The Day will Come - but not Today

Day is done. Gone the sun. God is good. Ophthalmology appointment determined that Mom's vision has not changed in her good eye. It is still very poor, but it has not changed. In her left eye Mom has so little vision but there has been no significant deterioration to the internal part of the eye. We'll go back in 6 months.

Joe and I toured The Estates Memory care unit. You know, if Mom did not have a perfectly good place to stay, the facility would be more that appropriate. We were impressed by staff to resident ratio, the amount of activity going on and the low number of residents - 20 at this time with a max of 28. Our friend, Sid, was there. We have known him and his family for 16 years. His wife was Julie's teacher in high school and we attended Sid's Bible study. Sid was a tall, polite, gentle man, even as the Alzheimer's progressed. His family kept him in the home until he truly needed 24 hour care with eating, dressing, toileting and repeatedly tried to leave the home and became aggressive to his daughter who was his caregiver. Today, Sid was leaning sideways in a wheelchair having lost the ability to walk. He is fed by staff because he has forgotten how to do it himself. He is fed soft foods because he has forgotten how to chew.

One of the ladies sat in her wheelchair by the doors that open only with code keyed in, waiting for the door to open to either leave if she had a chance or to continue her job as the greeter at Wal-Mart, I am not sure which.

Others milled about the lunch room clearing tables, or sat in the living room listening to music.

So, the only conclusion I could come to was that Mom will not go there today. We have great care for her during the day. Becky knows Mom's moods and habits and changing moods and habits and goes with it - knowing when to push and when not to. And I have great support from Joe, Julie, Stacey, David, Micah and Levi.

Mom had a great lunch at Red Lobster with Becky and the retired teachers. She doesn't do fish but I heard she ate quite well of baked macaroni and cheese and french fries.

I want to add that I don't deny that there are moments I think I want my life back but then I am reminded that it hasn't been my life for a long time because in 1981 I have my life to Him to do with what He wanted. And today I know that this is what He wants. And His grace is sufficient.

For all of us!!!