Three steps to hope

2:55 p.m. Today's project was to join Steve in the garden to re-pot some avocado plants, add a layer of potting soil to our compost bin, and plant some corn. We also doused our slow-growing strawberry and pepper plants with Miracle-Gro.

I've been pondering three separate Alzheimer-inspired events of yesterday and trying to figure out what God's intentions are to use Steve's condition to bless our family and glorify Himself. I am well aware that the deep meanings of situations belong to God alone: Ecclesiastes 7:24 asks, "As for that which is afar off and exceedingly deep, who can find it out?" However, Daniel, which I am currently reading in my morning devotion time, has these encouraging words in Chapter Two, verses 21b-22: "He gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness...." Additionally, as a believer indwelt by the Holy Spirit, I am very encouraged by I Corinthians 2:9-10:

" 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,

Nor have entered into the heart of man

The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.'

But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God."

As I recount yesterday's happenings, I pray that perhaps God will be gracious and share His insights with me!

Yesterday at 11:00, I had an appointment with the owner of Bright Star, an in-home care service in Riverside that specializes in Alzheimers and dementia care. Steve is nowhere near a point where I need assistance with his daily living, but I wanted to begin inquiries now and lay the groundwork for the future, if this kind of help becomes necessary. And, because Heidi and I were both planning on going to the Ladies' retreat in June, I wondered what I would do in the unlikely event none of our other kids could stay with their dad--for companionship and reminders, not safety concerns. Bright Star's service ranges from occasional hourly supervision so the caregiver (me) can get out for a few hours, to a regularly scheduled 1/2 day assignment, ie., M-W-F or T-TH mornings, all the way to 5 full days a week, 24-hour live-in help, private assistance in a retirement -style care facility, even hospice. All licensed, trained specialists. I left very encouraged that our long-term care insurance dollars would be well spent with this company at whatever stage I decide to employ them. For obvious reasons, I kept this appointment to myself!

After lunch, I found an email from a published author, Patrick Evans, who had been referred to me by the Alzheimers Association. [They are conversant with Today's Project and the way that I chronicle Steve's condition]. Mr. Evans and I had a long talk while I was at CVS, because he wants factual information on early-onset Alzheimers for a character in a novel he is writing. He says that one always reads of characters who suddenly wake up and don't know who they are, and suspected that the disease comes on much more subtly at the beginning; I concurred. He asked me to "interview" Steve about the moment a few years ago when he first realized that he was coming down with the disease, because that is going to be how the novel ends. We'll talk again soon. Steve said he would be glad to help out, so we'll think things over together.

Later in the evening, Steve and I went to the National Day of Prayer service at our church, stopping at Home Depot for a light switch and some potting soil. I was delighted to see him go straight to the lighting aisle and get the switch! He met me at the garden department, loaded the potting soil and we went on to church.

We had glorious worship and small group prayer led by various pastors, ending with one pastor who prayed with incredible vigor and Holy Spirit anointing, calling upon each person with a need for healing to stand up--and our group told Steve to stand up, so precious!--and each group to lay hands on that person. We laid hands and prayed at length. Steve was so uplifted!

So I have been, like Mary, the mother of Jesus, "pondering these [three] things in my heart."

1. Will Steve go downhill at a pre-measured pace to helplessness, needing the service of Bright Star?

2. Will the Lord continue to use him and his illness to bring education and hope to others, the knowledge that joy and accomplishment are not gone for the Alzheimer's victim?

3. Will the Lord heal Steve altogether?

I want to be physically, mentally, emotionally and financially prepared for Steve's eventual, if not inevitable, helplessness; I pray to keep others informed and encouraged through this blog and personal friendship, ministry and empathy with their trials; and above all, I pray for Steve to be miraculously healed, defying genetics and medical science!

Three incidents, three aspects of our struggle with Alzheimers, three ways God appears to be acting in ours and others' behalf...His will be done!