Good Riddance

I thought I would give you all an update on Daddy. Sorry it's taken me so long!

Tuesday morning (the 18th) I got up at 4am to get ready to go to the hospital. My Aunt Helen and my Granny James (my mom's mom & sister) rode with me and it was nice having someone riding with me or I might have cried the whole way there!! We got to Greenville Memorial close to 6am and we were all allowed to go back into the waiting room with Daddy. That tiny little waiting room became cramped really quickly!! My mom and sister came as well as Bonnie's friend Tim and the preacher from my parent's church. Bonnie & Tim arrived at the hospital at the same time as us and once we reached Daddy's room we prayed with Daddy. Daddy had a good attitude and was joking with everyone. Finally Dr. Gardner came in and talked with us and it was time to say our good-byes. Before we all left Preacher Joe prayed again. Then I kissed Daddy & told him I loved him. That was hard. Suddenly I thought, 'I might not see him again!' I just had to take a deep breath and pray to the Lord for comfort and peace.

We shared a waiting room with 3 other families - all of whom had a loved one that was having neurosurgery as well. A nurse from each surgical room would call and give us an update about every hour or so on how our patient was doing and how the surgery was progressing. Daddy's surgery started at 10am (even though he was taken back at 8am). The nurse called us at 10am, 11:30am and then she never called again. Around 1pm my sister and Tim decided to go get lunch. When they returned my mom and I took our turn. I was so worried - I kept wondering why they hadn't called to give us an update in almost two hours!! My mom, Granny, Helen and I had just sat down to eat when my sister called and said Daddy was out of surgery. Finally :-)

When we returned from lunch my mom, Bonnie and I were taken back to the recovery room to see Daddy. I almost cried then from the relief of seeing him again. He was saying some really crazy things...my favorite being when he told the nurse he was going to rob a bank and she could drive the get-away car!! Dr. Gardner came in and talked to us. He said the surgery went really well, he didn't have to touch any nerves or Daddy's brain, and that the tumor was actually bigger than they originally thought. He told us it was roughly the size of a crab-apple. After about 10 minutes or so we left so they could move Daddy up to ICU. After he got situated there I visited him again for a few minutes and then headed home. I slept like a rock that night!!

Wednesday evening Daddy was moved out of ICU into a regular room. He spent two nights there before he was moved to Roger C. Peace for in-patient therapy. He was walking okay but was still having some problems with his left leg and his left arm. The therapists wanted him to stay two weeks but by Monday he was ready to come home!! I went to help with his therapy Saturday morning and he wanted to come home then! Really they just wanted to make sure that Daddy wouldn't fall and hurt his head when he got home and they wanted to see if his leg/arm would make a full recovery. I don't really blame him for wanting to come home. Bonnie went Monday to help with his therapy and that's the day he ended up coming home (24th). He's going to finish his therapy at Oconee but won't have to go very long b/c he's recovering so quickly!!

Tuesday I took the kids to see their Papa because they hadn't seen him in a week. I know a week doesn't seem very long but we're used to visiting them 2-3 times a week. The first thing Hannah did was look at Daddy's head (he graciously leaned down so she could get a better look) and say, "Papa you don't have any hair on this side of your head!!!" Nice. Samuel promptly went for the 'candy bucket' and brought it to Daddy. They both have a weakness for puff peppermint candy.

Wednesday when I visited (yet again) my Dad was walking without his cane. He was a little slower but moving so well and no having a problem at all with his left hand. Every night I just thank the Lord that He brought Daddy through the surgery and is blessing him with a speedy recovery. You can just see the relief and happiness every time you look at my Dad. Wednesday we were sitting on the porch with my parents when Hannah looked at her Papa and said, "Thank you Lord that Papa's tumor is gone and that his leg and arm feel better." Amen.

A beautiful sight to behold!!

It only took 48 staples to fix him up! I took this picture b/c he couldn't see the whole incision.

*I just want to thank every single one of you for your prayers and encouragement. It has truly meant a lot to our family!*

Quote of the Week

"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen."

~Samuel Adams

How do you measure up?

The other night I read this scripture about the "Proverbs 31 Woman" and felt like a complete failure. But rather than becoming discouraged I've decided to make this my standard - my goal. I want to be a blessing to my husband and to my children. Praise the Lord that everything we need is in His Word - everything from encouragement to comfort and very clear directions on everything from cleanliness to worship.

A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.

Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.

She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.

She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.

She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.

She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.

She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.

In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.

When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.

She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.

She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
"Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

And let's not forget Titus 2:3-5 ....

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

I'm very encouraged and I hope you are too!!!

(For some great resources on marriage and child training visit Michael and Debi Pearl's website. Their resources and wisdom has been a blessing to our little family!!!)