Caregiver

My word for 2012 is CAREGIVER. Okay, so I wasn't very original choosing my word for 2012, but this is where I am right now. I am a caregiver. I seriously considered "be there" even though it isn't one word. I thought of "present" instead of "be there," but ... present wasn't quite what I wanted. And yes, I prayed about my word to live by for 2012 & caregiver is the only word that would stay in my mind.

Word for 2012

Last January I read a Debbie Macomber book called "Thursdays at Eight." I loved it & suggested in the Goodreads Debbie Macomber group we pick a word for 2011. I chose the word resolution. I wrote:

I'm thinking resolution as in a solution, settling of a problem, coming to terms with my life.

How did I do in using my word to help me in 2011? I  THINK the foreclosure is resolved. We are at least working at it. The second half of the year, the months I have spent here at Mother's, was a solution, of sorts. I did not want Mother in the nursing home, so my move was part of my solution. But it still isn't "resolved." We are not HOME.

I have spent a lot of time since I've been over here thinking of the purpose of life. The months trying to get my medications on an even keel made me feel like I was thrashing around in a wilderness. Benchmarks are good. This foray wasn't as bad as some in years past, but ... does it help when you are in the midst of the angst???

I haven't made a choice on a word to live by this year. I'm still thinking.

Last year, after having this "Scathingly Brilliant Idea!!!", I found from reading a cousin's daughter's blog, she, the daughter, does this every year. She chose nurture for 2010 and joy for 2011. I was curious as to what word she would choose this year. She has chosen strength.

I made it to Sacrament Meeting yesterday. Yes, it is noteworthy because I have a very hard time getting up early enough to go to Sacrament Meeting when our meeting schedule is at 9 a.m. Yesterday was the first day of our new schedule: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. I got up at 10:15, chopped up some vegetables, threw them in the crockpot & made it to church.

Liz Child was the first speaker & she was amazing. She said she didn't have anything written, but she said we need to keep our priorities so the gospel is first, relationships (including family), education (learning) & then health. Shannon Knapp spoke also. She said as we set goals, they need to be measurable, written & checked often.

I wrote my word down, discussed it in January & then forgot it. It was a word that could be measured, it was written, but it wasn't checked often.

I just brought Mother home from the hospital today. She went in Friday, 12/30/11, & came home today, 1/2/12.