Cherish the precious moments!
Like many others here, my mom is suffering with dementia, and we're losing her slowly but surely. But there are still moments to cherish...glimpses of who she is still peek out. This is a picture of myself and my sister with mom last month. What a great day! We got to share smiles and laughter like we haven't seen in years. It was a precious memory that I will cherish. As a child, I remember the family sitting around and recording songs on an old reel to reel tape machine (to be sent to my uncle who was in Vietnam at the time). We recorded songs by The Carpenters, Crosby, Stills, and Nash - and my favorite, the Cowsills (the basis for the Partridge family)-you take the bus marked Lakewood Drive and you keep on riding till you're out of the city...amazing that I still remember the words from over 40 years ago.
Well, I know that music holds a special place in our brains so when I went to visit mom, I brought my guitar with me. I've been playing since I was a kid and she looked at me and asked, "Oh, when did you start doing that?" I just smiled and said, "A long time ago". No big deal, no reason for anyone to get upset so I just let it go and started playing some of the old songs from the 60's and 70's that I still remember. And she was smiling and singing along having a wonderful time. So if you have a loved one who's drifting away, try sharing some old time music with them (it's amazing what you can find online if you go looking), you might be surprised at the new memories you can create out of the old.
Blurb:
Margaret Ellington is not only grief stricken after her husband dies, but guilt ridden as well. Her solution? To run away. Hoping to escape the memories of her failure as a wife, she vows never to marry again, not even if it's Lukas North, her first love who's now returned. Lukas North is determined to reclaim the love he threw away ten years ago. He's willing to give Margaret time to recover from losing her husband, but letting her go is not an option. Margaret is wary of another long-distance relationship with Lukas-after all, it didn't work the first time-and when she discovers he's been keeping a secret, she panics. After the mistakes they made in the past, can their relationship be rebuilt on anything less than complete honesty? Can Lukas prove his devotion, and can Margaret learn to trust that both Lukas and God want only what's best for her?
Excerpt:
The doorbell echoing through the house was the last straw…as if the pounding hadn’t been enough.
“I’m coming already,” Margaret Ellington snarled. Whoever was banging deserved whatever came out of her mouth. Pushing hair out of her eyes, she snapped the lock and yanked the door open.
Margaret’s face froze. Oh, Lord, help me.
Sky blue eyes stared back at her—Lukas North.
His lopsided grin would have suited a ten-year-old boy after getting away with some mischievous prank. Eyebrows raised, he lifted a cup of coffee from the crook of his elbow and held it towards her. Pink lettering on the cup showed the logo from the coffee shop around the corner. The bright morning sun set red-gold highlights aglitter in his hair while his eyes crinkled at the corners. A dimple dipped into his cheek.
Margaret forced her gaze back up to his. “What are you doing here?” She groaned at her own rudeness, a moment later remembering his pounding on the door. He always had brought out the best—and the worst in her. She pushed the screen open as he continued to hold the cup towards her. Fingertip to fingertip, Margaret felt the tingle shoot up her arm. She took the coffee and let the screen door slap closed between them as she gripped the door frame.
Not Lukas. Never again. Ten years...Lord, help me. I can’t deal with him today. Leaving is hard enough. Please, Lord, give me strength. She shivered then glanced up and down the street, refusing to meet his gaze. Lukas had always seen too much—as if he could see straight into her soul.
DonnaBSnow
Living and Loving God's Way
Daffodils
A Piece of Heaven (coming soon)
4 comments:
What a great gift that time with your mother was! I love your excerpt.
Thanks, Liz, it was a great day - truly a gift from God, a real blessing!
The book sounds fantastic, and you're really inspiring with the love you lavishing on your mom. I hope you have more of those laughing days. :)
Thank you, Patty, so do I!
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