Friday, April 10, 2009

Faithful Fridays - Getting a Blessing


The day almost passed by without me getting my Faithful Friday post in, but I made it! :) I've been trying to get to it all day....instead I managed to visit my blogging friends!

This evening, I've been thinking about what a blessing I get when we visit the Nursing Home every week. Now the idea was to go and be a blessing to the residents, but the funny thing is that I'm the one blessed when we leave! I just love the smiles! All my worries disappear while I'm there. I think about the lives they've lived, the families they've raised, their history, and where they are....and most of them still just have the sweetest smiles all the time, especially for us! And the staff there really treat them well! That's a blessing to see too!

There is one man, Mr. J, that is quite the gentleman! We reach out to shake his hand and he never fails to kiss our hand! There's Ms. G who never remembers me exactly from week to week, and she always wonders how I remember her name. She's always most grateful for me helping her with Bingo (and tries to give me her prizes). There's Ms. J who looks forward to our weekly visit to her room. She seems to have been quite the classy lady and loves when we bring her extra Diet Cokes! She told the girls she had never had a birthday party before in her life and I think she was 84. So the girls decided to do something about that. We took a sugar-free birthday cake (she's a diabetic), some diet cokes and gifts. We gave her a little party right there in her room. You would have thought we gave her a million dollars! She loved it so much! There's also Ms. D who is quite the pianist and the cut-up as well! She is the most positive, up-beat person you would ever want to meet! Then there's Mr. O, who seems quite stern at first. He's been quite the challenge to "get through that seriousness", but once we did, boy was it worth it! I love his smile especially! And Ms. Ollie, a family friend, is especially hard for me. I knew her as the spunky lady who raised her children alone. She now has Alzheimers as well as cancer. It's hard to see her like this, but worth it when she puckers up and kisses us on the forehead. We enjoy seeing Mr. O.D. too in his big cowboy hat. When he had his motorized scooter, he would give Joy a ride on it (he calls her "his girl"). His real girl though is Ms. D (remember the pianist from above????) lol! We love Ms. W who seems so young and artistic and we love her bright red hair! There are so many more, we just love them all! :)

In the beginning, when we began going to the Nursing Home, we hoped to be a blessing to these folks. We take along two of Joy's friends, Molly Grace and Kasey each week, and sometimes Molly Graces' mom, Lori, goes too. The girls have called themselves K.I.S.S. (Kids In Seniors' Service). We help the residents with Bingo and occasionally bring prizes for the cart, then visit them in their rooms afterwards. But as much as we meant to be a blessing to them, I have to admit that part of my reason now is a selfish one.....I go to be blessed!

Joy has written a little more about the Nursing Home over on her Faithful Fridays post too. I sure am glad you thought of Faithful Fridays, Joy!

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I would also like to thank Patty for the awards (Friends and Sisterhood) she sent my way too.





I've enjoyed Patty's blog and love reading about her family, her faith in God, and she has the best recipes to share too! Her love for her husband and girls just shines through on her posts and her kind words along with these awards are most treasured! Thank you so much, Patty (for the awards and your friendship).

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**EDITED** It's Saturday now and I'd like to ask for prayer, for those who will, please! My Joy is sick today with a fever of 101 and as I mentioned before, we have our State homeschool testing this Tuesday. She has to test and I am the coordinator and of course, tomorrow is Easter. I'd appreciate your prayers for a speedy recovery for her! (And that the rest of us don't get whatever it is she has)! Of course, she's going to be sick on a Saturday when the Dr.'s office is closed! :) Thanks so much for your prayers!

Have a great day and a Blessed Easter!

20 comments:

♦Down Willow Lane♦ said...

Tammy,how great for all of you to share your time in this care home.In a world where most wouldn't take five minutes out for the elderly,you can share your experiences as they can share theirs.Happy Easter from our home to yours.

Happily Ever After said...

Hi Tammy,

How wonderful that you all make a weekly visit to the NH. When my grandmother was in a few years ago I went every Sunday. Those little folks were so excited to see people. The saddest part of it all are those whose family puts them in a home and never go to visit. I'm thankful for the nursing homes and the people that work there. I think often there is a need for people to be in the nursing homes, but there is no excuse for families to forget their loved ones. That really makes me mad. I'm thankful there are people like you that go and visit. More importantly what a very good lesson it is for Joy and her friends. This will be part of their life that they will carry with them forever.

Blessings,

Gigi

CozyGirl said...

That's so great that you spend time with the people at the Nursing home. What a wonderful blessing for them and you too!I bet they all really look forward to your visits.:-) Have a wonderful Easter weekend Tammy!
Hugs,Janae

Leslie said...

What you are doing is just wonderful!
I have been without a car for 4 years now and today I am getting a car. Then I will be visiting NH's again. It truly is a blessing to the people and to us as well.
Have a Blessed easter.
Hugs~~~Leslie

Anonymous said...

Tammy, it is very wonderful that you, Joy and friends go to the Nursing Home to visit the people there. When my father was in the Nursing Home, he always looked forward to a man who would come into his room and play his guitar for my father, (as my father also played guitar ever since he was 13 years old) and Dad also enjoyed the young lady who would bring in her darling dog, and then alot of the younger people who were in middle to high school ages, would also go to visit him and many of the others there. It made it so nice, as it gave him as well as the others something to look forward to for that particular day. I loved seeing the smiles on everyone's faces, and especially my father's face when these "special people" would stop by his room to visit with him. I'll cherish his smile with me forever in my mind and in my heart!
It is so sad when their family members don't go to visit them, once they place them in the Nursing Home, that's for sure. It's like one being punished just for getting old. Hey, we all have to go through that getting old thingie sometime, right?! I know I'm well on my way to getting there! Believe it or not, I actually am loving it! :) I sometimes get frustrated though when I don't remember things like I should, but.... that's quite okay with this lady! We all have days like that I think! ;)

Take care now, and you and your family are truly a wonderful Blessing to many people Tammy, which also includes myself & my family! We have been so blessed by you and your loving family! You all are so very special!

Have a very Blessed Easter!
Love & Blessings,
~Lynn/OKC

arkie said...

I wish the world was filled with more people who appreciated the people in nursing homes. I thank you for doing this service to them. My daughter worked in nursing homes for almost 10 years. It is so easy to get attached to these special people.

Susan said...

What a wonderful ministry. Love the name K.I.S.S.!!!!
Susan

carolyn@simple~primitive~devotion said...

Tammy, that is so sweet! When I taught preschool, we visited the local nursing homes for each holiday. I admit that I dreaded it everytime, because I would leave crying. Our kids would sing for them and put on little concerts for them. Some of those people never had any visitors. It would just break my heart! And sometimes when we went, some would be missing because they had passed away since our last visit. I am very tenderhearted, so the tears naturally come easily. Visiting nursing homes will touch your heart in ways you never imagined. What a wonderful, selfless thing you are doing! And teaching your children, along with their friends is awesome. You have not yet seen the blessings in store for you.
Have a great Easter!

Linda - Behind My Red Door said...

First of all, I hope Joy is feeling better ASAP!! She is in my prayers!

And I love that you visit the nursing home. Almost all my jobs from high school, through college and nursing school and then as an RN were in nursing homes. What you are doing has even more of a profound effect than you realize. Long after you leave, the joy you shared (literally and figuratively) is still making those residents smile and giving them something to look forward to. What a blessing you are bringing to them!! It is WONDERFUL!

hugs, linda

Karen said...

I think it is so nice that you visit the nursing home every week. What a ministry that is, and I know it really makes the senior's there so happy to have you visit. I'm sure you have become a family to them.

So sorry to hear that Joy is sick. We will pray for her, and hope that she will feel better soon...hopefully for Easter Sunday.

Have a Happy Easter, Tammy!

God bless,
Karen

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Oh Tammy, I'm sorry to hear about Joy's sickness. I hope it will be short-lived and that she'll be fine by Tuesday.

I like your post about visiting Nursing Homes. My sweet brother is ALONE in Florida with no family there --and I worry so about him... He has three children --but none live close. I wish one of them would move him closer to them... BUT--so far, they haven't. Anyhow---he's the REAL reason that people need to visit Nursing Homes--especially to those who have no family nearby.

Have a wonderful Easter ---and get that precious daughter WELL.
Hugs,
Betsy

The Gathering Room said...

Tammy..I work as an RN in a nursing home and you have described many special people that bless our lives there. I wish more people like you came to visit and volunteer their time!...you really make a huge difference and add smiles to many faces...when many have forgotton them, a visit like yours makes their lives good again...thanks so much for what you do!! cindy .

Cottage Rose said...

Hello Tammy; What a great post, I really enjoyed reading it. It is amazing how the Lord Blesses us when we do his work, for others. What a lovely thing that you and your girls do for the elderly. I will keep Joy in my Prayers for a fast healing...

Happy Easter..

Hugs;
Alaura

rosecreekcottage-carol.blogspot.com said...

Tammy...YOU are an angel. My mother is in a nursing home, and I visit her almost daily. It breaks my heart that there are so many residents there who never see another soul. It's so sad. I know what what you mean when you say you are the one who is blessed. Just know that you are truly a blessing to each person there.

Easter Blessings to you and your family!

Carol

Zaroga said...

A lovely post, Tammy.

Joy is in my prayers and so is the rest of your family.

Simple Home said...

Hi Tammy,
I enjoyed your post about the nursing home, it was very inspiring. I'll be praying for Joy and for the rest of you too. It's always on the weekend, isn't it? Happy Easter to you and your family. My husband and I are also celebrating our 23rd anniversary today, so we are doubly blessed.
Marcia

Anonymous said...

Thank you for visitng a nursing home. I am a Registered Nurse and I worked for many years in a
nursing home. Hardest job
in the world but I loved it!
Susan in Woost er Ohio

Shelley said...

Tammy - its so admirable and wonderful how you share your time with those sweet people in the nursing home! I loved hearing about all the different people!
I am praying for Joy and that she has a speedy recovery!

Michele said...

Oh Tammy ~ I'm sitting here reading your post with tears in my eyes. How wonderful of you to visit these seniors. When my mom was in the nursing home, it was so difficult going there and seeing her in that condition. Now I wish I had gone more.

Hope Joy is feeling better..I'll be praying!

Hugz,
Michele

Paula said...

Oh, Tammy- I hope Joy is doing better now... I'll say a prayer for her today.
Thanks for sharing about your nursing home friends- I'm sure it is such a huge blessing to go and visit with them!
Hope you have a wonderful week!