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."