Dementia can begin with small changes that are easy to overlook. Knowing the signs can help families recognize when it may be time to ask questions and seek support. Watch for: • Memory loss affecting daily life • Difficulty with familiar tasks • Confusion with time or place • Changes in communication • Changes in judgment, mood, or personality These signs do not always mean dementia, but persistent changes deserve attention. Early awareness matters. Compassion matters. And caregivers should never have to navigate this journey alone. Save this post and share it with someone who may need it.

These tips are simple and easy to follow. You can also order from Amazon door alarms if your loved one is the wandering type. You can also order bed alarms if your afraid they will climb out of beds and of course baby monitor type camera to keep an eye on them so you do it have to be in the same room.

I have scheduled myself as an appointment and I have a message coming up mid month. But I am going to the tribute to Neil diamond tomorrow .

Today is his birthday. There are no candles to blow out together. No phone call to make. No hug to give. And yet love doesn’t end because someone is no longer here. If today is the birthday of someone you miss, give yourself permission to celebrate their life while honoring your grief. Share their favorite meal. Look through old photos. Tell one of their stories. Plant a flower. Light a candle. Thank God for the gift of their life. Grief and gratitude can exist in the same heart. Missing someone deeply is not a sign you need to “move on.” It is a reflection of how deeply you loved. As followers of Christ, we grieve with hope. We trust that death is not the end of the story, and one day we will be reunited with those who placed their faith in Him. If today is a hard day for you, know this: You are not alone. Your tears matter. Your memories matter. And the love you shared will always be part of your story. Today, we remember. Today, we celebrate. Today, we continue to rise. ❤️ Still Rising

@Heidi Van der Merwe sorry for your loss. Yes the good memories are certainly what gets us through. Thank you for your condolences l. Would you care to share one memory of your brother and sister? I will share the funniest one of Johnno. He was about 3 or 4. We were visiting a h ch itch. Mother wanted me to take him to his s classroom. The teacher knew our family and that we lived in Ouebko all our lives. Teacher: “So, John you have lived in Pueblo all your life?” Johnno: “No, I haven’t!” The teacher looks at me and I shrugged my shoulders. I also threw my hands in the are like I have no clue reaction. Teacher: “Where did you live before?” Johnno: he stands up ours both hands on his hips and says;”In my mommy’s tummy of course!!” Needless to say we were busting our gut laughing. If you would like to talk about what lead to their passing I would love to hear. My brother Johnno has sleep apnea. He also had gastric reflux. The VA was fighting him on. Better apparatus for his face. His mask covered his whole face which if he refuxed—small vomit- he would pull off the mask and not wear it. He also had a bad back after the army and work choices that he slept on the couch. He stopped breathing and his heart soooed at the same time.

Healing Sometimes Looks Like an Irish Dance Recital This weekend, I didn’t just perform an Irish dance recital. I took another step in healing. Last season, I danced too. But I didn’t invite anyone—not even my husband. I told myself it didn’t matter. This weekend, God gently revealed something I hadn’t fully seen. There was still a part of me carrying the pain of adults who should have been there but weren’t. Without realizing it, I had been protecting myself from future disappointment. If I didn’t invite anyone, I couldn’t be hurt if no one came. Isn’t that what old wounds often do? They convince us to build walls that feel like protection but slowly become prisons. This season, I chose differently. I invited my husband. My friends. My granddaughter. My great-nieces. And they came. They clapped. They smiled. They celebrated with me. As I looked into the audience, I realized something beautiful. The people who hurt us are not always the people God places in our lives to help heal us. Our Heavenly Father is a Redeemer. He doesn’t erase our past, but He lovingly redeems it. Sometimes He heals us through His Word. Sometimes through prayer. Sometimes through wise counsel. And sometimes through the faithful presence of people who simply show up. Maybe you’ve stopped asking for help because someone once said no. Maybe you’ve stopped inviting people into your life because you’ve been disappointed before. Maybe you’ve convinced yourself it’s easier not to need anyone. Can I encourage you today? Don’t let yesterday’s wounds keep you from receiving today’s blessings. God often sends His love through the hands, hearts, and presence of His people. Healing is rarely one giant leap. More often, it’s one small act of courage at a time. One invitation. One conversation. One prayer. One step. As Galatians 6:9 reminds us: “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” If you’re in a season of caregiving, grief, chronic illness, or simply carrying old hurts, know this:

@Sindi McGuire I really is. And as caregivers we tend to hide ourselves. This is part of self care.