SHARON'S PUMPKIN BREAD AND I'LL BE | CAREGIVING

I’ll be brave for you and honor you. I’ll take the more difficult path in the name of love for you. I’ll be your words when you can not speak, your mind when you can’t remember your own name and your hands when you forget how to eat.

I'll Be

by Diana Claire

Through caregiving comes changed lives.

I often tell people to forget traveling the world to “find yourself,” and instead take care of an aging parent. That is where you’ll find the real you and the true healing and growth begin.

Taking care of a parent has a way of bringing up feelings from the past, feelings from your childhood that you might not have even remembered—or even knew they bothered you. Aging results in a juxtaposition of a child now playing the parent. And a heavy-hearted realization that your parent will never fill the role they once did in your life again. Some days make your heart sing—like hearing those I love yous and the times of genuine connections that seem to come out of nowhere and often come during the most difficult moments as a gift from God. And some days remind you of painful times. And make you want to run away. Or hide under the covers.

But you carry on. Not just because you have to, but because you made a choice to. God placed this on my husband’s and my heart, and we strive to give our best each day. For our Lord and Savior and for our family.

I often imagine my Nana and Grampy looking down from Heaven knowing that their precious daughter is being taken care of and loved every day, despite the often long and emotional days.

And tomorrow is another day to start fresh and do our best once again. Because if I can give you a piece of advice, always remember that your best... is enough. And each day offers lessons to help you better understand yourself and get through the next day—if you listen.

So, Mom, I’ll be brave for you and honor you.

I’ll take the more difficult path in the name of love for you.

I’ll be your words when you can not speak, your mind when you can’t remember your own name and your hands when you forget how to eat.

And I’ll laugh with you every day because laughter truly is the best medicine.

I’ll be here.

In Memory of my Mom who passed away from Alzheimer's Disease in July 2021 (written in 2020 as we were fighting her disease together). Making pumpkin bread with Mom, since I was young, was one of our favorite things to do... and eat! Out of all the recipes that we made together, this one has the most meaning. I hope you enjoy it as much as we have over the years.

Sharon's Pumpkin Bread

3-1/2 c. flour (I used gluten-free) 2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder 2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. cinnamon 1 tsp. allspice 1 tsp. nutmeg 1/2 tsp. ground cloves 3 c. sugar 1 c. oil 4 eggs (use flax eggs for a vegan option) 16 oz. canned pumpkin 2/3 c. water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together flour, baking soda, salt, and spices. Set aside.

In a larger bowl, beat together the sugar, oil eggs. Add in canned pumpkin and blend well. Then add the dry ingredients alternately with 2/3 c. water. Pour the batter into 2 greased loaf pans and bake for 1 hour or until done. Remove from pans and cool on a rack.

This bread is delicious served warm, and even better the next day.

For more resources about Alzheimer’s Disease visit: www.alz.org and if you are a fellow caregiver, reach out to me. I’d love to pray for you and help support you as we navigate this caregiving journey together diana@faithandveggies.com.