These 12 gifts are meant to be shared… freely and unconditionally.

These 12 gifts are meant to be shared… freely and unconditionally.

You were meant to be a “light.” A guide for others to learn to light their way
and share with others along their path.

with all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, make time for you — fill your cup!

Be the “extra” in someone’s “ordinary” today. #payitforward

During this season of light and love, “be the good” within your own four walls.

Thank you for stopping by today. Your thoughtfulness in taking a few minutes out of your busy day warms our hearts.

Every day takes us a little further along the path of this journey called Alzheimer’s. Each day starts and ends with new perspectives.
For the next couple of weeks, I think I’ll just post an image… nothing more. I hope they bring calm to your world as they do to ours.
Today may be your only opportunity … make your actions count.

We never take today for granted… today will not be the same as yesterday … that’s for sure.
Yesterday started on “uneven” ground. A little out of sorts and not feeling at her best, we just couldn’t seem to get into the rhythm of what would have been our “normal” routine…. Lesson: don’t be afraid to “let it go” for a day or two. Yesterday was definitely, a let it flow naturally kind of day and it was a good day after the bumpy start.
I think we’ll probably enjoy a few more days such as that one. Her spirits were bright and we both chuckled as we reviewed the day as we got her ready for bed — and even that was done differently than we’d been doing. Her choice, again. And as we said our goodnight’s…. her eyes lit up and her smile was as big as ever and the “I love you” melted my heart. Thanks, Mom.
Make today your best day ever…
look for greatness at every turn.

It’s never “safe to assume” that everything will go as planned anymore. — while we do try to keep to a pretty established routine, there are days that just don’t stick with the “norm.”
We’re definitely becoming more spur of the moment… and reveling in the fact that this moment, “right now” is a good one, so let’s take advantage of it! Whether it’s noting the twinkle in her eye as she rediscovers something as if it’s brand new or the smile that lights up her face as we bring her lunch or dinner or listen to music or watch a movie for the hundredth time — Finding the greatness through the ever evolving change… and more importantly, reveling in the joy that Alzheimer’s hasn’t won yet. The highlight this week: she called me by name. My heart melted.

Just like a musical instrument needs to be tuned,
we need to “re-tune” ourselves to live in our greatness
and show others the way.

Yesterday was one of those days that needed near constant re-tuning, at least for me. Outside things kept bombarding us and tried to influence our day in ways that just didn’t quite fit in or were part of the “plan for the day.” Fortunately, the ability we have to “reset,” “re-tune,” and move on has become so much easier as the days go on.
For example: we’ve moved a few pieces of furniture around (including Mom’s chair) to make it easier for her to get around with the walker and to provide a few extra steps for movement and exercise and most importantly to be away from the blast of cold air when the front door is opened — but in my efforts to make things “better” I forgot how bright the sun shines through one window with the winter sun and it’s causing some issues with it being too bright for Mom’s eyes even with the blinds being closed. She was terribly uncomfortable yesterday.
She enjoys the warmth her new corner of the room offers, but the light streaming in is just too bright and was causing her some discomfort. Even after moving the chair a little bit to get it out of the streaming light, there were still some problems. Breathing, resetting, re-tuning and letting her choose how to resolve the problem was so effective. I’m sure she won’t remember her part in the process today, but I will and I will remember her expressions as her ideas were considered and found to be the best resolution for the problem. I relish those lucid moments!