Thursday, August 6, 2009

Hilton Head Island, SC

I am sitting in a beach chair on Hilton Head Island trying to get some R&R but the concerns about the care of my mother when we return home will not leave my mind. The harder I try to place these thoughts in a holding pattern in my brain the more they keep spinning right back to the front of my thoughts. I try to focus my eyes on LJN and our grandsons playing in the ocean, hopefully this scene will pull my thoughts back to Hilton Head Island… wrong, my thoughts turn back to my Mother who is staying with our oldest daughter until we return.

Many families are faced with how to care for an aging parent and in my case it comes down to just my sister and I. I live approximately fifteen miles from mom and my sister lives nearly three thousand miles away. Our Dad passed away nine years ago.

As the days and nights slipped by on beautiful Hilton Head Island the tug of war with my thoughts continued to rage. One night I awoke into the wee hours of the morning and finally concluded that my concerns with caring for my mom had nothing to do with the type of mother daughter relationship that we had or in my case the lack thereof; or whether or not I was the daughter who she felt she could confide in more. I realized my struggle was all about how can I care for my mother in my current state of health? I love and respect my mother and truly want what is best for her. Having pinpointed my internal struggle, I said to the Lord I still don’t know what to do… I trust you Lord for the answer.

Three days after returning from Hilton Head Island, a trip that will forever be in our hearts and minds… LJN and I picked up my mom and brought her to our home.

Trish



















“A daughter is a little girl who grows up to be your friend”. Quote From a plaque in my daughter’s Mother In-law’s guest bedroom.

“If I never had a problem I’d never know that God could solve them” – Through It All, Andrae Crouch

“….Be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” – Ephesians 4:23

Isaiah 26:3 KJV
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

“When all goes well and I feel strong; oh, help me, Lord to see that I must place my confidence in you and not in me.” – Anon
Photos by Trish & LJN
Through My Viewfinder: www.zazzle.com/meia7214N*