Barnabas Ministries Blog

Yesterday was June’s 77th birthday.  Ms Farmer, one of our Care Providers, brought her a birthday cake.  She has nicknamed June “Buttercup”.  My cousin Sandra stopped by with food.  Our three grand daughters, along with our two daughters, phoned to sing “Happy Birthday” to her.  We actually celebrated last weekend because Gail was “on call” at the hospital this weekend and would not have been able to come.  June received many cards in the mail, email greetings, and roses from Bishop Hines in Manila.  Thanks to all even though June may not remember you or even know what it is we are celebrating, but I know, and other family members know, and to us it is great that she is remembered and loved by so many.

Report on the Books.  Since last October I have published four books through Create Space publisher.  To date 278 copies of “A Long Dark Night – A Caregiver’s Journey With Dementia” has been printed.  This is my book telling about caring for June.  It is available by clicking on https://www.createspace.com/3699557.   “The Miter” is my auto-biography  ( https://www.createspace.com/3723824) and 39 copies published thus far.  ”Non nobis, Domine!” tells the story of the Convergence Movement in the Charismatic Episcopal Church, and 76 copies have been published (https://www.createspace.com/3728372)  Many additional copies have been downloaded in Africa, Europe and the Philippines through a special DROPBOX link I sent to our clergy in those nations.  And finally, earlier this month I published “The Gift That Keeps On Giving” (https://www.createspace.com/3766299).  39 copies thus far have been published.  This book tells how the Gifts and Ministries of the Holy Spirit work in a person’s life and the church.  Here I share teachings based on Scripture and personal experience.  Proceeds from all sales go toward my home care of June.  You are welcome to click on the above links, and decide if you wish to order.

Yesterday I attended Forest Road United Methodist Church (our home church where we were married and our two daughters baptized).  I was scheduled to preach but the pastor’s plans got interrupted and he returned mid-week.  They are beginning a Thursday evening (6 p.m.) study of The Revelation this week and I hope to attend.  I also attend and sometimes moderate a study of the Prophets at the KIRK, a community church in Forest, VA.  And on Sunday morning I moderate the adult Sunday school class at St Stephen Episcopal Church, and this coming Sunday we will begin a study of the Acts of the Apostles.  We had been studying the proper Gospel for each Sunday but the class members wish to study a book and left to me the decision.

So you see I am keeping busy.  Last Saturday I went to see “Red Tail”, the first movie I have seen in many years.  Really great film!  True story!  I am waiting for all my 1099s to come so I get put together the tax information for my CPA.  I hope to get money back.  The month is almost over, and hopefully Punxsutawaney Phil, the groundhog, will not see his shadow, and we have an early spring.  I pray you have a great day, and February will be a good month for you.

June’s 77th birthday is Sunday the 29th but due to work schedules we observed it last Saturday.  Daughter Gail and grand daughter Lauren came from North Carolina.  Daughter Melanie and husband Paul live nearby as do my sister Charlotte and brother-in-law Glenn.  All were present.  Lauren is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, and knew how to use the Hoye Lift.  We lifted June from her chair and placed her on the Stair Lift and transported her up the steps from the Den to the Kitchen area.  It was the first time we have been able to do that in many months.  It made her day.  She was able to greet everyone as they came, and sat in her eating chair at the dining room table with all the family.  She appeared so joyful.  I hope as long as we have the stair lift (been trying to sell it) we will have opportunity to take her to the table more often.

The potential bed sores are disappearing, thanks to the air mattress we now are using on her bed, and the rotation from her lift chair to several hours in the bed in the afternoon.  She continues to sing and talk excessively, most of which we do not understand.  Most nights she sleeps the entire night; some time awakens during the night singing, laughing, talking which makes the remainder of the sleep time impossible for me.  I seem to stay tired.  I have a doctor’s appointment in early February.  Maybe I can get an energy booster.

This is a picture of Gail and Melanie at the party.  Should you wish to drop June a card, the address is 208 Leewood Drive, Lynchburg VA 24503.  Sometimes she understands the mail, and we show her the cards she receives.

We still have had no real snow fall in Lynchburg.  Get a dusting around the area.  But it is cold.

Have a great week as we come to the close of January 2012.

Another beautiful sun shining Sunday in Lynchburg Virginia while other parts of the nation are snowbound.  We have not had the expected severe weather although it may be good to have a few inches of snow to kill the bugs.

My newest book is now available for $12.99 by clicking on https://www.createspace.com/3766299 and placing the order.  In it I do teaching on the Gifts and Ministries of the Holy Spirit.  I was blessed recently with an email from a lady in Estonia who said she had been reading my blog for many months, keeping up with our life.  I deeply appreciate this, and the kind words she had to say about my caregiving.  ”The Long Dark Night … A Journey With Dementia” is the book telling about the ups and downs I have had in trying to understand what was going on with June, and how now I believe God has used the experience of caring for her to make me a better person.  You can purchase the book by clicking  https://www.createspace.com/3699557  and within a few days you will have the book.  The air mattress Hospice ordered for her hospital bed seems to be helping in healing the skin breaks and preventing more.  We have not been able to find a medication for the stiffness and resistance she gives when we try to move her.  It is part of the Lewy Body Dementia and the rigidity makes it difficult in positioning her so to relieve the pressure on her spine.  I have my LBD support group next week and perhaps someone will be able to help with suggestions.

I am preaching at Forest Road United Methodist Church, our original home church, Sundays, Jan 22 and 29 while the Pastor is away.  I continue to moderate the adult class at St Stephen Episcopal Church on Sundays, and attend, and sometimes teach, the Bible class at the KIRK Church on Wednesdays.  It is now off to Church.  Have a blessed week.

I had expected a very hard winter but so far this season it has been extremely mild.  But I know — it isn’t over yet.  I truly appreciate all of you who have ordered my book on caregiving.  We have had excellent response and if you are among those who have yet to order, click on and place your order https://www.createspace.com/3699557  Choose ordinary postage and you will have the book in just a few days.  It is $12.99.  And it makes a great gift for someone you might know who is dealing with the pains of caregiving whether with dementia or other illnesses.

To update you on June, there is not much to say.  She is holding her own pretty much.  Hospice nurse and Ms Rush, our Care Provider, discovered potential skin breaks on her back.  I saw Dr. Driscoll who leads our LBD Support group last week and he recommended a jell fill cushion for her chair.  Hospice also ordered an air mattress for her bed.  Both have been placed in use, and we pray will solve the problem.  Bed sores and skin breaks can be very harmful.  We continue to give her thickening in her beverages to prevent choking and strangling, and Ms Rush says we need to place her on a diet because she is developing love handles around the waist.  It is difficult to do because she is unable to tell us if she is hungry or has had enough to eat.  Anything put to her mouth she opens to take it, even my finger if I tease her.  This weekend I spent most of the hours sitting with her, holding hands, watching TV.  She does a lot of looking at me when I do that.

I seem to be over my UTI and I believe some of my back pain was attributed to that infection.  I still have lower back pain but not as severe as it was before Cipro for the Urinary Tract Infection.  I am struggling with the decision as to whether I will attend the March House of Bishops meeting in Orlando.  I enjoy the fellowship of the other bishops, but I contribute nothing to the meetings since I am retired and have no church or diocese.  Our Wednesday Bible class at the Kirk resumes this week and I am teaching on Hosea the prophet.  I need to put away my outdoor Nativity scene but since it is Epiphanytide I guess it is appropriate to display until Ash Wednesday.  i will eventually get it back in stowage.  About some things I tend to procrastinate, and with others I “do it yesterday”.  Blessings to you and all.

A new year, a cold morning and the sun is shining.  Best of all THE SON is willing to take charge of the events of this new year if we allow Him, and I for one am pleased to put everything in His nail scared Hands.

Boots, our lazy dog, is trusting all will go well for the family in this new year.  I began the year with our traditional family breakfast (oyster stew) and went to St Stephen Episcopal Church for worship.  My appetite has been very poor since going on Cipro for my Urinary Tract Infection but I had a desire for Tacos yesterday and Ms Rush, our Care Provider, fixed all of us Tacos for lunch.  June and I spent Sunday afternoon holding hands, watching TV, and making the most of conversation as best I could understand what she said.  This morning she was all smiles when we got her up, and when I went to her after breakfast she was still smiling.  She spends the day in the Den, napping, possibly watching TV, but seems to note who I am when I walk into the room, greet her and get a smile in return.

This morning I have been working on year end financial reporting for the household account getting ready for tax filing later.  Home care for June in 2011 cost $50,110.45, and thanks be to God for providing through friends the extra money needed beyond our income to meet this expense.  Nursing home would have been even more, but having her home I know the care she is receiving.  Dementia is costly in more ways than just finances.  The stress from uncertainty weighs heavily, and my lower back pain could be related to stress.  Hospice has been a blessing this past year.    I go tomorrow for a follow-up to my family physician and will find out more about the UTI problem.  At least the localized kidney pain has stopped.

I am speaking Tuesday at the Altavista Rotary on Dementia, and Wednesday starting the new year at our Kirk Church Bible Study teaching on Hosea.  Now to do some study in preparation for that assignment.  Have a great day and a Happy New Year.