I am very excited to announce that I am feeling good at long last! I may get tired faster than I'd like but all in all, I have energy and no more symptoms from COVID. Whew, that took longer than I ever imagined! I am so thankful that I was able to recuperate slowly at home and not have to worry about taking time off of work. It is a blessing to be retired.
Last Thursday Rich and I went to the YMCA for the first time in MANY months. Due to my bout with pneumonia and bronchitis this winter and our move to Middleton from Caldwell, I think the last time we attended class was in January. We attended the "Delay the Disease" class and although Rich did not remember the class or the people, he enjoyed it nonetheless.
One of the activities that Rich has always loved to do together is to play games. On Saturday we tried a children's game called "Guess Who" and it was overwhelming for him. It is becoming harder to find something fun that isn't too challenging. We have other games to pull out and try because it is important to him that he doesn't give up. He is such a trouper!
This weekend was a hard one! It was full of moments that Nancy Reagan called "The Long, Long Goodbye." Before President Reagan's death she gave an interview to Mike Wallace of "60 Minutes." These are some of her comments that resonated with me.
“It really is the long, long goodbye,” (of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease).
The hardest part, she said, was not being able to share decades of memories together.“When you come right down to it, you’re in it alone, and there’s nothing that anybody can do for you. So it’s lonely.”
“How I’d love to be able to talk to him about it, There were times when I had to catch myself, because I’d reach out and start to say, ‘Honey, remember when …'”
Rich's memory and cognition has really declined in the last few weeks and on Saturday I was grieving! Sometimes, the pain just pours over me and I need to pray and process for an hour or so. I waited until Becca and family came home from Henry's soccer game and then I went for a drive. Eventually, I talked to my sister and another dear friend on the phone and asked for prayer and a listening ear. My sweet friend invited me to spend Sunday afternoon with her (when Becca was spending time with Rich). What blessing that was to me!
However, I am so grateful that I have a friend that is even closer than these dear ones - Jesus is always with me and that is truly a comfort! He cares that Rich and I are going through this hard season and He loves us with an everlasting love!
We were both able to go to church on Sunday and it was such a blessing! The message was about dealing with discouragement and depression. It was just what I needed - both of us were encouraged. Rich knows that he is not remembering and understanding things and it bothers him. Today I decided to let him know that we were in this together! I locked my car keys in the trunk after we went grocery shopping (ok, it wasn't on purpose 😄) . My phone was in the trunk of the car along with our groceries and the car keys!! Fortunately, Rich brought his phone along (not a given these days) and we called Becca at the police department. She reached out to the officers at CPD and an officer drove over to Walmart and opened up our car for us. We are so thankful for connections:-) Now that we live 25 minutes away in Middleton, it is a bit more harrowing to be stranded in Caldwell!
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
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