Our extra-Ordinary Life: Christmas With Dad

Romans 12:1-2

So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. Romans 12:1-2

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Christmas With Dad

Last Christmas Dad was kinda "out of sorts" and after opening presents and breakfast he wanted to go home right away. In February 2010 he went into the Veteran's Center and we were so thankful to have full-time care for him. At the end of July he was able to transfer closer to us and again we were thankful for God's provision.

On Sunday, Aunt and I went to get Dad to celebrate Christmas at my house. I'm not sure if he ever realized what we were really doing or even who we were, but I'm sure of one thing. Every time M or L hugged him, he smiled from ear to ear! Again we are thankful to have another Christmas with Dad. We also realize that he is more comfortable someplace "familiar" - the Center, even if it's in someone else's chair! We're thankful for his wonderful caregivers.

Dad posed in front of the tree before we started opening presents.

J's present from Aunt - dog treats!

M made and stained this by himself for his Dad.

I printed this on my previous blog, Butterfly Wings:

Alzheimer’s is Limited…It cannot steal the memories I have of you. It cannot rob the moments we spent laughing together. Or fade the pictures in my wallet. It cannot weaken faith. Deprive me of peace. Steal my joy. Or cripple hope. It cannot shake my confidence that there is a divine plan though I can’t quite see it from here. It cannot shorten eternal life.