Hello Friends,
It’s been a crazy busy couple of days – with trying to figure out setting up this blog, getting a clean professional Facebook page and tending to my personal life as well. But I’m lovin it! On my way now!
I spent the evening visiting with my granddaughter. I took my mother with me and you can see what Gracie had her ‘onto’…….
My Mother is beginning to show early signs of Alzheimer’s. It’s a time of very mixed emotions – at times I find myself getting frustrated at her because I KNOW she should remember something and other times it’s heartbreaking to watch her search for some simple word. Then are the times I realize I am her daughter and could very well have the same struggle in the years ahead. Once again my determinatoin to fight even that with all I’ve got kicks in. Stay active! Keep your mind tackling new things on a daily basis.
Which, with my occupation, is an accomplishment rendered each day. I am a cotton director for one of the largest providers of spun yarns in the world. Tons of cotton is processed each day and accounting for each bale is mandated by the USDA. Sounds boring, but there’s never a dull moment in the world of cotton accounting. Stressful, yes – dull, no.
But, I have my loyal friend Thunder to wind down with in the evenings. He is a beautiful 110 pound large-boned German Shepherd.
He had just gotten his teeth around the new bone I’d promised him so he wasn’t up for posing for a picture.
I’m still spending time introducing myself here. I appreciate all the comments and the followings. Let me leave you with the thought that no matter how tough the day, no matter how many discouragements we have to tackle from dawn till dusk – we can take each moment in and choose not to let the negative ripples define our day. “Okay, negativity – that was your moment. The rest is mine.” Then take a walk, smile at someone – it may take smiling at quite a few – until you actually meet someone’s eye, stand tall, and feel yourself rise! Try this, it really does work.
God Bless Each of You.
Your dog sounds like a beautiful animal. I love my guide dog, Trigger to bits. Having dogs arround is a great stress reliever. I am originally from Liverpool and much of the city’s fine buildings where built from money gained in the cotton trade. Unfortunately money was also obtained from the heavy participation of Liverpool merchants in the slave trade. Your job sounds like an interesting one.
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Yes, my job is never the same from day to day, never a dull monotony for sure. Cotton is a fascinating world unto itself. And I am sure you can relate – dogs can sense our moods and are very comforting at times when no one is around to truly understand how we’re feeling. When my husband died, my dog took it upon himself to lay his full length pressed against me each night for over a week….great comfort.
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Yes dogs give so much. Its such a pity that their lives are so brief compared to our own.
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It sounds like if staying busy and keeping our minds busy truly helps warding off onsets of dementia, then you’re well on your way to preventing it. I’m trying to keep processed foods out of my diet as an additional precaustion but that is alot harder to do than I thought. That’s great that you do a designer jewelry line – I’ll try to check it out. Thanks for your comment and I hope we talk again. God bless you!
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So sorry to hear about your mom. It’s not easy and yes I know it could be me down the line! Yes it’s good to keep our minds and bodies busy. I run a designer jewelry studio and sell everything on Etsy online and it’s very stressful at times but so fulfilling! I love what I do… But I have to keep track of everything. It’s just me doing it all.
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Tammi Kale … I like your attitude. Focusing on even one positive thing each day will counteract the negative.
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I agree totally. I work in the corporate world and in the hustle and bustle I do have to step back and consciously concentrate on positive thoughts now and again.
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Enjoyed reading this very much! I like your approach: ” “Okay, negativity – that was your moment. The rest is mine.” I am going to use it! Thank you!
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Thanks! I’m honored!
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Thanks Alicia! Cotton is a world unto itself! Have a blessed day!
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My uncle – Carlos Güijosa – and his family were in the cotton business in Mexico – we had bales of cotton for stuffing things whenever we needed it. You brought back memories.
Have fun blogging.
Alicia
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Hi Tammi
Thanks for the follow. You seem to have an interesting life and endless stories to tell. I look forward to reading them all. Please join TradeRoutz livingStyle on Facebook, where I like to also keep people up to date with what we are doing….it’s a ‘one man show’ and I really look forward to sharing with you. x x x x
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Thanks for the comment TradeRoutz! I look forward to our sharing as well. I’ll join your Facebook right now.
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Thanks Tammi! love to you,
Love Deborah x x
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My mom had suffered the debilitating effects of Alzheimer’s for 8-10 years before she died. I’m sure it was a blessing for her, and my sister and brother-in-law who were her caretakers. I too was extremely frightened about falling prey to the disease when I first started blogging in 2009. Writing has been therapeutic in that I’ve been able to put all my thoughts, negative and positive, into words. Reading others’ stories helped me realize I’m not alone in my struggles. We’re all on the same ship…sink or swim. Knowing that encourages hope that we’ll all come through the darkness together. So happy you’ve joined the blogosphere. Aloha and welcome!
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Thank you for your kind words. After having found your blog and these comments coming from you, each of your words are a true comfort to me. I very much look forward to your future posts.
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Thank you for the follow. I wanted to say three things.
1. Thank you for the Follow.
2. You did an amazing job setting up your blog. It look wonderful.
3. You and your mom will be in my prayers.
I hope that I can continue to deliver content that will inspire you and make you smile as you are faced with the future challenges of caring for your mother.
God Bless
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Your first paragraph captured my attention. This was me just a few weeks ago ! I has to set up this blog never having any prior knowledge of blogging. I had to set up Facebook , all this while taking care of my 6 month old son and my husband and house 😉 best of luck to you . We can help each other – I followed you , you can follow my blog too 🙂
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Just a small thought on Alzheimer’s (since you mentioned you are a little concerned that you may inherit the tendency). Many folks believe the steep rise in cases (like many other ailments) is due to consumption of processed foods, GMOs, crop spraying etc. I have friends in the US and it seems many dietary issues that are common knowledge in Europe tend to be suppressed there so just thought I’d mention it. Eventually of course God heals everything one way or another. I pray your times with your mother may be tinged with gold even within the framework of her affliction.
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Thanks for your mentioning the processed foods concern. I have been consciously in the last month trying to replenish with organic products – the more I try to eliminate processed foods from my diet, the more I realize how very much I have been consuming. It’s daunting – especially with natural and organic foods being so much more expensive. I am constantly trying to remain calm with my mother as I carry on my day to day activities. That too is daunting as she follows my every move and asks the same questions repeatedly. It’s truly heart-breaking. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
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Tammi, your blog is a delight and i’m happy to have found you
My best to you
john
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Hi Tammi! You seem like a fascinating person to get to know. I love your positive attitude. There should be more people like you in the world. 😉
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Thank you for your kind words. Sometimes it can be difficult but I do consciously try to be consistently kind and open as I’m out and about during my days. There’s already too much negativity to spread more!
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Thank you as well! Your posts bring back many memories for me, I look forward to your future posts. Have a Blessed Day!
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Thanks for reading my blog. I envite you to follow it. I will follow your blog as well. beebeesworld
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We are women…watch us roar!
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This made me smile! My inner self actually felt the tarzan yell…..Thanks
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I just checked out your site and I am so excited to find it! Just in what little time I was there, so much jumped out at me that spoke to issues/thoughts of my own. I feel like you are the kind of jewel I’ve been looking for in my cyerwanderings over the past two weeks. I am looking forward to reading more this evening when I have the time to sit down and take it in.
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Beautiful dog! Good thoughts.
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Thanks!
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Yes, Thunder can be a handful at times but thankfully he’s well behaved. My granddaughter and my mother have communication problems at times but I am very thankful that Mama is still with us and my granddaughter able to know her. Thanks for commenting. I am enjoying meeting new friends here on WordPress. God bless you and Yours.
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What a beautiful 4-footed companion and friend. Thunder weighs more than I do. 🙂
It’s a blessing that your mother is able to see her great granddaughter. There was a time in history where it was as unusual to be a grandmother as it is now to be a great grandmother.
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I love the photo of the two of them in the motorized toy car. You’re so blessed to have such love in your family. I am sorry your struggling with your mom’s onset of dimensia or the big A. That has to be the roughest journey …
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Welcome to the cyberworld. You have a great lens of life. Keep active and learning every day. The world is full of promises.
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Welcome to the world of blogging. I wish you much luck as you impart on this journey! My heart is with you, your grandmother, and the rest of your family. My grandmother had Alzheimer’s disease for many years. She began showing signs when I was first born, went into a nursing home when I was 14, and died when I was 28. The early years were difficult as I didn’t understand why she would be a close friend and then a stranger. In the nursing home, I would visit, but not as often. After she had a stroke and could no longer communicate in anyway, the only time I got through the haze and saw HER again was when I told her I was engaged to my husband (I was 22) – she squeezed my hand, told him I was beautiful, and looked at her ring finger as if she was lost (her wedding ring had been removed years before), then then she was gone again. The pain is still present, although it has been almost 10 years since passed. I ask you to enjoy the moments that are good as they come, and ask for help. Do not take the burden on alone. Not only is there more than you can handle (although you will try), it can be a dangerous disease, because they no longer remember how to care of themselves in basic ways and are move likely to start things on fire and so forth. She will likely return to a particular place in time as the disease progresses. When this happens, just live in the time with her, even if it is before you were born. Blessings to you. – Melanie
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Hi there,
This post really inspired me today as I’m having a bad day. 🙂
But there is always someone knows the right words.
Thank you,
God bless.
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Do this first …… F R O G ……… Fully Rely On God
Then, just start singing a song you like……whatever’s going on….put a song in your heart right now….Lord, God, put a peace in this, your child’s, heart right now……Thank you —- In Jesus Name I Pray, Amen.
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Looks like fun!
The True Light
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