Count Your Blessings....

I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July. What a blessing it is to be in a country full of freedom. Today's blog is about the emotional day thatl led me here because I always feel better when I write things down or....nowadays...blog!
Today we went to visit my grandpa (my mom's dad) at the nursing home. He usually lives with my grandmother but due to some pretty rough health problems he is there for awhile. Grayson and Ella enjoyed seeing him and the nursing home he is at seems great. They had little glow sticks (for fireworks) and the elderly were singing along to a guest playing a guitar and they enjoyed hot dogs and root beer floats. Grandpa was overjoyed to see us but unfortunately some dementia is really stepping in which is causing a lot of confusion for him. My granny (my dad's mom) is also really dealing with this, as well. It really breaks my heart to see such important people in your life not too sure about who you are. In my grad school classes for counseling, we studied some mental health diseases in the elderly. Book wise and in my head, I understand it but when it's family members you love and that you have so many memories with, it's difficult. Well, being at the nursing home already had me emotional over my Grandpa and then thinking about my Granny, too, but then as I sat there watching the other residents of the nursing home, I teared up. So many people forget about the older population....about what they have been through, who they were and still are, and what they have lived. Many of them gazed at Grayson and Ella....I think for two reasons. One, they are just too darn cute (haha)...and two, they were probably thinking about when they were my age and had their little ones, probably reminiscing when they had all of their family and their home. Then, it made me realize that I need to count my blessings.....Joey and I are blessed by the Lord with a wonderful time in our lives. We are starting out and raising our precious family and these are times they we can never get back. It also made me realize how important it is to spend time with the elderly and not take grandparents for granted. I am just so thankful to God for putting this on my heart today and really opening my eyes. Please keep my Grandpa and Granny in your prayers and kiss your babies, husband, wife, mom, dad, or whoever is next to you and just be thankful for this time in your life~

Sweet Granny Clark-please keep her in your prayers! :) Isn't she too cute?

Grandpa Fabon-please also pray for his health!