Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri is happy to say they found Bob's fidget mat. A little worse for the wear, but they found it!

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri took some much needed camera time this weekend. God's glory and peace was everywhere.
God is good.

Living with Bob and "Al"

When Sheri looks around at the state of our world, she is able to see how minute her sorrow really is. She is trying to think beyond herself and her own grief, and see what kind of impact she can make in her small piece of the world.
Sheri needs to pause, praise and pray.

Living with Bob and "Al"

It was wonderful for Sheri to have Daughter Number One and Daughter Number Two together with Bob and "Al" on Easter. They brought him new crayons in an Easter Basket and "the boys" were thrilled. They sang together and enjoyed the sun shine. God is good.

Living with Bob and "Al"

Coloring has become a favorite past time for Bob. However Sheri realized a little to late that she should have invested in the washable kind because "Al's creativity has included her tablecloth, her ottoman and even a few duplo blocks.
Heavy sigh...

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri is glad 2016 is behind her. She will enter 2017 praying about how she can think outside of herself and her situation and focus on others. She knows 2017 will be a year of significant change... for everyone.

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri is trying to find comfort in knowing Bob is content inside "Al". Living in the moment is a great lesson, and "Al's" child like manner reminds her to have the heart of a child as well. So she got down on the floor and built a tower with "Al".

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:1-4 ESV). 

Living with Bob and "Al"

Bob carefully explained to Sheri that his wife drives through the road to the bridges that he built and the rooftops are his. He was so deliberate in his thought that Sheri just patted his knee and said "Oh wow that is great.  "Al" smiled back with satisfaction. :)
One moment at a time.

Living with Bob and "Al"

Dear Bob,

Please see what you can do to remind "Al" that the commode is the smaller of the two fixtures that hold liquid in the bathroom. Thanks so much.

Love, Sheri

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri loves the fall, but right after fall the winter in what she calls the frozen tundra won't be far behind. She is hoping the new apartment with it's bright windows and open floor plan will help Sheri this year, but the holidays bring it's own set of challenges with Bob and "Al". Sheri is determined to focus on the joy of the upcoming wedding of Daughter Number One, and to remember to live one moment at a time.
God is good.
Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri does not want to come across as though she never struggles to understand why a loving God would allow this terrible disease or any other horrific things of this world, or that she never feels angry about this journey she is on. She thinks and feels all of those things. But she chooses to believe that God uses all things together for good, and that God is in control. She believes God has a plan for her life... that is what faith is :)

Question: "What is the definition of faith?"
Answer: Thankfully, the Bible contains a clear definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Simply put, the biblical definition of faith is “trusting in something you cannot explicitly prove.”
Above excerpt from http://www.gotquestions.org/definition-of-faith.html

Living with Bob and "Al"

Bob's life spent silent, Al wants to talk...
Remembering stories, of Bob's life walk

Bob thinks of people he once knew well
Al's stories are jumbled, but only I can tell.

The words are there on the tip of Al's tongue
But Bob swallows hard , tears of life long ago.

Psalm 119:105 

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Living with Bob and "Al"

Bob found a new way to make music, and he was quite proud of himself. "Al" took the nut and ran it up and down the ridges on the bolt creating another sound to add to Bob's whistling, slapping, tapping and clapping. Bob and "Al" could be a one man band (wait... would that be a two man band? LOL :)

Gotta love him... and find some earplugs :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri tries hard to find a balance of living in the moment and planing for the future. It is a very difficult task. She often thinks about the expected "boom" of people affected by this disease. The world is nowhere near ready. It will take a specialized army of professionals willing to challenge the current methods of care and finding affordable options for care for these individuals. Sheri knows there are a lot of good things happening in this arena, but she is sure like for herself, the task is overwhelming. Sheri knows there are no easy answers she is just speaking her fears out loud.
Sheri needs to pause, praise and pray.

Living with Bob and "Al"

Last evening Bob politely asked Sheri "if there was a restroom at this location?" Sheri replied " yes, and got him to right "location". Then "Al" looked at Sheri quizzically and said " but does it go in both directions?" Sheri ,not sure what he was talking about paused a moment and then just nodded in agreement and said "yep" to which "Al" replied "oh good, thank you". Sometimes you just have to go with the flow:)

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri knows God has a plan for her life. For many years she has hoped this was not it. Recently she changed her thought process from "please let this not be the plan", to realizing that "this may very well be the plan..." and it is okay.
1Samuel 3:7-11
10: ...speak Lord, for your servant is listening.

Living with Bob and "Al"

Although Bob was a "build anything fix anything kind of guy", "Al" does not like to get his hands dirty. Sheri gave Bob a birdhouse to paint, but "Al" was upset when he got paint on his hands. Sheri took Bob into the bathroom and said he could wash his hands in the sink, and went to answer her cell phone. She took her phone with her and went back to help. When she returned to the bathroom she found Bob leaning over the toilet with his hands wet hovering over the water, "Al" turned to her and said "I just wash them off in here right?"
Alzheimer's is so much more than memory loss.

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri took Bob and "Al" to McDonald just for an ice cream cone. Sheri needs to make a note to self, to remove the wrapper for Bob before she gives the cone to him. "Al" had eaten a good portion of the wrapper before Sheri did a double take and realized what was happening. :(

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri is never quite sure what "Al" might have tucked away inside of Bob's shirt at the end of the day. Clearly, as usual , he was holding choir close to his heart :)

Living with Bob and "Al"

Sheri is feeling slightly overwhelmed by life. She just needs to pause, praise and pray.
1 Peter 5:7
7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.