My parents

My mom sent me these pictures the other day.  They were taken on my parents wedding day at the Salt Lake Temple.  I love these pictures, they look so in love!  Today I was talking to my sister Sharon and she told me some things that helped me to remember that my parents still feel the same way about each other now as they did back on this day.  If not even more in love now.

I also wanted to say again what a great man my dad is.  My mom said that the other day he said to her that he felt bad.  So she asked him why.  And he said "because I feel a little bit sorry for myself."  Can you imagine!  Feeling bad because you feel a little bit sorry for yourself that you had a stroke and half of your body doesn't work and you are stuck in bed when you had been such an active person.  Wow!  Also my dad loves my mom so much.  It is really hard on him to see my mom having to struggle to take care of him.  She is getting up there in years too and isn't quite the spring chicken she used to be, although I am sure that in their minds they are both still 20.  So knowing that it is hard on my dad seeing my mom take care of him reaffirms how much he loves her.  I can't wait until I can go out to Utah to see them.  I know that it will be hard for me to see my dad not like I remember him, but I am still itching to get out there.  Hopefully time will go fast until we get to get out there and my dad will just keep getting better and better.

My Dad

Well, on Wednesday I got a call from my sister saying that my Dad had had a stroke the night before.  My mom wasn't sure if that is what it was, so she called my brother, Matt and brother-in-law, Sean to come over and give him a blessing.  Then that morning she took him into the ER because his doctor couldn't see him that day.  Which is a good thing I would think.  Anyway, so they kept him over night last night, and I am thinking that he will be there again tonight.  They did a lot of tests on him and said that it was only a very minor stroke.  So we got blessed.  His face on his left side is drooping, so he talks a little funny.  His left arm isn't working right.  And his left leg isn't working either so he can't walk.  But my Mom did say that he was already doing some better today.  He was talking a bit better, and could actually kind of move and feel his leg a little.  So I am thankful for that.  There was a little brain damage, but we aren't sure to what extent.  It seems like it was a part of his brain that had to do with technical stuff.  When it was happening he couldn't figure out how to turn the bathroom light on that was the turn knob and not just the flip switch.  So that was pretty hard on me because my Dad has always been so smart with technical stuff and could figure pretty much anything out.

Stuff like this really makes you realize how fragile life is and how much we take each other for granted.  And makes me think how much I don't really like living so far away from Utah.  I wish that I could have just hopped in the car and gone to my parents.  Or that I could even be there right now to be with my mom.  And to help them out.  

It also makes me reflect on what an amazing man my Dad is.  He is such a great example to me. He has taught me so much and put up with so much from me.  You know that he has to be a great man to have raised all 10 of us and have us all sealed in the temple.  He is so smart and so spiritual.  I love him so much!  I am so grateful that this wasn't a worse stroke.  

It also helps me realize what wonderful friends I have that care.  Thanks everyone!