Jennifer Cares

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jgordon1 — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 21:23:06 +0000

Thank you for visiting Jennifer Cares page. This blog is no longer being updated. Please enjoy the archives. Here are some other blogs you may also enjoy: Inspiration Report Beyond Gorgeous Happy Reading!!!...

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I’ll Take Time for Me: Resolutions for Caregivers

Jennifer Antkowiak — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 18:44:45 +0000

Were you too overwhelmed, or did you make some New Year's Resolutions this year? If you did, how are you doing so far with keeping them? If you didn't, I have some suggestions! (We say we don't like it, but sometimes it is nice to be told what to do). I've come up with some ideas for changes we can make in priorities that will help to make us feel...

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Penguins and Daffodils

Jennifer Antkowiak — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 20:44:47 +0000

I love living in Pittsburgh, PA...love our champion sports teams! Tonight, the Pittsburgh Penguins are in the international spotlight, playing in the Winter Classic. Our Heinz Field, home of the Pittsrbugh Steelers, has been turned into a skating rink for the event.

After weeks of below freezing temperatures here, tonight, it's 50 degrees and very rainy, and although there was concern the weather and would force a cancelation, the game is on!

As I watch and hear the...

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Embrace the Positive Force of New Beginnings

Jennifer Antkowiak — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 20:13:54 +0000

"Your success and happiness lies in you.Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties." ...

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Finish, and Start Strong!

Jennifer Antkowiak — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 13:28:54 +0000

Just a short post for now--wanted to share a video clip with you. I came across it while organizing some of my caregiver notes.

With the daily challenges caregivers faces, sometimes it's hard to believe we'll ever be able to lift ourselves back up into the light and smile again.

The amazing man in this video knows about challenges, and yet he smiles. He laughs. He gets back up when it seems impossible.

Let his strength and faith fill...

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Holiday Celebrations, Minus One: Coping with Caregiver Grief

Jennifer Antkowiak — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 14:25:45 +0000

If you've lost or are caring for a critically ill loved one, you know that moving through the holidays just isn't the same. Psychologists say it doesn't seem to matter much if the person you were close with died ten days, or ten years ago...the holiday season triggers grief. Sights, sounds, smells all bring back powerful memories, which can leave us feeling sad and alone. Coping with this kind of loss is especially difficult at this time of year---when the rest of the world seems to be...

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End of Year Time for You

Jennifer Antkowiak — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 12:28:19 +0000

I have a tradition for this last week of the year that I'd like to share with you. This always feels like the perfect time to focus and reflect on what's happened, and on what's to come.

To say our house is quiet now after the Christmas holiday would be a lie. With five young, active kids, "quiet" is a word I'm rarely able to use to describe the situation here (!) ...and for the most part, I like it that way.

So, even though it still looks a...

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Caring Questions: Summertime Daydreams

Jennifer Antkowiak — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:00:00 +0000

The 4th of July has come and gone, the heat is on all around the country...sure signs that we are firmly into the summer season. Spending time during these sunny days with those we care for gives us a nice opportunity to take a little mental vacation, and grow closer to your loved ones through some caring conversations.

Here are some summer-related questions to get you started:

1. What was your favorite summer vacation and why?

2. Did you ever...

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Hope: New Beginnings

Jennifer Antkowiak — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 17:54:00 +0000

Whether it's a new job, a new relationship, or a new lifestyle (as brought about by caregiving)...change can be scary and overwhelming. But, did you ever think about how change can bring hope? It's all in the way we choose to see it.

I love this quote:

"It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the...

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Hope: Be Your Own BFF

Jennifer Antkowiak — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 10:00:00 +0000

Who can support you when you're starting to feel like nobody else does? YOU!

Too many times, I see caregivers become very critical of themselves. Self-doubt feeds on itself, and can easily lead to lack of confidence, low self-esteem, even depression.

This week, let's create new hope in our lives by focusing on being more of a friend to ourselves. We can:

be quick to forgive our mistakes be ready with a kind word or thought replace negative...

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