Today my mom started her exercise classes. It was pretty challenging, but I thought she did a great job. As I sat watching her, I got to talking with a woman who was watching too. She and her husband were visiting from out of state and brought her father-in-law to the class. We talked about the disease and how it has affected our loved ones. We also discussed how different it can be from day to day and how a positive attitude makes such a difference. The fact that our parents were there meant that they were willing and committed to do what they can to be as healthy and mobile as possible. The woman told me that her children only knew her father-in-law with Parkinson’s – they did not know him before the disease took a hold of him. So she planned a story telling night. They were getting out the old photo albums and mementos, ordering some pizza, and gathering the children. Then her father-in-law was going to tell them stories of his life. She wanted to make sure that her children knew the other side of their grandfather that is no longer evident. She said the gentleman was hesitant at first, but then became excited as he got out the keepsakes and started looking things over. He was now looking forward to telling his stories. I thought that was such a wonderful idea.

I Found God today in a woman who is giving her children an opportunity to learn more about their grandfather.