Barnabas Ministries Blog

Last Tuesday I was Santa for the Adult Day Care Center where June once attended.  Amy Trent from the Lynchburg News and Advance visited.  She is the reporter who wrote the story about my caregiving of June, and the book, “A Long Dark Night – A Caregiver’s Journey With Dementia”.    Here she tells Santa her wishes for Christmas.

The story has brought about all kinds of unexpected responses.  Today my cousin Rosie Hampton phoned and said a person who read the story was moved by it, and wanted to do something to help me.  She brought a check that pays for ONE WEEK of my Care Providers.  What a blessing!

The beard and hair are back to normal.  Daughter Melanie gave me a hair cut after I was Santa for the First Bank and Trust in Forest on Wednesday.  The bedroom we now use as the Infirmary and where I sleep next to June has two closets that were never completely finished.  Brother Ron came yesterday from Richmond and put in ceilings in the closets.  We have been getting “visitors” in the night in the person of small squirrels.  Apparently I have a family living in somewhere in the attic or basement, and in the night they start wandering, and enter the closet.  But then this morning at 3:10 Boots (our dog) alerted me that something was under the day bead in the Den. I saw nothing but didn’t sleep much the rest of the night (or would it be called morning?).  We have an area under part of the house that is about 4 feet from ground to above flooring (or ceiling), and I have sticky pads at the door to catch crickets or any thing else that may want to enter the finished basement area.  This morning I found a small squirrel caught on the sticky pad which must have been what Boots was upset about, and went down the steps into the basement.  This is the second little squirrel caught in a week’s time.

Fed Ex delivered this lovely bouquet of flowers this afternoon from Archbishop Tom Hines in Manila.  June said something when I showed them to her.  The speech is not always understood.  I have them on a table in the Den where she is able to see them.  The Patriarch of our Church sent us a Omaha steak box, and Fred Gruber, my broker, UPSed Christmas dinner in form of Honeybaked Ham, roast chicken and all the fixings.

I plan to go to Christmas Eve Mass at St Stephen Episcopal Church and then spend Christmas day with June.  With our daughters we had Christmas last weekend.  They are with their children Christmas so we will be alone.

Thanks to Attorney Aubrey Rosser of Altavista, I have a codicil to my Trust that assures June’s home care in the event I precede her in death.  The beneficiary of all the insurance policies and IRA now are assigned to the Trust.  Len Rogers was helpful in arranging this legal matter – gratis!

If you have not purchased a copy of my books, you can easily do so on line with a credit card by clicking the following as the link pertains to the appropriate book.  Profit from the sales go toward my home caring of June.

“A Long Dark Night —  A Caregiver’s Journey With Dementia” at Create Space eStore:   https://www.createspace.com/3699557 that is $12.99, and the story of my life is told in The Miter – Autobiography that is $15.95 https://www.createspace.com/3723824.

I greet you with a HAPPY JESUS BIRTHDAY and pray your observance of His Birth will be a glorious time.

Many things have happened since the last posting.  For two reasons I asked to be relieved of my job as Santa at the River Ridge Mall.  One was my back.  I am in extreme pain and nothing seems to be helping.  I have had 2 epidurals, chiropractor adjustments, and various home remedies to no avail.  Over the past several weeks while working as Santa I have noticed June being slightly depressed.  Several days when I was not working, and sitting with her more during the day, she seemed more upbeat.  I asked the Boss Lady in charge of the Santa program if I might be relieved.  She was gracious to do that, and my sitting with June in the afternoons and early evenings has made a difference in her.

For a few weeks during the night Boots (our dog) has been upset over something in the closets in our bedroom.  We have previously caught two chipmunks in the house, and a “flying” squirrel.  Because of Boots insistence that something was in the closets, I placed stick pads inside the closet doors.  This morning about 12:10 BOOTS was very active at my closet door.  One night last week I put her in her kennel because of her behavior, and threatened to do so this morning, only to note that one of the stick pads corner was visible outside the closet door.  That meant something inside had moved it.  Cautiously I opened the door, and there stuck to the pad was a small flying squirrel.  He now is in squirrel heaven, and my brother Ron is going to put in ceilings in the two closets which i hope will stop their entrance into our bedroom.  How they are getting into the wall of the house is beyond my understanding.  I have blocked every visible crack or hole.

We are expecting Gail and Darryl along with Wayne, Andrea and the twins this weekend.  Christmas early for the family.  Saturday night we have AT HOME or OPEN HOUSE to which we have invited friends.  I don’t know how many will visit us but we are planning a simple get-together from four o’clock to seven o’clock pm.  Sunday I am to be Saint Nicholas for the children’s sermon at Our Savior Lutheran Church, and Santa Claus Sunday night at Forest Road United Methodist Church. Next week I have two Santa appearance and then I can shave my beard.

We are encouraging people who know others dealing with Dementia issues to give our book as a Christmas gift.  There is still time to order by clicking on this link “A Long Dark Night —  A Caregiver’s Journey With Dementia” at Create Space eStore:   https://www.createspace.com/3699557.   There is also available my autobiography  if you want to know something about my life and ministry: The Miter – Autobiography: https://www.createspace.com/3723824.

We pray this Advent season has been a blessed preparation for you as we approach the celebration os the Gift God gave in Himself as Jesus.  Happy Jesus Birthday.

We have had a busy and fruitful week.  I continue to work at River Ridge Mall as Santa.  My schedule today is from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and tomorrow from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.  I will not be working again until Wednesday the 7th and Friday the 9th from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. those days.  Yesterday I had two sets of twins; one was only 3 weeks old.  Of course, some of the younger children are afraid of this strange character, and the photographer must create alternative ways in which to photograph the child.

“A Long Dark Night – A Caregiver’s Journey With Dementia” has been selling good, and I got my first royalty check transferred to my checking account several days ago.  Thanks to all who have purchased the book.  We have published over 230 copies so far.  If you have not gotten a copy you can click on this link and it will take you to the order page:  https://www.createspace.com/3699557   It is $12.99 per copy, and would make an excellent Christmas gift for someone dealing with Alzheimer or Lewy Body Dementia.

Also this week I published an autobiography.  After it came available, I remembered other things that might have been included, but 310 pages to read about my life, ministry, and family should be enough.  It too can be purchased by clicking on  - https://www.createspace.com/3723824.  It is entitled “The Miter” and is $15.95 plus ordinary shipping.

Ms Rush, one of our Care Providers, says June is beginning to have problems in swallowing, and the Hospice nurse has ordered something that mixed with her liquids is suppose to help in this problem.  She is sleeping good, and bodily functions normal.  Her appetite is good, and like a little bird, opens her mouth whenever anything eatable is introduced.

I am preaching at St Mark’s Episcopal Church, Clifford VA tomorrow.  Usually I am St NIcholas but this year the collection of stuff animals will not be held and Father Hubbard has invited me to come and preach.  I am also speaking at the Forest Rotary next Wednesday about Dementia, and may be able to sell a few books.

For those in warmer parts of the world, it is cold here.  Last Tuesday I was driving to the grocery and saw the sun glistening off the snow that had fallen during the night on the Blue Ridge Mountain range.  Beautiful!  It can stay on the mountain; I am not looking forward to it falling around my house.  As long as it snows during the night, and melts by 3 p.m. that will satisfy me completely.

Have a blessed day!