They’ve had a good life. It’s not over yet.
By Amber
@AmbiePam (93898)
United States
October 7, 2024 3:44pm CST
Sixteen kids in one household with one mom and dad, and no twins. That’s my dad’s history. They grew up in poverty, but each one became productive citizens with no dependence on anything other than God. Several teachers, several professors, a police officer who died in the line of duty, two pastors, secretaries, and homemakers are who they are/were. Sadly, two of them now have Alzheimer’s. My dad has a great attitude about it. My Aunt Jo Ann is 85 and my Uncle Larry is 80, and my dad keeps telling me how blessed they are to have such long, full lives, with families who will always take care of them. And, that’s true. But it just doesn’t seem like long enough.
18 people like this
16 responses
@RasmaSandra (80748)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
7 Oct
Hey, I had 20 years with my husband and I would have found it a blessing to have at least 20 more,
4 people like this
@Juliaacv (51588)
• Canada
7 Oct
That is a large family, but I think that there probably is 2 in every 16 people who eventually suffer from dementia.
It certainly does not belittle their diagnosis, and I am sorry that they both have it.
Your Dad is a leader on this diagnosis, he has lived it, and I hope that his siblings look to him and his take on it and adopt his attitude, and remember that nobody comes with a guarantee and we all need to realize that each and every moment of each and every day is a blessing and to make them count.
I pray that his family pulls tight together to enjoy the days that they all have left here in this earthly life. 
3 people like this
@Juliaacv (51588)
• Canada
7 Oct
@AmbiePam There are so many different variations of that awful illness.
Your Mom, and mine, had the very terrible one.
But, I do believe that there is a very special place in eternity for those that suffered that kind as well as their familes and caregivers.
3 people like this
- but they have all led 'good' lives.
@jnrdutton (3183)
• United States
7 Oct
Wow,huge family.
I am glad they have all been productive citizens and had good lives, despite the impoverished beginnings. That's resilience.
As for time, in the scope of eternity, we're here only for the "blink of an eye" so to speak. I am sorry for those who have Alzheimer's, I know how hard diseases like that can be.
2 people like this
@jnrdutton (3183)
• United States
7 Oct
@AmbiePam I am thankful that the things of this world are just temporary, and that this isn't our final destination.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160952)
• United States
8 Oct
Remember they will live forever, whether on this side of heaven or the other.
2 people like this
@allknowing (137769)
• India
8 Oct
That used to be the case when I was a kid. We were 9 but there were homes that had even 17 or 18.
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (50528)
• United States
9 Oct
That’s a lot of children. Sad to hear that two have Alzheimer’s.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181642)
• United States
8 Oct
What a huge family! I'm sorry that two of them have Alzheimer's. What a lovely post. No one lives as long as we wish they did. My husband and I just celebrated our 54th anniversary; and I wish we had 54 more years to live. Have a good day.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38708)
•
8 Oct
When I got married, I wanted ten kids. I ended up with a count of five, my firstborn didn’t survive. But I had exchange students and a few spares here and there… so the house was always full! Your Dad must have a lot of stories to tell!!!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (38708)
•
8 Oct
@AmbiePam
You should write some of them down...you will enjoy sharing them with your nieces and nephew someday. My kids loved the stories I would tell them that my own grandparents told me, and my dad was quite the storyteller.
1 person likes this
