Everybody has a Story: Springfield part 7

High School photo

Pop & Mom with Uncle Ted and his three daughters.  This was taken around the time I went to live with them.                                       

Our Dear Little Kathy

     I do not recall the reasons for my next move, however, I embraced it with a stoic attitude.  Again, I packed my meager belongings.  This move found me in Springfield, Ore. in the home of an uncle and aunt with three young girls.   Here I attended my senior year at a public school, however, I was much more prepared as well as having three good friends from church to share experiences with.  I found myself caught up in the many activities of a young person, losing some of my fervor for spiritual things.  It was difficult to find a quiet place to nurture what I did have.  It was here that I was introduced to living with the mentally challenged and stressed-out parents as my three cousins were diagnosed with PKU, each with distinct mental deficiencies and challenges.           The kitchen became my friend and it was here that I experimented with meals as the rest of the family struggled to cope with daily living.    For two years I assisted the family as well as completing my senior year of high school and later taking classes at Lane Community College in Eugene to transfer later to a Bible College.    A childhood friend had been killed in a car accident around this time just upon graduating.  This incident spurred me on to renew my spiritual commitment.    The Lord led me to Multnomah School Of The Bible(Multnomah University now) through circumstances that I do not recall.     The next four years were spiritually exhilarating, emotionally devastating and physically exhausting.  The demands on my life sent me on a roller coaster of emotions and mental exercises I had never experienced before.        I had just come from a Summer of working at the Alliance Convalescent Hospital in Glendale, Ca. as a nurses aide where I had just got my on-the-job training.  I recall with horror of some of those first experiences.   Upon returning to school, I secured  another job, at the Manor, also as an aide, juggling classes and work.

everybody has a Story: Thriving Part 6

The long drive way at Brush College Acres with cherry and plum trees.  The back yard was like a park and I spent many hours out in that woods.  Most of those trees in this picture were part of that woods.  It had poison oak, learned to recognize it and avoid it.

My middle school picture.             

   After a tumultuous transition into the American culture, I was fortunate to attend a Christian high school for two years and school was kinder to me although I still felt a sense of relief at stepping off that school bus at the end of the day.  Walking up that long long driveway gave me time to decompress.           I continued to do poorly in most subjects.  P.E., Home Economics, Typing, Spanish, and English saved my GPA so I could eventually graduate.   I took classes seriously but with great effort, still could not capture those illusive higher scores.  My brother, being 13 months younger,and I were in  the same Science and Math classes.  With his help I passed those classes.                      I was unusually slow in physical development, extraordinarily thin and thought myself to be unattractive which led to many insecurities.  However, I did continue to have the stability of a caring and influential grandmother and my spiritual life thrived.  We attended the Salem Christian & Missionary Alliance Church.  I continued to avoid many of my peers, preferring to join my grandparents in their activities and Sunday School class.   Although, God's Word had always been a part of my life, it continued to provide the anchor to my somewhat chaotic emotions and insecurities.

Everybody has a Story: Adapting & Transition Part 5

One of the last pictures before leaving Mexico.  The dress, I made, with the border of embroidered daisy flowers, baby blue in color.

At our 8th grade graduation,    singing "My Jesus, I love Thee"                                                       

Reciting the 8th Psalm and singing "How Great Thou Art" and "Master The Tempest is Raging".

My POP & MOM

     With a touch of sadness, my Mexico days were slowly drawing to a close.  I was to undertake yet another year of school away from home.  My brother and I packed our meager belongings and with Dad accompanying us to the border by bus, we began our journey to Oregon.  At the border we were met by relatives who we then travelled by car to San Francisco.              Arrangements had been made for us to live with our paternal grandparents.  Although, I was looking forward toward these new adventures, there was some profound sadness at leaving my mother, my sister, and younger brothers.  In those days homeschooling was not a favored option.  The transition into public middle school was brutal.  I was ridiculed and bullied, my brother began having horrendous migraines.        My grandmother was a great source of comfort, a great prayer warrior, and a great influence.  Although she was not well educated, she was a very godly woman.   I preferred the company of my grandparents over my peers as I felt so insecure.  I tend to think that this was where I was first drawn toward my future in CARE GIVING.

Everybody has a Story: Adapting & Transition

One of the last pictures before leaving Mexico.  The dress, I made, with the border of embroidered daisy flowers, baby blue in color.

At our 8th grade graduation,    singing "My Jesus, I love Thee"                                                       

     With a touch of sadness, my Mexico days were slowly drawing to a close.  I was to undertake yet another year of school away from home.  My brother and I packed our meager belongings and with Dad accompanying us to the border by bus, we began our journey to Oregon.  At the border we were met by relatives who we then travelled by car to San Francisco.              Arrangements had been made for us to live with our paternal grandparents.  Although, I was looking forward toward these new adventures, there was some profound sadness at leaving my mother, my sister, and younger brothers.  In those days homeschooling was not a favored option.  The transition into public middle school was brutal.  I was ridiculed and bullied, my brother began having horrendous migraines.        My grandmother was a great source of comfort, a great prayer warrior, and a great influence.  Although she was not well educated, she was a very godly woman.   I preferred the company of my grandparents over my peers as I felt so insecure.  I tend to think that this was where I was first drawn toward my future in CARE GIVING.

Everybody has a Story: A Milestone Part 4

I

I was privileged to continue this journey, on often stony paths, with a rich Christian heritage, a home in the outbacks in the heart of Mexico, a product of missionary parents.  A milestone in my eager and venturesome life and spirit led me, a thirteen year old, to join with others in Baptism in the Sempoala River.  This perhaps was a pivotal point in my life as shortly after that I was to embark on a roller coaster of adventures that would test that validity and lead me through many bends of the journey.  (Sempoala being the Indian name for 'ten major bends' in that river.)

A Natural Bleach Alternative | One Good Thing by Jillee

A Natural Bleach Alternative | One Good Thing by Jillee

9 Ways You Might Be Inadvertently Sabotaging Your Weight Loss Efforts | Mark's Daily Apple

9 Ways You Might Be Inadvertently Sabotaging Your Weight Loss Efforts | Mark's Daily Apple

7 Essential Do’s and Don’ts for People Caring for Caregivers

7 Essential Do’s and Don’ts for People Caring for Caregivers

People With Alzheimer's Share Their Perspectives - AgingCare.com

People With Alzheimer's Share Their Perspectives - AgingCare.com

Load to heavy?

AARP Throws Granny Under the Bus

AARP Throws Granny Under the Bus

Things we forget.

ATTITUDE

CIRCUMSTANCES?

PEACE?

The Gradual Grief of Alzheimer's | Christianity Today

The Gradual Grief of Alzheimer's | Christianity Today

Living & Laughter With Alzheimer's

Living & Laughter With Alzheimer's

http://www.txsha.org/_pdf/TEJAS/2009/Respiratory%20Function.pdf

http://www.txsha.org/_pdf/TEJAS/2009/Respiratory%20Function.pdf

Beautiful pic... Via sunsurfer.tumblr.com

Beautiful pic... Via sunsurfer.tumblr.com: Beautiful pic... Via sunsurfer.tumblr.com

A care giver comic: Crankshaft

How to Convince Your Relative to Accept Help - Christine M. Valentin, LCSW

How to Convince Your Relative to Accept Help - Christine M. Valentin, LCSW

WINDMILL FAN FUN: The Tinkerers

Hard at work trying to make the tinkers into a workable fan with Gary watching and thinkin and Karl doing the hand work.

SETBACK'S

"Life is a series of experiences,each of which makes us bigger (wiser), even though it is hard to realize this.  For the world was built to develop character, and we must learn that setbacks and griefs which we endure help us in our marching onward." --Henry Ford

Gaitways - Designer Gait Belts

Gaitways - Designer Gait Belts   CHECK IT OUT!  Be amused at the names given to the various gait belts.

Modern Aging: Getting past denial | Richmond Times-Dispatch

Modern Aging: Getting past denial | Richmond Times-Dispatch

Modern Aging

Modern Aging: Getting past denial

GARY'S WORKSHOP

THINKING TWICE

When you are a caregiver, YOU are never really alone in your thoughts and care.  A caregiver always has to think twice__once for herself and once for her care giving charge.  __Sophia/Becky

I hate change but it sometimes is for our own good.

Cast thy burden upon the Lord.

GRANT ME...

I KNOW who holds the future.

GOD IS IN CONTROL.

I may not understand but...

I DON'T want to carry this awfully HEAVY LOAD...

IT'S WHO YOU HAVE BY YOUR SIDE...

ADVENTURES WITH GARY- The carousel.

100_3130 ADVENTURES WITH GARY, Car Wash

100_3130 CAR WASH

GOD IS ABLE

MULTI-TASKING

Developing character through trials | Radio | Joni and Friends

Developing character through trials | Radio | Joni and Friends

Communicating with Alzheimers loved ones.

http://alzheimers-resources.s3.amazonaws.com/clients/patterson/pdf/caring.pdf

Plant City Lady and Friends: 15 Things Caregivers Can Do to Be Joyful

Plant City Lady and Friends: 15 Things Caregivers Can Do to Be Joyful

What is Functional Medicine?

What is Functional Medicine?

Fighting Alzheimer’s With Functional Medicine | The Dr. Oz Show

Fighting Alzheimer’s With Functional Medicine | The Dr. Oz Show

Painting for God's Pleasure | Joni and Friends

Painting for God's Pleasure | Joni and Friends

CultureLab: Self-portraits of a declining brain

CultureLab: Self-portraits of a declining brain

Avoiding Stress in Eldercare: What 7 At-Risk Groups Need to Know - New America Media

Avoiding Stress in Eldercare: What 7 At-Risk Groups Need to Know - New America Media

Spiritual Sandblasting | Radio | Joni and Friends

Spiritual Sandblasting | Radio | Joni and Friends

Is Junk Food Cheaper than Healthy Eating?

Is Junk Food Cheaper than Healthy Eating?

Sugar May Be Bad, But Fructose is Far More Deadly, Part 1 of 2

Sugar May Be Bad, But Fructose is Far More Deadly, Part 1 of 2

Is The Mental Illness Epidemic Caused By Psychiatric Drugs?

Is The Mental Illness Epidemic Caused By Psychiatric Drugs?

Abraham-Hicks: Alzheimer's (Dementia) Explained

Abraham-Hicks: Alzheimer's (Dementia) Explained

Listen with a grain of salt, very interesting, but do not agree with everything.

http://www.caregiver.com/articles/incontinence/inconvenience_of_incontinence.htm

http://www.caregiver.com/articles/incontinence/inconvenience_of_incontinence.htm

Nine Ways to Get Someone to Eat

Nine Ways to Get Someone to Eat

Weekly Newsletter Issue #598 - July 19, 2012

Weekly Newsletter Issue #598 - July 19, 2012  I highly recommend this newsletter and it has many good ideas and things to think about.  Pick and choose the ones that apply to you and even subscribe to it.  It is free.

Random,chosen, pictures to encourage and ponder

WHY?

 Amazing and praising the Lord.

First we are children

Life is so much easier with HUMOR...

Communicating in Alzheimer's World | Alzheimer's Reading Room

Communicating in Alzheimer's World | Alzheimer's Reading Room  This is a very good article on the subject and would be very helpful to those who are still in the fairly beginning of AD.

Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) - Chris Tomlin (with lyrics)

How to Interact with Alzheimer's Patients

Alanna Shaikh: How I'm preparing to get Alzheimer's

Love! Priceless photo.

To everything there is a season.

This is your brain on sugar: UCLA study shows high-fructose diet sabotages learning, memory - UCLA Health and Medicine News

This is your brain on sugar: UCLA study shows high-fructose diet sabotages learning, memory - UCLA Health and Medicine News

Caregiving Resource Center: The 5 Top Caregiving Challenges, Elder Car... - AARP

Caregiving Resource Center: The 5 Top Caregiving Challenges, Elder Car... - AARP

Do you celebrate...