Summary

Joi Lake, a hospice volunteer and musician, wrote and performs a heartfelt song titled "I'm Going to Enjoy You" for residents of an assisted living and memory care facility, including her Great-Aunt Dottie with Alzheimer's, to express love and provide comfort, which has been well-received and even likened to a message from God.

Abstract

Joi Lake, who volunteers at a hospice and plays music for the residents, has composed a song that conveys her affection for both her boyfriend (now husband) and her Great-Aunt Dottie, who resides in the same facility where she attends church services. The song, "I'm Going to Enjoy You," was born from a late-night journaling session and has become a source of comfort and love for the residents, particularly touching the hearts of visiting spouses. Despite its simplicity and lack of production quality, the song's heartfelt lyrics resonate deeply, offering a sense of peace and happiness amidst the challenges of caring for sick and dying loved ones. The song has been requested multiple times and is available on Lake's YouTube channel, with hopes that it will bring blessings to others' lives.

Opinions

The author believes that expressing love through music can have a profound impact on those who are sick and dying.
The song is seen as a way to communicate God's love to the listeners.
The act of singing the song is emotionally challenging for the author, who strives to maintain composure while witnessing its deep emotional effect on the audience.
The author emphasizes the complexity of emotions involved in caring for the ill, including guilt, sadness, love, fear, anger, frustration, and silliness.
Despite the exhaustion and emotional toll, the author finds solace in providing joy and comfort through music.
The author has made the decision to temporarily stop visiting the facility due to the COVID-19 pandemic to protect the residents, including her aunt, who is reported to be doing well.

The Song I Wrote

I sing “I’m Going to Enjoy You” to Assisted Living and Memory Care residence.

I am a hospice volunteer. I also attend the church service held in the facility where my Great-Aunt Dottie who has Alzheimer’s lives. Sometimes I play my guitar and sing while the residents get situated.

A few months ago I was journaling late at night. I couldn’t sleep and needed to get the words onto paper so I could rest.

I journaled my feelings for my boyfriend (now my husband) and realized most of my thoughts also applied to my Great-Aunt Dottie.

As I pulled the sentences out that applied to both of them, the song formed and came alive.

I decided to be courageous and sing it for the residents because they need to hear they are loved by me. My aunt is always touched when I tell her I wrote a song for her. I don’t think she remembers from week to week, but she knows I love her.

It has even been requested a couple times in the past few weeks.

I am learning to hold in my tears when I feel the song reaching deeply into the hearts of those who are listening…especially the spouses who are visiting while I sing.

And I’ve had a few people mention how it could even be how God feels about us…Like God is talking to us through the song.

Loving people who are sick and dying is such an exhausting life. Everything revolves around the ill person. There is guilt, sadness and lots of love. There is fear and anger, frustration and silliness. Finding sanity in the madness and happiness in the grief are the blessings we find often, because we must. I sing to bring peace and happiness. It seems to help everyone.

My song is simple. It isn’t ready for production. But it is lovely and special. My song is from my heart and I sing it for people who need to hear they are loved.

Here are the words to my song. It will be playing on my YouTube channel so others can listen to it. I hope it can bless your life and you can share it with the people in your life who need to hear they are loved.

While I have you in my life,

I’m going to enjoy you.

I do not know what tomorrow brings,

I’m grateful I got to hold you today.

I love you in the morning.

I love you each afternoon.

I will love you every night.

I will love you forever.

- Written and sung by Joi Lake

UPDATE: Since writing this, Covid-19 has led to our area of the world being shut down. Hospice volunteers are no longer allowed to visit hospice patients at this time. Because my husband is in retail, I have chosen to refrain from visiting the facility where my Aunt Dottie lives. I have not seen her in almost a month. She is doing fine and is well.

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