At the Moment

I want to say thank you to all for your awesome, encouraging response to this blog. It has blessed my heart more than you know!

I wanted to let you know we had an awesome Christmas! Being able to get out of my box, stretching out my heart perimeters to helping Leona and Ennis I was free to give goodies and gifts to my village family even more. I love this time a year cause it makes a way for people to see others. I just pray that I can continue just the same through this new year.

Here is an example of what I'm talking about with me.

I have learned a lot about seeing people, living in our village, listening to Abba and others but it probably didn't hit home as hard as by just watching Leona and Ennis. I was trying to set up our Christmas stockings one day and I had boughten one for Ennis not thinking that Leona needs one. Which obviously she didn't cause she wouldn't even know. But since I was only thinking in a box, the thought of Leona not needing one, I didn't consider that the one who needed it more was Ennis. It struck me when he asked where her's was. Well, I told him I didn't know if it was necessary and he agreed but really it was necessary for him. So I back tracked and bought her one too and I know it made his Christmas more sweeter with her. I just am grateful, though, I'm human and do human stuff God can help me realize what is most important in Life. That is to love with all your heart, everyone, no matter how small the circumstance or what state of being they are in. And I know doing great things isn't what God is after but being a vessel that He can work through for others. I always need reminding of that. Constantly realizing each day that my life has value as well as my neighbor's.

I had started this Blog only on the thought that God has something for me to do and I should share it. I am happy that I can. God has been very great to me and has giving me a WHOLE BUNCH!

Now we are still learning how to take care of Leona. It really hasn't been too hard especially with all the helpers who come each day. The ladies involved are Kitra, Shalom, Tehome, Donna, Chavvah, Yahshanna, and Mary B. The girls helping are Susie, Evelyn, Dalia, Naqah and Nikki. They all do things like give her showers, changes, feedings, reading, taking on walks, and just keeping her company. (Just a side note: Since Nikki has helped, she has become an awesome support and worker for me with her grandma. She has grown more responsible).

I also have Pamela and Rachel who come keep the bathrooms and living room clean for me.

And Hash who has been my secretary and schedule keeper. It has been a blessing to me to have her help! Ashley helped me get the blog going so I could post all this for you.

Thanks to all of you for helping keep her quality of life and allowing Ennis to have her at home so he can also take care of her. It has been a great blessing!!!! I know because he tells me all the time! Of course, I feel the same :)

I do need to express thanks to all the guys who made the changes in the house possible: Quinn and Ben for construction and windows. Yakyn, Danny and Joel for painting. Austin for coming to help. You all were awesome!

She has been changing a lot since they moved here. She now sleeps half a day and roams the rest. She has not been able to step down the front steps as easily as when she first came. She doesn't remember how to stand when she first gets out of bed. She remembers half the time how to use a spoon when she eats. She usually dumps her plate or glass. She sometimes gets confused when to bite her food or to drink her drink. She gets shaky or gets off balance when she walks.

They say that the memory goes first then the motor skills. She hasn't totally lost her motor skills but she is showing signs of it. It's like having sneak previews or windows to the future.

Like this past week, she hasn't been able to stand on her own out of bed. Usually, all I had to do was to pull her up and she would follow. She won't follow me now. We will see though, some times she gets her mind back for a moment to know what to do.

The Romance

The reason I'm making the title of this blog 'A Romantic Novel' is I wanted to share with you the romance I see between Ennis and Leona and their Father in heaven.

When they first came, it was so amazing to me to hear how much Leona loved her Heavenly Father as she was in this state of Alzheimer's. She would say everyday to me, Shalom, or other ladies how much she loved God and how great He was to her. How she would praise Him at gatherings or preach a word or two on how awesome He was. Singing as loud as she could.

She knew He was here with us. She would often say to me that she loved me.

But mostly she would say everyday to her husband the special words 'I Love You' and 'you are a good man.' I wasn't around them a whole lot to see how they were together when she was well but I get the privilege now to see.

Since they have been here, I did see at times the battles she would go through in this disease. Like her body was fighting against the spirit. I can see, though her body is dying, her spirit is still alive and very vibrant.

There would be times she would say I want to go home. She had talked a lot about her mom and brother who had already passed on. Like they were still alive. So I know she is only waiting till she gets to be with them again.

Just recently, Ennis wrote another letter to his kids and family about his feelings.

He said a few years ago he became convicted that he didn't show his wife enough praise and love for all she did. He neglected to say to her everyday that she was doing an awesome job. Giving her kisses, hugs, expressions of love, etc.

He realized he needed to start doing that. After awhile of doing this, his relationship with her got better even though they had a good relationship anyways.

He also realized that she did a lot more expressions of love towards him. He especially realizes now when she smiles at him, when she touches him, and when she and him hug in the morning and she says I love you. He recognizes the affection.

He is very grateful to be able to spend the rest of their lives together, really together! Him being allowed to take care of her 24/7.

He wants his children to cherish what they have. Their spouses, children, and friends. He wants them to show their love and how they feel about them everyday. And not least, to praise God for what he makes possible for them and how much God loves us more than we know.

The Beginning

Leona and Ennis were married when she was 16 and he was 21. They have been together for 52 years. So that began their life. She had been strong in God from the age 13 praying for a Godly husband. So here goes telling you guys what's happening.

Well, I'm not a writer but wanted to inform everyone about the Alzheimer's disease my mother-in-law has and what they have been going through. First, Alzheimer's disease is a progressive deterioration due to generalized degeneration of the brain. In other words, the neuron's in Leona's brain have been getting smothered by the natural plaque we all have in our own brains. Literally killing the neuron's that run our brain. But the interesting thing is no one knows why this happens. Speculation is the processed foods, multi tasking, etc. My thought would be Walmart! Simply because they keep changing everything around when you shop. Taxing if you ask me.

Leona showed signs of the disease in 2005. Not remembering things or where she put things. Not communicating as she did before. Having to pin pieces of paper to her clothing so she could remember if they still fit. Not remembering how to play a domino game. Sleeping during the day more. Loosing some memory of people she had known. Basically their life started changing. No longer was she in charge of her home. Keeping it clean, cooking, doing laundry, etc. but everything started being transferred to Ennis, her husband. He basically didn't have a clue to doing house keeping, laundry, meals, etc. He now had to be in charge of both their lives.

In 2010, he started sending letters to all his children of how this illness was progressing and how much he felt the importance was for them to be with their mother as much as possible. Her memory and recognition of them was diminishing.

Russ and I and children took a trip to Texas in July 2010 for a fun family reunion. Not really knowing what to expect.

Earlier this last year, I had prayed for God to expand my life more. Give me more to do.

During that trip, the family came to a decision for us to have Ennis and Leona live with us. He wanted her to not have to go to a Nursing Home if at all possible. So them coming to Tennessee was their option. I'm grateful that God had chosen us to take care of them. I believe He answered my prayer.

It wasn't long after that, that Ennis started getting his house in order and getting rid of things and only packing what they needed for the move.

And on our end we had to get a house ready for them. One that could be "baby proof" for her safety because at her home, there was stuff everywhere. She could get a hold of things and put them in her mouth and eat them. She didn't know any better.

They moved her to the guest trailer in August 2010 until we could get the house ready.

It was not a very secure place for her because she could leave and no one would know it. She could mess with things she shouldn't. She at this point was capable of using the bathroom, eating, dressing by herself. But since she moved in with us in September, everything has changed to being dependent on us. Not knowing how to use a bathroom, putting on her clothes, eating with her fingers. Her speech makes no sense usually. Her words are mixed up and she repeats them. She is rapidly regressing.