was proud. It is good to hear that from people who take care of my mom every day. Sarah said they still are helping her walk if she wants too, but it is getting harder and harder. They give her one finger food with each meal to keep her using her hands, well, her right hand. My mom is stable, no major changes or behavior issues. I am grateful for these stable days.

"Thy Will be Done"
Helen Steiner Rice

God did not promise sun without rain,
Light without darkness or joy without pain.
He only promised strength for the day, when darkness comes and we lose our way....
For only through sorrow do we grow more aware
That God is our refuge in times of despair,
For when we are happy and life's bright and fair,
We often forget to kneel down in prayer...
But God seems much closer and needed much more
When trouble and sorrow stand outside our door,
For then we seek shelter in His wondrous love,
And we ask Him to send us help from above...
And that is the reason we know it is true
That bright, shinning hours and dark, sad ones, too,
Are part of the plan God made for each one,
And all we can pray is "Thy will be done."
And know that you are never alone,
For God is your Father and you're one of His own.

Going home...

My mom's roommate is so cute sometimes. She is always telling me "how good my mom is doing and she is talking real well". She tells me how she is getting around and she can find her way to her room. Mary thinks my mom is there for rehab and will be going home. She asked me today "if my mom is going to go home when she gets better?" I just answered yes. There are some things you don't get into with some of the residents. I am not entirely sure what Mary's health status is. Plus, it is one of those times that I have learned through this process that a white lie is okay. There are just some things that the truth is not the right answer.

In my heart, it is the other way around. My mom will be better when she goes home. Oh, my heart wishes she would get better and be able to return to her old life, but I know that is probably not what God wants for us. I never thought I would ever feel that my mom is better off in Heaven. I would never go there because I didn't want to think about being here without her. But what the dementia has done to my mom.....I know this...

2 Corinthians 5:6-8
We are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Revelation 21:4
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things had passed away.

So, yes Mary, one day my mom will be going home.