Last Letter

This was two years ago at the MTC in Provo

Perry completes his mission on Tuesday.  He will fly home and we will all be at the airport to meet him.  To say we are excited is such an understatement!  Can't wait to post pictures of him at the airport.  He sent the following email this week.  So proud of what a wonderful young man he has grown to be these last two years--especially because he was pretty awesome before he went.    Welcome home grandson!

Dear Friends and Family,

As some of you are likely aware, my mission will come to a conclusion this Tuesday, and as such this will be my last weekly email. These last two years have been spectacular, I don’t think there has been any other time in my life during which I have learned so much or had so many spiritual experiences. 

Throughout my mission I have met some awesome people, been in great places, and had opportunities to do incredible things. I’m grateful to have spent these last two years in Kentuckiana; there’s no place I’d rather have spent this time.

Without a doubt, I have learned a lot on my mission, but one thing in particular which stands out to me is the importance of keeping our testimonies fueled. It’s not hard to do, yet when one allows their testimony to die down or extinguish, it is substantially more difficult to rekindle the fire.

Maintaining and growing our testimonies is not excessively difficult. For the most part, we know what we need to do, and as we strive to keep the commandments and do what God has asked of us, the spirit will help us to follow Him. He only expects us to do our best. 

This week has gone pretty well. Christmas was great and this morning we had the opportunity to go to the temple. It was really good. I will miss the Louisville Temple, but I look forward to attending other temples.

I have no doubt that this week will be gone before I know it. But I plan to make the most of it. I recently was thinking about what I want to do in the remainder of my mission and although I have not been perfect, I have no regrets from my mission. Even my mistakes have been learning experiences and I am glad for the knowledge which they provided me.

I hope that you all have a wonderful year. I look forward to the chance I have to move on and continue following our Savior Jesus Christ. I still have a lot to learn, but everything will work out as I put work into everything I do.

Have a happy new year.

-Elder Scott Perry Duncan

Christmas Eve

It is so wonderful to prepare something special and this Christmas Eve dinner was especially nice. Thanks again Pinterest!  I think my favorite was the Christmas tree napkin fold and the name cards with the gift box that held a yummy piece of candy.  Ham, scalloped potatoes, three layer Christmas jello, Andy and Angela spinach and citrus salad, fresh cranberry sauce, roasted asparagus and corn on the cob, and home made crescent rolls and orange butter.  The finishing touch was a Christmas trifle.  All I can say is yum!  Thanks Andy for sharing the Christmas story and for leading us in our favorite Christmas carols.  Merry Christmas!

Recital

Ava has been taking dance lessons for quite some time and on Saturday we were able to see her dance recital.  She was just great!

Thanks Ellis!

This week Ellis came over and replaced the brakes on our car.  By himself!  I love my grandkids and I am always so pleased when I see that their parents have taught them how to work and how to serve others.  I am sad that I didn't get a picture of him working away!

Quote

                 The most important work you will ever do will be                      within the walls of your own home.

                                                              President Harold B. Lee

Happy Hanukkah!

No, there is no ancestor that we are aware of that is Jewish.  Although I admire their tenacity very much!  A few years ago we started having a Hanukkah dinner because I read an article in Woman's Day about the perfect Hanukkah dinner and wanted to try it.  It was a huge hit and we continued each year to enjoy this meal together. There is nothing that beats a good latke!  Thanks Andy,Angela,Caleb, Ellis, and Ava for joining us for one of our fun traditions.

Waiting for our company

Love the Party Store

Sour Cream Donuts with Vanilla Creme Filling

Ellis lit the Menorah candles for us

Angela made this beautiful Challah bread.  It was wonderful!

I've Got a Runner!

Sundays is always the hardest day for Scott because we don't maintain the routine that he is use to. Unfortunately this Sunday his confusion reared it's ugly head!  We had invited Andy and Angela and the kids over to celebrate our traditional Hanukkah dinner and I had just finished making some creamed filled donuts when he started getting upset and wanted to go.  I explained that we couldn't go to the store (see an earlier post about that!) because it was Sunday but that didn't help.  I finally agreed that we could go to his walking place which seemed to pacify him.  I drove him down and waited while he took his short walk.  Once that was done we came back home.  Within 15 minutes he started pacing and told me he needed to go to the store but I told him no.  He started throwing the pillows because he said I wouldn't listen to him.  He then threatened to go without me.  He walked out the door and then came right back in.  He demanded that I let him go which I said that he was welcome to take a walk on our street.  He then left again and I followed him out to the front yard.  He walked up to the corner and then turned around and looked at me.  I waved for him to come back and he turned around and disappeared around the corner (serves me right!).  I went in and got the car keys and went to find him.  He was on the main street in our neighborhood walking down the middle of the road.  When he saw me he stopped and came over to the car and got right in.  I asked him where he was going and he replied by pointing and saying, "to there, and there, and there." He seemed calmer and we returned home.  I went back into the kitchen and he sat down and watched the television.  I went out into the garage to get a bowl from the cabinet.  When I came back he was gone.  I thought he had gone to the bathroom but when he didn't come back I went to check on him and he was gone again.  I got into the car and this time I found him almost to the Jess Ranch area down the road and decided that I would just watch and see where he would go.  Unfortunately, a nice lady stopped and he was ready to get in her car so I drove over to her car.  When Scott saw me he came to me and got into the car.  This time I wasn't quite so patient and told him I was really mad at him because he didn't tell me he was going anywhere.  He was sorry and so was I--but I was mostly scared.  Once we got home I told him again never to leave the house without telling me.  I know that this will happen again and talked to Andy and Angela about putting an alarm on our front door which I am looking into right now.  I now have him wearing his med alert wrist band all the time just in case I don't find him as quickly as I have so far.  I now have much empathy for these young mothers who have a runner in their family.  They are lucky though, because their runner isn't tall enough to reach the lock!

The BOYS!

Today we had Ava and Caleb and Ellis over.  It was a perfect time to do some gingerbread boy decorating. I appreciated that Ellis was willing to join in with his younger siblings. They all did a great job!

Ava's Creations

Caleb's Creations

Ellis' Creations

Quote!

     "Looking forward with an eternal perspective gives one hope,                             a reason to look up and feel gratitude for                                                             even the smallest bit of light."
                                                                     Rosemary M. Wixom

Update

I haven't written much lately because it seems like so much is the same.  I realize that in spite of trying to be knowledgeable about Alzheimers I am never really prepared when something new occurs.  I told Amy that when that happens I am so stressed and upset until one day I just realize it is what it is and the grieving for the latest loss is doable.  Not fun, but doable!  Dad has started to get angry and sometimes threatening.  It isn't so much directed at me but it is frightening just the same.  His ability to converse is so limited now which I can tell it is painful for him.  Completing a sentence rarely happens and sometimes he will start telling me something and a bird might fly by and he will throw the word bird into the mix.  I think the anger he is expressing is just frustration because he can't tell me what he wants or what he feels.  I find myself agreeing with him even though I have no idea what he is talking about because I don't want him to feel any worse then he already does.  Sleeping is a little better.  I think he doesn't get up as early because it is too cold so he may get out of bed but comes right back in and waits until I am ready to get up.  He still loves to go out throughout the day and although he always wants to go to a store it isn't a particularly positive experience. The minute we walk in he wants to leave so browsing around isn't a good distraction anymore.  I miss the browsing!  After two different doctors appointments that didn't go very well I was concerned about taking him with me to get the oil changed.  Angela offered to have him stay with her while I went to the Lube and Tune down the street.  He wouldn't have any part of it and I gave up and brought him with me.  The people there were so nice and I explained that he didn't wait well because of his illness so would it be okay if we just stayed in the car until they were ready to change the oil.  Not only did they say that was fine but they had us stay in the car while they worked on it.  The young man was wonderful and although dad was a little upset that "nothing was happening" he handled it really well and liked seeing them moving around the car.  Perry sent me a link to a video last week called "Enduring Love."  It was a tear jerker but it reminded me that in spite of what is happening we can do this together.  Love does conquer all!  And I do love my sweet husband.

It's Done!

I am so excited that Andy was able to put in a back splash in our kitchen.  With Angela's help I got the perfect tile to fit perfectly with our new white cabinets.  Love how they turned out.  We have been so blessed by our children for so many reasons.  Thank you Andy for helping me make our kitchen exactly what I had hoped it would be!