Three years is an eternity!

I don't know whether to laugh or cry!  I'm so in awe at God's timing over and over again.  In an oopsie click of the mouse today while looking for my daughters spelling list from her teachers blog, I stumbled across the only 2 blogs I have ever written.  Ironically, they were near my mother's birthday 3 years ago - close together and in September 2012.  Here's what I didn't know.

My mother would soon be whisked out of my 'mundane, routine' life. My mom spent several weeks in evaluation at the hospital in October 2012 and then we had to make the very toughest decision to place her in a nursing home.  Only 3 weeks later, she passed.  Our last photographed visit was Halloween 2012 of Ladybug Abigail with her grandma. Amelia didn't get to go. I don't remember why.

I have no idea where the last 3 years have gone.  Life is but a vapor (James 4:14)!  My family and I have seen a lot of great times together, and I've been in the valley of some pretty tough grief.  My girls still grieve in ways without fully understanding what they are experiencing too.

For those of you in the trenches of dementia and alzheimer's, I have a very tender heart for you!  I pray for you!  I know it is THE only way I got through the time with my mother.  I learned so much from that experience.  I've also learned a lot from grieving and losing my best friend.

So, if you are drained and tired and worn-out from the 'mundane, routine'-ness of life, here are some things I recommend that got me through...

READ GOD'S WORD:  See, I made the mistake of selfishly 'venting' to God in prayer sometimes without even listening to what He wanted to say to me.  Read His word FIRST!  Some of my favorite scriptures were found during this time in my life.  Psalm 55:22 "Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you."  Digging deeper into this verse reveals such a beautiful description of immeasurable love.  Casting, like casting a line for fishing.  You are tossing/throwing your burdens up and away from you and on to Him.  And the definition of sustain is 'strengthen or support physically or mentally.  

synonyms:

comfort, help, assist, encourage, succor, support, give strength to,buoy up, carry, cheer up, hearten; informalbuck up'

Read it again ... Psalm 55:22 "Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you."  Now, read it again and again and on that bad day and on that best day and everywhere in between.  Post it in your house, and write it on your heart.

PRAY:  Of course, God wants to hear from us, but let's never just pray and not be open to God's truth, which is sharper than any double edged sword (Heb 4:12).

REMEMBER:  Remember the good times!  Remember the memories and happier times. Remember that what your loved one does isn't personal.  Remember you are NEVER alone (Hebrews 13:5) [side note on Hebrews 13:5, sadly, it is possible for US to move away from God and His love]!  Remember that one day you will wish you had just one more day, because I am here to remind you that you aren't promised tomorrow and I think I grew to 'expect' I'd have a long time of decline.

Lastly, CREATE: Create memories now!  Not only will you cherish them when your loved one passes, but you need to have others to create memories and connect with.  Take time to create memories while you still can!  A big virtual hug to you my friend!  May God bless you!