Grandma Rose

Some of you will remember that I wrote about Grandma Rose back in March. I wanted to take a moment and update you on her. During the chaos of Grandma Batten's health struggles, a room became available at a wonderful nursing home that specializes in Dementia and Alzheimer care. Grandma Rose has adjusted wonderfully to the change. She still has days when she asks to go home, but for the most part, she seems content.

I find it hard to visit her. It's not like going to see Grandma Batten when I can just pop right in, carry on a completely normal conversation, get a hug and head out the door. It's different with Grandma Rose, sometimes she can talk to you, and sometimes she just sits quietly. It is also a challenge to get used to the other busy women who live in her unit. They are always up to something, walking, moving furniture, talking, dancing, etc.

Christmas was a hard day. It was the first time in 54 years that dad didn't spend Christmas morning in his mom's house eating her traditional Christmas breakfast. It was my first Christmas in 28 that I didn't. We did go visit Grandma after church that day and she was not having a good day. It's almost like she knew that day was an 'out of the ordinary' day and she wasn't where she needed to be. It was hard to see her hurting and not being able to help her. I did take some pictures, to capture another Christmas with her, but I'm keeping them for myself and my family...not for the world wide web.

I am so thankful for the memories I have with this sweet woman when she was her 'old self'. I'm also thankful for the chance to still visit her. There is no doubt in my mind that she doesn't know me more days than she does, but I know her. I love her. She's still my sweet grandma.

The year of 2012 holds a lot of promise and hope for our family. It also holds the possibility of the inevitable - change. Change can be a good thing, change can be a bad thing. Change can hurt, it can bring joy. It can cause road blocks, it can create a new normal. No matter what - I have promised myself - to spend more time with the people I love, and less time stressing over the things that don't matter.