Our Dream House

It was the summer of 2003 when we began to build the house of my dreams. A beautiful log house overlooking our land. My daddy and wonderful husband were making my dream a reality, right down to the root cellar I always wanted!

Mike having worked for the railroad for 30 years had been retired do to a injury on the job. We were excited with what the future would hold for us as we began our new journey. We had so much fun stacking logs, working with family and good friends. Everyday we could see further progress. My dad especially enjoyed the work. He loved working on new things and serving his family.

I remember as if it was yesterday the morning of Sept 16, it was the day after my parents anniversary. My dad came in to have breakfast with Mike. We chatted a few minutes, while they ate omelets I had cooked. They then got up from the table and headed to work on the house. It was a morning like every other morning the only difference was that Jacob, 7, had slept in and hadn't gone down to the house with them as usual. I told them I would bring him down a little latter. Jacob loved being the helper boy!

I guess it was probably around 10 am when I get a frantic call from Mike. Your dad has fallen. It is bad! I called 911. Bring your mom. My heart raced, skipped, terror struck. I instructed the girls to direct the ambulance. I then loaded up my mom and drove to the house. My daddy lay ed unconscious throwing up and barely breathing. It seemed like an eternity before the ambulance arrived.

On our way to the hospital we began to pray! It was a matter of minutes before all the family was issued into a separate room and told the news that daddy probably wouldn't make it. I called the house and our daughter, Kourtney, 11 said, "mommy remember ALL things work together for good."

They told us they were going to airlift my dad to OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City. I prayed a silent prayer. Lord if your going to take him take him now. If not I will believe you to raise him up.

When we arrived at the hospital I expected to here the news that dad was gone, but no he was still with us! So began our journey of faith!

The surgeons told us that dad was basically in a vegetative state and that we should remove all life support. We went to prayer. I remember telling the Lord I don't feel capable of making that decision please take it out of our hands. At that moment my dad pulled his tube out and they had to make a permanent one. God was in control.

There were so many times the doctors gave us a very bad report but we continued to, "believe thou we didn't see."

Once stable daddy was moved to a long term care facility. He was in a vegetative state. We kept the word of God on night and day. One night I had a dream that my daddy spoke to me. The next day he began to mimic what he heard. They said we shouldn't get to excited that he had extreme brain damage and that this was just a reflex. Next my dad started to recognize people. Progress was slow,

It was so heartrending to see such a strong man so powerless! My dad would share things that God was showing him. Deep things. I would listen to him even though it appeared that he really wasn't with us.

I remember one day I was sitting at the table and my mom called. She said, "Gail your dad wants to talk to you." At this point dad was not really with us. He said, "Gail baby," I said, "yes daddy," he said, "You have a hard decision to make." I said , "Are you worried about me taking care of you?" he said, "I am." I said, "Well daddy I would consider it an honor to take care of you." He said, " Then I would consider it an honor to let you." End of conversation. Daddy slipped back into his little world.

Daddy, came home to live with us. Mom too. See, mom had had an accident several years before and daddy took care of mom. Now I would care for them both. At that point we moved our children out of the added on room to our trailer house and set up a room for my parents. We had 4 children ages 13, 11, 9, 7 living at home, whom I home schooled. To say these were trying times would put it mildly.

Daddy required intensive care I woke every 4 hours to give him his meds. I changed his diaper and did his catheter. It was one of the hardest most blessed times of my life.

Little by little daddy improved. He began to walk with assistance, sit up, laugh! God was redeeming.

Looking back, all I see is Gods grace. Gods grace that he didn't take my daddy when I asked Him too. Oh what I would have missed out on in serving him for that time.