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When Alzheimer’s Bids Adieu: Glen Campbell Says Goodbye in Song

Enter Contest to Win A Free CD of His Farewell Album

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The beloved legendary song master Glen Campbell released his farewell album entitled “Adiós” on Friday, June 9, 2017. Adiós was recorded in 2012, not long after Glen was first diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. It features Willie Nelson, Roger Miller, and Vince Gill, as well as Glen’s talented daughter, Ashley.  Glen is well-known for his savory list of hits which includes Gentle on My Mind, Rhinestone Cowboy, Galveston, By the Time I Get to Phoenix, Wichita Lineman, Southern Nights, and Dreams of the Everyday Housewife. However, his farewell album features the songs he loved and never previously recorded. Glen is now in the late stages of Alzheimer’s.

What brings me to tears is that the Campbell’s family story is so similar to many of us who have loved and caregiven for family members with Alzheimer’s. It’s a vicious diseases that steals memories of the past and moments for the future. But by being a caregiver for my mom, I discovered I could parlay sadness and loss into collateral beauty—I got to live out my life with Mom for three years in extraordinary richness. I was able to return to her the compassionate commitment she gave to my life. I got to hold her like she held me—emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

READ BELOW FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO ENTER FOR CHANCES TO WIN A CD OF GLEN CAMPBELL’S FAREWELL ALBUM “ADIÓS”. (more…)

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VIDEO: Leaning Away from Grief and Finding Peace in the Storm

Romans 15:13--Overflowing with Hope

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Mother’s Day 2017, the first one without my sweet mama, was a day that appeared on my dread list ever since June 30, 2016. I was afraid that my emotions would be unable to cope and that collateral damage would be parlayed to my amazing adult sons. In “Cheryl-ese,” I didn’t want to short-change them. I love being their mom, ever since the days I first held each of them. They always deserve my best. But my mama can no longer hold me, and I was, well, scared. I loved, and I grieved. During mid-winter, the grief of my loss consumed me for extended moments–not days, not weeks–but the moments were painful and the world felt broken. How could I walk through the storm of Mother’s Day without the one who first held me? The attached video answers that question.

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Click on “KTHV-11” below to see the full interview.

Craig O’Neill, lead news anchor of KTHV-11 in Little Rock, Arkansas, graciously interviewed me regarding the Alzheimer’s journey of losing both my parents to the disease and publication of my new book, UNDEFEATED INNOCENCE. We discussed what it was like to lose both parents to Alzheimer’s and the necessity for passionate patience in caregiving for someone with Alzheimer’s. I spent several hours at the station with Craig and the rest of the news team, particularly Denise, Dawn, and Ed. I met producers, directors, and reporters. What touched me the most was the genuine compassion they all showed not only to me, but as they talked of others they knew who were or are caregivers, or as they shared their own painful experiences with losing loved ones to Alzheimer’s. KTHV-11’s tag line is, “This is Home.” That’s how I felt from the moment I walked in the door. Thanks, KTHV!

Alzheimer’s Disease can be a complicated, gut-wrenching journey with those we love. But if you are a caregiver looking for encouragement, it is found in God’s grace and in knowing that you do not walk this journey alone.

Buy the Book

Date: May 6, 2017
Time: 6:25-6:29 a.m.
Appearance: TV Interview: KTHV-11 with Craig O’Neill
Outlet: KTHV-11
Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
Format: Television

UNDEFEATED INNOCENCE is available at online bookstores, including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and WestBow Press.

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Caregiving With “Attitude”–What We Do For Others Matters

Philippians 2:3-4

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Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:3-4)

The attached video was posted on Facebook, and I stumbled on it yesterday. Professional and non-professional caregivers truly make a difference in the lives of patients and their families when they humbly value others above themselves.  The man in the video suffered a major stroke and wasn’t expected to live or walk. I guarantee that if you watch the entire short video, you will laugh AND cry.

 

This ought to be going on in nursing homes and rehab centers around the world! To see John’s face light up in his successes says it all!! Nurses truly make a difference in patients’ lives–and for the patients’ families. (more…)

Jesus in the Storms: Collateral Damage to Collateral Beauty

Click Here to See the Video Presentation

Mother’s Day and holidays like it are special times set aside to reflect on the beauty of those we love. But for some, those days carry a burden of storms and anguish. I spoke about my first Mother’s Day without my mom. She will always be my hero, best friend, and number one fan. She was the first one to hold me, and I was the last one to hold her. Our bond of love for Jesus and each other will never be broken.

I spoke about how we find Jesus in the storms, even as we celebrate a day given to mothers. Caregiving for my mama through late stage Alzheimer’s taught me how to discover God’s grace in the storms. I shared how to find collateral beauty instead of the collateral damage.

Date: May 14, 2017
Time: 09:00-10:15 a.m.
Event: Jesus in the Storms: Collateral Damage to Collateral Beauty
Topic: Jesus in the Storms: Collateral Damage to Collateral Beauty
Sponsor: First Baptist Church of Mountain Home
Venue: First Baptist Church of Mountain Home
(870) 425-6961
Location: 1205 Spring Street
Mountain Home, Arkansas 72653
Public: Public

UNDEFEATED INNOCENCE by Cheryl Crofoot Knapp (Bloomington, Indiana: WestBow Press, 2017)

Others said, “You are blessed.” I was broken.

Others said, “You are strong.” I was scared.

Others said, “You are courageous.” I was cowardly.

Others said, “You are brave.” I was barely standing.

Others said, “You lost much.” I loved much.

Others said, “You gave much.” I received grace.

That pretty much sums up the reality of how I felt as a caregiver and losing both parents to Alzheimer’s, a terminal disease that is painfully brutal, we know how it ends, there is no cure, and it doesn’t get better. I pleaded with God to not allow them to suffer anymore.

And I asked God the question, “Where are you in Alzheimer’s?” I began looking for the answers in scripture and was amazed at what I found.

I found permission to mourn. I found grace. And I began to discover the collateral beauty in Alzheimer’s. Sometimes caregiving got ugly, and sometimes it felt like no one else really understood. But God always understood, and He walked the journey with me.

You are not alone–according to the Alzheimer’s Association 2018 Facts and Figures report, 5.7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, and over 16.1 million caregivers gave 18.4 billion hours of care valued over $232 billion. If you feel broken, stressed, scared, scarred, tear-stained, fear-filled, and weary, I’ve been standing right where you are. And I wasn’t defeated by it. I’m still standing, and a better person because of it.

UNDEFEATED INNOCENCE will help you find hope in difficult circumstances and the grace to get up one day at a time with one foot in front of the other.

Buy the Book at Amazon

Buy the Book at WestBow Press

Buy the Book at Barnes and Noble

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Sharing Alzheimer’s with Glen Campbell: Dads, Daughters, and Guitars

Tears in "Remembering"

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Glen Campbell was an icon in our family and a pleasant memory as I grew up. My dad loved country music, played banjo and a variety of guitars, and did a lot of  pickin’ and grinnin’ with as many bands as would have him. I must honestly admit that I wasn’t exactly a fan of country music at the time, and I covered my ears a lot. My preference was Herman’s Hermits and Gary Lewis, not Merle Haggard, Hank Williams, or Conway Twitty. But I could see the joy that music brought into my dad’s life–so much so that he even played a guitar in his pup tent while he fought in the Korean War. (more…)

Guests: Cheryl Crofoot Knapp and Chuck Knapp

Listeners are encouraged to call-in with comments or questions: 978-454-4980 or 978-454-WCAP(9227) (more…)

Date: April 15, 2017
Time: 12:05-1:00 p.m. (Eastern)
Appearance: Interview with Hartley Pleshaw
Outlet: WCAP-AM 980 in Boston, Massachusetts
Location: Lowell, Massachusetts
Format: Radio
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Admitted Into Eternal Grace–Released from Grief?

Originally Posted July 30, 2016

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Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:3-7 NIV)

 

One month ago today, on June 30, 2016, the angel who God sent to earth to be my mom, my friend, my biggest fan, my protector, and defender was set free to return to her eternal home. Alzheimer’s was defeated, and her fears were released. She is now admitted into eternal grace. (more…)