I'm Official

I've recently joined the Okie Bloggers, as you can see to your left, and I somehow feel more official now.

I've blogged about many things during my time with a blog. Gators, kids, marriage, alzheimers, boyscouts, faith and just stuff. I blog to put my thoughts about things somewhere I can find them. If you have read them along the way, that's the bonus for me.

I named my blog Ramblings of a creative mind unleashed because I am sort of random. I have often said I have a trivial mind, I know little bits about a lot of things. Enough to be dangerous so I've heard. :-)

Anyway...today's randomness is laughter. I love a good laugh. I follow The Pioneer Woman mostly because she makes me laugh. She lives her life with remarkable humor and joy. I enjoy that a great deal.

I also enjoy my friends Dwayne and Barb. They like to laugh, a lot! We play cards monthly and I never leave their company without at least one good guffaw! Here they are...


My friend Ellen is also a favorite to have a giggle with. The first time her daughter-in-law met me, we were so caught in the throws of laughter, she thought we were drunk. We weren't. We don't need to be...although being a little tired does help, we just get funnier and funnier. :-)

So here's my advice today -- go have a good laugh! Laughter is the Best Medicine according to Reader's Digest and to me. Life is tough and hard and God has given us the gift of laughter as a release. Give yourself the gift of laughter today. If you can't find it yourself, maybe this will help, my GIFT to you.

peace.

Memory Walk 2009

So we went, we walked and we'll remember. I think the most overwhelming aspect of the walk was not the number of people (over 700), or the music or activities...it was one woman's story.

Maria's family suffers from familial alzheimer's. Her grandmother died of it when she was in her 20's, she never knew her grandmother without it. Maria's mom has it and her 17 year old son has never known his grandmother without it. 3 of her aunts and 3 of her uncles have it. Out of Maria's grandmother's 13 children, that makes 7 children with alzheimer's. Maria's family begins showing symptoms in their late 40's or early 50's. Maria looks to be around 40.

As I listened to her story, I felt such sorrow for this family's legacy. As devastated as my sister and I have been by alzheimer's dad's slip into oblivion, we have no concept of the curse this family lives under.

Looking at everything, here is where I come back to. God is good, all the time and all the time, God is good. He has blessed us beyond our wildest dreams and our biggest hopes. He has supported us, provided for us, given us peace that passes all understanding. I can't fully explain the hope that resides in me but I know where my hope comes from. And I am truly grateful. I cannot imagine living this life without the abiding presence of my Savior, my Creator.

Thank you for supporting me in your thoughts, your prayers, with your flowers and the names of your loved ones, and with your money.

I am more determined than ever to raise the awareness of people about this devastating disease. Maria's family deserves a new heritage.

peace.

From my friend, Ellen

This post was written by my dear friend, Ellen. Her mother also lives with alzheimer's. We are making this journey together, hand in hand, heart to heart. We understand each other and our stories are similar.

Just click on the title above and I hope you are touched by her post. I was.

peace.

2 Weeks from Today

I'll be doing something I've never done before. Something that is so exciting, a little scary and I'll need help accomplishing.

I'm walking in the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk. And no, I won't need help walking. :-)

If you have read this blog for long, you know my dad has alzheimers. You can read more about him here.

You may have also read about me, my sister and our families doing the walk here.

If you have, would you consider supporting us? Would you give a little bit of money to help end this life stealing, family burdening, horrible-awful-no good-very bad disease?

I cannot fully express our greatfulness. If alzheimer's has touched someone you know, you understand.

One more thing, if alzheimer's has touched your life or someone you know, tell me their name, I'll make them a flower, and I'll wear it while I'll walk. I'll wear it and we'll all say together that it's time to end this plague. Post a comment here or email me at gr8fulg(at)gmail.com.

Thanks again for your support!

peace.

Looking at Life

My life has been defined by so many stages.

I was a kid for a while. I was a teenager, but only until 16.

My parents divorced, we moved to another state and my mom and I became roommates, sharing the responsibilities, bills and raising of my 11 year old sister. I ceased being a kid and quickly became an adult working 35 hours a week and finishing high school. We survived.

I went to college at 18, married at 19, became a mom at 20. I was then a wife and mom. Staying at home when many women were "having it all, being it all". At 22, I had my second daughter and life was defined.

My children are now 22 and 25. I am now an empty-nester. I work full-time. I'm a wife. I'm an aunt, sister, daughter and care-taker of my alzheimers dad. Some day I maybe a mother-in-law, maybe a grandmother.

But most of all, I'm just me. The things in my life and throughout my life God has used to shape me. I haven't always liked me, but I'm liking me more than ever. I've been given so much, filled with so much, and I'm really glad I'm at the point of life that I enjoy sharing what I have to offer. I really do love my life. It's not always pretty, but it's mine.

I'll keep it and I'll be me. Are you glad you are you?

peace.

Couldn't have said it better...

Guest post from my sister Jenny...

My Dad, Jim Pitts lives with advanced Alzheimers.
3 months ago we had to move him into a fulltime nursing care facility. My sister and I assist his nursing home in caring for him and providing for him. Our families together are walking in honor of who he is and who he was, not who he has become because of this horrible disease.

We are determined to make a difference in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. By participating in the 2009 Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk®, My family is committed to raising awareness and funds for Alzheimer research, care and support. Michael, myself, Brandon and Emily hope to raise at least $100.00 each to help.

Currently more than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's, and 78 million baby boomers are at risk – unless we find a way to change the course of the disease.

I want to do my part to fight this disease, but I need to ask for your support! Please make a donation to help the Alzheimer's Association advance research into prevention, treatments and a cure for Alzheimer's. For the millions already affected by the disease, the Association offers care, education, support and resources in communities nationwide.

On behalf of myself, my family and the millions of Americans who are living with this disease, thank you for supporting my efforts. We're on the MOVE to end Alzheimer’s!

Here are the links to our fundraising pages, we'd love your help! Send us a flower to wear too! Click here for flower info.

Jenny's Page

Glynis' page

The measure of a man

It's been a week. So in the last seven days, alzheimers dad has become very violent, hallucinating frequently, combative and cranky. He's thrown his cup at the wall, hit people, tried to strangle a nurse (she's fine), yanked out IVs, and is constantly chattering to these very small children he sees running all around his room. He has been checked in to a geriatric psych ward for a full evaluation...medical, mental, emotional, etc...he's been on quite a roller-coaster ride this week. It has not been pretty.

But, this is not my dad.

My dad is a big cowboy. He's a glassblower and a fabulous cook. He can fix anything, make anything and can tell the best stories because he's been a Boy Scout all his life. He loves to hunt and fish, go camping, go anywhere really. He is a generous man, willing to help anyone that will ask or anyone that is in need.

He was always great with teenagers. They loved him! He'd sing silly songs, he chaperon trips, he was always up for an adventure.

We were never rich, far from it, but I never knew as a kid that we were poor. We always had people around, we were the fun party house. Not the liquor kind of party, the turn your house into an amusement park for Halloween kind of house.

So here is what I've decided. I will remember my dad. My memories of him are built from a lifetime with him, not a disease that has claimed him and changed him. I am sorry the people who now care for him will never truly know him, but I know him.

So this year, I'm walking in the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk on October 24. I want to walk and remember. I want to walk and share. I want to shake my fist in the face of this awful, life-altering disease and say You Will Not Win. And I want you to help me.

I've come up with an idea. I love giving flowers to people. I refuse to only send them to funerals. So...print out this flower, do whatever you want to it, send it to me (address below) and I'll wear it while I walk. Flowers for Jim, my dad. If I get thousands, that would be awesome. I promise, there will be pictures!

Here's our team. We'd love your support, and thanks!

S&S Productions Team


Alzheimer's Association


And I will remember.

peace.

Flowers for Jim
PO Box 8793
Edmond, OK 73083