The most significant things started in August of 2016. My parents went to Colorado on a mission trip with their church. They go somewhere every year. And every year I wait for a phone call from my mom telling me that my dad has hurt himself because of the work he's doing. My dad is a go-get'em kind of guy. He's knows his way around just about any kind of tool and he's talented with home repairs and building. He's handy on a mission trip. This is the year I got that phone call. The day after they got to their location(day one of work) my dad and two other men were on some scaffolding working about 12 feet up the side of a building. The scaffolding gave way and my dad and one of the men ended up on the ground. Luckily, no one was seriously hurt. My dad broke his foot and his buddy needed stitches in his head. This event changed the trip for my dad. He felt awful after this. He was nauseous and just icky in general. Three weeks after they got home he was still dealing with a come-and-go fever, cough, and pain in his chest. A trip to the urgent care sent him to the E.R. This was a night that I'll never forget. My kids had just joined a swim team and were in the middle of their first practice. I get a text from my mom telling me where they are and to not worry and to not come(too may people for a triage rm). Of course all us kids are now worried and battling the decision of whether or not to go anyway. Another text soon follows. X-rays show possible lymphoma. World turned upside down. A week later he goes in for a biopsy. Sept 29th we find out that it's not lymphoma. It is, in fact, metastatic prostate cancer stage 4. This means that the cancer has already spread to his bone. I cannot express in words what I felt learning this. There is no cure at this stage, only ways to prolong life. We made it through the holidays. He was so sick that we were preparing ourselves for a funeral before Thanksgiving. He was put on some medication and improved in energy and strength. He started chemo in Jan. and continued to do what he could depending on how he was feeling. Some days he was great and some he couldn't get out of his chair. His weight went from one extreme to another. August 2017 came and we gathered to celebrate 47 years of marriage for my parents. Then it was again time for another mission trip. My dad, being the trooper he is, went. We were all worried but so glad that he felt well enough to go. They came home on Labor Day and moments after they got home he received a call saying his sister had died. He made the trip to Texas and co-officiated her service. This trip took its toll on his body and he ended up in the hospital for about 10 days. He made the decision to end his treatment and look into hospice. My dad passed away Dec. 1st 2017. Gosh, writing that brings tears to my eyes. I miss him enormously and my heart still hurts as much as it did a year ago. As we creep up on the one year day, I can't help thinking, "This time last year...". It's rough. His service was awesome! So many people loved my dad and came to love on us. It was an interactive time...we 'called the hogs'(google it if you don't know what this is). I know we'll all make it through. I have many friends that have lost a parent and they've been a tremendous support for me. However, it doesn't change the fact that my dad is gone. If I'm allowed to be brutally honest (and I am because this is my blog), I am not looking forward to the holidays this year. I should want to hang with family and be surrounded by the people that I love the most in this world, but that's not how I feel. I'm not ready for that, yet. I will host my in-law side for Thanksgiving and smile and put on a happy face. The next day I'll go spend time with my family and, again, put on a happy face. Dec 1st we'll take my dad's ashed to Arkansas. Not ready for this either!! I feel like, at every turn, my life has been turned upside down and inside out. Don't get me wrong, there are still great days. I still laugh and have fun. My daddy loved the Lord and I know that he's in heaven talking with all the people we've learned about from the Bible. Pondering the fact that he might be having conversations with Paul, Moses, Abraham, or Jonah causes my breath to catch. It's this thought that makes it ok he's not here. I know my daddy wouldn't trade what he has now to come back to us. Nor should he.
Anyhoo, on to other things. I mentioned I turned 40? Yep, that happened. I'm now also the mom of two teenage boys, 14 and 13. My daughter is 11 and tiny man is 9. We're still homeschooling and surviving. I've started riding my bike again and have rode over 2,000 miles this year. I run every once in a while. Last week I did 7 mile in 59.26. The exercise keeps my stress level down and helps me process thoughts. I've also moved from helping with the elementary kids at church to serving with the middle school. I even went to youth camp this summer and survived(barely). Husband is wonderful and supportive in all my crazy. I guess that's it for now.
This was taken the day after my daddy's service last year.
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