Sunday, December 7, 2014

Blessings, Miracles, Blog Parties and Aha Moments

Note to readers: I am participating in the CareGiving.com Holiday Progressive Blog Party.  There are several people participating, (all of whom have wonderful blogs) and we will be stopping by to read each other’s stories and showing support through this holiday season. 

As promised!
The party starts today and I promised hot cocoa and tiny marshmallows to everyone! (Okay, so it is a virtual cup but just imagine how yummy it would be with a candy cane!)

Welcome to the party!  I want to share this story about blessings to kick off the party.

The other morning while driving Robert to his Day Program, I was listening to my morning talk radio and Robert was working on his Word Search puzzle.  I have been concerned about Robert lately because he has said odd things that make me think his brain is going down a path I really don’t want to witness. 

At Thanksgiving, Robert asked me, “What’s my brother’s name?  The one married to Liz?”

Taken aback, I looked at him like he was from Mars and said, “You mean Rich?”

“No, my other brother."

We don’t have any other brothers.  Rich is it. Yes, I call Rich “Other Brother” in my blog but I don’t think Robert has been reading my posts (in fact, I am sure of it – he doesn’t understand computers other than it is the thing where people read about him.)

Another morning while I was driving, Robert asked me what he was supposed to do next on his Word Search.  I could be very dramatic and say this almost caused me to get into an accident due to the shock of his question but everyone who knows me, knows I drive like a great-grandma so that wouldn’t be very realistic.

You get the point.  There is something going on with Robert.

Of course I worry about this.  Add to these odd experiences the fact that Robert has had two days in a span of three weeks where he had dozens of seizures within a few hours. Yikes!

What the heck is going on? 

I worry and fret and contact his neurologist (and in the meantime, also have him put on antibiotics because his breathing is labored, he has congestion and he is showing usual signs of getting pneumonia).

So all this is swirling in my brain driving Robert to Day Program.  While doing his Word Search, Robert says that he just got a blessing from God. 

“That’s nice.”

I go back to listening to my radio program while my brain thinks about upcoming doctor appointments and odd behaviors and Christmas.  Oh, yes, Christmas is just around the corner and we need to get the tree up, decorations out of the shed, shopping finished. . . I don’t even know why I listen to talk radio – the chatter in my head is enough to amuse anyone. 

Robert tells me he got another blessing from God when he read one of his words.

And another.

And another.

I pay attention to him now.  I wonder if this is an aura before he has a seizure. I ask him why he is saying he is getting a blessing.

“I got a blessing from God when I read that word.”

Well, okay.  But WHY?  What are you talking about?  What does it feel like?

“I just got another blessing from God when I read that word.”

I DON”T UNDERSTAND!

I try another tactic.  Do you feel something in your head when you get a blessing? 

“Yes.”  Ah, we’re getting somewhere.

“Actually, I feel it all over.”  Oh. Hmm.

He continued to do his Word Search.  “I didn’t get a blessing reading that word.”

So you are telling me you just randomly get this feeling in your body and it is a blessing from God?

“Yes.”

I slowly come to the realization that I just may have to accept – on faith – that Robert randomly gets blessings. A friend of mine recently wrote about the small miracles she experiences in a day and I can definitely see those types of things (it stopped raining when I was driving or a stranger was kind or all the lights were green) as miracles or luck or great karma. 

I wonder if these blessings are little miracles that Robert is experiencing (while his crazy sister is analyzing him and the blessings and trying to rationally explain them).

Maybe they are just blessings.  Maybe he really does feel blessings from God in his entire soul and being.

Wow.  I still don't understand it but how awesome is that? 

17 comments:

Unknown said...

I had to start my Progressive Blog partying here! Tempting us with virtual hot chocolate. If anyone I know has a direct line to God and personally receives His blessings, it would be Robert! Hope Robert is feeling better soon. <3

Jane said...

Trish :

I love your blog so much. I am in awe that your tree and decorations are not up yet :)

I would participate also but my "blog" is mainly my facebook page "A Day in the Life" anymore even though I should go back to the blog.

Hugs:o)
Jane

Kathy Lowrey said...

I think you might know how much I LOVE that Robert is so in tuned to those Blessings!!
Whether you call it luck or karma, the bottom line is you have to accept them on faith, the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Robert's faith is soley on the Father in Heaven giving Robert Blessings!! What a witness and a blessing himself!
Keep shining, Robert <3
{{{BIG HUGS}}}}

Unknown said...

What a beautiful story!So happy to be on this party trail with you via Caregiving.com. YOU are a blessing! =)

Unknown said...

I absolutely love your posts. It gives me pause to think as someone living with epilepsy and as a caregiver. I believe we do over analyze things. Miracles are expected to be big, yet they occur daily in the smallest of ways, which amount to something larger than life. Thank you for being a strong voice in advocacy for epilepsy and caregivers. I feel meeting you and your family is one of the miracles I've been blessed with by God. By the way, I initially thought too, that it was an aura...I am analytical too! Robert's faith reminded me that it is something no one can take away. :-)

Anonymous said...

Trish I think we so often as caregiver's are looking almost clinically sometimes and missing the blessings. Thank you for sharing this to remind me to cherish the moments I have with my son!

Trish Hughes Kreis said...

Tami, Thank you for stopping by! Robert is my reminder to remember the blessings - when I am open to listen to his message!

Trish Hughes Kreis said...

Teresa, Meeting you has definitely been a blessing for all of us as well. I still want to analyze why Robert thinks the way he does but I can have faith (most times)! :-)

Trish Hughes Kreis said...

Linda, I am so happy to have connected with you as well! Looking forward to reading more of your story.

Trish Hughes Kreis said...

Kathy, Thank you for reading and being so in tune to Robert. It means so much to me.

Trish Hughes Kreis said...

Jane, I love reading your facebook updates! I am sooo behind on everything Christmas this year. I still have to get started on the cards and you know ho long that takes! :-)

Trish Hughes Kreis said...

Pegi, You'll be happy to know that we had actual hot chocolate with mini-marshmallows tonight at dinner! Between that and the rocky road ice cream Robert was pretty darn happy. Your love and support means the world to all of us! Hugs!

Denise Brown said...

Hi--I think Robert is great at reminding us all that our faith can fight our fears. :) We are blessed and it's important to take those moments to feel those blessings.

Kaye Swain said...

Very awesome, indeed! I wonder if he is getting goosebumps thinking about something grand God gave him - or just feeling a "hug" from God as a wonderful gift from God or something else very special. Wonderful to hear no matter what.

And challenging to hear what you are dealing with - some of which I am very familiar with, as well, with eldercare so I know how disconcerting and concerning it can all be. Praying for wisdom and smiling at your sweet blessings story.

Thank you, too, for your lovely visit to my site. I'm running so slow this week, I thought I'd best come here first, then reply over there tho may be slower :)

And YES, such fun being "neighbors" (our cities, anyway :) ).

Happy Holiday Blog Party and have a blessed and beautiful Christmas! :)

Unknown said...

Hi Trish,

So good to visit with you during this holiday season through the progressive blog party! I so much appreciate your friendship and encouragement while TLO and I were on our Caregiving journey. The love and care you and your husband demonstrate for your brother, and share with all of us, is inspiring!

Wishing you an yours a very happy and blessed holiday season!

Unknown said...

Hi, Trish. Than ks for having such a straight-forward and user-friendly blog. I;m part of the Blog Party and your cup looks very inviting. Sip. It's yummy.
Thanks for the post about Robert. I'm sure there is alot more going on than we have the vaguest clue.
Happy Holidays. Jan from Caregiving.com

Pam Thorson said...

Hi, Trish, I'm just stopping by to say hi and let you know that your name was randomly chosen in the giveaway on my site. If you'll send a snail mail address to me at thesong2008@live.com, I'll get your signed copy of Out from the Shadows: 31 Devotions for the Weary Caregiver in the mail. I'm blessed get to know you and inspired by your devotion. Yours, Pam Thorson