Dee2rites Blog

Tag: Mental Health

  • I Didn’t Plan This Trip – The Road is Getting Harder

    “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”  James 1:2-6

    This is not the blog I wanted to write. I wanted to talk about some funny things that happen. I’d rather talk about how God has answered our prayers lately. But I just can’t. My heart is breaking into a million pieces. Maybe another day.

              After Larry started taking a medication for his mood swings, I began to see his old personality come back, and I thought Yes, we can do this. When we would have a special moment together, share a kiss and a hug, I thought Yes, we can do this. Those times made it ok that I was having to take over all the responsibilities of taking care of the house and having to hire people to do the yard and repairs. It was ok because I could see glimpses of my husband and our love.

              Suddenly, things changed almost overnight. He suddenly became very confused, like he’d not been before. After two trips to the ER, the second one at 3:30 am in an ambulance, the doctor told me what was happening to my husband. The diagnosis was that he had Acute Delirium. It can happen for several reasons, but it’s not uncommon in Alzheimer’s patients. It may or may not lessen, it could even go away temporarily.

              This is how it went with Larry’s dad. He would talk to people who weren’t there, hear or see things that weren’t there. He even called the police once because these imaginary people wouldn’t leave the house. We tried having him stay with us, but that didn’t work out, Larry’s niece tried staying with him at night at his house, but that didn’t last long either. The family had no choice but to place him in a memory care facility because there was no one he’d let take care of him.  

              This is where we are. I’m trying to work with the VA to get him Home Health, hoping having someone else come tend to him  a couple of days a week might help. But the VA doesn’t make it easy. If that fails, we’ll use his Medicare and see what they will cover. But I’m not ready yet to place him in a facility. Not yet.

              I’m requesting prayer from all my praying friends. I need wisdom on what to do, and we need favor with the VA, and we need a doctor to verify this is what he needs. The ER doctor said it verbally, but I need it in writing. Yes, the road had gotten very difficult, but one thing I know – my God is faithful and He will see us through.   

    Peace and blessings in our Lord Jesus Christ,

    Dee

  • I Didn’t Plan This Trip – Cold Coffee

    “Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end.

    They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!

    I say: The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him.”

    Lamentations 3:22-24 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

              My favorite time of day used to be early mornings, when I would be the only one up. I’d enjoy a nice cup of coffee, or sometimes hot tea, while I read my Bible and prayed. I still enjoy those things, but not always in the usual way I used to know. Some days are easier than others, and some days are difficult to say the least. The best days are the ones when we don’t have to be anywhere, and can just take the day as it comes.

              I make my coffee, and about that time Larry puts the dog out of the bedroom because she’s wanting out. I open the dog door to let her out and feed her, put Larry’s bowl for cereal on the island and unload the dishwasher. A few minutes later, he’s up and usually needs a little help with shoes and socks. We get that done, and it’s time for breakfast. If we get the bowl of cereal and milk to the table without spilling, that’s a plus! Otherwise, I’m moping at least part of the kitchen floor.

              After he’s had his breakfast and taken his morning meds, he usually settles on the couch and watches reruns of M.A.S.H. or Andy Griffin. I shower and dress while he’s not needing me. At last, I’m ready for my day. But first I need to carry out garbage. And finish cleaning the kitchen. Oh yeah, I need to decide what to make for dinner and set something out to thaw. I make the beds because a nicely made bed makes me feel good about one thing being done well today.

              As I leave the bedroom to go to my workspace or the office, I see my cup of coffee sitting on the side table where I’d left it to go let the dog out. It’s cold by now. But hey, it’s summer, I’ll just add some ice and pretend I’d planned it that way.

              “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way.” Psalm 37:23 (NKJV)

    Peace and blessings in our Lord Jesus Christ,

    Dee

  • I Didn’t Plan This Trip – Friends Along the Way

    “A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17

              We’ve been blessed with many good friends throughout the years, many of whom we’ve kept contact with over time, even if only through Facebook. But there are a few who were special, and some of them have gone on to be with the Lord.

              When we lived in Lubbock, Larry became friends with his brother from another Mother at church. Brent, like Larry, loved bow hunting and they became hunting buddies, which is a whole other level of friendship. Brent taught Larry the fine art of bow fishing. After we moved to Plano, Brent and his family moved to New Orleans, and they continued to take bow hunting trips to New Mexico every January, and Larry would go to  New Orleans so they could enter bow fishing tournaments.

              Brent was exactly the friend Larry needed when they met. Brent was a very godly man, and was an example to Larry of what it meant to be a man of God. Brent was Larry’s confident, and Larry shared his doubts and struggles with him, and Brent always had Biblical answers and would pray over him. (I only learned this after Brent passed.)

    Then, in the summer of 2005, Brent was in a terrible auto accident that left him a paraplegic and no longer to do the things he loved. He was on his way to Lubbock from New Orleans when the accident happened, and the closest trauma hospital was in Ft Worth. He spent months in the hospital, and finally was able to be moved to the Baylor Rehab in Dallas. On October 19th, Larry fell off the roof of a 2-story house where he was working in Dallas. The ambulance took him to Baylor Hospital downtown Dallas.  When Brent heard about Larry’s accident and that he was in the hospital, he got his son to escort him, in his new motorized wheelchair, from the Rehab hospital to the main hospital to see Larry. A true friend in time of need. Brent’s family moved back to Lubbock, closer to their extended family, when Brent finally was dismissed from the Rehab hospital. A few years later, he moved on to heaven, and Larry grieved his friend.

    Another good friend Larry met when we moved back to Central Texas. Larry Smith was also a very godly man, a leader in our new church. And he was a hunter! Finally after twelve years, Larry had another hunting buddy! I don’t think they had the same level of friendship that Larry had with Brent, but Larry S. and his precious wife Alice took us under their wing when we were new members at church and helped us feel a part of the body there. Sadly, Larry S. graduated to glory in 2020, and a short time later Alice moved back to Ohio where her daughter lived and she had other family.

    Then there was Jim, who was married to my best friend, Lorna. When Larry lost his job, Jim was there for him, inviting him over to help with the pool table he was building. And as soon as it was finished, Jim regularly had Larry over to play pool. Another friend in time of need.

    If I were to talk about every person God has brought into our lives, this post would be way too long. But, even now, as we’re walking through this hard time of life, God is blessing us with true friends. My circle of friends at church are so special, allowing me to cry on their shoulders at times, and praying with me always.  There is one couple who always invite us to sit with them when we all go out to lunch after church, even though they understand Larry can’t carry on a normal conversation, partly because he can’t hear well in noisy places, and partly he can’t always remember what he wants to say.

    But even as precious as all these people are, and many many others as well, have been, there is One who has always been here with us, and has promised to never to leave us, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. I rely on my friends for support, but in the dark hours of the night, it is Jesus Who I call on for guidance, comfort, and peace.

    “…but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”  Proverbs 18:24b

    Peace and blessings in our Lord Jesus Christ,

    Dee