Okay so I blog the way I do many things, with considerable inconsistency. Well at least I am consistent about that! As some folks would tell you (or you personally know) sometimes I am not heard from unless I need something. It is not one of the traits I am the most proud of but at least I admit it. Today I need some things, so here I am.
We need prayer. So speaking of inconsistency; Dad's memory, mood and energy level continues to swing. It appears to be less related to the medicine than we thought. Mom said he was more like his old self this week regarding doing task and projects and his humor seemed good. Last night however I observed some significant memory recall problems. And this morning he didn't want to get out of bed because he was depressed. That seems linked to the fact that I had questioned the wisdom of a 10 hour driving trip that he has planned with my mom. (I offered to take him at a different time but that does not over ride the offense of implying he can't or shouldn't do what he has always been able to do.) So I am asking for prayer for my dad, mom and myself. Dad's safety is a concern as well as just the emotional side of aging that strongly effects him. Mom deals with him and the variances in his mood and memory daily. I have volunteered to contact his doctor about our concerns regarding his memory. I also want to treat my dad with dignity. However I tend to get frustrated with his stubbornness and unknowingly offend with my responses.
We need memories. Larry is turning 50 years old at the end of the month. Mom and I are trying to plan some special events to commemorate it. Knowing how much Larry loves to recall favorite memories, we are creating a "50 memories for Larry" book. (And yes we borrowed this idea, it is not an original to us.) We are asking for friends and family to send Mom or I (via e-mail or snail mail) memories of Larry. We will compile a book with the memories. Pictures are an added bonus if you have any to include. Our target date is to have memories collected two weeks from now, September 22nd so we can get the book together by his birthday on September 29th. I know it will be fun for Larry to hear from a variety of people from a variety of times in his life.
I need children's NIV bibles. I have some Ugandan friends who are wanting 3 NIV children's bibles for their children. They mentioned the New Adventure Bible: the NIV bible for kids. However I do not think they are limited to that. Any extra childrens NIV bibles I can find I will send as I am sure they will know of others who would like to have them. Books like that are not easy to find in Uganda and are expensive when found. Before I purchased any, I thought I would ask if anybody had a good condition NIV children's bible collecting dust on a shelf that they would like to donate. If so, please let me know as I hope to send them to them next month
Now I just need a few minutes to gloat. Today I ran 9 miles. Yep, I who was always picked last on teams and failed jump roping in the 9th grade, am 9 miles into the target of 13.1 I am running a Half Marathon down at the beach October 11th. I have been training for a couple of months. Each weekend I add a mile to my "long run." Every run, I question my sanity. Then I reach my goal and wonder what I was whining about. I realize that today was like running 3 - 5K races in a row. Not too shabby for a non athlete. I am not fast but as the saying goes "I am faster than the person on the couch." The other evening I was running and startled when a lady came running up beside me. As I was recovering and she was apologizing we began chatting. I ended up running 3 miles with her. She is 20 years my junior and an athlete. Keeping up with her was pushing me. Fortunately she was chatty and I was just spurting out stuff like " great" pant pant pant "wow" breath breath breath "really" huff huff huff. At one point when I said I was going to have to quit she offered to slow down a bit so we could keep running together. Lets just say her definition of slow down and mine were not the same. Needless to say I finished my 4 miles faster than ever and I was too distracted by the conversation to realize how hard I was working. Haley seemed happy to have someone to run with and I was excited to be "pushed beyond my comfort zone. I had a better run today just knowing I could run a little harder than I thought I could.
So that is pretty much what a I needed. I will add that Peter is back at Military School. He has been home this weekend. He has not been a happy camper so fortunately for me, I get to take him back in an hour : ) This school year is wild and crazy. My fabulous co worker of the past four years took a job at another preschool the week before we started back. Shelley was my left brain and right arm. She made me look good. Add to her absence the fact that I have a full class of sweet but "busy busy busy" kiddos, school has a bit of a crazy feel to it.
Well that is it for now, you know until I need something else!
Larry turned 50 yesterday and thanks to many friends and my mom's planning, it was two days of lots of grins! Larry received somewhere around 70 cards/emails. He is still going through them. And as was hoped he is having fun remembering stories written as well as other memories! He remembers a lot for an "old guy!" I've had a lot of fun reading through the cards myself. On Sunday he got to go on his first outing since entering the nursing home (7 months!) He and I had some close brother sister time as I maneuvered him (following careful instruction and practice with therapist) in and out of the car. We went to a Mexican restaurant. Peter came. The offer of free food is motivational! Larry got to wear the sombrero and have fried ice cream. He was grinning the whole time! On Monday (the actual birthday) there were surprise visits (including one from a favorite cousin who lives in Kansas), decorations, and lots of teasing. Thanks to all who sent birthday wishes! It was indeed a pretty special day.