Happy New Year, friends!
This morning Facebook brought up a “memory” for me to enjoy with this post from four years ago today:
Janurary 1, 2015
In helping my mom with paper clutter, I found the family cookbook compiled for the Peet family reunion in 2000. Mom’s not doing much cooking lately, so I took it home to explore some of the recipes. Found a story on one of her recipe submissions that I’d never heard my mom tell before.
I loved the last bit where she reminisced about her own mother, sharing, “My Mom was a good cook and if you arrived unexpected at dinner time she always had room at the table and enough food to go around.” Mom added her own memory of the first time she made this recipe, reminiscing, “This is the first cake I tried to make after I got married. In fact, the date was January 1, 1955.” (I think it was probably 1956, as mom and dad were married in July of 1955.) She added, ” there was no cake – all bottom or top – depending which way you look at it. I had copied 1 1/2 tablespoons instead of 1 1/2 cups. It took me three tries before I got it right.”
It’s kind of hard to believe that four years ago today, this woman who, as of the past few days, can no longer tie her own shoes
was living on her own and still doing simple meal preparation. Because the effects of Alzheimer’s had been noticeably present for quite some time, I was making frequent visits to help her out, often making meals for the week that she could warm up in the microwave. She may not have been cooking much, but she was still driving, doing her own grocery shopping, going to a weekly hair appointment. She was having trouble walking, but was still busily working in her garden, oftentimes worrying her neighbors because she’d spend the whole day out there with very few breaks. Now, she can hardly walk the 10 or so feet from her bedside to the bathroom. Back then she was still doing her own laundry – much to our dismay because that required going up and down stairs with her very unreliable knees. Now, she has a hard time figuring out how to fold a washcloth or towel.
In 2015 we knew that significant changes were on the horizon. We just had no idea how many changes there would be. Looking back, it’s easy to see how God was at work, guiding our steps, giving wisdom for decision-making, protecting Momma when we couldn’t be there, providing help when help was needed, and making each of us ready for the changes ahead of us.
It’s now the first day of 2019. We are seeing changes in mom’s physical and mental health almost daily. Mom now needs our help for nearly everything. One advantage of having walked through some difficult places in the past few years is the knowledge that our God was faithful in meeting our needs in the past, and He will not stop caring for mom in the days ahead.
We don’t know what 2019 holds for us, but we know who holds tomorrow.
Check out this video on YouTube:
Barefoot Lily Lady 
Your article is a comfort. My mother, almost 92, is now living with my husband and I after living with my sister since November of 2017. Her struggles are increasing. Her lucid moments fewer and farther between. It’s a comfort to know that God is holding her tomorrows and ours.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, dear Beth. My heart hurts for you. My husband recently preached a sermon on Psalm 23. When we hear someone say “Psalm 23” we tend to attach a photo in our mind of a shepherd carrying a wooly white sheep through a green pasture with a clear and still watered brook. We forget the lamb may be dirty, stinky, maybe even bloodied. We rarely paint a picture of the “valley of the shadow of death” in our minds either. But the truth is, life has its shadows and valleys…and we are assured He is with us there too. Comforting, nourishing, soothing us, mercifully guiding us all our days on the journey Home.
I’m praying for you and your husband as you demonstrate the Christ-like Shepherd love to your mother.
LikeLike
Correction: the preacher was my son Matt. 😊
LikeLike
I am praying for you and your husband as you care for your mother. It can be so disheartening to watch our loved ones go through such difficult things. I am reminded by Psalm 119:165 to spend time in God’s Word so that I may have peace in the midst of the things of life which might otherwise make me stumble in my faith. It says, “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.” As we treasure His Word, it brings us peace – no matter what – and keeps us from stumbling. God bless you, dear Beth.
LikeLike