Prayer, Eating, Simple Meals.

My Sweetie Pie. 

This morning while I was doing my morning prayers and meditation, when a line came to life in front of me, its from Saint Francis, and my eyes were opened as I wrote it out:

Lord, may I seek, rather,

 To Comfort then to be comforted

To Understand, then to be understood;

To Love, than to be loved. 

The realization that I was doing just that as I live being Sweeties Caregiver. It was one of those "Duh" moments. I've talked about how gracious I am with Sweetie, and didn't know how I became so willing to put up with her disease, the willingness to help her all the time, doing that which I wouldn't do for anyone else. Well, here it is, the way to a soft heart in the daily living with Dementia. 

Had another wonderful day with Sweetie. From the dawn to dusk it was as normal as it could get. I've notice that she is loosing her ability to grasp those words that seem so easy for her just last week. The face, the smiles are still there, just a little slip, a consonant missing, and I'm still able to translate what she is trying to say. 

As we go shopping, I'm having a difficult time with her wanting to touch people. I don't know where this came from. Lately she will start talking to some stranger and want to touch their shoulder, hand, or face. She just doesn't understand why she shouldn't do it. I think I'm going to attempt to get her some gloves to ease that difficulty. Even after this crisis is over, people will be less willing to touch anyone in public for a long, long time. So, I'll need to be aware of her need to reach out and touch. 

Meals are getting simpler, last night had cut up chicken, rice cooked in chicken broth, and mixed veggies. She is still copying me as we eat, and I noticed that she starts to divide her food up into group, especially the mixed veggies. Got her to finish her meal by putting food on the spoon and handing it to her. I wonder how much more time will pass before I feed her like a infant? Or will it be encouraging her from now on? 

Her sundowners didn't show up last night, and I was thinking of the difference of the evening from the day before and last night. It was windy and the sun was shining. Compared to the gloomy weather on Thursday. So nice. 

That about sums it up for this morning. Driver is waiting, and I have to go. Yesterday was a good Easter Egg day, and it sure would be nice if we had the same today, but that is yet to be seen. Life is a day by day affair, you can't take yesterday into today, and today isn't a measure of what tomorrow will bring. I'm learning that from my Driver, He is always planting His seeds of wisdom in me, I just never know when a harvest will happen. "Enough already, I'm coming, I'm coming." Boy, Driver and be pushy sometimes. He's excited to get going down the Road to Dementia Town. He brought the convertible this morning, Better put on some sun screen, as we motor on life's highway. We'll keep an eye out for you, as we go, Keeping our Shiny Side Up. Till tomorrow, drive with care, keeping your Shiny Side Up. Love Ya and God Bless.