It is a rather cold dreary day outside, as I write my blog. We have been having some rainy days of late also. I guess we all prefer the warm sunny days, but we need the rain also. What a picture of our lives also. The plants would shrivel up and die, if they received only sunshine and no rain. So we also would shrivel up into something undesirable, if we did not have the rain and the storms in our lives.
Caregiving with its responsibilities certainly sometimes brings on a storm of emotions and/or dreariness of spirit in my life. Sometimes I long for the way things used to be before my husband was diagnosed with his neurological disease. Then, however, there would have been lessons in character building and faith building in my life that would have gone untaught; if things had remained the same. Then some of the direct blessings which have resulted because of the events of the past three years would not have come into fruition.
I wrote my last blog over three weeks ago. Since then my husband, Wayne, has continued his weekly training with a physical trainer. This has been very productive. Wayne has gone from a level one or two to a level seven in his physical strength! His balance issues remain, however. That is not likely to change. He is still in a wheel chair, and he most likely always will be.
I am very thankful, for the gain in brute strength, however. I am less worried about Wayne not being able to continue to make transfers to and from his wheelchair to bed, the car, bathroom, etc. His spirits have also lightened up considerably which is a real blessing. We are also still seeing a speech therapist about once a month in regards to his swallow issues. We supplement that with home exercises about six days a week and by thickening his liquids.
Now that fall is here again I have substitute taught a handful of days. I enjoy that release from the caregiving atmosphere. On Wed. mornings I have also begun helping my son’s wife with my granddaughters’ homeschooling. I love this interaction with my granddaughters, and it too is a release from caregiving worries.
A week ago Saturday night I went with a group of ladies out for supper and then to a Christian concert. That was such a great spirit lifter. Last Sunday night my husband and I heard another gospel concert at our son’s family’s church. There is nothing like the songs of faith.
We also always enjoy the Thursdays night suppers at my son’s family home. I am further enjoying our woman’s Sunday school class and choir which began again this fall. These kind of breaks are such a blessing. We need these breaks as caregivers. Thank You, Lord, for the joys and blessings in my life. Thank You even for the hard times, for even in these times there are disguised blessings. Help me to remember that when I feel down in my spirit.
Wow!! What a beautiful post. You are an extremely inspirational person. You truly are doing your very best to find the sunshine amongst the clouds. I think as caregivers we realize the simple pleasures of friends, family, dinners together. Some feel they must go on lavish trips and expensive outings but we know the true meaning of enjoyment. We embrace the small breaks and special times together. I enjoyed reading this very much. I am going to remember this post all week and be sure to find sunshine despite the forecast and the unpredictable circumstances that could arise…thank you for sharing!!!