This and That TWO

So thankful for all of you who have prayed during my health scare that I wrote about earlier this week.

The Pill Pusher. My husband's pills are so powerful that they landed me in the hospital. Many days we argue about his taking them in the morning before I leave to substitute teach. Then I can call him and remind him to take them and have even come home and he hasn't taken them. He has considered me a real nag. I made an executive decision. I have long known that routine is so important for Alzheimer's patients. This is why Jake and DH are going to the Senior Center once a week now--getting used to a routine--Sally's brilliant idea. My husband's routine of the clipboard schedule for the day also works; one side shows his schedule and the other side shows mine. We have different pill boxes now and a new routine. Now we both take our medicine at 7 am and 7 pm and that is on the typed schedule. I reinforce this by reminding him that he doesn't want me to take his pills again and land in the hospital.

Garage door is fixed. Just off track. I got explanation on how to put it back on track. Only a $35 service call. Hubby used to understand this and so I didn't bother learning about it. Also I need to learn how to use our expensive carpet cleaner and will go to a vacuum cleaner repair man to find out how. Hubby no longer knows. About a year ago we had a professional come in and clean carpets and now stains have come up from that experience--from the mud they left when the carpet didn't dry. We really can't afford to re-carpet the whole house. I guess stained carpeting is better in case one of us falls again as I did on Tuesday. But the stains are so noticeable.

Making Christmas simple. Decided to not make counted cross stitch for niece and nephew in California. Maybe next year when my wrists are better. Making three next generation educational quilts where there are young children in the family. That cleaned-off pool table provides room to cut them out.  Had hoped to mail these today, but my recent hospitalization happened. Other gifts have been mailed or are ready to be delivered.

Christmas letters are nowhere done--I have always done these in the past even with my late husband. I have bought Christmas cards and may send some of them. Or really, I think I would just like to call people. Whatcha think? People's preferred means of communication so confusing these days! Facebook. Facebook messaging. Texting. Snail mail/yearly Christmas cards. Phone call. Maybe I will do a combination of contacts.

Breaking News on the School Shooting in CT. 

Hug your family and friends!

The Problem of Evil in the World

Christian Research Institute has a caller ask about his Christian grandmother who has Alzheimer's. Is this Christian grandmother responsible for her misbehavior and anger? Hank Hanegraaff points out that she is covered by the righteousness of Christ. One day her soul will be reunited with her restored body at the resurrection in heaven. My husband swears horribly when he is irritated, but that is the disease of Alzheimer's--an opportunity for me to practice patience. Hubby didn't swear like this when I married him in 2000. He forgets later about his swearing and I know he is covered by Christ's righteousness even as that grandmother is.

What is the origin of evil? Hank Hanegraaff says that God creates the potential for evil. Of course secular people, some call them humanists, believe in the goodness of man. How can anyone believe in the goodness of man when you have a James Holmes open fire at a Batman movie? The problem of sin will be gone in heaven. This is the great hope that I as a caregiver/lovegiver have.

Was God in Control of 9/11? Hank says we live in a fallen world where both the righteous and unrighteous suffer. We Christians can have peace in the midst of the storm and rely on the justice and sovereignty of God.

Back to the question of what has happened in this horrible massacre in Aurora. One blogger pastor writes a moving account of a young woman who was hit by bullets in that movie theater. By God's sovereignty she came through difficult brain surgery. That pastor says that the mother and he "know a miracle when we see it". Read about this story Petra's Miracle in Aurora. I cried when I read this. Pray for Petra and her mother Kim.

Added Comment in August. Jay and Ruth Younts have an amazing testimony about trusting God concerning Ruth's brain cancer.  Listen at Shepherd Press.

I do not know what miracles or suffering await us in this life and in this God-permitted Alzheimer's journey, but I know the ONE who has the answers. He is working out His plan in our lives and I see His miracles and answers to prayer every day. Death, as horrible as it is, will never be the worst that can happen to a Christian.