Posted Walk Eve, 2022 (9/23/22)
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105
These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. -Genesis 6:9
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? -Micah 6:8
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. -Ephesians 2:10 (yes, there are awesome verses after everyone’s favorite Ephesians verse, and in context, they matter deeply…)
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. -Gal. 5:16
“Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here. -Zech 3:7
Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him. -Genesis 5:24
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, -Col. 2:6
Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. -Rom 13:13
And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. -Isa. 30:21
Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. -1 John 2:6
and on and on and on and on…
The Lord talks a lot about walking. It is a symbol of the Christian life…Walking “in Christ”. It is the place where He often speaks through His Word to me. It is a place of peace. It is life-giving…can you beat a nice walk, watching leaves fall on a cool fall day while drinking some pumpkin spice drink? We walk and we reflect. Here is a song mom and I like to listen to when we are together that reminds me of the Walk. 🙂 LINK
The Walk to End Alzheimer’s tomorrow (in Springfield, Mo.) is another opportunity to walk. I humbly ask you to reflect on a few things while you walk:
- Think on the good times with your loved one. Dementia is powerless to remove the good things you have done with your loved one.
- Think on the bad memories that dementia has taken away from your loved one. My mom never remembers her little brother passing away. She is unaware her older brother developed dementia to couple up with his cancer this year and passed away. She, until recently, thought her parents and her favorite grandpa was still alive. (All have been gone for many years.) Let the bad memories go. Your loved one did, whether by choice or by disease.
- Breathe in the sights and sounds as you walk. You will see many hundred people holding various whirlybird flowers. You will remember, perhaps anew, what these mean. Soak it up.
- Pray a tad as you walk for a few things: a cure/treatments; doctor’s wisdom; your wisdom in helping; those alone with the disease, for there are literally millions who fight alone; and for God to get the Glory for the good that comes from the disease and from the Walk and from the heaven He prepared that has no disease.
- Think on ways to help
- Think on the joyful days you have had even in the Herculean challenge. There have been good days. Fun times. Laughs. Smiles. Grunts. Snorts. Belly laughs at inappropriate times (if you are like me…). Remember them.
- Mourn too. It is OK to not be ok. I feel emotional after completing a stupidly long run with a body that looks more like a pro bowler than a runner. I feel more emotional after walking a few blocks at the Walk.
- Dance, sing, hoot and holler if you want. It is time to pre-celebrate not unlike the pre-mourning many of us have done for years. Celebrate on credit…the bill will be covered if I die trying…
If you haven’t been to a Walk to End Alzheimer’s, please come. Donate if you can/feel led to…but come to the walk either way. I promise the world there won’t care if you donated. It is about multiplying joy and dividing sorrow. You have a place in this math problem. 🙂
Here is my link to join my team (or you can join another or just come alone or make your own team. 🙂 )
https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2022/MO-GreaterMissouri?team_id=723055&pg=team&fr_id=15694
If Springfield, Missouri isn’t close enough (I see you, friends from other states), here is a link to join a Walk near you:
It is time to Walk, friends. Let’s do what we can to slay this dementia dragon, once and for all!
#EndALZ
Update: Had a very pleasant visit with mom yesterday. She doesn’t try to talk any more, but she did try a few times yesterday, encouraging me with words I couldn’t understand. She, as I mentioned in my previous post, was booted off hospice despite being at hospice stage 7F which is as bad as you can have it and be above room temperature. 🙁 We appealed, and got re-approved. Then, a day later, they re-rejected her. We are, sadly, switching hospice carriers now because it is critical to her care.
This is Adulting 600-level stuff, friends, and I still eat Elmer’s paste. My sister is working miracles and I am just helping where I can.
Sorry I have been too booked to post. Writing this blog is one of the keys to my sanity and I sure miss writing daily. I will get back to that schedule soon. 🙂
Thank you all for all you are doing. I hope to see you at our walk or hear that you went to yours. 🙂 Please post in the comments where you walk. 🙂
Have a great weekend, friends! Off we go!!!!
#EndALZ
#WalkToEndAlzheimers
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Here is my post from our intranet at work:
Here is my Team Page and a place you can donate and/or join:
https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2022/MO-GreaterMissouri?team_id=723055&pg=team&fr_id=15694
Please don’t feel obligated to donate. I understand how hard things are. I get it 100%. Donate if you can, but don’t even dream of feeling guilty if you don’t! PLEASE feel free to come either way. It is truly an amazing morning! Ethan Forhets is the emcee and he does amazing work in that. It will be 70s and nice…and you will leave changed.
Deets:
Schedule of Events:
8:30 am Registration | 10:00 am Ceremony
Location:
Jordan Valley Park | Springfield, MO |
Route Length: not too far…maybe a mile? We walk slowly. Bring a pooch. Use a wheelchair. Walk a little bit if that is too far. It is a great event even without the walking part.
Contact: Me 417-955-2513 or
Samantha Whittaker | 417.461.4025 | slwhittaker@alz.org
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Registered participants who wish to Walk From Home can find more details in their participant center. Your health and safety are our top priorities. We will continue to closely monitor CDC, state and local guidelines to ensure Walk events adhere to the latest recommendations.
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General Information
Where do the funds go?
All funds raised through Walk to End Alzheimer’s further the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association. The Alzheimer’s Association is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. All donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
Do I have to register in order to Walk?
Yes, we want to know you’re walking with us and need every participant to sign a standard waiver through their official registration. There is no registration fee for Walk. However, we ask every participant to make a personal donation and commit to raising funds in the fight against Alzheimer’s.
Do I need to register my children for Walk?
Yes, children should register. Parents/guardians can register children online or complete an offline registration form and sign the waiver on behalf of the child.
Does every participant get a T-shirt?
Every registered participant who achieves the fundraising minimum of $100 will receive an official Walk to End Alzheimer’s T-shirt via USPS. To receive a shirt in time for Walk day, participants must raise the T-shirt minimum at least four weeks prior to the event.
How do I get my offline donations to show up on my personal fundraising web page?
Donations can be made offline by submitting a check or money order by mail or hand-delivering to the local Alzheimer’s Association office. Be sure to include your offline donation form, which can be found in your Participant Center or on your fundraising web page, to make sure you receive credit for the donation. Donations typically take one to two weeks to show up on your web page. Don’t want to wait? You can also deposit checks directly to your Walk page from the Walk to End Alzheimer’s mobile app for iPhone or Android.
Event Specifics
Will there be COVID-19 safety measures in place at Walk?
The health and safety of our participants, staff and volunteers are our top priorities. Walk events will be designed with this in mind including a venue layout that allows for physical distancing, hand sanitizer stations, contactless registration and more. The Association will continue to closely monitor Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state and local guidelines and make adjustments to our event-day safety protocols as needed.
Are pets, strollers, bicycles and skates allowed on Walk day?
We do allow strollers, but for everyone’s safety, we discourage skateboards, bicycles, inline skates and wheelie footwear. Depending on the Walk location rules, well-behaved dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash at all times.
What happens if it rains?
Walk is a rain or shine event. However, in the case of severe weather, we will cancel. If this is the case, we will update our Walk homepage on or before the morning of the event.
We need volunteers! Know anyone who might be interested in helping us on the day of the event?
We need volunteers to help with set-up, clean-up, registration, water stops, Promise Garden and so much more. All interested volunteers should visit our volunteer page for more information about event day roles and responsibilities.
How do I get a Promise Garden Flower?
Each registered participant will receive a Promise Garden flower. Please choose the color that best represents your connection to the disease.
- Blue represents someone living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia
- Purple is for those who have lost a someone to the disease.
- Yellow represents someone who is currently supporting or caring for a person living with Alzheimer’s.
- Orange is for those who support the cause and the Association’s vision of a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.
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Parking: Tip: You can park west of the ice rink for free, but they will fill up. There is parking on the road a ways down on Walnut. Otherwise, the city (?) charges $20-25 at the parking garage right across from the park. 🙁 We tried to get them to waive it, but you know… 🙁
I sure hope to see a bunch of familiar faces! 🙂 Stop me or call me or text me (417-955-2513). I would love to give a hug/fist bump. I am on the planning committee and am heavily involved in logistics, but I have time for you 🙂
Thank you all! 🙂 Thank you SeniorAge for donating as a sponsor and for all you do for people with dementia. Thank you Theresa for the Happy Lemon Cafe, to Chris Parker for your support group, and for all others who do so much for this cause. 🙂 I am sorry I couldn’t list you all. 🙂
It is time to walk!!!! Woot!
