Alone

Our love ones need to feel they are still part of the family. My mother's door to her room is never closed. The only time we close it is when someone is visiting and we are bathing her. We make sure she is included in everything that is pretty much going on. Someone is in and out of her room all time. We don't want her to be closed off in a room by herself. We love her dearly and never want her to feel alone and unloved.
I had nurses that came out to check on my mother, they told us that some people never have their door open,unless they go out to see them. How sad is that?
Psalms 71:9 "Cast me not off in the time of old age;forsake me not when my strength faileth."
I won't my darling mother, I won't.

Later,Rebecca

Long Life (cont.)

As I was saying yesterday my mother has always stood on psalms 91:16 to live a long life.
One night about a year ago she got real bad sick and said,"she was dying" she wanted me to call my daughter and her sister's to let them know. She was not afraid she even seen angels in the room. I prayed with her and my daughter came over and spent the night with us.
She just hung in there and day after day she got better. She got o.k. so a week later I said, you almost died last week I said what happened? She said, I just decided I wasn't ready to go yet so I just did not go.
Again this goes back to psalms 91:16 she was not satisfied to go so she just did not go.
II Corinthians 1:20 "For all promises of God in Him are yea,and in Him amen,unto the glory of God by us."

Later,Rebecca

Long Life

Taking care of a love one is the hardest thing you will ever do. We as caregivers know this. I also know that it's what we need to do and we will never be sorry we did it.
I love my little mother so much. She will be ninety-three in March. It hurts me of course to see her in the shape she is in but,believe it or not she is happy just living one day at a time. If she is happy I should be happy for her.
My mother has always stood on God's Word in psalms 91:16 "with long life will I satisfy him and shew him my salvation." She said,"You do not have to die until you get ready to." She would say, "If you are not satisfied to die and go on to heaven you don't have to.
She has lived longer than the doctors say a person can live with a broken hip. She never even had surgery for it. he is going on eight years now. Also she is on a feeding tube and cannot eat or drink by mouth.The doctors are amazed.
So if you don't want to die and your not satisfied to than,stand on Gods Word. My mother is proof that it works.
Psalms 91:16 God says with long live will I satisfy you and show you my salvation.

Later, Rebecca

Lotion and Love

Today we are going to talk about lotion and love.
My mother's skin gets so dry. I try to put some lotion on her. As we do the lotion lets also do love.
Talk kind and sweet to them as you are putting the lotion on. Tell them how much they mean to you and how much you love them. Just call this your "Lotion and Love Time". Spread a lotion and a little love. You will see it will make you and them feel so much better.
So remember "Lotion and Love."

I John 4:7 "Beloved,let us love one another."

Later, Rebecca

The Day The Lord Has Made

"This is the day which the Lord hath made;we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24
No matter what we are going through we must believe that God is with us. Life is hard as we all know. I remember how strong my little mother always was. I hurts me so much to see her in the shape she is in now. There are times I just go into another room and pray and cry. I am sure you have times like this also.
Write to me and let me know how you cope with your feelings and any questions or prayers you may have.

Later, Rebecca

First Day Back

Have you ever had to take care of a love one with a boot on your foot? I have a stress bone fracture on the top of my right foot. This is swollen and very painful. I went to the doctor and he put me in a boot for six weeks.
It is really hard taking care of my ninety-two year old bedridden mother walking in pain with a boot on.
I thank God for my daughter who comes daily to help me. I still have her evenings. nights and week-ends alone.
My computer has also been sick and has been over at my son-in-laws house so he could work on it.
Isaiah 40:31 "But they hat wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run,and not be weary;they shall walk and not faint."
Later,Rebecca

Almost Next Year

Have been taking a little break from blogging but will be back writing again in Jan. 2011. Got alot to tell you and look forward to hearing from you. If you have any questions about caregiving that you would like addressed please let me know.

Talk to you soon!

Rebecca

Vacation Time

Once a year my precious daughter and son-in-law take my mother to their home. This is my vacation time and it also gives my mother a little vacation also. She loves going over to their home. My daughter and son-in-law are so good with her and take such good care of her. This will be our second year to do this. I so need it and I am sure my mother does too.
I am just exhausted and my nerves seem to tell me it's time for a break.
I will keep you posted on how it goes.
"This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing." Isaiah 28:12

Day Of Rest

As a caregiver we do not get Sunday off, we still have to take care of our love one. I know God understands this. I do try and let other things go on this day like washing, cleaning the house ect.
Genesis 2:2 Tells us that on the seventh day God rested. I try to rest, pray and read God's Word. I am not able to go to church so I watch it on T.V this helps a lot.
Because this is the seventh day if you have never asked Jesus into your heart I want to give you the opportunity to do so.
Just pray this simple prayer and it will change your life and keep you out of hell.
Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You in the Name of Jesus. You said, in Your Word,..".if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, And shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, THOU SHALT BE SAVED" (Rom.10:9). I believe in my heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe He was raised from the dead for my justification. Your Word says,"...with the HEART man believeth unto righteousness: And with the MOUTH confession is made unto salvation"(Rom.10:10). I do believe with my heart, and I now confess with my mouth Jesus as MY Lord and Savior. Therefore, I am now saved! Thank You, Lord for my salvation.
If you prayed this prayed sincerely from your heart, then according to Gd's Word you Are Saved! I want to welcome you to the family of God. Now tell someone because God says, if we are ashamed of Him. He will not confess us before His Father in Heaven.
Blog me and let me know if you prayed this prayer. You will never be the same.

Later,
Rebecca

Did You Know?

Did you know that sixty-one percent of caregivers are women?
Did you know that thirteen percent are sixty-five or older?
Did you know that about fifty-nine percent also hold down another job?
Did you know that sixty-five million people twenty-nine percent of the U.S. population, provide care for a love one?
Did you know as I stated before on my blog. that about three hundred seventy-five billion dollars a year is provided FREE by caregivers?
Did you know that sixty-four percent live in the same home as their love one.?
Did you know that when Jesus was on the Cross he told one of his disciples to take car of his mother? This disciple took her into his own home to take care of her. John 19:26-27

Special People

It takes a special person to be a caregiver. They have to have love and special skills and traits. There are some things you have to do you must be a planner and organizer. You also must have lots of Patience.You have to have a lot of tolerance. You really have to be a strong person. Another thing about a caregiver you have to have a lot of love in your heart.God tells us we are to love one another in John 15:17. So just remember if you are a caregiver you are a special person.

Later,
Rebecca

Positive Side of Caregiving

Being a caregiver has a positive side we need to talk about. Just taking care of your love one is of course a good thing. Showing love and helping them. You can feel like you are doing what you are suppose to be doing at this time in your life. Helping others is what we are suppose to be doing. It can bring a closer relationship with our love one.
Remember if it is a parent most of them were there for you now it's your turn to be there for them. Call it PAY BACK TIME. Do you know what pay back time means. It means it's time to pay back a parent or some love one for being there for you. And even if they were not God would want us to.

Strain On Family

Being a caregiver can also put a strain on your family. Sometimes my daughter wants a mother and daughter day. She just wants us to go shopping eat out ect. A day just for mother and daughter. My son-in-law has to sat with my mother while we have a little time to do this.
You have to give up personal time,friends and family get-together. I have to choose between what needs to be done and what I want to do. I have very few personal activities. I love to write so I try and spend a little time doing that.
My daughter is a gospel singer and she had her come back concert last month. I was not able to go this was hard on her and on me.
You have to give up a lot there is an up side I will get to that later.
"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love to good works." Hebrews 10:24

Affects of Caregiving

Being a caregiver can affect you in so many ways. It affects you physically, emotionally and financially.
It causes stress,angry, frustrated, depression. It also affects you physically you get so tired, high blood pressure sometimes. Not able to get enough rest for your body. Do not eat right gain weight or loose weight. We just do not have time to take care of our body as we should. We seem to always put our love one first. It affects us financially it cost a lot of money to take care of a love one. The supplies are so many and medical supplies and medication cost a lot of money. I know all about this I am the one that picks up the supplies. I have to go to so many different places that it cost a lot for gas also.
I know if God did not help me and my mother we would not be able to make it.
"But my God shall supply ALL your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

Later,
Rebecca

Change

I am a person who does not like change. When I first started taking care of my mother in two thousand and three I did not think I could do it. This was a big change for her, for me and for my family.
I went six years with on break from caregiving. I am just now getting breaks. My precious daughter and son-in-law took my mother to their home for one month last year. This gave me a much needed break. They are planning on doing that for me again this year. This will be my second break. I know how bad I need it.
Hang in there you can do it with God's help.
"I can do ALL THINGS through Christ which strengtheneth me. " Philippians 4:13

Later,
Rebecca

Day of Rest

As a caregiver we do not get Sunday off, we still have to take care of our love one. I know God understands this. I do try and let other things go on this day like washing, cleaning the house ect. Genesis 2:2 "Tells us that the seventh day God rested. I try to rest, pray and read God's Word. I don't get to go to church that much I watch it on T.V. and that helps a lot.
Because this is the seventh day if you have never asked Jesus into your heart to be your Lord and Savior. I want to give you the opportunity to do so. Just pray this simple prayer and it will change your life and keep you out of hell.
Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you in the Name of Jesus. You said in your Word,"... if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, And shalt believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead, THOU SHALT BE SAVED" (Rom.10:9). I believe in my heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe He was raised from the dead for my justification. Your Word says,..." with the HEART man believeth unto righteousness: And with the MOUTH confession is made unto salvation" (Rom.10:10). I do believe with my heart, and I now confess with my mouth Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Therefore, I am now saved! Thank You, Lord for my salvation.
If you prayed this prayed sincerely from your heart, then according to God's Word you are saved! I want to welcome you to the family of God. Now tell someone because God says, if we are ashamed of Him He will not confess us before His Father in Heaven. Blog me and tell me. You will never be the same. Rebecca

Energizer Bunny

My mother has a little Energizer Bunny that my cousin bought her because she calls my mother the Little Energizer Bunny. She said, that my mother just keeps going and going. My mother loves this little bunny and keeps in in the bed with her moves it around holds it. I guess she is like the Little Energizer Bunny because God gives her energy to just keep going and going. He also give me energy to just keep going and going.
"He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength." Isaiah 40:29

Later,
Rebecca

A Heart Not A Desire

I have a heart to be a caregiver for my mother not a desire. You can have a heart out of love to do it, but not a desire. I never wanted to be a caregiver. I never even wanted to be a nurse. But here I am doing something I never had a desire to do.
There are some people who do not have the heart or desire to do it. I have people say to me I just could not do what you are doing. You have to have the love (heart) to be able to do it.
Jesus did not want to hang on a cross for us. He had the love (heart) to do it. That is why He did it. I love my mother enough to take care of her. Every caregive rloves enough to do it for that love one.
"Beloved if God so loved us we ought also to love one another." I John 4:11

Later,
Rebecca

Hang In There !!!!!!!!

So many people tell me I could not do what you do. Only with God's help you can. I know all these years going on eight now. It had to be God giving me strength and helping me to hang in there. It is a hard job. I think one of the hardest jobs there is. Being a caregiver is hard.
If anyone had told me that at sixty-seven I would be taken care of my ninety-two year old bed-ridden I would have been in shock. I guess I am shocked even today. But you have to do, what you have to do I always say.
"I can do ALL things through Christ which strengtheneth me. "Philippians 4:13.
HANG IN THERE WITH GOD'S HELP YOU CAN DO IT !

Later,
Rebecca

One Day At A Time

God really tells us to take one day at a time. In Matthew 6:34 Jesus said, "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: For the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Sometimes this is even hard to do. I know with God's help I can make it no matter how hard it is.
Some days I have more to do I have to play catch up. It will be time to get supplies so it's a day I run from place to place getting supplies. Some days my mother does not feel that good or I don't. And there are some days I just want to run away.
Now I know why God said, to take one day at a time.

Later,
Rebecca