One week...

What have you done this week?

Fought for you life? 

 Stood watch while somebody else fought for theirs?

Felt powerless?

Felt convicted?

Felt loved?

Felt supported?

Helped somebody in need?

Felt happy?

Felt sad?

Felt angry?

Felt blessed?

Exactly one week ago is when this new journey began for my dad and my family.  And while none of us can wrap our head around why it happened, especially to him - we have each rediscovered how much we have to be grateful for.  Everyday, every little thing.   Today's visit to check on dad was a very encouraging one.  I came home and was able to rest and feel some of the tension leave me. Part of me wanted to wake up this morning and have everything be back to normal, as if this past week was just a nightmare and it was finally over.  I am grateful, instead, for the progress that we saw today!  My dad was awake and alert just about the entire time we were there this morning.  He was winking and smiling when we would talk to him.  That was so good to see.  I brought a little white board and dry erase markers to just see what he would do with them - when mom handed him the board, it was upside down so he turned it around so it would be right side up.  Then he gave her the cross he has been holding since yesterday and took the marker. 

 He tried to write but he is not left handed.  Mom started writing some things and you could tell that he understood.  And then, he spoke! As she was writing names he actually said "Ivan" when she wrote his name on the board.  Then my mom looked at him and said "I love you" and he looked back at her and said "I love you."  I don't need to tell you that made her day!  She looked back at him and said, "you are going to talk again aren't you?" To which he nodded his head and you could just see how happy he was. She didn't think she would ever hear him say those words again.  Doctors were not very hopeful that he would understand or comprehend much or that he would talk, due to the large amount of his brain affected by the stroke.  I was with her when one doctor told her that he was treating a man similar to my dads situation, who one year later, is just able to say a few words.  They didn't think my dad would talk, and just ONE WEEK after all this started, he spoke!  As I have said before, they don't know my dad.   I heard that after we left the physical therapist came in he took three steps and stood up four times! Isn't that amazing!  I am so proud of my dad. I love my dad so much.

"Pain and suffering is not garbage when God uses it to show Himself through it." Randy Alcorn