Thoughts From a Frazzled Mind

 Dad's memory is definitely not getting any better, he often thinks that he is about 18-20 years old and he wants to go back "home" to Salt Lake to be with his mother.  Most of the time he doesn't remember who I am and he calls Robin, "that woman".  He doesn't remember that he was married for over 50 years, and he talks a lot about his friends - the ones he had when he was young.  He continuously talks about a truck that he left somewhere and he wants us to take him to it. Dad has the shiniest shoes around because he spends hours each day shining them - with a polisher attached to his drill. But yet, suddenly without warning he will be lucid and remember recent details like my husband's name.  Dementia is so strange!  There is no predicting how he will be at any given time.  Fortunately for the most part he is calm.  I have heard of some dementia patients who get very agitated and mean.  Dad isn't like that.  However he freque...

Thanksgiving this year was spent at Ashley and Mark's house.  Mark did most of the cooking and it was marvelous!    It was a small group this year.  Only Mark, Ashley, Tristan, Cory, Robin, and Corbin,Kim, Kalel, my dad, and I.    The "three amigos" had a fun time hanging out together.  I had made a vow not to go Black Friday shopping until it was actually Friday.  However, my sisters begged, pleaded, coerced, and finally talked me into to going with them.  Yes, I'll admit it, I caved.  The biggest reason that I gave in was because I wanted to spend my Thanksgiving with my family.  My sisters reminded me that they were all leaving and so the "family time" wouldn't happen.  I did want to spend time with my sisters, so I gave in.  No, I'm not proud of myself. However, we did have a great time shopping, as usual. We spent way too much money, had way too much fun, got too little sleep, but got everyt...

Wow!  November has flown by!  We have been crazy - busy with the remodel. We got the bedroom (mostly) finished and moved downstairs.  (We still need to finish and paint the baseboards)  I was just a little nervous about moving my bedroom downstairs, but I am finding that I really like it. Add caption Kim built a half wall in the entry way and will add a bookshelf on the other side to hold all of my scrapbooks.  The wall is up, but we still need to add the bookshelves and then do all of the finish work. Before After  We started working on the upstairs . . .  Before:  the bedroom wall Before:  the kitchen wall   AND the  VERY BEST PART!   We knocked out the wall between the kitchen and the bedroom to make a big, open space!   Shanne joined us for the demolition - she was a great supervisor!  Kim couldn't resist doing a little artwork prior to removal of the last piec...

I am truly grateful for all of the many, many blessings in my life.  I am so grateful for my Savior who made it possible that I may have the opportunity to be with my son (as well as my mom and father-in-law) after this life.  I thank God every single day for my fantastic family and for my wonderful friends.  I am so thankful that I live in a country where freedoms abound - and the list goes on and on.  I try each and every day to have an "attitude of gratitude".  It is awesome that each year we have a day set aside to spend with our family and friends, giving thanks and remembering the blessings that we have - not to mention the FOOD!  I LOVE the Thanksgiving feast, and look forward to it for weeks before. That said - my Thanksgiving this year did not necessarily reflect my gratitude attitude I am afraid.  Yes, it was fantastic that we could gather together with the Olsen clan.  Tasha and Zane joined us and Zanes parents and s...