Christopher-Charles Chaney's Blog, page 6

Caregiving Knowledge I Wish I Had Known (Part 2 of 7)

Continuing from my initial blog post on September 4.2. Wish I’d been more inquisitiveAnd by “inquisitive,” I mean I wish I’d been nosier when it came to some of my mother’s affairs. But there was a reason I wasn’t— even now, I cringe at just the thought of invading my mother’s privacy. For as long as I can remember, Mama vehemently detested anyone getting into her private business, and she transferred this trait unto her four children, myself included. I admired my mother for being strong-willed and independent. Perhaps some of Mama Peaches’ best traits served to work against her in later years. Mama boasted constantly about the good health reports she’d received from her doctors over the years. She talked occasionally about doing a good job with taking her medicines. She took great pride in being mindful about what she ate, and walked constantly for exercise.In hindsight, I would have gone to more of her doctor appointments armed with questions of my own. I would have challenged or questioned the medicines my mother was taking while ensuring that each of her various doctors were aware of all her prescribed medicines. I would have interrogated Mama more often about how she was feeling and her health in general. I wouldn’t have just taken everything at face value, whether a good report from my mother or from the doctors themselves—I wish I would have been more hands-on in championing my mother’s health early on.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Check back next week for the next thing I wish I had know.  For a complete listing, please reference my new caregiving book called Mama Peaches Hot Slices of Wisdom available on Amazon.For more caregiving news you can use join our informational Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CHANEYspeaks.

It's "Mama Peaches & Me" Monday!

Here are your Mama Peaches quote and fuel for today:For more of Mama's timeless quotes and my timely caregiving advice, watch for the national debut of "Mama Peaches' Hot Slices of Wisdom" -- the next anticipated book in the award-winning caregiving book series.Available on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com Watch for future updates

Caregiving Knowledge I wish I Had Known (Part 1 of 7)

Who hasn’t heard the expression “hindsight is 20/20”? I think we all have. It certainly applies when it comes to family caregiving. Looking back on the last season of my beloved mother's life, I would have done some things differently— no doubt about it.I’d like to share something personal with you. I often spend precious time these days reminiscing, thinking “If only I knew then what I know now about caregiving!” Like many former caregivers, I’m haunted by the notion that I might carry my guilt from those caregiving years to my grave. I don’t know about you, but when I’m drowning in my could-have, should-have, and would-have moments, I eventually force myself to come up for air to face the truth. My truth: I did my absolute best! And my best was based on what I knew and understood at the time.As much as I would love to, I can’t go back and change anything. However, sharing my candid insights may make a difference for you— or someone you know. So, whether you’re are a current or future family caregiver or a curious reader, I hope you benefit from my list of seven things I wish I had known during my caregiving journey.  1.  Wish I’d had the caregiving conversation earlierThe closest I came to having a caregiving conversation with Mama Peaches was brief dialogues based on preparation for her death. For as long as I could remember, Mama would sporadically remind me of her end-of-life wishes aswell as where to find the insurance policy. And for as long as I can remember, I would strategically orchestrate a dance around the subject, avoiding it as much as possible. Why should we talk about something like that? After all, Mama was a long way from dying— or so I convinced myself.Mama was always reasonably healthy; therefore, we never really talked about the notion of caregiving. To us, life consisted of two phrases: living and dying. I, personally, had no idea that there could be three phases – living, needing care, and dying.In hindsight, if I had known that those years of needing care were ahead of us, our conversations would have definitely been different. Not just a matter of life and death—both of us would have discussed her care.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Check back next week for the next thing I wish I had know.  For a complete listing, please reference my new caregiving book called Mama Peaches Hot Slices of Wisdom available October 1st on Amazon.For more caregiving news you can use join our informational Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CHANEYspeaks.

It's Mama Peaches & Me MONDAY!

Here's your Mama Peaches' quote and fuel for today. For more of Mama's timeless quotes and my timely caregiving advice, watch for the national debut of "Mama Peaches' Hot Slices of Wisdom" -- the next anticipated book in the award-winning caregiving book series.Available on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com Watch for future updates!

Welcome To My New Blog

It's final here!  My new caregiving blog.  You have the right blog  if you are an accidental or experienced caregiver on the verge of a physical or emotional collapse.  Additionally, if you are caring for an aging parent, a disabled spouse, another loved one, this blog is definitely for you! It will prove to be great medicine for your heart by delivering spiritual inspiration, my caregiving insights, useful resources, and information to help you not only care for your loved one -- but yourself.I know firsthand the benefits and challenges of being a family caregiver. I spent years caring for my beloved mother, Odessa Chaney, who we called Mama Peaches.  She unexpectedly passed in 2016 after suffering from Alzheimer’s dementia.  There has not been a day that I long deeply for the presence of my mother. Mama Peaches taught me to survive, but never prepared me for living life without her.  My love and struggles during my caregiving journey inspired me to journal my experiences on Facebook in 2015.  The popularity of my Mama Peaches postings created a social media frenzy. Many of the postings, as well as advice, tips, and resources are also in my first award-winning caregiving book, Mama Peaches and Me: Wit and Wisdom for Worn-out Caregivers.Through my caregiving book series, blog, national speaking engagements, lunch and learn, workshops, caregiving art exhibitions, caregiving events, and a growing Mama Peaches Facebook Group for caregivers.  As much as I want, I can't bring Mama Peaches back, but I can have the backs of other cargivers by supporting and guiding them through the caregiving maze. Thank you for reading my blog.  Know that I am a real person, with a real caregiving experience, and with a real message of hope to help inspire, encourage, and uplift fellow caregivers.  Join me weekly to get inspiration and caregiving news you can use!Blessings,Christopher

What's Hindering Your Healing (Part 1 of 8)

  As you may have discovered or are discovering, the Old and New Testaments and contemporary testimonies about healing, taken together, provide comprehensive evidence that God’s Word heals. His Word healed yesterday, is healing today, and will heal forevermore. Now, that you have learned this marvelous truth, ask yourself, “What is hindering my healing?”    In my latest blog, you and I will gently and carefully pull back the bandages and expose the common spiritual infections that are attacking

The King Desires Healing For You! (Part 3 of 3)

Do you realize God wants to bless you far beyond your human capacity to tell Him how much you want Him to heal you? God expressed this by establishing a covenant with us in Deuteronomy 28. You are most likely familiar with this chapter of the Bible but we sometimes overlook the condition in which the covenant blessings were rightfully released. You give all of Heaven the authority to release the blessings when you adhere to the conditions of the covenant mentioned in the first verse of

The King Desires Healing For You! (Part 2 of 3)

  Thanks to the shedding of Jesus’ blood on Calvary, God is able to do all things, including restoring you to the divine image of Himself, which includes perfect health in all areas of your life.  He can do all things concerning that which concerns you – including neatly wrapping a timely message of healing in a book called Breaking the Healing Code, and presenting it especially to you. God declares, “Healing is yours!”  And, He can do it for you.     Healing can be as simple or as complex as

The King Desires Healing For You!(Part 1 of 3)

  The Lord is your Divine Almighty, your Holy Everything, the Sum and Substance of your healing.  He desires to bless you in a hundred forms, at a thousand moments, across the landscape of a million years. Despite how your body feels, what the doctor’s report reveals, or the number of prayer lines you have graced, sickness has a season, a purpose, and an end. The simple pages of this book are designed to fill you with strength and hope to overcome what is indeed reachable, your ultimate healing.

What's Hindering Your Healing? (Part 8 of 8)

  I have spend the last few weeks discussing the first of ten hindrances to your healing.  The first hinderance is ignorance and unbelief.  If you have been reading the previous post, you should have a good understanding of how ignorance and unbelief can sabotage your healing.  As a bonus, I would like to share with you a prayer and declaration to help you shield yourself from hinderance and unbelief.   Here is your victory prayer and declaration for knowledge and belief to do His will and stand