dad
February 22, 2008I just hung up (from talking on the phone) with my dad. He has quadruple bypass surgery scheduled tomorrow morning, 7:30am. I try to encourage and abate fears and generally just be a supporting daughter but in the back of my mind is a nagging thought as I say ‘I love you, I’m praying for you . . . ok, bye and goodnight dad,” that it is so insignificant to what he’s about to endure . . . and of course my morbid minds thinks ‘what if this is the last ‘goodbye dad’? When a surgical procedure requires the doctors to stop your heart and then restart your heart it freaks me out a bit . . . not to mention all the other stuff they do during. I’ve only had one surgical procedure and that was having my galbladder removed after T was born, 6 months after . . . yeah, thats not even in comparison to what my dad faces tomorrow and for the next 2 - 3 months of complete healing. Waking up to the pain was the worst thing I have ever experienced and it wasn’t invasive surgery . . . I can’t remember what they call it. So my heart and mind rest with my dad tonight as he attempts to get as much sleep as possible. My prayers are for him every minute.
My dad has always held a high place in my heart and always will. I’m getting mushy but I can’t help it. I also told myself I wasn’t going to blog as much cuz I talk too much but here I am again . . . addictive this thing is! He’s held a high place in my heart, even after realizing, around the time I was 24 or so, that he was, indeed human . . . not God . . . I held deep respect for him and a new found love for my God . . . One that loves and uses people for HIS good and perfect will that aren’t perfect, just humble under HIM. Its called grace.
Thank you, God, for an amazing and steadfast dad that loved me and encouraged me to be me . . . even if he didn’t understand me, I never knew that. He went horseback riding with me, he encouraged me to seek God in all things, he loved my mom passionately, he was selfless in so many ways! God bless my dad in this time of anxiety and allow him to get a full night’s rest for the procedure tomorrow . . . allow for a perfect work, quick healing and recovery . . . and, above all, grace to handle it and your presence to endure. Thank you Jesus!
And of course, I owe the honor of my severe caffeine addiction to the one who raised me . . . my dad. I worked with him when I was about 19-ish, which required us to drive to the coast (a 2 hour trip, one way) and lattes and mochas were purchased daily, every morning . . . butt-crack of dawn, as we’d say. I slowly converted to black coffee and that is what I now prefer . . . every stinkin’ day! 
Coffee gooooood
This is my dad hanging out in his living room in Henderson, NV . . . he would probably irked if he knew I used this picture, its not a great pic of him . . . he’s actually quite handsome . . . but the coffee cup is such a fixture in our family. I believe we all drink the black bitter goodness.
Hey! Thanks for the updates on your Dad’s surgery… I read the most recent and then scrolled down. We are praying for no complications and a total recovery…a quick one… and that in this time of ‘forced rest’ God would speak encouragement to him! Love to you guys and Congrats on the end of ‘can’t drive to church season’ this weekend :0) hee-hee. It looks like my Dad and bro are leaving Sunday morning, so at best we may make it to 2nd svc. - Hugs!