Things you do for family.

     I have not wrote any blogs in awhile and its because our life has been a crazy whirlwind lately.  Our yard and lives have literally been torn up and tossed around all because we love our little family and will do anything for it.  Let's get into it.  

      This all started a few years ago when we got the information that my spouses father had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's.  My spouse was worried about them being so far away, so I chimed in, why can't we move their house to our yard?  I think this took him by surprise.  He looked at me baffled, "You would be ok with that?"  ..... Why on earth would I not be okay with that?  That is what you do for family.  Your parents raised you, they put off their own stuff in life to make sure you had everything you needed, and still do.  It is the very least we can do to return the favor.  So, other family members were called plans were made and here we are today.  Their trailer is now set up in our yard, with just the little things left to do to finish the set up.  

    I remember talking to a friend about it and they commented "You want to live that close to your in-laws?"  The answer "YES".  I am not sure when society has changed so much that it seems strange to share a yard with your own family.  I for one am so excited, I love the yard being busy, seeing people out doing things.  I love having the extra eyes on the place, the extra hand to handle chores if we get busy with kids.  I love that if I am with one kid at an event the others can come home on the bus because they have grandparents right there in the yard to watch them.  They have only been here a week and my kids have already been back and forth between houses, to visit, or ask for some help, or just to check things out.  I am loving it. 

     I worked as a care aid for many years, I have been around dementia, I know what will happen eventually, and it is hard, that is why I suggested the move in the first place.  Have him close and spend every moment you can before this disease takes over.  Enjoy the small moments, yard work, mowing the lawn, playing cards, saying good morning and goodnight every day.  Take it all in, because this is a awful disease that takes so much from a person.  Let the kids see him every day and enjoy him for who is he, not what he will become.  Families that wait to visit their parents until the disease has taken full affect miss out on so much.  You miss seeing what was, not what is.  It then becomes hard to get out of your mind.  I speak this from experience, you see things when you work in those environments.  It definitely takes a toll on families.  

    This move has drained us, physically, emotionally, and financially, but I wouldn't change a thing.  This is exactly where they need to be.  We will recover from this, we will pay all the incoming bills from it, the yard will come back together and all will be well again.  It is such a small price to pay to have this quality time with him.  The world is such a challenging place right now, the cost of living so high, the work demands, everything,  so I really believe things need to go back to relying on each other.  Form those small communities that band together.  That can be a friend group, or family.  Life gets easier when we help each other to thrive rather than survive alone.   

This really isn't much of a blog post, but a sorry for being absent,  I will be back writing soon!  We have recently stared homeschool, I have LOTS to say about that, and some new challenges of mixing families.  I hope all reading this have a great day and I will be back soon!