Happy Birthday Millie

Today is Millie's birthday. I will be seeing her. Actually whoever can make it today is spending some time with her in a conference room at the hospital for her birthday. I am looking forward to that.

This time of the year is a big birthday time for my family.

Millie fires up the whole birthday train, then we have all these birthdays following hers up until the end of January.

Tony
Don
Lexie
Calli
SJ
Toby
Becca
Ashlee
Raegan Mae
Ruth
Mark
Chanel
Nichole

Those are all the BD's - I can remember right off the top of my head. I probably missed somebody too!

Yesterday, I visited with Mil and she sobbed! This is the first time I've seen her do that. I've seen her sort of sigh and grimace, but never sob with sound. She began to move around, sob loudly and I thought she was going to open her eyes and return to her right mind. I thought maybe she was remembering the day she fell and was reacting to that. She is definitely showing new movements.

I watched a show on t.v. when I got back from Anchorage yesterday and it was all about the brain and how new computerized ways to research is revealing how it works. According to this documentary the way we program our minds to lead us through life can be changed. Our brain is an amazing organ. It changes when we change. This I already knew: when there is brain damage it will work to reroute around the damaged areas, but they said that as long as there is active stimulation then the brain can work to recover from major setbacks such as Millie's. I was convinced that active stimulation would be incredibly good for Millie's recovery. She may not be what she was before her collapse but I believe that she can work towards it with help. Her caregivers said that she gets stimulation every day when they clean her and put her into her chair, I don't think that is enough. She has much too long to just lay there and sleep without any type of input.

I am in awe of the brain that God created. I've heard people say, "Well that was how I was raised and that is how I will be." Or, "That was how I was born and that is the way I am."

NEGATIVE! With new thoughts, one can change!

The brain will even change physically to accommodate the new thoughts, actions, interests, if we work to change our thought life by changing how we think, the things we do, the actions and reactions we allow to rule in our daily lives. We definitely don't have to remain the old, sinful person we are, our very nature, even our physical brain will be changed when our minds are fed the life-changing Truths from God's Word! How incredibly encouraging is that?

Paul knew because he said:

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Romans 12:1,2.

They spoke about dementia and how physical activity will prolong a healthy mind. Learning new things. Learning new hobbies. Going past your comfort zone to learn, to stimulate the brain is really good for us all. Of course the body will deteriorate eventually as we live in this fallen state now and live under the curse of sin, but it can be put off if we will keep our minds healthy by healthy thinking and healthy action.

I believe blogging is good for the brain!