Updates

I think I've said this before recently, but it's been a very long few weeks. I have lots going on in my head and my heart right now, so I am thanking you in advance for letting me vent and apologizing if this doesn't make any sense.

My dad is doing better every day. He's in therapy five times a day, and I was able to see firsthand how hard he is working last week. I know he's better today than he was a few weeks ago, but it's still very difficult for this 35 year-old to see her daddy in the condition he's in. It just is.

I cry often, out-of-the-blue and at weird moments, because I just miss him. My sweet husband has been very supportive, though sometimes he doesn't understand the tears. Well, ok, most of the time he doesn't understand.

Friday night he and I went on a much-needed date, and I finally satisfied my craving for boiled crawfish. They were sooooo good, and I will be going back soon. Then we went to the outlet mall and landed a 40% off sale at Gap. I got lots of goodies, which I don't get to do often. And to end the evening off on a wonderful note, I decided to show him how much I loved my iTrip and played him two songs that made me sob harder than I had in months.

One was this song by Taylor Swift. She wrote it for her mom, and every time I hear it I weep. Did I mention that Friday was also the day before my daughter's high school graduation? Yeah.

I think my exact words when plugging in my iphone were, "Let's cry, shall we?"

Then I played this song by Paul Simon. My dad bought me his greatest hits cd a few years ago specifically for that song, and considering what's going on, that song pushed me directly into the ugly-nobodyshouldeverseemelikethis cry.

The line from the song that sent me over the edge.... "As long as one and one make two, there will never be a father love his daughter more than I love you."

One day he'll be able to say those words to me again.

Saturday was my daughter's high school graduation, party at my SIL and BIL's restaurant, and project graduation. That's for a whole other post.

Right now I'm going to finish my glass of wine on the deck and pray that my 16 year-old that's learning to drive comes home from the gas station safely.

Have a great night!

My baby girl

As the day of my oldest child's high school graduation nears, I think about how much she has grown up. How she's not a little girl anymore.

Yes, I still cook her meals and wash her clothes, but she could easily do those things on her own.


My aunt tells me often that though I'm sad that my girl is growing up and moving on to college, it's a good thing that she can take care of herself. I've raised a child who really can become a productive member of society (thanks for pointing that out, Jenie), and I should be proud of that.


Lately I have been.


Until I got this picture on my cell phone last night.




Now, the whole story behind the picture doesn't freak me out, (She was only trying them on, by the way. Not the real thing. Yet.) because we know that this is going to happen-- probably sooner than later.


Yes, she's only 18 and though I would never encourage her to get married this young, I know how much I've prayed for this young man and I would love it if she married him.


I've prayed for her husband since she was a little girl (just as my mom did for mine), and God pulled an Ephesians 3:20 on this situation. He is a hard worker. He has goals. He's funny. He's respectful. He loves the Lord. His loves family--his and mine. He is kind to my sons, and he takes care of my son with Autism. He is smart. He is handsome. He has an amazing family that has melded right into ours.


He genuinely loves my daughter with everything in him.


So why oh why would I listen to the people who tell me she's too young to even think about marriage and encourage her to wait and find someone later in life when this young man is everything (and more) that I have prayed for?


Yesterday was this young couple's one year anniversary, and his parents took them out to a very fancy dinner to celebrate. Then they went to look at rings.


This morning as I sat on the deck drinking my coffee, she told me about her fun night and about the different kinds of rings she tried on. The different shapes she liked and what she knew she didn't want.


But as I listened to her, I wasn't thinking about how much she's grown up and how she will be commuting to college soon and getting a job and preparing to start a life of her own.

I was thinking, "That's my baby girl, talking about engagement rings. Is this really happening?"


Looking at that picture doesn't change my heart about the situation, though. It makes me smile and thankful that my God gives me the desires of my heart.

Blah week. Good day.

It's been a very long week. Eleven days, actually.

I've debated on whether or not to blog about this, but today has been one of those days when - though I have lots of people to talk to and cry with - I just don't wanna.

(And please don't take offense, all of you sweet friends who have offered to let me do just that. I appreciate every one of you. Sometimes a girl just has to cry on her own, though. Ya know?)

But writing it all out just seems like what I need to do at this point.

Almost two weeks ago, my dad had a stroke. My mom called me early Tuesday morning to tell me that they were on their way to the hospital. She asked him a question. He couldn't speak.

She asked me to pray.

I began contacting those closest to us to pray and kept up with his progress all day via texts and phone calls from my mom. (More on these people later. I am in AWE!)

It was a very. long. day.

(But I have to say a very BIG thank you to my very special friend who let me ramble, cry, text, call, vent, talk, etc. from that very first moment on. You don't know how very much I needed your listening ear and how very, very much I appreciate you!!! You are the best!!!)

It turned out that my dad's blood pressure was through the roof. It's always been high, and he has not taken his medicine like he should have.

He's had two CT Scans, an MRI, an EKG and numerous blood tests. Everything else looks fine.

But then there's the stroke.

It has affected his ability to speak. He can sing anything he wants, but speaking an isolated word is often impossible. He can walk, though it's a struggle, and he isn't doing it much right now.

He is also emotional. Sometimes it's because he can't help it, and sometimes it's because that's just who he is.

And if you knew my dad, you would know that not speaking is just not him. He's always talking, laughing, picking on somebody. Today it hit me that I haven't actually had a conversation with him in 2.5 weeks. We talk on the phone often, and today I just really, really missed hearing his voice.

I went to see him the day after it happened and stayed for two days. I feel like I did nothing productive while I was there, except for going to the grocery store for my mom, but I was very glad to be there. I needed to see him. To tell him that I loved him. To not let my mom be alone.

My very sweet physical therapist husband passed me on the highway as he went to visit my dad and I went back home to the kids. I don't think any of us could ever thank him enough for all that he did that weekend.

He evaluated my dad. He explained things so my mom would understand and know what was normal and what was not. He talked to the doctors. He helped (and was committed to stay there until) my dad get into a rehab hospital.

He prayed for him. He encouraged him. He laughed with him when my mom was driving him crazy.

At this point, Dad is receiving LOTS of therapy at an excellent facility that's supposed to be one of the best in the state. He is receiving LOTS of cards, e-mails, and phone calls from friends and family who love him and are praying for him.

(Honestly, the love everyone has shown my family these past couple of weeks is overwhelming and often times what is holding me up. I can't thank them enough!!)

Tuesday I'm going back down to visit for a couple of days. I hope to see progress, but really I just want to see my dad.

Today was a rough day for me. I haven't cried too much in the past couple of weeks, but sometimes it just hits me. Today was one of those days.

And then there's real life stuff that doesn't go away when tragedy strikes.

My oldest child is graduting from high school in one week from today. She's going to college in the fall but (thankfully) living at home for now. Unfortunately, the college expects us to pay for tuition.

I'm thinking of sending my youngest back to school next year after being homeschooled 4.5 years. My middle child is learning to drive. We are in the middle of refinancing our house.

But in the midst of my pity party today, something good happened. Totally unrelated to my dad.

My son, who hasn't been to a movie theater since The Cat in the Hat (my other son informed me of this fact), went and watched Shrek with his dad and brother today. This is a HUGE deal for him, because he has never liked the theater. He'll watch movies on tv, but he's never liked the dark room with the loud sounds.

I was so proud of him!!

So...

If you will, please pray for my dad's quick recovery and healing. His therapists give him great hope that he will be back to "normal" one day soon. Pray for my mom to rest and eat and get through this stronger than she was before.

I will update on here as I can and feel like I need to.

Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

A Giveaway!!

But not from me, sorry.

Go check out the very cool giveaway Missy is doing at It's Almost Naptime. Very cute stuff!!

Happy Mother's Day

I watched this video at We Are That Family today. It's kinda long, but well worth it. Enjoy.

We are blessed to be a blessing

I just love it when God brings things full circle. Isn't it awesome when we are able to help people out the same way someone once did for us?

I did something fun today.

I played tour guide to the wife of a man who is about to start working with my husband. His new job starts in July, and the young couple is looking for a place to live.

So while he became familiar with the clinic and his soon-to-be coworkers, I drove all over our area looking at rent houses and tried to make his sweet wife feel comfortable.

Fresh out of physical therapy school, they are excited about this new season in their lives.

They are 25 and 26.

The exact same ages my husband and I were when he got out of PT school.

The exact same ages we were when he got his first job and went on his first interview.

While he stayed at that clinic eleven years ago, I drove around with his future boss' wife looking at rent houses.

And while I didn't know a single soul in that city, she made me feel very comfortable--sharing her favorite things about the town and answering any and all of my questions.

I hope I helped out today, not just with geography but also in sparking a new friendship.

And I hope she was as blessed as I was.

Motherhood

Kristen at We Are That Family is doing a giveaway this weekend for a picture that most repesents motherhood. To me motherhood is...

Today I am thankful for...

Lately the Lord has reminded me (in big and not-so-big ways) that I need to be thankful for what I have. I am so blessed, and I think I take a whole lot for granted. So here's my top seven.

I am thankful for a God who is gracious beyond anything I deserve. He promises to keep working on me and that He's never going to leave me. This could be my whole list right here.

I am thankful for a husband who loves me more than life itself. He works hard for us, is faithful, and wants the very best for us.

I am thankful for three happy, healthy, beautiful, smart children. (I prayed for those things when I was pregnant.) They are sooooo much more than that, too. They are obedient, respectful, kind, funny, lovers of Jesus, and a blast to be around. My life would not be the same without them in it.

I am thankful for my family. All of my family. Honestly, I have the very best family on the planet. They are encouraging and love me and take care of me and would be here in a split second if I called any one of them for anything at all. I have no question about that.

I am thankful for my friends. I have close friends that I've known for a lifetime, and I have new friends that I've known for a matter of weeks. No matter the depth of the relationship, it is a blessing to have a friend-- someone to talk to, to hang out with, and just be a girl with. Ya know what I mean??

I am thankful for people that pray for me. Those that do it in private and those that tell me that they're praying. I cherish those prayers! My grandmother has a friend that's probably been around our family since I was born or maybe before. She is very ill right now and will probably go be with the Lord soon, but she has prayed for me every day of my life. I already knew this, but she even told me this a few years ago when I saw her. What a treasure that is to me!!!

I'm also thankful for the little things in life-- the stuff that I have. My life would go on fine without it all, but it's still fun... Like my iphone, my itrip (Happy Mother's Day to me!!), my solar nails, etc. Just stuff, but I do enjoy them. :)

So what are you thankful for today??