Live To Fight ANother Day

My dad has stayed about the same. Despite the seizure scare we had yesterday morning, he is about the same. That's good and bad; we don't want to see him get worse, but his doctor team is concerned he isn't making more progress. Still, the fact that he is here right now is a miracle, and we're grateful for that.

Dad's Progress

I don't want to sugar coat the situation, but we get so excited about the smallest things around here. For example, his right side of his brain was the side that was damaged, so he technically shouldn't be able to move the left side of his body....and sometimes he does. They tell us that it is just the nerve impulse reactions - however, we still get excited.

My dad has had some great visitors. He sure has a lot of people that care about him. Three of his bosses from work came by yesterday, and so did a woman she works with - Christy. One thing my dad has always loved is the work he does. I'm sure seeing those people would have made him happy. He has a lot of respect for those men. He would be humbled by the love they showed to him, and for the amount of concern and respect they have for him. My dad.....what a guy. One of his bosses said my dad was the most dedicated worker he knows. That was no surprise to me......that's my dad.

Otherwise, dad is about the same. He apparently should be doing more than he is, but we are believers in miracles, and there is peace in whatever happens.

Two Things To Be Grateful For

In the wee hours of the morning, I was sitting by my dad's bedside holding his hand and reading a little story in the Book of Mormon. I read about how Nephi was wondering what the meaning of his father's dream was, and he got told a few things about that dream that hit me in a rather interesting way. In this vision Nephi was given, he was asked if he knew the condesension of God. His response was interesting. He said that he didn't know the meaning of all things, but that he knew God loved his children. I've been a little consumed lately with why God would let this happen to my dad, who has been such a faithful person and given so much to so many. This first hit me in a different way than I expected, because later in the chapter, Nephi is told that the love of God is the most desirable above all things. He was also told it was the most joyous thing to the soul. What made this so powerful was that I KNOW God loves my dad. I know God loves me. And since that is the most important and joyous thing to the soul, why do I concern myself with the why question?

All I have to know is that God loves me, He loves my dad, and that He loves us enough to give us what we need - not always what we want.

Only A Dad
-Edgar Guest

Only a dad with a tired face,
Coming home from the daily race,
Bringing little of gold or fame
To show how well he has played the game;
But glad in his heart that his own rejoice
To see him come and to hear his voice.

Only a dad with a brood of four,
One of ten million men or more
Plodding along in the daily strife,
Bearing the whips and the scorns of life,
With never a whimper of pain or hate,
For the sake of those who at home await.

Only a dad, neither rich nor proud,
Merely one of the surging crowd,
Toiling, striving from day to day,
Facing whatever may come his way,
Silent whenever the harsh condemn,
And bearing it all for the love of them.

Only a dad but he gives his all,
To smooth the way for his children small,
Doing with courage stern and grim
The deeds that his father did for him.
This is the line that for him I pen:
Only a dad, but the best of men.

Pondering Things That Are Really Important

I've had the chance over the last 24 hours or so to think about the things in life that really matter. Recent events have certainly given me a lot to think about....and that's always a good thing, right?

My dad was in a terrible accident yesterday. One of his horses that he loves so much got a little anxious right as my dad was trying to get on him. Apparently, he was dragged by the horse for a ways and then trampled. His skull was crushed, and he sustained some pretty massive brain trauma. He was life-flighted to the hospital, where life-saving brain surgery was performed on him immediately. The doctor told me today that without the removal of part of his skull, he would have passed away yesterday.

It is still pretty bad. He's obviously in a coma, and the brain damage is so extensive that they are not sure what is going to happen next. They are waiting for some swelling to go down to see what his body does, but it looks pretty grim. My dad, though, is a fighter and he's always been physically tough. Despite all of that, I hear my dad's voice telling me the same thing he's told me a million times, and that is that you have to trust in whatever God has planned.

Megan and I cam to Salt Lake early this morning. We are so fortunate that all the pieces fell together that allowed us to be here right now. We're not sure what the future will bring, but the one thing we do know is that it is in God's hands, and we trust Him.

I love you dad.

Our little 4 year old has started his first soccer team! He is so excited. He loves to wear his cleats around the house, and he always asks his dad to take him out and let him "goal." Brice also gets to start the adventure with him, because he is the new coach for the team! Jack loves it. Every time we talk about Jack playing soccer, he says, "And dad gets to be my coach!" His first game is Saturday. I, unfortunately, have to be out of town for the first game, and I am sad I am going to miss what I am sure is going to be a hilarious experience. My little boy is growing up!!!!