Mom celebrated her 78th birthday on August 8th. I never was sure that she'd be with us by now. I absorbed every minute of the day which was planned out to accommodate mom.

We had the get together with her immediate family, including her brother and one of her two sisters (the other was ill). The location was a cozy cafe' inside our favority bakery. The time of the party was just right -- when mom would be up, dressed, and at her best mentally. The table where she sat was covered with a white cloth to avoid the confusion of too many patterns.

Her birthday plates, napkins and forks were a solid pink -- again - to avoid confusion of too many different colors.

We took it really slow with her. We showed her the cake and then would move it away so she could be shown something else. Everyone was very good at going over to see her but not overwhelm her.

I took photos - which is what I've done all my life. I captured all I could - because I already wonder if this will be her last birthday with us.

Throughout this whole ordeal, I can honestly say that God has had a plan. Right now my ranch home which had been rented out is going to be vacant shortly. I will take time to get it cleaned up and items fixed in it.

This past day mom began to lean heavily to her right. She had been showing signs of weakness on her left side, but it has drastically switched to her right side. It is so obvious that she is frustrated with her inability to keep herself steady.

Tonight dad and I spoke about the challenges of their home, i.e. the bedrooms and bathrooms all being up one level and the difficulty each time of getting mom on the chair lift three or four times each day to go upstairs. I thought just then about my ranch home with three bedrooms on the main floor and with a bathroom right there as well. The home had new carpeting and linoeum put in it in June 2007 when I tried to sell it. Now I am offering it as a solution for mom to be in a home which would be easier to function inside of.

The major change that would need to be made would be the upstairs bathroom which has a standard tub. It is time to replace it anyways, so I am going to begin researching handicapped showers which would work beautifully in it. I do not know if this is the solution, but I feel God has had things happen for a reason and this would be one reason my home is move-in ready and will soon be empty of tenants.

The living room faces the back yard which is absolutely beautiful. There is even a bird feeder and bird house right off from the wooden deck.

A lot of praying will need to happen, but I feel this is a wonderful option for a living arrangement for mom, dad and me. Their home would not be sold. It would remain monitored and locked up for the most part if this was to happen.

I'm excited at the possibility.

There have been other changes since my last blog; however, I need to rest - a very important part of my life these days - and a part of my doctor's instructions to me in order to keep me functioning well and able to help as I can.

Please always pray for my mom for peace and comfort. Please always pray for my dad for rest, peace, wisdom, and comfort as well. Please pray for my two daughters for the ability to manager their lives while helping out so much with their grandmother. It is a rough way for two young ladies to live at this time; however, in the future they will never regret doing so. Neither will I.

Thank you for your prayers.

Blessings,

"K"aren - West Michigan