Day 11: Thankful for My Dad (Veteran's Day)

Went to see my favorite veteran today: my Dad. 

I told him "Happy Veteran's Day," and tried to make him understand. I even wrote it down for him. I don't think he *got* it, because all he said was, "very nice." 

He recognized me right away, which was great, but then, even tho Clara said he had been asking for me all week, he goes, "where's Leanne (one of my sisters)?" Ha! I told him that she would come another time. 

He seemed a little confused, so I said, "but look who I brought!" I took Clark's hand, and pulled him over. I said, "Dad, this is Clark." He looked at me like I was crazy, and said, "I know."  

God made our minds so beautifully complex. One minute, my Dad was talking clearly about current events, and people he knows...and the next minute, he wasn't making any sense (to us). Or, he would make a random comment about a conversation we'd had an hour ago. Like, it took his mind that long to process what we were talking about earlier. It's all in there, he's just not firing on all cylinders, and not everything is connecting properly. 

He perked up when his "mobility meds" kicked in, and he was excited to eat lunch. 

My Dad, my veteran, is 100% disabled now. He needs help with everything, and relies heavily on Clara. He has fallen hard several times in the last couple of weeks. Altho doctors say nothing is broken, his left shoulder is swollen, and it's black and blue all the way down to his hand. 

He told me that things had really gone downhill for him, physically. 

He spends most of his days in his recliner. He can't hear well, and he's confused a lot of the time. He enjoys getting out and going to church on Sundays. And while he may not remember a lot of things, or even most things, Clara says he remembers everyone from church. How sweet is that? 

I wish he could go to church every day.  

He got emotional when he talked about our family. He said, "I love my family, and I love my kids." He told me we should come again real soon, and bring Rhodie. 

As we left, I gave him a kiss, and rubbed his head. I said, "I love you, Dad." He said, "I love you, too, Marty." And then he said this: "you've been a real nice addition to our family." 

WHAAAAT? 

I mean, I guess that's good, Dad...SINCE YOU MADE ME.

What in the world?

My Dad...humble, faithful, quiet, kind. Knows my imperfections, and loves me anyway. Loves all of us, my siblings and me, unconditionally. Served our country, his church, our family, and others. He prays for us every day. Always sees the good in others. 

Points us to an amazing God. 

I am thankful for every second with him.

"Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim Your power to this new generation, Your mighty miracles to all who come after me." Psalm 71: 18

Day 10: Thankful for the Blessing of Adoption

About a year ago, I was sitting in church, when the pastor asked for everyone whose life had been touched by adoption, to stand. 

I sat there, and let my eyes look all around the room. I saw young people, old people...and families. I remember thinking, "WOW! This is amazing!" 

I have a heart for adoption. I have friends who are adopted, and friends who have grown their family by adoption. 

To me, adoption is the perfect picture of what Jesus does for us, when we choose to follow Him. He takes us out of our broken state, and brings us into His family. He takes us from a place of no hope...and He becomes our hope. 

As with any adoption, there is sacrifice. There is the death of what was, or of what could've been...and it is replaced by something new: a new life...a new family. 

And it is permanent and binding. 

Likewise, when we join the family of God, our names are written in His book of life (Rev 3:5), and they can never be removed. 

When there is an adoption of a child, the state will issue a new and amended birth certificate, with the adoptive parents' names on it...and they are forevermore that child's parents. 

Back to that Sunday in church: after everyone sat down, Jim elbowed me, and whispered, "Uhh...HELLO?" I said, "what?" He mouthed the name of a family member, and I said, "oh yeah...I forgot!" 

I mean, it never even crossed my mind. 

Which is kind of like it should be, huh?  

There's no difference in any of us, in the eyes of Christ. 

My life has been touched by adoption, and I'm so very thankful.

"God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure." Ephesians 1:5

Day 9: Jesus Is The Cure

My sister took this picture of me and my Dad during our last visit. 

He talks so quietly...I had to really lean in to hear him. 

Finally, I just went and sat on the edge of his chair. What was he saying? I don't remember, and it doesn't matter. I just knew that I didn't want to miss a word. 

He used to leave me with really sweet and poignant nuggets of truth from God's word. Not so much anymore, but that's okay. 

He has lived out his faith. The example he set has spoken volumes to everyone who knows him. 

When I got home, I stared at this picture...so thankful to have it, and hoping to sear it into my memory. I looked at the bracelets on my arm, and took a close-up picture: "relentless." That's what I think of when I think of my Dad. 

He was relentless in his devotion to God; relentless in his desire to protect and provide for our family; relentless in his prayers for me and my siblings. And so, now, because of his example, I try to be relentless in my devotion to God, and relentless in my desire to protect my family. 

And I am relentless in my prayers for my kids...for the things and people who are important to them: day, night, middle of the night...I am storming the gates of Heaven on their behalf. 

And the blue cuff I wear...it's words to a song by the group, Unspoken: "You are the cure." 

He is. 

God is. 

Wars, shootings, unrest, protests, elections, and every other thing that keeps us awake at night. There's only one cure for the sin and evil that seems to be rampant in our world today: Jesus. He is the cure. 

And that's what I'm thankful for today.

"As Your name deserves, O God, You will be praised to the ends of the earth. Your strong right hand is filled with victory." Psalm 48:10

Day 8: Thankful for My Dad

I didn't think I was gonna be able to get words on the screen tonight, because my heart is full...full of every emotion, and thinking all the things. I'm remembering my Dad tonight. 

Oh, he's still here, physically, anyway. 

But, Parkinson's is a slow-fade, and that's kind of where we are now. 

He's weak, unsteady, confused. He needs help with everything. 

My Dad...my big, strong Dad. He was always the one who wanted to take care of others. He was the helper, the servant, the gentle giant...quiet, wise, encouraging. I don't ever remember him saying a critical word to us. He prayed for us every day. He believed in us. He was proud of us. 

Today, there was a conversation about what comes next for him. Even tho it may be necessary, for his safety, it made my heart so sad. 

But, God is good. He speaks to me in many ways, but especially through music. 

I almost stayed home from choir practice tonight, because my heart felt really tender. But I'm really thankful I went. We sang about how God's love endures forever. And we sang about God's glory. And we sang about how, when we are poor and needy, weak and wounded, sick and sore...Jesus stands and saves us, and EMBRACES us in His arms. 

And then I heard Carrie Underwood sing, "Softly and Tenderly" on the Country Music Awards tonight, and I bawled like a baby. 

Because God reminded me that He is softly and tenderly calling my Dad home. 

It may be this year, next year, or ten years from now... but it will be His way, and in His timing. 

Until then, we are to treat my Dad carefully, and with the dignity he deserves. 

Even tho we can't always see it, there's purpose in the suffering, in the hard, in the waiting. We are trusting God to help us to see it. 

Tonight, and every night, I'm just really thankful for my Dad. 

"Oh, for the wonderful love He has promised...promised for You and for me! Tho we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon...pardon for you and for me! Come home! Come home! Ye who are weary, come home! Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling...calling oh, sinner, come home!" 

"Listen, children, to a father's instructions, and pay attention so that you may gain understanding and insight." Proverbs 4:1

Day 6: Thankful that God is Always at Work Around Us

I've written, here on the blog, about how, a year or so ago, our church began an intensive focus on discipleship. 

About how our staff wrote the curriculum we would study; how everyone in our church, all ages, is studying the exact same thing; how they put all of this in journal form, and we work thru it each week. 

There's a Scripture passage to read and reflect on each day...and a place for us to write our insights in our journals. 

I don't know how long ago the material for our journals was written. Months, I would guess. 

My youngest son likes to remind me, "God is always at work around you." 

That boy's a smarty-pants. Ha! 

Actually, he's just repeating words I've said to him over the years. And I was just repeating words I read years ago, when I did Henry Blackaby's "Experiencing God" study. 

Months ago, I don't think anyone could have imagined the place we are in now, our church, but God knew. 

Months ago, He laid the passages of Scripture we are studying RIGHT NOW, on the hearts of the ones who were writing this material....and it is perfect for what we need. 

Who knew? 

God knew. 

He is always at work around us, and this is what I'm thankful for today.

"I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken." Psalm 16:8

Day 5: Thankful for Church

*Well, I thought about not posting this today. My heart is so sad for the victims of the mass shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas.** 

I don't know if it's the appropriate time or not, what with the church massacre in Sutherland Springs, Texas...because what I'm thankful for today is my church. 

Growing up as an Air Force brat, I've been in churches all over the United States, and in two foreign countries. 

And, since we've been married, Jim and I have been in several different churches. Always, when we move, finding a church home for our family is our #1 priority. 

Church has always been my happy place. I love Sundays and Wednesdays so much. Oh, I've had some sad times in church, but the majority of times have been good. 

People will tell you that a church is just a building, that God can meet you anywhere...and they're right. 

But, for us, church is where my family and I go to connect with other believers. 

It's where we learn more about God, and about how He wants us to live in this world. It's where we find ministry opportunities. It's where we come together, so that we can go out into our neighborhoods, and into the world. It's where we go to sing, praise, and worship God with others. 

It's where we go when good things happen...and it's where we run when times are hard. It's where we find encouragement. It's where we invite others in with open arms. 

It's where Jim and I dedicated our babies to the Lord....where we stood up in front of our family and friends, and asked for their prayers and support, as we committed to raise our children in a Christian home. 

It's where my children learned about Jesus, where they stood up in front of the church to make their decision public. It's where they were baptized...where two of them were married, and where Jim and I were married. 

It's where we've celebrated the lives of those who have gone before us. 

It's where we cry and grieve and laugh. 

It's a place of fun and safety. Or it should be. 

That we now have to have cameras, alarms, security officers, and a plan...that we have to be on alert, in the most sacred place we know...is so sad to me. 

But we don't need to live in fear. 

Over the course of my life, my church, and my church family have brought me great comfort. If you don't have a church home, I would encourage you to seek out a church where the Gospel is preached boldly, where you see evidence that lives are being changed, and where people warmly welcome you and your family into theirs. It can make such a difference!

"And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near." Hebrews 10:25

Day 4: Thankful for Sisters

Well, I realize that I forgot to post last night...so I'm gonna save it, and maybe post at a later date.

Today, I am thankful for my sisters. One is The Planner, and one is The Nurturer. 

They are both creative and hard-working. They not only see the big picture, they can see all the little pieces needed to make the big picture. They are fierce mothers, and loyal friends. 

I didn't appreciate them when I was younger, but I am so thankful for them now. They, along with my little brother, make me laugh harder than anyone else. 

They are some of my most favorite people in the world, and the ones I want by my side in good times and bad. 

I got this book in the mail this week ("Sisters First," by Jenna Bush), and it reminded me how much I love my family. 

Next to creating a home that provided opportunities for me to get to know Jesus at an early age, my brother and sisters are the best gifts my parents ever gave me. 

"Every good thing given, and every perfect gift is from above..." James 1:17

Day 2: Thankful for a God Who Hears

I woke up at 3 a.m. I couldn't go back to sleep, so I spent some time thinking all.the.things. 

Like...that, while we are asleep, there are people awake and working hard...keeping us safe, and protecting our freedom. 

And there are first responders: nurses, doctors, emergency personnel...who leave the warmth and comfort of their own families...to care for and comfort ours. 

There are factory workers, store employees, truck drivers, road/construction workers...up before dawn, or working late at night, to meet our needs and keep things running smoothly. 

There are teachers, up preparing lessons, or putting the final touches on them, preparing for the day...bus drivers, getting ready to transport our most precious ones. 

When I wake up in the night for no apparent reason, I pray...for myself, for my family, for friends, my church, needs in my community and the world. 

And I'm not alone. 

People on your street, in your town, your state...and all over the world, are lifting their voices in prayer and supplication to God. 

Some of them may be praying for YOU. 

Aren't we thankful that our God is the God who hears? No matter where we are, He hears us. He never sleeps! And He cares for us. 

This is what I'm thankful for today.

"...casting all your cares on Him, because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

Day 1: Thankful for Down Syndrome

Our Daily Fred:

I know the month of emphasis on Down Syndrome is over, and that, today, we move to a month where we choose to live in a spirit of gratefulness, and look for opportunities to be thankful.

But Down Syndrome is one of the things I'm most thankful for, so I thought I might as well start off November where I ended yesterday...and I wanted to share the words from a sign we have in our home: "We Are The Lucky Few."

I follow a girl on Instagram who has a young son with Down Syndrome. She shared that, after her son was born, a woman who was a member of "the [Down Syndrome] club," came to the hospital to offer encouragement and support to this family.

The woman told this mom, "congratulations...he's beautiful. You don't know it yet, but you have just hit the jackpot."

WOW! What an awesome thing to say!

I wish we had had that experience after Joshua was born. The lady from the "support group" who came to see me in the hospital, was so down (no pun intended!) and depressing, I had to [nicely] ask her to please leave.

Because, here's the deal...even tho I didn't know much about Down Syndrome at the time, and even tho I had no idea what life with Joshua was going to look like...I already loved him fiercely.

Now, 31 years later, I can say with confidence, "we definitely hit the jackpot with Joshua."

And, I'm thankful...because God knew it all along.

"I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Psalm 139: 14