Papa is taking Baby Steps

Today, Papa walked a short distance from his room with the help of his Physical Therapist. On January 15th he went in for a total hip replacement on his left hip. He is dealing with the pain very well and is eager to work with Physical Therapy so He can get full movement again. Please pray for a full recovery and that Genelle will get some rest.

Heirlooms

I feel my role as a caregiver is to take care of a family's heirlooms. Since I began this new journey I have met the most amazing people. First there is Phyllis and Robert. She was married to his brother and now they are both widowed so they take care of each other. He loves roses and email and she likes to take care of Robert. Then I met Dot, a precious christian woman who had just returned home after having a knee replacement, We spent long afternoons talking about her years as a young woman who attended Biola College. She met her husband at Youth for Christ, They didn't have a car when they got married so they rode a bus to Big Bear Lake for their honeymoon, She emails me and keeps me up to date on the goings on at her Senior Living Facility. Next I wrote out Christmas Cards with Bob, a retired Pastor who is stuggling with Parkinson Disease and Dementia. A gentle soul with such a compassionate heart, His wife Donna is a pre-school teacher and the love of his life. Then there is Jacqueline, 94 and a classical ballerina from the 20's. She grew up playing with the Kennedy's in Mass. She reminds me of the actress that played Rose at the end of the movie Titanic. She wears her pearls everyday and loves to have a manicure and listen to classical music.A real beauty. Another woman,Jean lives in a beach house she has owned for 50 years on Faria Beach. She is a retired High School teacher and loves to watch Little House on the Prairie and drink green tea, She has beautiful white hair and is very soft spoken. I spend 48 hours with "Mac" she is 84 and has been diagnosed with Lung Cancer. She and I share the love of beautiful china,drinking tea and talking about our Scottish heritage. She lives in Camarillo and is the most organized person I have ever met, She is teaching me how to have a farewell party and enjoy each day. She taught me how to bake shortbread cookies and I make her homemade ice cream I count her as one of the most inspiring.
If you knew you were at the end of your life, how would act? All of these people have lived their lives with No regrets and have such peace. I am so blessed to have been trusted with these family heirlooms