Nature

Nature offers so much, just open your eyes
There is hope each day, with every sunrise
It is so exciting and adventurous too
There is so much more than a sky that is blue.

Walking on the beach, ocean waves begin to come ashore.
With my pail in hand, I picked up shells, as I explore
Shells are pretty with different shape and colors
Placing them back for others to discover.

The forest has such a serene nature in it's own
While taking a hike I saw a deer fully grown
I listen to the water falls high above
In a tree there were two busy doves.

Each day feel blessed to see such beauty
I thank the Lord, for sharing this, truly.

My Parkinson's Disease

2008 Meridith and me

 I noticed during stressful times my right hand would shake.
The doctors said it was my nerves for heaven's sake.
After many years, the shakes only appeared now and then
Then I began dragging my leg, off to the doctors I went
After many types of test, they all came back negative
The doctor sent me to a neurologist who had a specialty
It was a movement specialist, testing and watching me
and told me that it was Parkinson's disease.

I had a stroke paralyzing my left side.
After a year of strenuous therapy I cried
I regained 99% of my body back to me
I am so grateful, can't you see

That was the beginning of my journey
knowledge is what I was yearning
Parkinson's disease is what I was learning
through reading, seminars and research

I decided to place all the information on my blog
to share with others without living in a fog
I know that exercise and meditation helps us all
I pick myself up even if I were to fall.

I give seminars to all that will listen
I feel that is a part of my mission
At times I may Pause while I speak
It doesn't mean that I am weak



Living life to the fullest is important to me
I do all that I can to fight this disease
I thank the Lord for always being with me.

How Great Life Can Be

How great life can be
Just like a bird that has flown from a tree
Just Believe 
You are alive and breathing on your own
Don't just sit around and moan and groan
Just Believe

There is so much I enjoy doing and want to see
I don't want to watch others have fun
when I know it could be me
I am slow and I know I can't run
But I try to do all, even if I fall.
I like to swim in the pool and sit in the hot tub
While listening to the sounds of nature.
It's a pretty sight seeing the birds in the shrub
All of this beauty is from our creator.
There are some days harder than other days
But you can move and you will be amazed
Just Believe

Look at the beautiful sunset
I promise you will never regret
As the night begins, and the moon shines
This is the beauty we can see all of the time
Look at the stars high above,
You can see it is a labor of love
Thank you God for all you do
I am so grateful for you!

No Complaints - Be Happy!

What a beautiful morning. Listening to the sounds of nature. watching my husband Larry enjoying a swim in our Pool. I am here, enjoying my husband, my dog Spencer and the beautiful sites and sounds for us to enjoy by God.


There is nothing I can complain about
I could be an old grouch.
I have aches, pains and could share my misery.
But what would be left is being bitterly.
I like to smile while I am able
I place my good dishes on the table.
I use all of my good things
To enjoy what life may bring.
I don't plan to sit and wait
There is no time for fate
I want to live and enjoy each day
Do all I can to keep PD at bay.

I love to laugh, sing and dance
Life for me, is what I push myself to do
I want to take a chance
I will fight to get rid of the blues.
I believe that the Lord is with me too.
Happiness is such a joyful thing
You may be surprised at what it may bring

Courage

There are times we struggle and suffer

That's what makes us much more tougher

We may have daily struggles and even pain

that can make our mind and body feel so drained

We have amazing strength deep inside

You will find if if you try.
Courage and belief is what we need
I am sure everyone has it, yes indeed

There absolutely nothing we can't achieve

That's what I honestly and truly believe.

Live each and every single day

Act like a child and stop and play

Life is precious, we've been blessed

Choices is ours, we must choose our quest.

Giving Thanks for This Day

There are times when I get up in the mornings

I have a difficult time getting my body to move.

I take my medicine and slowly my body comes alive.

As I thank God for giving me another day
I have this positive feeling come my way.
As I get on my feet, I begin to shuffle
Somedays, it can be a bit of a struggle.
I look in the mirror and smile
I think I'll stick around for a while.

This morning as I drank my coffee on the lanai
I watched a Sandhill Crane come down from the sky 
and landed in my yard.
It's been a while since I've seen one this close
As I was getting up to take a picture, my feet froze
I missed this opportunity, that I wanted the most.

There will be another day I'm sure.
Each day, I love seeing nature even more.
This evening a storm came and it poured.
Tomorrow will be another day.
Thanking our Lord as I pray.

APRIL IS PARKINSON'S AWARENESS MONTH

Joy is something we try to display

Even when times are a little bit grey

Sweat and years we have suffered

But we always knew, that we are tougher.

We have daily struggles, some with so much pain.

Our body and mind, are constantly drained.
The path in our life may never be straight
Contain lumps and bruises that aren't so great.

No matter what the circumstances,we continue to try.
We pick ourselves up, when we are bruised and sometimes cry.
We work hard to slow Parkinson's down
No time to waste and sit and frown.

We meditate and exercise 
to help us feel more energized.
We take our medicines on time
To insure we are all fine
Some of us are in Clinical trials
Helping with research, is worth while.

One day we may have a cure.
We will celebrate, that's for sure!

What is Happening to me

I move at a snail's pace
I'm not in a race.
Sometimes I fall
Or I can't move at all

It's as if my feet are glued to the floor
I have trouble sleeping, so I don't snore.
At times I may drool
This seems so cruel.

My voice is like a whisper
Repeating words to sound crisper
Sometimes I show my tremor
There is no way I can sing tenor

My brain is filled with hardening of the arteries
Maybe they could do a roto - rooter with a battery.

Sometimes I shuffle as I walk
I seldom can walk and talk
I put a smile on my face
To be happy for heavens sake

I love life that 's the way I feel
This helps me to be able to heal.
I wish I could do what I use to do
But I will not fret or I'll get the blues.

There are times I go in my pants
It's embarrassing,  but I take that chance
I try to be normal as can be.
It can be hard just to be me.

Life is to short to complain
I rid negativity from my brain

Live Life and Have Fun

It doesn't matter what your age is with Parkinson's Disease

Live life, laugh, play and have fun, can't you see

You never know if tomorrow will ever be.

My bones ache, my body is sore, sometimes I fall to the floor

I will not give in, or quit, I want to live life some more.

There are times I'm unable to sleep

Some nights I dream and weep.

Nightmares give me a chill

They just seem so real.

I try to play golf knowing I'm lucky to finish 9 holes.

I end up with the highest score of all.

But it is fun, even though I never get a whole in one.

Live your life like it's your last

Just enjoy and have a Blast!

Somedays can be difficult to move

It can be difficult somedays to move
But you must move to get that groove
So lift your arms up and then put them down
Turn your body around and around.
If you can move your feet
Try to march, it is such a treat.

Singing helps you to stretch your lungs
Before you know it, the melody comes.
We will not give in to this disease
We will slow it down for you and me.

You can do it, I know you can
I will be your number one fan!

Music

Music has a truly amazing power

to help us feel like we are healing

By playing religious songs that are appealing.

When we don't want to exercise

It can lift our spirits to an uplifting beat.

This will make you feel more energized

At times when we meditate,

There is music for that

so please don't procrastinate.

Music may entertain and inspire

It can help light our inner fire.

It can also give us hope

when we need it most.

Together with music we can do good

sharing with others as we should.

The Story of the Tulip

STORY OF THE TULIP

 

The Parkinson Foundation of Oklahoma is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. 

Have you ever wondered what the story is behind the red tulip that is part of the PFO logo and so many other Parkinson organizations’ logos?

The story of the Parkinson Tulip began in 1980 in the Netherlands when J.W.S. Van der Wereld, a Dutch horticulturalist who had Parkinson’s disease, developed a red and white tulip.

In 1981, Van der Wereld named his prized cultivar, the ‘Dr. James Parkinson’ tulip, to honor the man who first described his medical condition and to honor the International Year of the Disabled.

The tulip received the Award of Merit that same year from the Royal Horticultural Society in London England, and also received the Trial Garden Award from the Royal General Bulb Growers of Holland. It is described as a flower: ‘exterior, glowing cardinal red, small feathered white edge, outer base whitish; inside, currant-red to turkey-red, broad feathered white edge, anthers pale yellow’.

On April 11, 2005, the Red Tulip was launched as the Worldwide Symbol of Parkinson's disease at the 9th World Parkinson’s disease Day Conference in Luxembourg.

Now you know!!

 

I Choose to be Happy

APRIL is PARKINSON'S AWARENESS MONTH

Life is full of beauty, just open your eyes and see

Feel the sun shinning, feeling its power

The bees are buzzing around the flowers

These are things to appreciate for you and me

Look at the birds building their nests

All are busy doing what's best.

It's time for me to get busy and begin my exercise

 to slow down Parkinson's disease 

This helps me to feel more energized.

I also meditate helping me

to rid myself of the blues.

As I relax on the lanai, I listen to the water flowing

and then I hear the sound of a bird crowing.

I look to see and it's a crow near me.

Nature is full of life and I feel that way too.

I choose to be happy, instead of feeling blue.