Adjusting to Change

We thank the Lord for a safe arrival on Saturday, July 13.  I have been wanting to write an update because I am SO in need of prayer, but didn't know where to start.  It's taken me a couple of days to think about all the things that are swimming in my head.

Here are the latest prayer requests:

1. Accepting a Loss of Freedom - this item reveals my own selfishness.  I have been enjoying the freedom to get a lot of things done because the younger ones are able to take care of themselves and entertain themselves during the day.  It is an adjustment for me to be mindful of my parent's needs and to adjust my schedule accordingly.  It's not that hard, just DIFFERENT.

2. Time Management - I will need to find time to unpack my parents' belongings in addition to my regular responsibilities.  We moved most of the boxes into our family room.  It will be my project to go through the boxes to unpack.  In addition to personal items, many of the items are from a gift shop that my parents owned many years ago and the goal is for me to sell the items through eBay, alongside the other items from my online rubber stamp store.  So, even though my original plan for the summer was to organize/clean up the house, I will need to re-adjust my plans to accommodate the items that have just arrived in my home.

3. Parents' Adjustment - My mother seems to be fine, but my father has been asking to go back home.  He's not unhappy.  I think he's just longing for something more familiar, which is very understandable.  Please pray for us to make him feel at home here.  I am also hoping to find a senior center with activities for them to do.  Please pray that I can find something suitable for them (the one that they used to attend had a pool and Wii bowling; something for each of them).

4. Taking Care of Details - Because of the move, I've had to help my parents change addresses for important bills, statements, etc.  I still need to handle the changing of their health plan, finding new doctors, etc. Please pray for me as I handle all the small details, esp. since I really don't like spending time on the phone, waiting to be helped.  Also, since we have not moved everything from their house (after 40 years of accumulation, it was just not possible to clear it all out in one week), I will need to return to clean up/pack up/sell the remainder of the stuff in the house.

5. Emotional Strength - Most days are ok, but sometimes I think about how one day my father will not recognize me or the other members of my family (this happened with my paternal grandmother and is a normal symptom of Alzheimer's disease).  It is also hard to watch him in decline, forgetting facts and things that he used to know.  Please pray for peace in the Lord.

Thank you so much for praying. I know that I cannot do this on my own.  I need the Lord's strength to do this.