“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest,” Jesus said (Mark 6:31 NIV). For the last two years, my annual quiet place to get some rest has been at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. This year was more powerful than the last in many respects, and I can only give you a bird’s eye view of how it changed me.
(DiAnn Mills, Cheryl Crofoot Knapp, and Edie Melson; photo by Mary Denman, Photographer)
Why do I need to find a place for quiet and rest? First, I’m still working through the loss of my parents to Alzheimer’s and learning how to recover from that “thing” called caregiving, which was filled with collateral beauty, but I wouldn’t call it a place for quiet and rest. I’m still weary, I still grieve, and I still need rest. Second, my passion to stretch my arms out wide to encourage caregivers through writing and speaking gained legs at this year’s conference. (more…)
Hosting a formal dinner party at the ripe old age of 19 shouldn’t be a big deal, right?
I returned home after my freshman year of college to spend the summer with family, friends, and a job. My parents loved weekend camping and told me in advance when they’d be gone. So on a weekend when I knew I’d be “Home Alone,” I decided to throw a formal dinner party. Not just any party, but a formal dinner party for my closest friends.
(more…)
Have you ever felt that way? Or felt that you HAVE to forgive and then you feel guilty because you can’t? Or felt guilty because you thought you forgave and then the pain of the offenses crept back in and forgiveness flew out the window?
Raw emotions seep to the surface when a family member becomes responsible for the care of another, especially when that family is impacted by Alzheimer’s. Old family wounds raise up their ugly heads, and fractured relationships become chasms filled with harsh words and unforgiveness.
(more…)
My husband Chuck and I have the pleasure of once again serving on-air during the KCMH-FM annual Sharathon fundraising drive. This year’s theme is “THRIVE,” based on 1 Chronicles 4:10.
KCMH-FM is a local Christian radio station committed to serve the Lord’s people, to help strengthen each family in our listening audience, and to lead people into a more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. KCMH is a non-commercial, non-profit, independent and interdenominational radio station. We are a Faith ministry and operate with tax deductible contributions from our listeners. KCMH is entirely listener supported. Your prayers and financial support are tools God uses to broadcast His message of love, hope and salvation to the Ozarks and beyond.
I’ll even be giving away a couple copies of my faith-based book on caregiving, Undefeated Innocence: How God Helped My Parents and Me Navigate the Alzheimer’s Journey.
Help us keep Christian radio strong in the Ozarks.
For a Sharathon pledge form, click here.
To listen online, click here.
I read their gut-wrenching words. I feel their anguish. My heart races, I clench my fists, and I fight back my tears. I walked in their shoes, yet I sit clueless as to how I should take their agony away. I despise the word should because it’s a word of shame. But that’s how I feel. I feel ashamed that I can’t find words to help them. So goes another morning on an Alzheimer’s social media support group.
(more…)
