Today I went to Frankfort, KY to visit my grandparents aka: Granny and Pappy. They're my mom's parents. They both have Alzheimer's. I remember going to visit them growing up but don't have real specific, vivid memories of them. The same goes for my dad's mom: Gram. However, as an adult I'm able to learn things about their lives and of their families, things I didn't care about much as a kid. But as an adult, I am so curious about my family and their families and history. I know more about my dad's side than my mom's so I used today as an opportunity to gain some knowledge about Granny and Pappy's families. I learned Pappy's maternal grandmother passed away when his mother was 2 and his father remarried. I also learned my Pappy's dad worked for a gas company. My granny's paternal grandfather worked with lumber and had indoor plumbing in the early 1900s, quite a statement for that time period.
I live only 110 miles for 1 hour and 30 minutes from my grandparents and I have lived in Cincinnati for 11 months. This is the first time I have been down there to visit them since I've lived here. That's a horrible record. I don't know what took me so long. For a while I was hesitant because of the Alzheimer's and I didn't know how to interact with them. Which looking back is really irrational. I've worked with a few patients that have Alzheimer's/dementia pathologies. Why should it be any different with my grandparents? They are my family. I have a responsibility to them. Just the simple fact of taking them out to lunch and to Walmart made their day. They no longer drive and are home all day just the two of them with little visitors except for Barbara who gives them their medicine twice a day.
I started a bible study a few weeks ago and one of my goals was to visit a shut-in a few times before June. I believe my grandparents are an answered prayer. Although I feel that I should still visit them regardless but I'm committing to seeing them at least once a month. It took very little to make their day, and even if Granny calls me Brielle, it's ok because they were just thrilled to have a visitor :)
One of my favorites places
Chicago's Millennium Park
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
New Beginnings
With the new year many people make resolutions. I feel like most of them don't stick for a lot of the people who make them. A new year doesn't necessarily mean a new attitude or new dedication. With Christ though, each day is a new beginning. We get to start over each day and try our best to throw off our old nature and live in the new life that Christ provides.
I reflected a little over 2010 last night. There were new and exciting things that happened such as the addition to the Confer family with the births of my nephews Hudson and Dean. I don't know what we did without them before. And my first job with a move to a new place with new people and new friendships that have become a huge blessing to me. Of course, I made some bad decisions and I want to commit to 2011 to not making the same mistakes over and over.
Morning is my favorite time of the day, especially Saturday and Sunday when I can sit and actually sip and enjoy my coffee and not chug it down like I typically do during the week. I enjoy the quiet of the morning, no one else in my apartment complex is up yet. Morning means a new, fresh start. The day holds so many opportunities. Who will I live for today?
Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh everyday. Lamentations 3:23
I reflected a little over 2010 last night. There were new and exciting things that happened such as the addition to the Confer family with the births of my nephews Hudson and Dean. I don't know what we did without them before. And my first job with a move to a new place with new people and new friendships that have become a huge blessing to me. Of course, I made some bad decisions and I want to commit to 2011 to not making the same mistakes over and over.
Morning is my favorite time of the day, especially Saturday and Sunday when I can sit and actually sip and enjoy my coffee and not chug it down like I typically do during the week. I enjoy the quiet of the morning, no one else in my apartment complex is up yet. Morning means a new, fresh start. The day holds so many opportunities. Who will I live for today?
Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh everyday. Lamentations 3:23
Monday, December 27, 2010
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Christmas Round 2
Denver, Audrey, Hudson and Dean got to mom and dad's this morning. They made it to church and were quite popular. We headed home and played a lot and ate lunch. The boys took a nap and we played some more then went to church again for evening service. We had lots of fun with the boys today. Their personalities are starting to come out and they are hilarious!
Hudson
Dean
Time for presents
Audrey and Hudson
Aunt Brielle and Dean
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Christmas Traditions
I made it out of work early yesterday (Christmas Eve) to head to Indiana to spend the weekend with my family. Brielle's been home since Tuesday. Since Denver and Audrey are coming Sunday we had some new traditions we established last night. Christmas Eve we always have cheese fondue followed by chocolate fondue after we watch our favorite Christmas movies/shows like It's a Wonderful Life, Mickey's Christmas Carol, and Claymation Christmas. Last night, Brielle made a delicious Yule Log that was light and fluffy. I think we should have it every year from now on. We had some mulled cider and drinks. We opened some gifts from members of church where my parents attend. We laughed so hard at dinner that we cried. I finished the evening by falling asleep on the couch watching It's a Wonderful Life. Mom gently awoke me suggesting I go to bed.
Brielle was the first to wake up this morning at 5 but then she went back to sleep. I was the first one downstairs and put on a movie. Brielle came down next and finished up the baked french toast casserole that was in the fridge. I cooked the sausage patties and we ate our delicious breakfast and then opened presents. I got some much needed kitchen items and gadgets. We then followed up by playing Wii. I'm not sure what else today holds but whatever it is, it's always good to be home :) God bless and Merry Christmas!!! And now we wait for Denver, Audrey and the boys to get here!
Brielle and her delicious masterpiece
Brielle's German plates: so pretty!
Some fun little glasses Mom bought
Brielle was the first to wake up this morning at 5 but then she went back to sleep. I was the first one downstairs and put on a movie. Brielle came down next and finished up the baked french toast casserole that was in the fridge. I cooked the sausage patties and we ate our delicious breakfast and then opened presents. I got some much needed kitchen items and gadgets. We then followed up by playing Wii. I'm not sure what else today holds but whatever it is, it's always good to be home :) God bless and Merry Christmas!!! And now we wait for Denver, Audrey and the boys to get here!
Merry Christmas!!!
Friday, December 10, 2010
Relient K - I Celebrate The Day
Growing up in a fairly "conservative" Church of Christ family, we never celebrated or talked about Jesus' birth around Christmas. In fact, I feel like we went to the extreme. We all know Jesus wasn't born on December 25th but that it was started to counteract a pagan holiday. I however, love this song any time of year. I never used to like "Christmas" songs that revolved around Jesus; I used to think, "We all know he wasn't born on Dec. 25th" But now I think that if it gets people thinking and singing about Jesus, then I'm all for it. And now, I think that I cherish those Christmas songs even more, it doesn't matter when I sing it, Christ was born, the King of Israel. So celebrate Jesus' birth, resurrection and burial each day.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Obedience and Love
Obedience: compliance with someone's wishes or orders or acknowledgement of their authority. Today's sermon was on obedience. My scripture reading this morning from Philippians 2 also mentioned obedience. Our culture is bred on the belief and teaching of independence and doing things our own way, however we want. To some extent we have been blessed by those ideas, free to create, to think, to grow, to learn. But it is also to our detriment at times, when it causes us to go against God's will and desire for our lives. We all know the general will for God for us: to love and serve Him and one another. There are things along our journey that challenge those commands.
Lately, I've been doing a really poor job of reading and studying the Word. Is it really considered poor if it's actually non existent? The last time I studied and took notes was November 23. Some decisions in my life and my overall attitude has reflected my lack of time studying and seeking God. I know he is there, pursuing me and I have been pretty complacent to not respond. I nod and say, "I know you're there" but I don't extend or push myself beyond that.
Obedience and love go hand in hand when it comes to service and commitment to Christ. It's because of his extravagant love for me that I draws me to Him and to obedience, submitting what I want or think that I may want in exchange for what God wants. God's plans and what He wants for us are so much bigger than anything we could plan for ourselves. I don't know why I forget that so often. Of course He knows what I need, He created me. Who else would know more than Him? I sometimes think that individual is me and so I leave the path in search of my own way and mechanism of action, forgetting that the creator of the universe has something far better for me if I would submit to Him.
My study bible had a comment of Philippians 2:12-13 which reads: "
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
The comment was this: To be like Christ, we must train ourselves to think like Christ. To change our desires to be more like Christ's, we need the power of the indwelling Spirit, the influence of faithful Christians, obedience to God's word (not just exposure to it) and sacrificial service.
It's not enough to just read the word or memorize it. It's about doing it, acting on it. We are called to be a people of action and of love and they go hand-in-hand. God helps us want to obey Him and gives us the ability to do it.
Lately, I've been doing a really poor job of reading and studying the Word. Is it really considered poor if it's actually non existent? The last time I studied and took notes was November 23. Some decisions in my life and my overall attitude has reflected my lack of time studying and seeking God. I know he is there, pursuing me and I have been pretty complacent to not respond. I nod and say, "I know you're there" but I don't extend or push myself beyond that.
Obedience and love go hand in hand when it comes to service and commitment to Christ. It's because of his extravagant love for me that I draws me to Him and to obedience, submitting what I want or think that I may want in exchange for what God wants. God's plans and what He wants for us are so much bigger than anything we could plan for ourselves. I don't know why I forget that so often. Of course He knows what I need, He created me. Who else would know more than Him? I sometimes think that individual is me and so I leave the path in search of my own way and mechanism of action, forgetting that the creator of the universe has something far better for me if I would submit to Him.
My study bible had a comment of Philippians 2:12-13 which reads: "
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
The comment was this: To be like Christ, we must train ourselves to think like Christ. To change our desires to be more like Christ's, we need the power of the indwelling Spirit, the influence of faithful Christians, obedience to God's word (not just exposure to it) and sacrificial service.
It's not enough to just read the word or memorize it. It's about doing it, acting on it. We are called to be a people of action and of love and they go hand-in-hand. God helps us want to obey Him and gives us the ability to do it.
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