Friday, July 29, 2011

Canada: Family

Canada: Family
OOP’s,!   I am so sorry, Forgive me for not putting  Canada in my blog about My families.  You are in my family.  My first time I came to Canada was with Tony Saraiva to share how our family in Brasil are doing,  you fed us and had homes for us to sleep. You generosity, your kindness and your love filled my heart.  I will never forget one year that took me over the bridge to stand up to be the Best Man at the wedding.   I was so blessed that he asked me.   When we gather in Independence, Missouri for our church Conference, we meet, we share, we sing, we pray, we are blessed.

I was told that I had Alzheimer’s disease and I knew what in meant to me.  So, I decided that I wanted to go back to Canada to share our lives.   I love you.  In the past,I would drive by myself to Canada and this time I asked my sister to come with me to help when we get tired.  Mostly me!  Smile!  While we were there, we went to church and the pastor let me stand up to share about Alzheimer’s Persons and what it means.  I used my blog for Speak Out!  I could not see you all but the Love was there to all.  I see you on Face Book, we share our ups and downs, we laugh about our home families, and our ministries (I believe that God, when we were born, that God gave every person a ministry and then it is up to us to use the gifts that God gave us.)

My sisters and brothers, I love you and your families.  God Bless you.    EH!

Let’s Talk Words #4


Family
I seem to have many families in my life.  My First Family is the one that I was born into.  Mom (Doris) first, then Dad (Arthur), Grandmother Ferguson ,  and Grandmother and Grandfather Parkin.  Also in this First Family:  My older sister, Claire; younger brother, Art; youngest sister, Penny; my daughter, Sheri; and son, Henry, who died after birth.  Then there are the Aunts, Uncles, Nieces, Nephews and Cousins.    
An extension of the First Family was created when I married Butch Enders (Lorne) and his family: Casey, Roxann,  Garlynn and Kent , and then Granddaughters Jessica and Cali.  I can’t tell you how many wonderful in-laws are in my life.  I am so blessed.
To be in a family, I need to connect with them.  I don’t see them very often.  We might go to weddings, funerals, showers, or come together for a family reunion.   I will be going to such a reunion this Saturday (7-30-11) with our family.   Not all of them will be able to come to the party due to sickness, too far away, working, prior commitments, or they just don’t want to come.  
My family is a great family.  Do we always like each other?  Do we all believe the same things whether it is politics, church, raising children, music, dancing, singing?   No!  But, we do love each other.  We can help in times of sickness, we can support each other during the loss of a family member, we can help when money is needed, etc. 
I have a sickness, it is Alzheimer’s disease.  My mom has it too.   Our family prays for us, supports us, laughs with us, cries with, goes shopping with, and sometimes shares a meal with us.  And we know that our God is with us every day, hours, minutes, seconds of our lives.  We Know!  We try to do these same things for others.
Over the years, I noticed that many of my friends became members of my family.  Then I noticed that the members in my church are in my family.  It just gets better.  In Brazil, in our church in Poa … they are members  of my family, too!  I go to support meetings, and those people are part of my extended family. 
  And now my family is growing to include those I have met due to this walk with Alzheimer's.  Some of them have connections with other families or are caregivers, or are persons with different diseases but understand.  But, most of them are people that carry the disease.  My mother and I are with them.

 

Ephesians 3:14-19

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom [a]every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to bestrengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the [b]saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

I have been blessed.  I am in the family of God.  So are you!    

 

--- About “Let’s Talk Words”:   I have noticed I can’t do more than one word per blog.  I thought I could write 3 or 4, but I can’t.  So, as my life is One Day at a Time, so are my words one blog at a time.  The next “Word” in this series will be:  Pray.   

Friday, July 22, 2011

July 22 My Birthday



“And greater works than these shall ye do”   Each individual has the ability to do good works through the power of God’s spirit.  This is the wonder of the world, the miracle of the earth,  that God’s power goes out to bless the human race through the agency of so many people who are actuated by His grace.  We need not be held back by doubt, despondency, and fear.   A wonderful future can lie before any person who depends on God’s power ,  a future of unlimited power to do good works,
-- From Twenty-Four Hours a Day © 1975 by Hazelden Foundation.
  
Today, I can do this.  Thank you Lord!
Am still working on the #4  Let’s Talk Words, struggling!  Prayers are welcome.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

MedicAlert + Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return


When I was in Canada, my friend Tara asked me if I had a bracelet to keep me safe.  She told me that you can get different kinds of bracelets.  I felt, not now, don’t need it yet.  When I came home I told Butch what she had said.  Hmm!   Maybe!   

After looking in the computer I saw MedicAlert  +  Alzhermer’s  Association connected   I liked the way they help to keep me from being lost or been physically hurt, safe.  Now you have to know that girls like jewelry from the time when the nurse put the bracelet on our wrists.  Why?  So we did not get lost and our parents could find us safe.  The bracelet had my name, my parents names, Dr’s names and any other information needed.  When we got home, our bracelet was put away in a box or an album to remember that we came home safe.

Four weeks ago I called them on the phone for information and I thought it I could do this program.  Seeing the bracelets on the computer I was looking for a purple bracelet.  They asked me if we would like to have an Enrollment Form and a Catalog for bracelet.  Yea, I did.  The bracelets range from: free to 2000 dollars.  I was all over that catalog.  The free one comes with the program.  There are gobs of colors.  I wanted a purple one.  As it happened, as a Alzheimer’s Person it comes purple. 

Last week we called for questions and they helped us to finish the form and send it to them.    May not need it yet but won’t hurt to use it.  Hey, I could be walking and trip and hit my head on the sidewalk and was not able to give information.  My bracelet can!
Oh!    I picked out a Dark Purple (free) and paid for one Light Lavender for only $ 9.95.    (SMILE)



MedicAlert® + Alzheimer's Association Safe Return® is a 24-hour nationwide emergency response service for individuals with Alzheimer's or a related dementia who wander or have a medical emergency. We provide 24-hour, nationwide assistance, no matter when or where the person is reported missing.

Enrollment in the MedicAlert + Safe Return program includes:

  • Individualized emblem engraved with MedicAlert + Safe Return's 24-Hour emergency response number. 
  • Live 24-hour emergency response service for wandering and medical emergencies 
  • 24-hour family notification service during wandering incidents and medical emergencies. 
  • 24-hour relaying of key medical information to emergency responders 
  • 24-hour care consultation services provided by master's level counselors 

If an individual with Alzheimer's or a related dementia wanders and becomes lost, caregivers can call the emergency response line (1.800.625.3780) to report it. A community support network will be activated, including local Association chapters and law enforcement agencies, to help reunite the family member or caregiver with the person who wandered.
If a citizen or emergency personnel finds the member, they can call the toll-free number listed on the member's ID jewelry. MedicAlert + Safe Return will notify the member's listed contacts, making sure the person is returned home.

Next: ID Jewelry






For $49.95 + $4.95 shipping and handling, you receive an enrollment package including:
Member's ID jewelry with personalized information and MedicAlert + Safe Return's 24-hour emergency toll-free number. Jewelry choices include a stainless steel bracelet or pendant.
  • Personalized emergency wallet card
  • 24-hour emergency response service
  • Personal health record (PHR)
  • Six Steps to a Safe Return magnet

(Optional) Add $30 for caregiver ID jewelry and membership
  • Membership includes everything listed above
  • The caregiver wears this worldwide-recognized ID jewelry to alert others that he or she provides care for a MedicAlert + Safe Return member, in case of an emergency
  • It's like getting an additional membership with all the benefits for half the price!
$30 annual renewal fee
An annual fee of $30 will be due after the first year for each membership.
Next: Enroll Now
 There are four easy ways to enroll in MedicAlert + Safe Return:
  1. Online: Enroll online.
  2. Call: 1.888.572.8566.
  3. Mail: Complete and mail in the enrollment form.
Completed enrollment form and photos can be mailed to:

MedicAlert + Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return
2323 Colorado Blvd.
Turlock, CA 95380
  1. Fax: Complete and fax form to 1.800.863.3429

_______________________________________________________

Friday, July 15, 2011

Meditation for the Day July 15

"You are climbing up the ladder of life, which reaches in to eternity. Would God plant your feet upon an insecure ladder?  Its supports may be out of sight, hidden in secret places, but if God has asked you to step on and up on firmly, then surely then He has secured your ladder. Faith gives you the strength to climb steadily this ladder of life.  You should leave your security to God and trust Him not to let you fall.  He is there to give you all the power you need to keep on climbing.

Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may climb the ladder of life without fear. I pray that I may progress steadily through the rest of my life with faith and confidence."
-- From Twenty-Four Hours a Day © 1975 by Hazelden Foundation.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Let's Talk Words #3

Love, Joy, Hope, Peace,

Love
It took a long time for me to understand what true love means.  The word love was used in many ways.  I heard “I love you” from my family members, girlfriends, boyfriends and God .  Love in my life was crazy.  I grew up believing if you did something bad, God would punish us. Even with God, I could not understand how He loved people.  Sometimes I didn’t think that He loved me, but if I was a good girl He would love me again.  In my past, I was a lover.  I would do anything to try to make people love me and I would do anything to make it happen.  It did not work.   I needed to grow up some more.  And, I did.  In my late 50’s I had some mental, physical and spiritual problems all at the same time.   Had a breakdown from stress at work, needed surgery on my foot that put me in my home for 5 months, and I could not get out of my house unless someone helped me.  I did watch lot of TV.  But, I liked reading all kinds of books, mostly fiction.  I read my Bible, devotions and one day I picked up a book (can’t remember the name) that changed my life.  I learned about true love. What did I learn?  God is Unconditional Love. 
I will believe this till I am home in His Living arms.  God is the one that teaches me to love others.  Read this and pass it along to others, from Romans 8: 38-39:  
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the Love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  
God is unconditional Love!

Joy
 Philippians 4:4-7   Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say, Rejoice.   Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.   Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

These Scriptures have been in my life it seems like forever.  When I worry, get mad, or scared, I go to this passage that reminds me that God is with me and will get me through the nights, the crying, the fear.  And He makes me smile. He fills my heart and my soul.  He gives me the way to have joy.  Even in the trials there is times He makes me laugh.  He helps me to connect to others like me to praise Him, to love him, to share our joy whenever we can by His will.  I have the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy, down in my heart!
I am never alone and neither are you.   Praise God in all things.  No matter what is going in our life, we can walk through the valleys, going up to the mountains, to have the Joy of God.  Rejoice!  And again I say Rejoice!

Hope
I am having a hard time in this blog.  It does not let me write what I want to say.  I have a lot of hope, maybe too much?  No, there is never too much.  What is blocking my words?  I started to share Hope two weeks ago.  Why can’t I do this?  Hope is want I need. 
Yesterday, I went to the dictionary to find what it had for me.  Hope was there and I was surprised the word trust popped up in my face.  Hope and trust work together.  With trust, I have hope.   What do I hope for?  Many hopes!  
Hope will always keep me through the trials that are in front of me.  God will be in front of me.  I hope that I can use the gifts that God gave me to share love to all of God’s children.  I hope that the joy will always be in me.  I hope to keep singing and dancing with Praise.  I hope that I will know my loved ones.  I hope that when I go Home with God, that my loved ones will be celebrating my homecoming.

Job 11:13-18 (New American Standard Bible)
13 “If you would direct your heart right
And spread out your hand to Him,
14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,
And do not let wickedness dwell in your tents;
15 “Then, indeed, you could lift up your face without moral defect,
And you would be steadfast and not fear.
16 “For you would forget your trouble,
As waters that have passed by, you would remember it.
17 “Your life would be brighter than noonday;
Darkness would be like the morning.
18 “Then you would trust, because there is hope;
And you would look around and rest securely.

Peace

I need peace in my life.  Peace is hard to get now.  But I can get peace if I let go and let God take over my life.  Right now as I am writing I am trying to put these words together so they make sense.  That makes me anxious and angry.  It has taken 5 minutes to finish 2 sentences.   What next?  Well, I am going to put the computer down.  I have to If I am going to find peace.  Think I will make my breakfast and sit down with my husband, if I can get him off of his computer.  LOL   I will be back.  Peace!

 We have many ways that we can share words that can mean Peace :  calm, quiet, stillness, tranquility, silence, harmony, serenity.  Silence is hard for me.  Yet, when I can have silence, then I get to hear God.

John 14:27   Peace I leave with you.  My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.  
Philippians 4:7   And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ. 

Music, songs are in my heart.  Sometimes I like to read the words out loud.  I pray the songs, I dance with the music.  I Praise God, Christ, and Holy Spirit out loud, soft, quiet, joyful and tearful.  One of my peace songs is, “Let there be Peace on Earth”.  It makes me remember it is not all about me.  It is about all of our world. And, that we can make a difference.  One day at a time we can call a friend in need so they can hear they are loved and can have a time of peace.  There are many ways to share peace.  We all have gifts from God.  Let us use them. 

Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth.  The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father, Brothers all are we
Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony
Let peace begin with me.  Let this be the moment now
With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow
To take each moment, And live each moment, in peace eternally
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me!
(Lyrics and music composed by Sy Miller and Jill Jackson)

My next blog will be focused on:  Prayers, Family and Friends.   Think about our prayers, our family and our friends.  What do they mean to you?  Share with others who need to hear your stories.  Bye for now!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

From Alzheimer's Association


Families and Friends
Top of Form
Bottom of Form
Introduction    
 When you learn that you have a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, you may hesitate to tell others. You may be coming to terms with the diagnosis yourself or fear that others may feel uncomfortable around you. It is true that your relationship with family and friends will change. But it is important to talk to the people in your life about Alzheimer’s disease and about the changes you will all experience together.
Sharing your diagnosis
Talking about your diagnosis is important for helping people understand Alzheimer’s disease and learning about how they can continue to be a part of your life. The following suggestions may help:
  • Explain that Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging but a disease of the brain that results in impaired memory, thinking and behavior.
  • Share educational information on Alzheimer’s disease or invite family and friends to attend Alzheimer's education programs.
  • Be honest about how you feel about your diagnosis and allow other family members to do the same.
  • Assure friends that although the disease will change your life, you want to continue enjoying their company.
  • Let family and friends know when and how you may need their help and support.
Working with your partner
Most people with Alzheimer’s disease continue to live at home even as the disease progresses. As a result, your partner may have to manage the household and your care. He or she may feel a sense of loss because of the changes the disease brings to your relationship. The following suggestions may benefit your relationship:
  • Continue to participate in as many activities as you can.
  • Modify activities to your changing abilities.
  • Talk with your partner about how he or she can assist you.
  • Work together to gather information about caregiver services and their costs, such as housekeeping and respite care, and start a file you can consult when they are needed.
  • Seek professional counseling to discuss new factors in your relationship and changes in sexual relations.
  • Continue to find ways in which you and your partner can fulfill the need for intimacy.
  • Encourage your partner to attend a support group for caregivers.
Helping children and teens
Children often experience a wide range of emotions when a parent or grandparent has Alzheimer’s disease. Younger children may be fearful that they will get the disease or that they did something to cause it. Teenagers may become resentful if they must take on more responsibilities or feel embarrassed that their parent or grandparent is “different.” College-bound children may be reluctant to leave home.
  • Reassure young children that they cannot “catch” the disease from you.
  • Be straightforward about personality and behavior changes. For example, you may forget things, such as their names, and say and do things that may embarrass them. Assure them that this is not their fault or intentional but a result of the disease.
  • Find out what their emotional needs are and find ways to support them, such as meeting with a counselor who specializes in children who have a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
  • School social workers and teachers can be notified about what the children may be experiencing and be given information about the disease.
  • Encourage children and teens to attend support group meetings and include them in counseling sessions.
  • Record your thoughts, feelings and wisdom to "be with them" as they experience important events in their lives (graduations, dating, marriage, births and deaths).
To help children and teens learn more about Alzheimer's disease and understand how it affects you and them, we have a special Kids & Teens section. It includes printed resources, book reviews and links to sites that explain how the brain works.