Friday, June 18, 2010

Simple Joys Saturday - Time with Mom


I have been enjoying time with my mom as she visits us this month, and on Monday she and I went to our local zoo to see the flower garden there. We have been having a lot of rain, so getting out on a warm and sunny day was indeed a simple joy. Mom had both flower gardens and a very large vegetable garden on our farm where I grew up, and it was fun to have her point out the flowers that she knew as well as to learn the names of a few neither of us had ever seen.

I have mentioned before that Mom has Alzheimers, and so each time a window of her life as a young girl opens, it is a joy to see and hear about. My husband took our grandson Jack to two fishing derbies recently, and that has brought back memories Mom has of fishing with her father. She said her 2 brothers never went, but she and my grandpa went quite a bit, and to this day she loves to eat fish. She helped me pick out fish at the grocery store recently, and we will be cooking that up soon.

Mom  also came along when I babysat our grandchildren a few times this week. She is not used to the noise and activity, but she does enjoy getting to know them. We spent a morning with my granddaughter, and the next day, she cried that she wanted her "grandma", my mom, as I am Nana. That made Mom feel good!

I am seeing the dificulties that come with age in my mom, such as the need for a cane to keep her steady, the pain of arthritis as well as pain from a couple of bad falls, and a few other things that have really slowed her down, but it is the Alzheimers that is the most difficult to watch. She has a home near my sister in the midwest and also a small home in AZ, but she has trouble remembering either one of them. I am sorry to say that I do not have pictures of these homes on the inside, but we do talk about them alot to help her feel secure that she does, indeed, have a home that she will be going to soon (in the midwest).

I am so glad to have this time with Mom, since we live quite far apart and I do not see her often. This has been such a joy to me and I thank my Lord for giving us this time together.

"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He,
I am He who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you."
Isaiah 46:4


9 comments:

Mary Lou said...

Laurie, I'm glad I saw your post today (as always)
My mother in law had alzheimer's and I know the road you are going down. Praise God for your faith in the true sustainer.
I will pray for you and yours.
Thank you for visiting me when you do.

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

These are precious moments with your mom! My MIL had Alzheimer's too. It was a very sad journey. My dad had dementia and some senility causing him to repeat stories from the past and difficulty remembering things that happened recently.

Happy you are enjoying the time she is now near you.

Carrie said...

Alzheimer's is so sad. My grandmother is in the beginning stages. Knowing it will only get worse just makes it all the sadder. I enjoyed reading about your joy in her happiness being around you all!

Karen said...

What special times you are having with your mom...I hope more of those "windows" open to relive old memories and create new ones....

Praying for you and your mom....

Barbara said...

Enjoy your time together, and praying for you and your mom as you go down this long road, hugs and blessings my dear friend,

Joan Hall said...

Laurie - treasure these precious moments. I know it must be difficult to see your mom in this condition.

Blessings,
Joan

Joyful said...

I'm sad to hear your mom has Alzheimer's. You're the second blogger I've read over the past 24 hours who has this in the family. It must be hard but I thank God that you do have this time with your mom and you are able to have a nice visit. Hugs xx

Jan said...

So pleased to see your post, Laurie, and that you are having some sweet times with your Mother..... mine passed when I was 24.
With love and blessings - Jan

Maxine said...

Laurie, I am so thankful that you have this time with her. Seeing parents age is one of the most difficult of things and all that I've heard of Alzheimer's is that it makes it extremely hard. This was sweet to read about. Thanks for sharing it with us.