I awoke to the phone ringing and my mom telling me, " your dad is in the ICU, he has had a heart attack." After my tears cleared I began rushing around throwing things in bags. Getting ready for our 18 hour trip from Colorado back home to California to be at my dad's side. Amazing how quickly I packed for six! When we flew to Florida a few months back, I prepped for days. Not this time!
Our drive was smooth and undoubtedly blessed by God. At one point just a head of us a Big Rig caught fire. A fireman stopped us rather close to the Semi truck. As smoke was still billowing out, the fire they thought was out, flared up again. A policeman approached our window and said, "you are kind of close here. Go ahead because we are closing the road." Thank you Lord! We (the only car allowed through) were on our way! We drove through the night and arrived in time for me to see my dad before going into surgery. Another praise in my heart! My dad was smiling and making all around him laugh. As the nurses began to roll him away to the operating room he was giving high fives to all he passed. That's my dad!
We waited during his six hour surgery, praying with out ceasing. What was originally thought to be a double, possible triple bypass turned into a quintuple bypass. Surgery went well, praise the Lord. The surgeon said he has a healthy heart. That his six years of dedication to his elliptical machine is what saved his life.
My days were spent at the Hospital. Thanking God for the blessing of being at my dad's side. Seeing my strong, larger than life daddy lying in a hospital bed weak and dependent caused my own heart to be humbled. What a fragile, helpless dependent creature we are. We are nothing apart from our great Creator, always dependent upon Him, even if we think we are not. Our days do not belong to us. Our loved ones are gifts and time with them precious. I am appreciating life in a deeper way than ever before.
The Bible verses in my previous post have been a constant comfort. God is good and in control!
My dad is home and recovering. After a nine day trip, we too are back home and settling back into our routine of things. What a whirlwind and now the calm.
 |
| My four girls and my sister's two... breakfast at Grandma and Papa's. |
 | |
| My sweet boy in Papa's chair |
 |
| The sad goodbye but so happy to have Papa back home! |
 Here are some pictures from our slower paced trip back home. |
| Driving through Las Vegas |
 |
| The location of Pawn Stars a TV show on History channel |
 |
| Utah |
Many hours on the road can leave one a little silly. My husband said to the cows, "what are you guys doing out here?" To which I replied, "just moo-ving along." He thinks I am a nut and I "crack" myself up! One of my daughters asked if the cows were wild? My husbands reply, "yes they are a rowdy bunch of cows."
Later on we came across a lot of tires in the road and my husband said, "there is a lot of rubber in the road." To which I replied, "this is where the rubber meets the road."
Laughter was a good contrast to tears. :)
Laughter was a good contrast to tears. :)
 | ||
| I call my girls gooseberry all the time. |