The Beauty of a Fading Rose

Perseverance

2011-12-28T08:31:00.000-08:00

My Grandmother was a strong woman who sometimes went misunderstood (by some) because of the strong will God equipped her with as a result of the trials and tribulations she would have to encounter in life. He provided her with everything she needed, and as a result - WITH HIS HELP - she was able to battle and overcome so many things that would have (no doubt) destroyed many others! I'm am sooooo proud of the woman my Grandmother was and the strong will she so strongly embodied to PERSEVERE - It continues TO SPEAK TO MY SPIRIT and provide WISDOM TO MY SOUL .
“...The optimist sees the rose and not its thorns; the pessimist stares at the thorns, oblivious to the rose”

Happy Birthday "SuperMOM"

2010-06-08T16:28:00.000-07:00

I created this for my Grandma on the day of her 81st Birthday
"...I am everything I am, because she loved me!"
Happy Birthday "SuperMOM"

Clarity

2010-06-02T20:12:00.001-07:00

As a child, I thought it rather embarrassing that my Grandmother had to raise me, as if it were some ill-spoken language that boldly announced to the world that I was neither wanted nor loved by the people who, according to society, should have loved me most. As an adult, I know that no longer to be true! In fact, over the years, God has shown me exactly the opposite, completely changing who I am, how I view things, and the passion in which I am, instinctively, driven to do them. I thank him for this, as he has so lovingly whispered to me over the years (in times of need) that while he chooses what vessel in which to bring life, just as he chose Mary to bring forth Jesus, He is the ultimate creator, who fully understands the path of life that one must take to become all that he has designed and equipped one to become. He has shown me how easy and insignificant it is to get caught up in the things of life that we have no control of, and totally miss the purpose in which they were designed to be used for. I am forever grateful to him for such clarity, which has created within me a heart that has come to fully understand the importance of selflessness and compassion for it is these two things in which my young life was based and dependent upon.

YouTube - Maya Angelou Still I Rise

2010-02-24T08:31:00.000-08:00

YouTube - Maya Angelou Still I Rise

YouTube - Jim brickman & Mark Masri - A Mother's Love

2010-02-24T08:17:00.000-08:00

YouTube - Jim brickman & Mark Masri - A Mother's Love

2010-02-24T08:11:00.000-08:00

CBS Evening News Discusses Alzheimer's Tonight!

2010-01-12T10:36:00.000-08:00

CBS Evening News Discusses Alzheimer's Tonight!

CBS 'Evening News with Katie Couric' will air a 6-minute segment on 'Where America Stands on Alzheimer's' Tuesday, January 12. During the segment, CBS Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook will examine recent advancements in imaging, current research and lifestyle risk factors. ..."
http://www.alz.org/news_and_events_18498.asp

"Just Begin - One, One, One."

2010-01-07T17:11:00.000-08:00

As I readied myself and prepared the comfort of my home for the freezing temperature last night, I couldn't help thinking about the elderly who live alone, particularly those who suffer from some form of dementia. Once in bed, I tossed and turned with thoughts occupying all corners of my mind. "...Will they remember how to adjust their thermostats? ...Will they remember to bring their pets inside? ...What if tonight is the night the stage of "wondering-off" decides to roar it's ugly head? ...What if, ...What if, ...What if??? And then, in the precise order as always -as if one could not live without the other- the HOW COULD's take their turn. "...How could a child not check on his/her parent who raised and scraficed for him/her, and at least make sure their warm and ok? ...How could a child say they love their parent/parents tremendously, but yet that same love doesn't move them to any form of action? I don't know the answer and believe me, throughout the years as a nurse, I have been offered many. Many more than I have ever cared to hear, and even more that would have been best- in my opinion- simply, left unsaid! Such as, "You don't understand, my job requires so much of my time! ...You have no idea what type of mother she was/wasn't to me!" And, of course there's the one I call, THE KILLER: "She is just "putting-on" for attention, so that we (siblings) will stick around here more; But what she doesn't realize is that it's only going to land her in a nursing home, if she doesn't stop!" ...LAND HER IN A NURSING HOME??? But, hang-on that's not even the "killing part" of the conversation! The "killing part" is the fact that it was purposely said with the parent standing there, while the child looked directly into her eyes! Talk about cruelty of the worse kind, there is no justification for such words or actions (or non-actions for that matter) regardless of what took place in the past. It is just that: THE PAST! Parenting comes with no how-to-handbook, and as my Grandmother would say, "No amount of wrong or right will change what has already taken place, ONLY LOVE!" As humans we are not perfect, and the truth is that it is by the Grace of God that we haven't all been punished to the degree in which we all deserve, anyway: Something to think about the next time we decide we are in a postion to administer justice, huh?

Needless to say, I did eventually fall asleep, Although it hasn't always been that easy for me. I am learning and excepting, through the advice of many people who care about me, that stressing myself out about things beyond my control, will only lead to self-destruction. I realize I can't save the world- God already sent the saviour to do that! But, there are 2 things I can do- which help to give me comfort- and that is to Pray and to do my part. If we all do this maybe we won't have to turn on the morning news, just as we did not so very long ago (Christmas Blizzard)- and hear about the elderly person found frozen to death, in the snow, after falling several days prior! I plan to do my part, for as long as I can, for whomever I can. ...WILL YOU?

“I never look at the masses as my responsibility; I look at the individual. I can only love one person at a time - just one, one, one. So you begin. I began - I picked up one person. Maybe if I didn't pick up that one person, I wouldn't have picked up forty-two thousand . The same thing goes for you, the same thing in your family, the same thing in your church, your community. Just begin - one, one, one.” -Mother Teresa of Calcutta

FDA Gives Tentative Approval for Generic Namenda

2010-01-07T12:54:00.000-08:00

FDA Gives Tentative Approval for Generic NamendaFDA Gives Tentative Approval for Generic Namenda

(Wall Street Journal) UPDATED 2010-01-06

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given the Indian company Wockhardt Ltd. tentative approval to sell a generic form of the Alzheimer's drug Namenda. Wockhardt will sell memantine--the generic name of the drug--in 5 milligram and 10 mg doses.

Taking the First Step

2010-01-05T22:54:00.000-08:00

Nearly a year ago, devastated, hurt, and confused, I set this blog up unsure of it's purpose and mission, and until this very moment (with the exception of a title) that is exactly how it has remained: Frozen, Numb, and in a Dormant- like state; Not knowing what to think, how to feel, or what direction (if any at all) to take next. The funny thing is, as I found myself staring at it's bareness, it's unseen words and frozen existence spoke volumes to me as it played out right before my very eyes, an exact replica of my newly discovered characteristics and my life as I had, inadvertently, choosen to exsist in it: ...FROZEN, NUMB, in a DORMANT-LIKE-STATE; consumed, and engulfed with the overwhelming power and strength of FEAR, ANGER and DREAD, wrapped in all it's ugliness!!! There was no denying it, nor denying how it's existence came to be; in fact, the truth is, I have excepted and come to enjoy its company; and have found much comfort, particularly in the numbness it provides, as a way to escape and avoid the painful truth of my present world and it's grim reality! A reality that includes one of the slowest, heartwrenching deaths in it's most crueliest forms: Alzheimer's; and it's relentless mission to stake it's claim on the most precious gem held within my heart: ...my Mother, my Father, my maternal Grandmother and Grandfather, and my paternal Grandmother and Grandfather, all "ROLED" into one, and all played by one: ...MY GRANDMOTHER, ...OZELLA D. CARTER

The Beauty of a Fading Rose

Perseverance

Happy Birthday "SuperMOM"

Clarity

YouTube - Maya Angelou Still I Rise

YouTube - Jim brickman & Mark Masri - A Mother's Love

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CBS Evening News Discusses Alzheimer's Tonight!

"Just Begin - One, One, One."

FDA Gives Tentative Approval for Generic Namenda

Taking the First Step