The Journey Begins

What a journey this has already been and will continue to be.  If you have a family member who has been given this diagnosis, I urge you to find a support group.  The local Alzheimer's Association can provide you with information.  We are going to a support group provided in association with Alzheimer's and Emory.  We have finished week 3 and I am already sad that it is going to end in another 5 weeks.  Meeting with others and sharing your stories from the previous week will give you insight on what you can expect down this road of twists and turns.  I also suggest you read everything you can find out about the disease and being a care giver partner.  I am reading Learning to Speak Alzheimer's, by Joanne Koenig Coste.  I highly recommend it.  It will be something you can read over and over.   Journal your thoughts and things your loved one says.  Recently, I found out who my sister and I are named after--my mom's dolls.  I always knew that mom loved dolls but we had no idea why we were named what we are.  We have no relatives named Diane or Nancy but now I know that they were some of my mom's favorite doll names when she was a little girl.  In the early stages of Alzheimer's there are still LOTS of good days ahead.  I know that as we continue down this path many changes will come and as a family we will need to make adjustments on our pathway.  Thank you Lord for this time we have together.  Lynda Randle is one of my favorite Christian artist.  I hope these lyrics to "God On the Mountain" will encourage you on your journey. 

Life is easy when you're up on the mountain
And you've got peace of mind like you've never known.
But then things change and you're down in the valley.
Don't lose faith for you're never alone.

For the God on the mountain is still God in the valley.
When things go wrong, He'll make it right.
And the God of the good times
is still God in the bad times.
The God of the day is still God in the night.

You talk of faith when you're up on the mountain.
Oh but the talk comes easy when life's at its best.
But it's down in the valley of trials and temptation
That's when faith is really put to the test.

For the God on the mountain is still God in the valley.
When things go wrong, He'll make it right.
And the God of the good times
is still God in the bad times.
The God of the day is still God in the night.