barefootlilylady

Alzheimer’s: Remembering My Momma

I would be honored if you would take a moment to read this in remembrance of this grace-filled and incredibly special woman, Charlotte Louise Peet Boyles.

On a beautiful Sunday morning four years ago today, my sweet Momma quietly took her last breath on this side of Glory. All at once, the cares of this world and the frailties of body and mind disappeared as she met her dear Lord and Savior.

Succulent Love

Every now and again I spot an old chair forlornly sitting at the curb. Someone didn’t want it, so they left it there in the hopes that someone else would want it.

This is one of those chairs that came home with me.

I made a succulent garden in this roadside treasure chair last summer too. It was so lovely.

I can’t wait to see how this year’s chair garden fills out. I’m already enamored with its beauty. I’ll keep you posted.

Tulip Love

I took a quick tiptoe through the tulips this morning to capture the beauty of a few of our tulips. It was just a quick tiptoe, as the dewy grass is cold—even for this avowed barefoot gardener.

Our newest addition to the garden is a yellow magnolia, which has been slowly opening her tulip-shaped blossoms. I think our cold and windy conditions of late has caused some browning on the beautiful petals. But she’s still giving us a beautiful little show in her first year in our garden.

Daffodil Love

Today’s favorite daffodils…

Or maybe this happy little clan?

Or this beauty robed in white?

Oh, it’s SO hard to choose a favorite.

5 Years Ago

We’re back from our Hawaiian adventure with Mia. What a grand adventure.

Now I am settling back into the comfort of life’s routine. Sleeping in my own bed with my favorite pillow. Spending Sunday with our church family. Doing laundry in my own washing machine and not having to put $7.00 worth of quarters into the machine for each load!

Today I slept in until my body woke me up….and was almost late for work. It brought me joy being in BeeHive’s kitchen baking up treats for our residents again (many thanks to Karen who filled in for me while I was away).

In the midst of my baking joy, my heart remembered that my journey with BeeHive began 5 years ago today. March 25, 2019 was the day I accepted the help of BeeHive in caring for my mother in her journey Home with Alzheimer’s.

Facebook confirmed that memory with two reminisce posts. Many of my friends and family were praying as I moved Momma out of my home and into her new bedroom at BeeHive. We arrived just in time for lunch. While mom and I ate lunch, Wayne and Beth moved mom’s things into her new room, setting it up much like her bedroom in my home. After lunch, I walked mom into her new space and she settled right in and was soon napping.

I sat in her room watching her sleep for a bit, then met with Gina to go over some move-in details. When we were finished, I was not quite sure what to do with myself. I wrote about that here…

Momma would live here for the last 14 months of her sojourn on earth. Here she would be loved and cared for with the level of care I could not provide. She had friends around her, good food, fun activities, someone to help her every hour of the day or night, and someone to help her to shower (something I couldn’t offer her at my house).

Placing her in assisted living memory care was a hard decision. And the right decision.

Thank you, BeeHive!

A Beautiful Reading Spot

It feels like a little wet weather is headed our way. Before it gets here, I am enjoying reading a chapter or two in this serene spot. Just noticed today that this pond is home to a solitary black swan.

I’m finding this to be a fantastic read. Best read with your Bible open.

Staying Keto in Hawaii

Some of my readers know I have been following a ketogenic way of eating for the better part of a year. Our grandgirl Mia chose Hawaii as her graduation trip destination. Having been there once before, I knew eating keto might be tricky. Voices around me advised me to forget about the “keto thing” while I’m on vacation. But I knew it wasn’t just about gaining a few pounds, it was about setting myself up for a setback in how well I was feeling.

I decided I would just try my best to make good choices.

This appetizer of roasted Brussels sprouts and Polynesian sausage was my choice at Kalapaki Joe’s in Lihue. It was delicious. I’m pretty sure the marinade wasn’t totally on my plan, so I left as much saucinesses behind on my plate as I could. Very filling and an overall good choice, given my options.

The Beauty of Kauai

Tropical paradise is all around me on this lovely island of Kauai.

A Prayer for Grace

Just reminding myself of a little something my sweet momma wrote on this day back in 2016. Click on the link below to read what she wrote. May it bless your heart as much as it does mine.

It brings me joy when I find a little prayerful note written in my mother’s handwriting. Seeing what was on her heart and mind at certain times of …
A Prayer for Grace

Sage Advice from my trusted ‘financial advisor’ (my husband)

I may be just a tad bit biased, but this is probably the clearest explanation of how to prepare for retirement health costs that I have read. I’m blessed to have had my husband Wayne pave the way several years before me when it came to researching Medicare options. Read on for his take on what to consider when decision-making time comes along.

Preparing for Retirement Health Care Costs Part Two