Friday, January 20, 2012

The Strength of a Family


In time of test, family is best. ~Burmese Proverb


There is nothing like family and I am so proud of mine. In the past few weeks, sons, daughters, in-laws and nieces and nephews have all banded together selflessly to help our aging parents.

My dad suffered a mini-stroke two weeks ago and we all realized that dad needed help and care. Everyone pitched in and we have had multiple family meetings to decide, with dad's input what would be best for him.

Dad will be making some changes in his living arrangement and I'm hoping this new arrangement will allow me to spend more time with him as he will be not too far from my office and I can visit him on my lunch hours and after work. I'll also be more available to help with taking him to doctor's appointments and shopping.

Not more than an hour ago my house was filled with my two brothers and their wives and my sister and her husband, myself and my mom to get mom's input on what her needs and desires are as far as her and my dad's family home that they own.

Mom also will be making some changes in her living arrangements as will I. It's going to be a rough couple of months with getting dad all situated in his new home and getting myself and my mom situated in our new home as well...so blogging time is going to be scarce, plus American Idol just started this week and neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night will keep this lady from watching her some American Idol!

Mostly I just want to record this moment in time for our family and how we all came together, no bickering, no jealousy, no demands....just everyone banding together to help our parents. Thanks to all my family members, I love you all and you are all the greatest treasure that I could have been blessed with!

16 comments:

  1. What a blessing that everyone has come together to help. It's a reflection of our parents' influence on you all. You'll be busy, but we'll be here when you have time to post!

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  2. You are lucky to have a supportive family to band together to help your mom and dad. Good luck with all of your changes. Check in when you can!

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  3. How fortunate you are to have family around who can help out. That is such a blessing.

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  4. No one ever gets tired of stressing the fact that family is the best thing that happens to people.

    Good Luck with all changes your family and you have to undergo in view of your father's health condition!

    As for blogging, take your time - it won't run away. You'll resume it when things are in order.

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  5. I will be praying for you and your family through this transitional period for you all.

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  6. Pondside...thanks so much for your kind words! I appreciate especially your saying you would be right here when I have time to post. What a sweetheart you are :-D, I love my bloggy buddies!

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  7. Paula...I know! I am so lucky to have such a wonderful family. When times are tough that's when family and true friends shine through. Thank you for you support!

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  8. Grammy Goodwill....yes, I'm just Starting to realize how lucky I am :-D

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  9. DUTA....thanks my friend! Even if I may not be posting I will make time to visit you and all the other faithful friends that make time to visit and support me. I have my real life family and also my blogland family :-D

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  10. Rebecca R....thanks for your prayers, every single little one helps!

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  11. It is a rough thing when our parents get older and tough decisions have to be made. You have a wonderful family that can stick together and help.


    What's this American Idol crap? You would rather watch that crap, than blog. My faith in humanity has been fractured.

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  12. Sextant...tell me about it. This has been such a difficult time for our family. You think your parents will be around forever and that they will always be the strong, independent people you've always known them to be then...BAM! They are suffering from strokes and a myriad of other ailments and now we become the caretakers. It's a scary, scary time.

    Thank goodness we have each other and that even though we have our little petty differences and arguments from time to time; when it counts we are all there for each other. It's a much smaller burden when shared with those that love you and your parents as much as you do.

    As to American Idol kind Sir! I am entitled to watch CRAP! (Not that I believe it is crap...lol)

    I fell in love with Idol years ago and I just fall more in love each year. I love to see these young people reach for their dreams. I wish I had an ounce of the talent these kids have! I would love to be able to sing, and this way I kind of live vicariously through them. Plus I adore Jennifer Lopez!

    It's my one guilty pleasure! It's less fattening than eating ice cream, less wear & tear on my body then drinking alcohol or doing drugs and easier on my wallet than shopping. So if a bad habit I must have...then let it be American Idol!

    I'm sorry for fracturing your faith in humanity...but I am simply human. I know my brilliant writing skills and insight in today's social issues would lead you to believe otherwise :-D

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  13. Your parents are very fortunate that you have formed such a supportive family circle, Alicia. I'll keep you in my prayers, my friend. XO. Sue

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  14. Alicia, some of your posts have reduced me to tears, so don't underestimate your writing skills or that what you have to say is important--at least to me.

    And yes I shouldn't call American Idol crap...its just that I have never found a show to replace Ted Mack's Amateur Hour. There was once a gentleman on who could play Swanee River on the tines of three forks. Now that was talent. Well I must depart now, it is time for my sip of Geritol. I have iron poor tired blood.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Original_Amateur_Hour

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geritol

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  15. Sue...thank you so much for your kind words and thank you for your prayers :-D

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  16. Sextant... Thanks for the links you provided. I do remember Geritol. I had to take it as a child for anemia. Do they still produce it? I haven't seen it in the stores, but of course I haven't looked for it.

    I decided to see if anyone had uploaded any of your Ted Mach Original Amateur Hour and they had. I watched one and it was so great because they had a band called The Rockers and the parents of one of the boys in the band had met 30 years earlier during the show, got married & now their son was playing on the show. Plus one of the contestants was from Bakersfield! Can you beat that? Here's the link, hopefully it will work for you.

    http://youtu.be/11AiY2CAagM

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