A Long Good Bye

   Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the  Lord  your God is giving you.  Exodus 20:12 Honor widows who are truly widows. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.  1 Timothy 5:3-4 Whose job is it to take care of Mom?  We knew Mom had a declining memory and was not making rational choices.  There were two of us that were tasked with looking after Mom.  Both of us were raising families and had full time jobs and community responsibilities.  Secretly, we both hoped that Mom would keep her independence as long as possible.  After an accidental fall of a bicycles in North Carolina mom was left unable to walk and care for herself.   Matt and I rearranged our house and our lives to care for Mom in this season.  During this time I learned many things. 1.   I could not do this alone.  2.   Selfless Love

 November 2023   Before my dad left this earth he asked the question:  What about your mom?   I quickly responded, "I got her." Little did I know that those three words would turn my life upside down.  Dad quickly declined and left this earth before I could ask him the many questions that now fill my thoughts and mind.    Just months before my Dad's health failed him our family had noticed some changes in Mom.  Mom was not mom.   Many times we all brushed it off to her quirky nature.   After two many quirky behaviors I brought up my concerns with her primary care provider.   The primary care provider brushed me off, but multiple calls later he called her in for a visit.  After a few visits and a psychological examination it was determined that she had a mild cognitive decline.            The weeks and months that followed the funeral mom seemed to perk up and we saw glimpses of her normal self.   Later we found out that this behavior is some what normal.   After a few go