It's been a while. Life got hard -- really hard. And when that happens, it takes all I have to stay afloat. I'm sure most everyone can relate -- except those who invite others online along their journey during the hard times. I've never been able to do that!
So anyways -- life was cruising along. I was able to post what the Lord was speaking to my heart almost daily. I was creating art that He was whispering to me to create. Life was calm, I was able to hear Him. But then things took a turn.
First, my mom's Alzheimer's changed -- as Alzheimer's will as time goes on. It's never a clear change, though. This disease is tricky and mean. There are small changes that come and go -- until the change for the worse sticks with us. As it did with mom. She was in the hospital for three weeks. And me, my sisters and my dad and me were all taking turns staying with her while she was there. Because anyone that knows anything about hospitals and the elderly, especially, you cannot leave them alone. It's up to family to advocate when needed -- and you never know when it will be needed -- so someone has to be there 24/7. It's a lot!
And then we get my mom settled back at home, and a few weeks later my dad's health takes a turn for the worse. He ends up in the hospital ... and my sisters and I are splitting our time between hospital stays and staying with mom at home. All this between jobs and kids and other responsibilities. It was another 2 weeks of this until we got dad back home with mom.
Before all of this, mom and dad were managing at home. Now they need 24/7 care. So while life is not as chaotic as when one of them is in the hospital, it's not easy either. And it's not back to normal.
I write all this to explain my absence -- although the online world is so saturated, who even noticed? But I did miss listening to my Lord and sharing what He puts on my heart. I'm hoping to get back to the sharing part soon.
Until then, I'm saying a quick "hello."
