I love quotes! When working with teachers or groups of people, I try to find a quote that fits with our focus. I have also chosen quotes throughout my life as my mantra to help me get through each situation.
I love how Criminal Minds uses quotes in each episode. This last week, Dr. Spencer Reid said the closing quote: "Sometimes the hardest part isn't letting go but rather learning to start over" by Nicole Sobon.
This hit home with me. Everything I am going through, processing, feeling . . .
Do you use quotes? Do you have a favorite?
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Bronze Award Project
Our January 25th meeting was all business. We don't like to do an "all business" meeting, but we had to have discussions that needed to lead to a decision and then planning for the Bronze Aware project/award. The girls had created a list of ideas a few months ago. Last night, we broke them into two groups. Each group was asked to narrow the choices down to their top three. Once both groups had three, we discussed them and then narrowed them down to one. Both groups chose two that were the same and then each had a different one. After discussing projects other local troops have done and some future projects, the girls decided to make bags/baskets for church shut-ins for four holidays between now and the end of May. They chose Valentine's Day, a Girl Scouts themed one to deliver on Girl Scout Sunday, Easter, and Spring. Once they had their concept and four holidays, they brainstormed a list of items to give elderly church members for each theme. J and I bought the items for the Valentine's gifts based on their lists and a few things we know about the church members. The girls will spend the February 1st meeting putting things together.
Caring for the Elderly
Continuing to watch my mother care for my grandmother has been an eye-opening experience.
Today, like most Saturdays lately, Mom and I loaded Granny into the car to run errands, have lunch, and go to the store (i.e. Walmart). This not only gets Granny out of the house, but it allows Mom to get out and about with other people. You would think it would be a nice break, but the whole process of taking Granny anywhere is quite exhausting.
Each time we go to the store, Granny reminds me of a toddler shopping with his/her parents--looking at everything on the shelves, pointing to things she wants, asking over and over for items until she gets them or you leave, grabbing items from shelves when we roll her to close, and more. The worst is going down the bread aisle and passing all the Little Debbie sweets. She points and grabs all kinds of different sweets. She loves Donut Sticks, little donuts, and Honey Buns. The second worst is waiting in the check-out lane. She looks at all the candy, grabbing a few, and the various impulse items lining the waiting area.
Today, she was all about getting three different sizes of storage bags, Pop Tarts, lipstick, and a small bag. To you, this may not seem like a big deal, but Mom does everything at the house, so she knows what is needed and what isn't. Granny pretty much sits in her chair or in bed. Other than the puzzle in the daily paper, she doesn't do anything. Not that we haven't tried! I just find it funny what she insists on getting and how childlike she is going about it.
Besides this, she is all about the sweets. If at all possible, she would eat sweets all day long. She eats far more syrup on her waffles or pancakes than a family of 6 could eat in one sitting. She eats Donut Sticks, snack cakes, candy, and anything else sweet that you could imagine, and that is all she wants. Poor, Mom. She has to fight the sweets all day and make sure Granny eats all the food groups and gets enough protein. It is quite a fight. Just like when parents try to get their young children to eat appropriately.
I have been concerned about my mom from the beginning. She isn't in the best health, but she insists on doing this. Granny has Dementia, so we are learning how to deal with that. I have noticed that my mom has started forgetting things. I'm not sure how serious it is just yet, but it does worry me.
Anyone else caring for the elderly? What have you noticed? What do you fight? How do you survive?
Today, like most Saturdays lately, Mom and I loaded Granny into the car to run errands, have lunch, and go to the store (i.e. Walmart). This not only gets Granny out of the house, but it allows Mom to get out and about with other people. You would think it would be a nice break, but the whole process of taking Granny anywhere is quite exhausting.
Each time we go to the store, Granny reminds me of a toddler shopping with his/her parents--looking at everything on the shelves, pointing to things she wants, asking over and over for items until she gets them or you leave, grabbing items from shelves when we roll her to close, and more. The worst is going down the bread aisle and passing all the Little Debbie sweets. She points and grabs all kinds of different sweets. She loves Donut Sticks, little donuts, and Honey Buns. The second worst is waiting in the check-out lane. She looks at all the candy, grabbing a few, and the various impulse items lining the waiting area.
Today, she was all about getting three different sizes of storage bags, Pop Tarts, lipstick, and a small bag. To you, this may not seem like a big deal, but Mom does everything at the house, so she knows what is needed and what isn't. Granny pretty much sits in her chair or in bed. Other than the puzzle in the daily paper, she doesn't do anything. Not that we haven't tried! I just find it funny what she insists on getting and how childlike she is going about it.
Besides this, she is all about the sweets. If at all possible, she would eat sweets all day long. She eats far more syrup on her waffles or pancakes than a family of 6 could eat in one sitting. She eats Donut Sticks, snack cakes, candy, and anything else sweet that you could imagine, and that is all she wants. Poor, Mom. She has to fight the sweets all day and make sure Granny eats all the food groups and gets enough protein. It is quite a fight. Just like when parents try to get their young children to eat appropriately.
I have been concerned about my mom from the beginning. She isn't in the best health, but she insists on doing this. Granny has Dementia, so we are learning how to deal with that. I have noticed that my mom has started forgetting things. I'm not sure how serious it is just yet, but it does worry me.
Anyone else caring for the elderly? What have you noticed? What do you fight? How do you survive?
Monday, January 21, 2013
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day/Weekend
How did you spend Martin Luther King, Jr. Day weekend?
Did you watch the Inauguration? I absolutely love hearing The Battle Hymn of the Republic!
Did you go somewhere fun with the family?
Did you try a new recipe?
Yesterday, I decluttered the corner hutch in the kitchen along with the microwave stand and a built in cabinet/hutch. I gave it a once over with the dust rag too. I attempted to straighten the desk area in the office/library/front room. I didn't get very far with that. I did a few other things no one will ever notice too.
Today, after my morning workout and taking care of a few errands, I decided to do a little more cleaning. While doing a little laundry, I decided to throw in the bathroom shower curtain and liner. I took the rod down to give it a good bleaching. It has rusted and left a yucky reddish, orangeish, black stripe down one side and a reddish, orangeish stripe down another. I got some of it off, but it is still noticeable. I'm not sure what else to do. Maybe paint it? I also cleaned the sink and fronts of the bottom kitchen cabinets and dishwasher. Microwave is fairly clean. I dusted my bedroom ceiling fan too. After throwing the last load in the dryer, I decided to take out the middle spinner thing from the washer. It was so gross underneath. I went to the following websites to see how to clean my top loading washing machine--
Ask Anna: How to Clean the Washing Machine and One Good Thing by Jillee: How to Clean Your {Top-Leader} Washing Machine. I wiped down the washer and dryer while waiting.
Well, after an hour and a half of water and vinegar, it ran through the whole cycle. It looked clean as I looked inside. However, I took the middle spinner off again, and it hadn't changed. I poured a little bleach directly on that gross, grey stuff. I decided to make sure it was all covered and soaking. I left it for about an hour. I filled it with hot water just to cover the gross area and then ran the rest of the cycle without the spinner thing on it. Well, when looking into the washer, it looks very clean. However, the process did nothing for the yucky grey stuff under the spinner.
Now . . . if someone would come sweep, vacuum, and clean the bathrooms. :-)
While we are in the midst of Girl Scout Cookies initial sales going door-to-door or selling at parents' work places, we are also getting organized for booth sales. I learned how to use the "Sign Up" tab on our Shutterfly site. What a great tool!
Did you watch the Inauguration? I absolutely love hearing The Battle Hymn of the Republic!
Did you go somewhere fun with the family?
Did you try a new recipe?
Yesterday, I decluttered the corner hutch in the kitchen along with the microwave stand and a built in cabinet/hutch. I gave it a once over with the dust rag too. I attempted to straighten the desk area in the office/library/front room. I didn't get very far with that. I did a few other things no one will ever notice too.
Today, after my morning workout and taking care of a few errands, I decided to do a little more cleaning. While doing a little laundry, I decided to throw in the bathroom shower curtain and liner. I took the rod down to give it a good bleaching. It has rusted and left a yucky reddish, orangeish, black stripe down one side and a reddish, orangeish stripe down another. I got some of it off, but it is still noticeable. I'm not sure what else to do. Maybe paint it? I also cleaned the sink and fronts of the bottom kitchen cabinets and dishwasher. Microwave is fairly clean. I dusted my bedroom ceiling fan too. After throwing the last load in the dryer, I decided to take out the middle spinner thing from the washer. It was so gross underneath. I went to the following websites to see how to clean my top loading washing machine--
Ask Anna: How to Clean the Washing Machine and One Good Thing by Jillee: How to Clean Your {Top-Leader} Washing Machine. I wiped down the washer and dryer while waiting.
Well, after an hour and a half of water and vinegar, it ran through the whole cycle. It looked clean as I looked inside. However, I took the middle spinner off again, and it hadn't changed. I poured a little bleach directly on that gross, grey stuff. I decided to make sure it was all covered and soaking. I left it for about an hour. I filled it with hot water just to cover the gross area and then ran the rest of the cycle without the spinner thing on it. Well, when looking into the washer, it looks very clean. However, the process did nothing for the yucky grey stuff under the spinner.
Now . . . if someone would come sweep, vacuum, and clean the bathrooms. :-)
While we are in the midst of Girl Scout Cookies initial sales going door-to-door or selling at parents' work places, we are also getting organized for booth sales. I learned how to use the "Sign Up" tab on our Shutterfly site. What a great tool!
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Glen Rose and Ft. Worth, Texas
Looking for a great day trip in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex? Try Glen Rose and Ft. Worth, Texas!
The first weekend of 2013 was a beautiful one, and I had the great privilege of spending it with my niece and nephew.
On Saturday, we went to Glen Rose and enjoyed Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, where we fed animals as we drove through the park.
After a bite to eat, we headed to Dinosaur Valley State Park. It was a warm, sunny day on the first Saturday of January. We climbed down to the river to see the dinosaur tracks in Site #1. We then climbed back up to drive over to Site #2, where we climbed back down to the river and played around, crossing the river by stepping on the rocks, and coming back across. The kids took their shoes and socks off to enjoy the water. We have been to DVSP before, but the river was always higher and faster, which made it difficult to see the dinosaur tracks. We could see them this time, and we could cross the river without worry.
On Sunday, we drove to Ft. Worth to enjoy the Ft. Worth Museum of Science and History. The kids have been very interested in all things Titanic. FWMSH had an exhibit displaying artifacts salvaged from the bottom of the ocean, information about passengers while on the ship, and if they survived or not. As we entered the exhibit, we were each given a boarding pass with a name of a passenger and other interesting information. We knew a little about why our passengers were on the ship, what class they were, what rooms they were assigned, and little more, but we were not told whether or not they survived. By the end of the exhibit, we found out.
After completing the exhibit, we visited the rest of the museum.
It was a great weekend, and I absolutely loved seeing the kids.
The first weekend of 2013 was a beautiful one, and I had the great privilege of spending it with my niece and nephew.
On Saturday, we went to Glen Rose and enjoyed Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, where we fed animals as we drove through the park.
After a bite to eat, we headed to Dinosaur Valley State Park. It was a warm, sunny day on the first Saturday of January. We climbed down to the river to see the dinosaur tracks in Site #1. We then climbed back up to drive over to Site #2, where we climbed back down to the river and played around, crossing the river by stepping on the rocks, and coming back across. The kids took their shoes and socks off to enjoy the water. We have been to DVSP before, but the river was always higher and faster, which made it difficult to see the dinosaur tracks. We could see them this time, and we could cross the river without worry.
On Sunday, we drove to Ft. Worth to enjoy the Ft. Worth Museum of Science and History. The kids have been very interested in all things Titanic. FWMSH had an exhibit displaying artifacts salvaged from the bottom of the ocean, information about passengers while on the ship, and if they survived or not. As we entered the exhibit, we were each given a boarding pass with a name of a passenger and other interesting information. We knew a little about why our passengers were on the ship, what class they were, what rooms they were assigned, and little more, but we were not told whether or not they survived. By the end of the exhibit, we found out.
After completing the exhibit, we visited the rest of the museum.
It was a great weekend, and I absolutely loved seeing the kids.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Girl Scout Cookies
We kick-off our cookie sales this Friday. If you read this post between January 11th and 27th, and find yourself craving cookies, just comment and let me know how many of what kinds, and we will be glad to get them to you in February. :-)
My co-leader/BFF and I are pretty laid back when it comes to cookie sales. We expect everyone to participate, but we do not hold our girls to a hard and fast minimum or goal. We discuss goals, how much we get per box, and how we plan to use the money, but we aren't crazy about how many they must sell. Whatever funds we don't have, parents pitch in to make up the difference. (The thing that bothers me the most is that we only get $0.55 or $0.60 per box. We do a lot of work (and have a lot of fun) for such a small amount of money.)
We are well aware of a troop that has a point system or massively detailed system for how many cookies must be sold, what that covers (activities), etc. For every box not sold to meet the ultimate goal, that is more the parents have to pay or more service hours the girls must do. This system is so complex that I cannot even begin to explain it to you. It is just mind boggling!Yesterday, my co-leader overheard two fathers discussing one father's daughter's cookie meeting and the expectations of the troop leader. He was just blown away at her expectations for initial sales, but at the same time, his daughter barely sold any cookies--somewhere around 20 boxes.
Maybe it is just us, two girls, now leaders, who were selling cookies as Brownie Girl Scouts back in Kindergarten, but the cookies sell themselves. I put a framed picture of my niece with a little explanation next to the cookie order form in the lounge at my school. When I go back at the end of the day, I have sold at least 20. I do this over and over until the end of initial sales. I carry my form to department meetings and other gatherings of educators. Normally, if one buys, another will buy. My last ditch effort is to send out an email to the whole campus just reminding them to buy before the deadline. Once the cookies come in and we have our booth sales stash, I take various boxes to work, and I sell them with no trouble.
Cookies sell themselves. Remember, when you see girls (or their parents) selling in the next few weeks, you are supporting a wonderful cause.
Do I have any Girl Scout followers? What are your secrets to selling cookies?
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Great Blog
My dear, best friend, Jill, has started a blog to focus on education, books, and more. I encourage you to follow her at ...and Jill Came Tumbling After.
She has also shared the 2013 Reading Challenge from Goodreads.com. I encourage you to take part. I haven't set a goal of how many I want to read this year, but I have finished my first, Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. I enjoyed this book, but I really liked Flynn's Gone Girl better.
Happy reading!
She has also shared the 2013 Reading Challenge from Goodreads.com. I encourage you to take part. I haven't set a goal of how many I want to read this year, but I have finished my first, Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn. I enjoyed this book, but I really liked Flynn's Gone Girl better.
Happy reading!
Caring for the Elderly
Have you been the caregiver for a senior citizen? If so, please share you thoughts, ideas, and ways of surviving.
My mother, the most amazing, strongest woman I know, has taken over the daily care of her mother, Granny. We had some wonderful ladies who stayed with her 24/7 for the last 9.5 months, but due to finances, Mom took over at Thanksgiving. You know it has to be an adjustment to do something like this, but I don't think anyone can really prepare themselves for what is involved. Mom has given up her whole life, and in order to check on both of them, my life has changed too.
Granny lived alone and still drove until May 2010. She was followed, attacked, and robbed. That very incident would impact anyone, but it was the beginning of the end of the lady we knew. Because she was so scared, even in her own home, she would be awake at all hours. One early September morning in 2010, she was moving through her house, fell, and broke her hip. After surgery and a hospital stay, she went to a rehab facility. She did great, and she was able to return to her home within 3 months. She continued to be scared, but she was determined to be on her own. By this point, she was no longer driving, and she was pretty much in her home full-time, afraid to leave b/c someone might break in. She would leave if a family member took her somewhere, but she was afraid until she returned home.
In September 2011, she developed a blood infection and a few other concerns, so back to the hospital she went. Again, a hospital stay led to rehab to get her up and moving. She didn't recover as well from this. Dementia began settling in. She seemed to enjoy the rehab facility, so we decided to leave her there in the nursing home portion. For the most part, she was happy, made friends, and seemed to be doing well. This was when things were going well, her mind was "right, and she was more herself. However, she also had another side. This side was angry and frustrated, and during this time, she would argue and argue about going home, accuse people of things, and more. Finally, in order for Mom to survive, we gave Granny a choice, knowing she wasn't always in her right mind. She could stay in the nursing home or she would go home with 24/7 care. Because of the Dementia, she totally believed she could care for herself and didn't know why someone had to be there full-time. This has been the argument and struggle for 10 months.
Through the caregivers, we have learned about "sun-downing" and Dementia, but it is still so hard to see Granny like this, see how she seems fine and herself one minute and the next she is a mean, selfish, ungrateful person we don't know. She talks to herself or to people who aren't there. She says things that she would never have said to Mom or in front of me.
Unless I keep a log of everything Granny says or does, no one can believe what this has been like, especially for Mom.
There has to be some sort of training for this. I am sure there are support systems, but how do you go about finding them or becoming a part? Caring for anyone, but especially a parent, is so stressful, which I have probably already said, and you don't get a lot of rest. It is exhausting.
Besides worrying about Mom and the toll this is taking on her and her health, this whole situation has started me thinking about when I become a senior citizen and have no one to care for me. I know it may sound like I'm being selfish, but . . . Will I be that sad little lady in the nursing home with no one visiting? Who will know when it is time for me to have full time help? Who will pay for it? What if I can't pay for it? Where do I go?
So . . . besides wondering about my future, this has also brought to my mind the need for families to start thinking, now, about the care of their parents and/or grandparents when time comes. So many people think that is something to worry about later, but I tell you, the time is now to start thinking and planning. Loved ones need to become educated on care-giving or caring for the elderly. I don't have all the answers, but I just know more has to be done to get the info out to loved ones.
My mother, the most amazing, strongest woman I know, has taken over the daily care of her mother, Granny. We had some wonderful ladies who stayed with her 24/7 for the last 9.5 months, but due to finances, Mom took over at Thanksgiving. You know it has to be an adjustment to do something like this, but I don't think anyone can really prepare themselves for what is involved. Mom has given up her whole life, and in order to check on both of them, my life has changed too.
Granny lived alone and still drove until May 2010. She was followed, attacked, and robbed. That very incident would impact anyone, but it was the beginning of the end of the lady we knew. Because she was so scared, even in her own home, she would be awake at all hours. One early September morning in 2010, she was moving through her house, fell, and broke her hip. After surgery and a hospital stay, she went to a rehab facility. She did great, and she was able to return to her home within 3 months. She continued to be scared, but she was determined to be on her own. By this point, she was no longer driving, and she was pretty much in her home full-time, afraid to leave b/c someone might break in. She would leave if a family member took her somewhere, but she was afraid until she returned home.
In September 2011, she developed a blood infection and a few other concerns, so back to the hospital she went. Again, a hospital stay led to rehab to get her up and moving. She didn't recover as well from this. Dementia began settling in. She seemed to enjoy the rehab facility, so we decided to leave her there in the nursing home portion. For the most part, she was happy, made friends, and seemed to be doing well. This was when things were going well, her mind was "right, and she was more herself. However, she also had another side. This side was angry and frustrated, and during this time, she would argue and argue about going home, accuse people of things, and more. Finally, in order for Mom to survive, we gave Granny a choice, knowing she wasn't always in her right mind. She could stay in the nursing home or she would go home with 24/7 care. Because of the Dementia, she totally believed she could care for herself and didn't know why someone had to be there full-time. This has been the argument and struggle for 10 months.
Through the caregivers, we have learned about "sun-downing" and Dementia, but it is still so hard to see Granny like this, see how she seems fine and herself one minute and the next she is a mean, selfish, ungrateful person we don't know. She talks to herself or to people who aren't there. She says things that she would never have said to Mom or in front of me.
Unless I keep a log of everything Granny says or does, no one can believe what this has been like, especially for Mom.
There has to be some sort of training for this. I am sure there are support systems, but how do you go about finding them or becoming a part? Caring for anyone, but especially a parent, is so stressful, which I have probably already said, and you don't get a lot of rest. It is exhausting.
Besides worrying about Mom and the toll this is taking on her and her health, this whole situation has started me thinking about when I become a senior citizen and have no one to care for me. I know it may sound like I'm being selfish, but . . . Will I be that sad little lady in the nursing home with no one visiting? Who will know when it is time for me to have full time help? Who will pay for it? What if I can't pay for it? Where do I go?
So . . . besides wondering about my future, this has also brought to my mind the need for families to start thinking, now, about the care of their parents and/or grandparents when time comes. So many people think that is something to worry about later, but I tell you, the time is now to start thinking and planning. Loved ones need to become educated on care-giving or caring for the elderly. I don't have all the answers, but I just know more has to be done to get the info out to loved ones.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Good-bye, 2012! Hello, 2013!
Happy New Year!
Do you have any resolutions? Goals? Plans?
2012 was a difficult year for me. Not one I'm ready to discuss in blog format, but one I know God led me through either to strengthen me or those I love. I don't wish to ever live a year like 2012 again--the sadness, pain, and anger I have felt, the major life changes I have endured, but I know that God has a plan, and I must have faith to see it through. He loves me and those I love more than I can imagine, and I believe all things happen for a reason. I just have to have patience and faith.
I wish everyone the best in 2013. Who knows what God has in plan for us this year!?!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
