Sunday, August 31, 2008




NEED I SAY MORE????

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Dignaty



Before you read this post,I want you to do me a favor.Sit back close your eyes and think of some person (still living) you knew in your community that was well respected,classy,or maybe an important figure in your or others life's. I am talking maybe 10-15 or more years ago.Do you have that person in mind????

Now I want you to picture them as you see them today.Maybe 15 years older, more dependent on others for help.


Having grown up in a small town I know many people.I have been involved in community and church programs so I've met many people.That can be a great thing and I am thankful to know these people some whom i still enjoy talking to.
The down side to this is also seeing them get older and coming to live in the Nursing Home where I work.Seeing behaviors or hearing them say things that you know they never would have said.Cursing at you, Standing in the doorway of their rooms half dressed and not caring.Hearing them yell at their spouse and say nasty things to us staff.Having to be fed,changed, bathed.... I can go on and on.
If I have learned anything thing it is to try my darnedest to still let these people have dignity.To other staff who never knew Mabel who always was made up with the nicest dress,hair always done and a warm smile and a kind word to everyone, who now does not want to dress, fights with everyone,curses you when you offer to help her my heart breaks.For I know if Mabel knew how she was behaving she would want to run and hide.When good old Barney from down the street is sitting in a wheel chair yelling things, I try to remind myself he would NEVER have done that before.
As I was helping one very kind 93 year old man get dressed today he summed it up great. I have often thought this but hearing him say it hit me hard.
Now these were his words so excuse the language.
He said," We come into the world as babies, and we wet and shit our self and wear a diaper.Then you work hard for years and take care of yourself and for what,you get old and you piss and shit in your pants because you just can't control it any more or it just comes out.And you have to have someone take care of you again.
They call these the GOLDEN YEARS,bull shit it is not.You just wish you could die.Who ever wants to end up like this."
How to you respond to this tough old farm boy???
I just said,yes ________, you come into this world like a baby and often you leave like one too.It just does not seem right.
I felt like he knew I UNDERSTOOD his frustrations,and I felt that maybe I made just a small difference by showing him I cared and understood.
So I often remind myself that Mable and Old barney would never have done that before and to understand their behaviors.

I gues what I am trying to say is just because a person shows change in personality and looks, they are really the same sweet person I once knew.It is not always to remember that as you are getting yelled at,pinched,slapped or what ever.

I do ask that you pray for more workers.Our staffing is a major problem (just like any other nursing home) and we are always in need of CNA's.It scares me to think of the future of our elderly and the shortness of workers in the Sr.care.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Reflections


I feel my parents deserve a huge award!!!!!


Let me start by saying this was not the picture I wanted.Ever have it when you have an idea in your head and you just cannot find what you want????? That was me preparing for this post.

Over the past few weeks I think my age must be starting to show or I am becoming even more of a softy then I ever was.As I look back over my life I think of how lucky I was as a child.True,there were many heart aches growing up in a home with a father who is (now was) an alcoholic.(Still remaining sober PTL)!!!!However I still had a good life.There was always food on the table.I always had clean and good clothes to wear.I lived in a nice home with running water,TV,I had a bed to sleep in...... You get the picture.
I was never a very good student in school.I HATED school. And made it very hard on my mom by crying before school almost through the 5Th grade.After that the crying stopped,but I still hated going.
I seldom gave my parents a hard time and was usually respectful.
I think of the heart aches I caused my parents throughout the grown up years as well.
A broken engagement, a failed marriage,major emotional problems.But through all of this they never stopped loving me!!!!!What a great thing.

I think of you who are reading this now who have children of all ages at home or grown up.I know you too will love your kids no matter what they do in life.What ever they do as a career, choose for a spouse, or go to continue their education.You will always be there to pick them up when and if they fall.

It is sad that we so often fail to tell our parents how much they mean to us.How much we love them or how thankful we are for all they have done for us over the years.Sure we give them a hug and a kiss and say "LOVE YA",but maybe we need to tell them why before it is to late.(I know for some of you who have lost parents it is to late).
Why is it so hard for us to tell a person what they mean to us, a friend, a family member, a teacher from school.We can put it in writing as I am now doing,but to say the words face to face seem so very very hard.WHY???????
Is it because we are to proud to share our feelings???? Are we afraid to express ourselves?????

In my job now I see how important it is to be able to tell mom and dad how we love them.It breaks your heart when you see a child visit their parent and the parent does not know who they are or if they are there.I've taken care of parents of classmates and think this could be my parent. Yet I still am guilty of not speaking up and sharing my true love I have for ole mom and dad.Why????? Maybe it is because sharing your feelings shows weakness,(or is considered uncool for a man to do.

I have no idea if any of this makes sense to you or how it sounds as you read it but I was just speaking from the heart.

As I read stories of things in your life with your children,I can only hope and pray that some day they too will feel as blessed as I was to have wonderful parents.


I cannot encourage you enough to continue to have those special times to make those special memories in their minds and in their hearts.
May you be a blessing to them and forever hold a special place in their hearts.

And may you feel God's presence surrounding you as you do your parenting thing.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Tough Love vs. Spanking - Good Argument ...

Love vs. Spanking - Good Argument ...: "Tough Love vs. Spanking - Good Argument

Most of the American populace thinks it improper to spank children, so I have tried other methods to control kids when they have one of 'those moments.'

One that I found effective is for me to just take the child for a car ride and talk.

Some say it's the vibration from the car, others say it's the time away from any distractions such as TV, Video Games, Computer, IPod, etc.

Either way, my kids usually calm down and stop misbehaving after our car ride together. Eye to eye contact helps a lot too.

I've included a photo below of one of my sessions with my nephew, in case you would like to use the technique.

Tough
Sincerely,
Your Friend
Ran across this and made me laugh.
I am sorry but I come from the old school where I feel a good spanking does much better then a time out.Maybe if I had real kids instead of dogs I would feel different.So am I right or wrong mom?
I hope I did not offend any of you with this.I would (NEVER) do this to any child.






This works with grandchildren, nieces, and nephews as well."

Sunday, August 17, 2008

TWO LITTLE BOY'S


TWO LITTLE BOY'S - : "After a hardy rainstorm filled all the potholes in the streets and alleys,
a young mother watched her two little boys playing in the puddle through her
kitchen window.

The older of the two, a five year old lad, grabbed his sibling by the back of his
head and shoved his face into the water hole.

As the boy recovered and stood laughing and dripping, the mother runs to the
yard in a panic.

' Why on earth did you do that to your little brother?!' she asks as she shook
the older boy in anger.


'We were just playing 'church' mommy, ' he said.
'And I was just baptizing him.....in the name of the Father, the Son and in...the
hole-he-goes..'"

I know I had e-mailed this to some of you,but it was just to darn cute to pass up and not share it with so many more.
It makes me laugh at how misunderstanding words can really cause problems.Just as when we mess up our lives it can cause problems,and upset others.
Wishing you all a wonderful week.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Just to make you smile



Ran across this and thought it was worth sharing.I figure it will give you the smile you need to brighten your day.
Reason enough NOT to wear a thong.
Have a great day.
Mr.Brian

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Uninvited house guest




Monday evening as I was playing on the computer I saw what I thought was a shadow on my wall jumping getting up from my chair I looked up and saw a bat flying around in the room.Being the chicken shit I am I quickly ran from the room and closed the door behind me.I called my neighbor and asked what was the best way to get a bat out of the house.Within a few minutes he along with his two sons were on a mission.They searched high and low but were unable to rescue the darn thing.I decided to close the door and try going to bed.As I lay in bed reading I soon saw my flying friend again. I flew got out of bed and again called for backup help.Again my neighbor came over minus the two boys and we began our shooing exercises.It was heading for the opened front door but decided it wanted to tour more of my home so it flew into the dining room.Getting closer to capturing the little ugly thing he was in the window.I was looking from the outside in telling my neighbor more to the left, more,no now to the middle.He was so close to getting it caught in the towel I so graciously supplied, but then decided he wanted to tour more of the home.So becoming more annoyed by the minute I not so graciously allowed him to go view my not so large bathroom.Taking cover in the shower curtain my hero neighbor again had this annoying but fast house guest almost ready to be escorted from the residents of a rather upset Host,who was NOT planning on guests in the first place.Not wanting to be thrown out,the miserable ,annoying,ugly, (did I mention annoying)guest decided my laundry room was the next place to visit.Being there was an open door leading to the outside we were elated.As soon as Mr annoying flew into that room we quickly closed the door behind him.
We can only assume he flew out the open door.Or he is waiting for nighttime again to start flying around the house. I was busy cleaning and doing wash today and if he was in there he did not make his presence known to me.
I am just hoping none of his relation feel the need to visit as well.
Nothing personal,but I prefer people guests instead of a bat.
So the waiting begins!!!!!!!!

Friday, August 8, 2008

Grrrr



Ever had a time in your life when you feel like a big ole grizzly bear?You just want to lash out at anyone who who crosses your path?Well that would be me these past few weeks. And I get so dang mad at myself for feeling this way.
I look around at the many blessing around me,and do not have to look far either.I read post of you out there who are frustrated with the slow process of adoption.The challenges of ropes to jump through.And I think what do I have to be unhappy about.
I have a job I enjoy, great friends, a nice home.So why the pity party.
I just pray that God continues to bless me and I think of one of my favorite songs
You are my all in all.

You are my strenght when I am weak.
You are the treasure that I seek
You are my all in all
Seeking you as a precious jewel
Lord to give up I'd be a fool
You are my all in all

TAKING MY SIN,MY CROSS ,MY SHAME
RISING AGAIN I BLESS YOUR NAME
YOU ARE MY ALL IN ALL
(now the words that almost always leave me in tears)
WHEN I AM DOWN YOU FILL ME UP,
WHEN I AM DRY YOU FILL MY CUP
YOU ARE MY ALL IN ALL
Think of it, when I am down you pick me up,what a great and wonderful gift that is.
I so often feel I am so undeserving of his love.However he is with me always.He will fill my cup.Fill me with his love.He forgives me when I turn my back on him.He loves me unconditionally.Do I deserve this????? No,but what a great gift it is.
May he pick you up when you are down,like he does me.
May your weekend be as wonderful as you are.
My you feel the love of God surround you like it surrounds me.
Blessings..........
Mr.Brian

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Hope.


So I am thinking ahead some,but if it helps!!!!
At 4:30 p.m. on this Sunday afternoon it is 97 degrees with a heat index of 117 degrees.
I know I should not complain as I got an email earlier in the week. We need to be thinking of our troops in Iraq where temps were to be in the 120's.And with all their gear they wear I guess I best not complain as I have my a.c. on and a fan blowing on me.
We never need to look far to know there are others who are in a worse predicament then we are.
Wishing you a fresh new week of joy and happiness.