Today, EO said he wanted to be up early to do our morning worship, because he had a number of things he had to do this morning, until he has to leave at 2pm to take his dad to town.  He really had so much he has to do today.  But isn't that how it goes, you spend all winter in doors, and you can't do anything.  Then one day summer comes along and you are swamped trying to do all the things you needed done. 

yesterday i was soooooo sick.  my stomach just was nasty all day. i had a couple swallows of wine and that helped.  I love my little shot glasses, it is the prefect amount of wine that helps my stomach.  what is that scripture  "a little wine is good for the stomach".  well, the key is "little".  a glass of wine can make it worse.  Colton told someone at work about that, if you have really bad heartburn, or indigestion, to have just a little wine and it helps.  or if my stomach is sour.  but anyway, the person he told tried it and was blown away how well it worked.

today i have a LOT of back pain.  maybe it is sympathy pains for Steph.  IDK, as she still can't handle being up and around yet.   but not just my back but my hips?   and my stomach still isn't very good today.  

i'm so scatter brained today.  i just can't seem to keep focused on any one thing.  there were things i wanted to post yesterday and even this morning, but i just can't remember what they are. that really bugs me. well who knows, maybe there wasn't anything. 

yesterday's meeting was sooooo good.  and the WT lesson.  it was just so encouraging.  we have been taking care of my mom for so many years, and we have been helping B & C with various things over the years and recently much more.  Anyway, my take on the whole WT lesson was just that it helped me to reflect on how much support we had over the years and so many who were willing to help my mom, and then with the lesson, how to be kind even when they are cranky and/or if they are bossy and demanding.   Like for my mom... in her mind she thinks she is as sweet as honey all the time.  Actually since her strokes, she doesn't realize half of what she says.  and then, for one to have their independence taken away from them,  when they have taken care of so many people, had so many depend on them for help, in what seems like only yesterday for them, and they loose that self respect and dignity... it can be very humiliating for them to have to face that fact.

One thing i have had to remind myself over and over again, when my mom is being tough on us, that, not only doesn't she know she is, but how hard it is on her too.  by our just being there, it is a reminder of what she has lost.  For a number of years she was a special pioneer, sent with my dad to help start a new cong.  Then, some years later, she once ran two very successful companies at the same time, she had over 20+ employees.  and now, she has to go into the ER every two weeks to have them help her, because she can't empty her bowels anymore.  where is the dignity in that?  so, yeah, she is going to be cranky.  who can blame her.  

How about B&C... they helped literally and spiritually lay the foundation for the Solon cong to be formed and supported.  The numerous friends and families they have lovingly supported.  the decades of faithful service they have put in.  Look at them now.  It just breaks your heart to have to see such loving faithful ones suffer so cruelly in this old system.  

So the WT lesson reminding us how valuable the older ones are.  How precious they are to Jehovah, and how he never forgets all they have done for him, even though they can't do ... a drop in the bucket, in comparison.  Jehovah always dignifies them with honor.

Then, the importance of caring for our family/parents/grandparents. And sometimes the family needs some help from the cong too.  we don't have to wait to be asked for help, but to just volunteer to help.  don't assume they don't need help, as every family who is caring for parents/grandparents, DO NEED help.  Even if it is just stopping in to visit and encourage the elderly ones.  although, caregivers could use visits too.  hahaha. 

I am looking forward to next week's lesson too.  I was the primary caregiver for my mom for a lot of years.  Raise our kids to look after her too.  Taught Lauren how to cut her hair.  There were many things mom was able to teach the kids too.  When I became too sick to take care of her myself, EO and the kids were able to step up and take over.  It hasn't been easy, as we have been doing this for the past 23+ years.  After her heart attack, she started getting sick.  We had to make the decision to shut down the company, sell her house and move her to Solon.  Many prayers went into that decision.  Prayers were always a constant in caring for her.  there were times we didn't think we could handle it, we just needed a little break.  Jehovah always found a way to help us to get the rest we needed and keep on doing what we needed to do.  Jehovah always helped us, and NEVER neglected her or us.  But that is the key... keeping Jehovah in the center of the loop, has the best success.  We couldn't be more thankful.  So now, that our attention has shifted to B&C, we know Jehovah will help us with their care as well.