It's Butterfly Time!

I can't believe it is almost time for my favorite time of year!  My students will be learning about "How To Be A Friend To Someone With A Disability" soon.  Last week I had my parent meeting to share with the parents what the kids will be learning over the next month.  I am so grateful for the supportive parents I have.

The kids are already dreaming big about what they will do to raise money for Joni and Friends, "Wheels For the World" project.  The kids are excited about making a difference in other children's lives by raising money to purchase wheelchairs.  Five year-olds have such giving hearts!

I hope you will join us again on our journey.  As always it will be incredible because kids understand how to love and sacrifice.  Stay tuned...great things will be happening!

Deana

Kindred Spirits

Today has been a day of interesting conversations.  Don't get me wrong I love talking to my incredibly supportive husband but men just don't know how to pour their hearts out like women do.  We can tell our life story, laugh, cry and joke around all in the span of an hour!

Today I had lengthy conversations with women in their 40's, 50's and 70's.  All of them are experiencing their own kind of pain and all of them are trying to figure out their place in this life, what God's plans for them are, what their next step is and sometimes, how to even take a step.  In the midst of these conversations there are two things I realized.  First of all, we will continue to have crossroads in our lives.  We won't just be trying to find ourselves in our 20's.  It will happen at different stages of our lives, throughout our lives.  Secondly, we need kindred spirits.

In the crossroads, for me at least, I like to think I am in control of when they will happen and the choices I will have.  All you have to do is talk to a few people that have lost a spouse and you will know that is not true.  We may have our life very planned out and suddenly our road comes to an abrupt stop and we have to make a choice on which way we will go.  

No matter what our struggle is, we all need kindred spirits.  Someone that can step into our journey and offer support and even more importantly, understanding.  Many times God has reminded me of a friend that has been in a similar situation and I have reached out to them for advice but often times he sends me a complete stranger.  Sometimes that person can be much younger and sometimes much older than ourselves, but the beautiful part is that God placed them there for us.  

Do you need a kindred spirit today?  Do you need someone that can identify with your struggles and be understanding?  Look closely today.  You never know who God has prepared for you.

Issues of Aging: Alzheimers/Dementia'

A few evenings ago I went to see the movie, "Still Alice," based on the book Still Alice by Lisa Genova.  I read the book about a year ago because I have a loved one struggling with dementia.  I loved the book!

It has been one my "to do list" to see the movie since it came out but I was hesitant to because I knew aspects of seeing the movie would be really difficult.  They were.  The movie powerfully depicts the struggles of Alzheimer...the struggles of the patient, the family and even society.  It is heartbreaking for everyone involved.

I found the way Alice responded to her diagnosis intriguing.  She educated herself on what was happening, prepared herself for what was ahead and lived her life as fully as she could at each interval of her progression.

As a family we have walked through the struggle of dementia with my sweet mother-in-law.  We have followed the example of her neurologist and have stayed very upbeat and positive and rarely talked to her about the issues that were ahead.  We just took them as they came.  I wonder if discussing the upcoming changes would have been better.

As my husband and I have lost both of our fathers and have helped with the issues of aging, I wish open dialogue had been more comfortable and easier to approach.  As I see that season of life getting closer for me, I plan to be very open with my children as the years pass and I hope they will be open with me.

I highly recommend the movie if you are caring for a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer.  Do take some tissues with you as it is pretty heartbreaking.  At the same time, it is insightful.  If you have a loved one struggling with Alzheimer or dementia, think through the approach you want to take with the disease.  I think it is important to always stay positive.  The issue to resolve, however, is do you face it openly and honestly and plan for the changes ahead or do you stay as positive as you can, make adaptations when needed and take each stage as it comes?  There are positives and negatives to both approaches.

As with any disease, it is important we approach our loved ones with respect and as caregivers, we make the best decisions we can at the time, we forgive ourselves for the guilt we often feel and make the best out of every opportunity.