Had a great day! Celebrated The Bat's 77th birthday with the last of my meaties from last spring...it fed 8 people!

Took a plate of home cooked food to my dad at the nursing home and we all enjoyed watching him inhale the goodness. He loved visiting with his family, laughed and even made several jokes...at his stage in ALZ, this becomes less and less common. His face just
shined with joy! He couldn't stop hugging my boys and was amazed at how big they are....in his mind they are still "little boys".
I had helped him prepare a birthday card and some hair pretties for Mom...it took him a long time to write "I love you" and sign his name...it almost made me cry to watch his hands tremble and the indecision on his face when he tried to spell Mom's name. I think this is one of the hardest part of an adult's life~to watch your parents age and grow like children once again. It's even harder to hear him thank me over and over for taking "such good care of me". As if I could do anything less...I feel so honored to get to care for my Dad in this part of his life.
I thank God that He has brought me to this very place in time and given me the life experience that He has provided so that I now have the insight and compassion needed to help Dad at this time in his life. All glory to God for knowing our needs and providing for us before we ever know we need! I am most humbled by the thought that He cares for us so deeply that He plans for our comfort in our old age. I am truly convinced that Dad's current state of sweetness and calmness of mind is directly from God, as it is not typical in this stage of ALZ.
Mom is so grateful to be able to care for him again and they are so sweet to watch as they hold hands, snuggle up together for a nap and as she helps him with his grooming for the day. He is already the star of the nursing home as he amazes people with doing push-ups, dancing and otherwise moving like a youngster at the age of 80...also not typical. Everyone thinks he is so cute and even the residents love seeing Mom and Dad walking close and their devotion to each other. The local karate instructor saw him practicing his kicks and invited him to watch or take part in the karate classes they have there at the nursing home for the general public on Tuesday nights.
Tonight I thank Jesus Christ for His love for my parents and for us all.
