A is for Alzheimers

Today begins the month long A-Z blog challenge,  I will be writing about something that has been very close to my heart and in some cases still raw as it is an experience I face every day.

My topic for the challenge is Alzheimers and my experience being a carer for my mother Mavis who is 88 years and you will get to know more about her over the month.  She was diagnosed with having Alzheimers over 12 years ago and it is now in the severe stages.  When I first started my blog I shared in my post 'Journey of a Carer'

Alzheimers is the most commonly diagnosed form of dementia and the illness gets worse over time. Dementia describes a collection of symptoms including memory loss, loss of reasoning and communication skills and is an umbrella term to describe many other symptoms that occur when there is damage to particular parts of the brain.

There are so many emotions that you go through as a carer, and I believe the more we share our experiences the better placed those that want to be supportive and the healthcare professionals will be able to relate.  There needs to be an understanding of the impact that it can have on the life of the family as a whole and what it means to a generation of people increasingly suffering with the condition.  We also have to be aware of the individual suffering with the disease and how isolating it can become.  Statistics show that 1 in 3 of us either know someone who is directly effected by dementia or who is a carer.

As an artist I see the benefits that a creative activity can have on our health and wellbeing.  I currently use creativity in my role as a carer and share my experiences with those in healthcare settings.  I also run an Arts in Health network for anyone interested in finding out information about initiatives that are available, or want to connect with other artists in the healthcare setting. If you currently engaged in creative activities that impact on health it would be great to feature you in the network, so do let me know.

Over the course of the month you will gain an insight to my world as a carer, the one thing that has given clarity, peace and understanding is my faith and my creativity.  I do hope you join me for the rest of the month and over 1,400 other people as we take part in the A-Z Challenge it would be great to get your comments and feedback and I hope that you are inspired, encouraged on your virtual tour as you meet some great people.

Also check out the Art Resource Hub for a series of FREE courses and resources

A Friend Remembered

It doesn't feel like a year since my friend Barbara passed - 

Sunday 25th March 2011. 

 It's amazing how quickly the time passes.  I remember exactly what I was doing the day I heard, and sometimes not thinking about it makes it seem unreal and you hope will wake up from a dream....

Life is so fragile, we don't know when our time will be up, but we can make the most of today, be an inspiration, a blessing, make the seemingly impossible possible, and make the most of those dreams.  We also have to treasure the relationships we share with those we love!

  

All things are possible. As we step out in faith on a daily basis to make a difference we see how we can be better than we were the day before.  My prayers go out to the family and I know that Barbara would be proud of them, they have all continued to be an inspiration and a blessing.  

Here is Samara, Chanel and Jordan (Good News)
being a blessing with their voices...

Good News Worship Ident 2 from OH TV on Vimeo.

365 Days of Colour - Flower for the day 286 - 292

Roots 

We can put down roots in many places, form attachements and links, make sure you they are built on a solid foundation and use discernment, wisdom and understanding.  For what once seemed like a really great idea today with all the support, can tomorrow look like the worst idea you ever had.  Knowing the why, what and the who of your decision needs careful consideration.....

....a tree is known by its fruit

Day 286

Reflection 

You can create abundance in your own life, the imagination is a preview of what is to come... 

Quote 

Art can only be truly Art by presenting an adequate outward symbol of some fact in the interior life. ...Margaret Fuller 

Scripture 

Know therefore this day and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord He is God in heaven above and upon the earth beneath; there is none else  Deuteronomy 4:39

Day 287

Reflection  

What steps do you now need to take? 

Quote 

We’re all stumbling toward the light with varying degrees of grace at any given moment. ...Bo Lozoff  

Scripture 

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires..Titus 2:11-12

Day 288

Reflection 

Lean not on your own understanding but on the word of God 

Quote 

What you call freedom is still nothing but choosing how to steer straight into the heart of what chooses you. ... Kate Gleason 

Scripture 

We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.  Ephesians 2:10

Day 289

Reflection 

Do not accept other people’s definition of happiness; carve out your own truth.

Quote 

It seems strange that some artists fear a blank canvas, when it has been a major contributory factor to great paintings. ...David Louis 

Scripture  

I am the Lord; I will speak and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass...Ezekiel 12:25

Day 290

Reflection 

Expect the unexpected... 

Quote 

Works of art are landscapes of the mind. ...Ted Godwin  

Scripture 

If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed..John 8:36

Day 291

Reflection 

All is well, all is at peace. 

Quote 

I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain. ...Frank Herbert 

Scripture 

Righteous are you, O Lord, and your laws are right.  Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them.. Psalm 119:137, 140 

Day 292

Reflection 

Let go of that which is negative in your life  

Quote

I work in a meditative manner. My visual language is pulled from my unconscious and I express in my work what I cannot express with words. ...Pat Gentenaar-Torley 

Scripture 

So that we confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.  What shall man do to me?’  Hebrews 13:6

A - Z April 2012 Challenge - Get on Board!

I decided to take part in the April AtoZ Challenge again this year, it feels like only yesterday that I completed the last post in April 2011 and I thoroughly enjoyed it, met some really great individuals through their blogs and felt that I had grown somewhat from the experience.  See my post reflections.

As a newbie you should definitely check out the Sommer's hints and tips for preparing and pace yourself, writing as much before hand as you can to give you the opportunity to visit as many blogs as possible.  As you can see there are over 1100 people taking part and you will connect with some very inspiring individual, it was an online feast!   All you have to do is add your name to the list!

Think out of the box as to what you will write about, maybe choose something that your interested in.  Over the next week I will be sharing my topic and try to get myself physically as well as mentally prepared for the challenge

You will definitely have an amazing amount of fun taking part and you might even surprise yourself in the process.  Check out the FAQs page.  You can go see some of the participants and check out their pages and their advice.  I definitely recommend that you step out of the boat and dip your feet in, you will definitely come out the other end with a different perspective on things!  Sign up below and start thinking about what you might blog about!

Stay Blessed and be a blessing!  Amanda

Some more useful information.....

2012 A to Z Challenge Sign Up List

The brainchild of Arlee Bird, at Tossing it Out, the A to Z Challenges to post the 

letter of the alphabet every day during the month of April, with Sundays off 

for good behavior. Since April 1 falls on a Sunday, that will be the day we 

start with A. Whether you go with a theme or freestyle, your post must match 

the letter of the alphabet for that day. Add your name to the list, grab the badge 

, and when the Challenge begins, start by visiting the blog immediately after 

your own. Set a goal – we recommend five blogs a day, more if you are able. 

For more information and to stay on top of developments, we recommend you 

follow the A to Z Challenge Blog and the hosts: Arlee Bird at Tossing it Out, 

Alex J. Cavanaugh, Stephen Tremp at Breakthrough Blogs, Jenny Pearson at

 Pearson Report, Matthew McNish at The QQQE, Tina Downey at Life is Good,

Jeremy Hawkins at Retro-Zombie, DL Hammons at Cruising Altitude, Shannon

Lawrence at The Warrior Muse, Elizabeth Mueller,Damyanti Biswas at Amlokiblogs, 

Karen Gowen at Coming Down the Mountain, and Konstanz Silverbow at

No Thought 2 Small. We also have a Facebook page,, email address 

2012azinfo@gmail.com, and the Twitter hashtag is #AtoZChallenge. 

This is a great opportunity to discipline yourself, grow as a blogger, and make 

new friends – come join us! 

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notify us so we can correct it.  You can find our emails in the CONTACT US tab on the 

A to Z Blog.  If you do not plan to participate in the Challenge during April or your purpose 

is to lure visitors to an advertising site, please do not enter a link as it will be removed