Sunday was truly a day of rest for all the Schmidt's and the Anspaugh's. It was a warm day (close to 90 degrees) and Trevor played in his wading pool much of the afternoon. After a delicious dinner of marinated pork tenderloin prepared by Chef Jeremy in his "Big Green Egg Smoker Grill" we all took a walk along the Ohio River and watched Trevor throw rocks in the water. It was Evan's first stroller ride.
Today after Bev and I did some morning bicycling I did some tree and shrub trimming/pruning followed by Jeremy's helping me to do some work in their back yard with some drainage problems they were having.
I'm continuing my reading on the topic of aging and communicating with aging parents and others. It's important to realize that as persons age it is yet another developmental stage of life and not necessarily diminishing life issues as we so often tend to label older adults with.
I'm looking forward to listening to Phill Carlos Archbolds last two sermons online as soon as they are posted.
What great pictures! And what awesome weather for enjoying the water in the pool! My guys are all browned up... or as our very sweet but very southern pediatrician says, "Ya'll are as brown as biscuits!" I bet all of you are as well! Glad to hear that all continues to be going along smoothly.
ReplyDeletePraying for you and for the upcoming meeting of family regarding Grandma. Care to elaborate more on your thoughts about aging being a stage of life and not just diminishing health? ...meaning we need to treat aging as a different stage like we would the stages we have with our children, as opposed to focusing on the failing body...and often times the failing mind?
I think it is so difficult to see people age because of the lives they have led. It is crumbling to my spirit to see someone who once walked with such dignity and carried themselves with the upmost respect now hunched over and stumbling.... I think of Jeremy's Grandfather, Royer, what a strong man, lived through and fought in war, suffered personal loss and rose in the peace that I am sure only God could have provided, a tall and strong, brave and faithful man now unable to move his body on his own and it failing him more and more every day. I also think of Grandpa Bell, how that illness overtook him- he being such a strong and fine man, a man who also lived through hard times and fought in war, who raised and family and worked his body strong through his diligent hard work. I am so thankful, even as I sit here and remember him and grieve again, that he did not suffer long. I clearly remember when he had his anurysm (sp? repaired- I remember walking into the room and seeing him, it didn't look like him when he was weak and laying down, I can remember wanting to look away but at the same time wanting to just be in his strong and comforting presence. Up until then I had never doubted the comfort and peace that I find in his presence, seeing him weak made me feel anxious. I cannot imagine what it is like having a parent aging and ill; parents have it together- they are refuge and strength, our cheerleaders, comforters, providers- when the roles reverse... yah, that is a major life shift.
Aging isn't for the faint at heart! Many say that babies should come with an owners manual, perhaps we should all be required to study up on aging as well- however too painful a topic for most. Ignorance is bliss? Not generally...
I am sorry that you are walking through this stage of life right now Dad, praying that God will continue to guide you and bless you with peace.
Love you- Kirsten
testing... last 2 posts it gave me a message about it not being processed, but if I hit Post comment again THEN it gives me the word verification. I don't think you need to change anything on your end, I think it is a blogger glitch in the system... may need to keep an eye on that if it is effecting others ability to post.... -Kirsten
ReplyDeleteFrom the book "How to Say it to Seniors" Ch.4, "The Myth of Diminished Capacity," suggests that the prevailing myth about aging is that it is nothing by slow and steady decline- and is a by-product of our culture that worships youth and abhors getting old. What looks like diminished capacity in the majority of the aging population is nothing more than the awareness by one that he/she is on a different developmental mission. Basically, an aging senior adult is going through one more developmental stage that is akin to when he was a toddler, a teenager, a young adult, a middle-age adult,etc.
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