I've found that my mom is most happy and joyful when I just sit down next to her and we just talk with one another. Often, as I pass through the house during the day, she will point to the space beside her and say, "sit right here with me." Most times, I can't in those moments because I'm working or working on something. I'm learning to slow me down and not do something, so I can just give her my undivided attention for as long as she wants. Throughout most of our conversations, she's expressing how much she loves me. Last night, she kept telling both me and Kaylin how much she loves us. She often tells me thank you for taking care of her. She asks me if I'm going to stay with her and not leave her because as she puts it, "I just want to be with you." My response is always, "Never...I'm never going to leave you." Boy, you should see the way she throws up her hands and thanks God when I tell her that...#priceless.

For whatever reason, this week I was feeling such a heaviness and sadness because of her state of living with dementia. It doesn't happen often but as you continuously watch the progression of the disease and how it affects your loved one (especially a parent), it can get real heavy. As I was reeling through my emotions, I began to reflect on my life and who I am as a person...my love for God, my love and concern for people, so many things that all led full circle back to my mom. Kaylin and I were on a Zoom interview earlier this week, preparing for an upcoming Alz Talks video series we're participating in with the Alzheimer's Association. I was sharing with the organizer that although my mom and grandmother didn't have a lot of money to pass down to us, I believe we are still the richest because they taught me/us to be genuine loving, caring people of both God and mankind. They taught me to never, ever look down on or turn your nose up at anyone because "it could be you." You help whoever you can help with whatever you have because God blessed you, so you could bless others. They taught me that through word, action, and deed, continually. Those same values, I've done my best to live out and pass on to my girls. Yes, money does do you well but these things also make you very rich and cause you to live a life fulfilled. I don't care how much dementia has taken away from us, more and more everyday, I'm so grateful for what remains. Although her conversations are different, I go right along with her and we laugh and enjoy each other with what we have. Dementia can be very difficult but LOVE is CONSISTENT and it's so much greater than dementia.