Compassionate Service

Coach, Teresa, and Mom

Teresa is our caregiver.  She's the one that does all the work tending to my parents while the rest of us senior sit.  She's the BEST!  She's OUTSTANDING!  It's not "just a job".  She renders service from her heart.  You don't get any better than Teresa.  My parents love her and we love her too.

Thank You Teresa 

from the bottom of our hearts!

"Being compassionate is [a] great work of our Heavenly Father and a fundamental characteristic of who we are as a people. We are commanded to 'succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees' (D&C 81:5). Disciples of Christ throughout all ages of the world have been distinguished by their compassion. Those who follow the Savior 'mourn with those that mourn . . . and comfort those that stand in need of comfort' (Mosiah 18:9).

"When we reach out to bless the lives of others, our lives are blessed as well. Service and sacrifice open the windows of heaven, allowing choice blessings to descend upon us. Surely our beloved Heavenly Father smiles upon those who care for the least of His children.

"As we lift others, we rise a little higher ourselves. President Spencer W. Kimball taught, 'The more we serve our fellowmen in appropriate ways, the more substance there is to our souls' (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball [1982], 254).

"Dieter F. Uchtdorf,

"Happiness, Your Heritage,"

Ensign, Nov. 2008, 119

Growing Up

The Birthday Boy

Sam celebrated his 11th birthday

Wednesday night, Nov. 4th

I'm not only late in reporting Sam's birthday, but also of his recent advancement. He received his blue belt October 1st. He also was invited to participate in another class that will include archery, swordsmanship, learning Japanese, and calligraphy. It's a little different than just the punching agenda and he's always wanted to do it and was pleased that he could participate. It will be a while before he advances to his green belt and this will provide him with some experiences that are well rounded in gaining a better understanding of the martial arts.

Four-character Idiom:

花鳥風月

Kachou Fuugetsu

Literally:

Flower, Bird, Wind, Moon

Meaning:

Experience the beauties of nature,

and in doing so learn about yourself.

Weekend Reunion

The Reynders Kids
Mark, Martha, Beth, and Adam
and our parents
Bill and Dorothy Reynders

It's been a long time since we were all together.  My mother going on hospice care is what brought us together last weekend.  It was a nice experience enjoying one anothers company.  My mom has been amazingly alert.  She's been happy to visit with us and talk to other family and friends on the phone.  It was a great weekend.

“Through the restored gospel we learn there is an ideal family. It is a family composed of a righteous Melchizedek Priesthood bearer with a righteous wife sealed to him and children born in the covenant or sealed to them. With a mother in the home in an environment of love and service, the parents teach their children, through example and precept, the ways of the Lord and His truths. They fulfill their divinely appointed roles mentioned in the family proclamation. Their children mature by living teachings instilled from birth. They develop characteristics of obedience, integrity, love of God, and faith in His holy plan. In due course, each of those children seeks a companion with similar ideals and aspirations. They are sealed in the temple, bear children, and the eternal plan continues, with generation strengthening generation.”

Richard G. Scott,
“First Things First,” Ensign, May 2001, 6 

Happy Halloween Dude!

"Eat, drink, and be scary."
~Author Unknown

TRICK
OR
TREAT!

Comfort Care

I have a theme running through my life for some time now. It's called "Caring for Aging Parents". I'm due to blog about it.  We (my family) and Teresa Kelly, our caregiver, are in and out of my parent's home everyday. Teresa does most of the work while the rest of us "senior-sit". My dad has Alzheimer's and my mother lays in a hospital bed declining from the aliments of diabetes, congestive heart failure, and more.  She has an infection in her foot which she has been fighting for a very long time and currently has a urinary track infection.  She has been on antibiotics for over a year.

This summer my mother was in the hospital, to the skilled care facility (nursing home), and then back to the hospital many times. My sister, Beth, visited this summer and before she left we were able to orchestrate the situation and brought my mother back home.  I wish I could say she is happy to be home. Her care is certainly better, but my parents have no quality of life. It is my father's and mother's wishes to be home, but they don't know where they are most of the time.

A few weeks ago my mother was in the hospital again.  She received a pacemaker and we were hopeful she'd be feeling better, but it was only days and she was back in the hospital again for the ninth time.  I knew my mother didn't want to be there.  We've contemplated my parents situations and wondered about the next decisions that would need to be made.

Monday we (my mom, brother Mark, and myself) met with a hospice team from Kaiser. We assumed she would be coming home and be under the hospice umbrella, but that was not what initially happened.  After a few days of drama she's now home and officially on hospice as of yesterday.  We're feeling relieved and grateful for their help. Life in this world is coming to a close for my mother.

“Honour thy father and thy mother:
that thy days may be long upon the land
which the Lord thy God giveth thee.”

Ex. 20:12

Bill Reynders - 82

Dorothy Reynders - 80

Another Testament

I saw that Mark Mabry has come out with another book titled Another Testament.  I have his Reflections of Christ site listed on my sidebar under Art Links.  I visited there today and invite you to do the same.  He has a link to Another Testament, but I also added one myself.  I thought it was inspiring.  Check it out.

"The Book of Mormon is a book that testifies that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world. Great prophets throughout the Book of Mormon have borne solemn witness that Jesus Christ is the Creator of the earth (see Mosiah 3:8), the Redeemer of mankind (see Helaman 5:9-12), the Only Begotten of the Father (see 1 Nephi 11:18-21; Jacob 4:11). These Book of Mormon prophets knew Him, as Abraham and Moses did, and received and taught His everlasting gospel. As we read and study their words, we gain a deeper understanding of the Savior's matchless love, His perfect life and example, and the blessings of His great atoning sacrifice."

Craig C. Christensen,

"A Book with a Promise," Ensign, May 2008, 107

She Quietly Went to the Temple

“It is the deepest desire of my heart
to have every member of the Church
worthy to enter the temple.”
President Howard W. Hunter
“Exceeding Great and Precious Promises, ” Ensign, Nov. 1994, 8

 

Becky came to Hugh and I earlier in the year informing us that she thought she was ready to go to the temple.  She's 26 now.  She met with our bishop and found that there wasn't anyone else in the ward ready to take the temple prep class.  Hughie offered to teach the lessons to Becky in our home.

When our children were preparing for baptism Hugh had a set of lessons he gave before one of them was baptised.  We sat through those lessons during family home evening many times, 7 to be exact or I should say 8.  He also presented them to our friend Zoe before she was baptised.  Anyway, our family home evening lessons were the temple preparation lessons for a period of time.  Hugh also asked Becky to  read "The House of the Lord" by James Talmage and "The Holy Temple" by Boyd K. Packer.

Well the day finally arrived.  Becky went to the temple today.  It wasn't the same pomp and circumstance like our other children who had gone before.  They were either going on missions or getting married or in Cassie's case having her family sealed together.  Because of the added events there were gatherings with family and friends in addition to the paramount temple experience.  Back then all our children that could go went with us to the temple.  Even the kids that couldn't go inside were outside waiting.  But today, Becky quietly went to the temple joined by her sister, Cassie, and her parents.

I was very pleased for Becky and grateful for her committed preparation.  She was very thoughtful and ready.  It was a great day!  Now when we make temple trips Becky will be able to go with us.

“Look to the temple of the Lord

as the great symbol of your membership.”

Presient Howard W. Hunter,

“Exceeding Great and Precious Promises, ” Ensign, Nov. 1994, 8