Hey Friends,
Welcome to the final days of 2025. December 29th is a date that will always ring a bell in our minds
It was on this date in 2023 that Dad was suddenly stricken with a brain stem stroke. We were preparing to hit the road and be gone for most of 2024.
Wow, our plans changed in an instant. Suddenly, Dad was feeling very sick, and it was then that he realized he could not swallow. Within moments, our travel plans were on hold. Soon, we were all headed to the hospital.
Reliving those moments can be painful, but I am also left with thankfulness in my heart.
God allowed us to be surrounded by the right people at the right time to help us. I am still so thankful that we were home when it happened, and not on the road. We were less than two hours from hitting the road.
I was in the house getting ready to leave when Dad got sick. Mom called me from the barn to alert me. From my very first prayer for Dad, when I knew he was ill. I prayed for God to heal and help him. I also asked God for grace and strength to navigate what was ahead. I really did feel peace in the midst of my panic, and I know that only comes from God.
My prayers were answered! No, he was not instantaneously healed of everything that ailed him. God did give us many, many miracles during the time of his stroke recovery. Friends, I'm talking about things that only God could do.
Those miracles made life much more bearable for Dad for the 10 months he had left with us! I do not want to think about what those 10 months would have looked like without the miracles God did for us! I still remember the very moment I watched the video of Dad taking his first swallow of water after 16 days. I cried and shouted all at the same time!
As for the rest of my prayer, God answered it, too. He daily gave us grace and strength to make it. During the long weeks of Dad's hospital stay, we survived. His grueling therapy sessions, Dad and Mom survived. I genuinely do not know where our family would be without the strength that comes from God and His grace!
Dad did not recover as much as he had hoped that he would recover post-stroke. I can tell you this much: he worked hard on his occupational speech and physical therapy! Mom and I are still extremely proud of him!
The memories from two years ago today may not be happy, but the goodness of God was there! I wanted to pause for a moment and thank God for being so wonderful to our family in our time of need and beyond!
Yes, we only got 10 more months with Dad, but I am so grateful that we did get those very special months! I am incredibly thankful that the grace and strength of God did not end when Dad took his final breath.
God's grace and strength continues to carry us through each day. We still trust and rely on God to be our support. He will never fail us. Thank you, God, from the bottom of my heart!
Also, God has granted us a fantastic family, friends, a church family, and a road. family that are always there to help us! Y'all are amazing, and I cannot name all of you. We would be here forever if I tried! May God bless you for your love and friendship to us!
Thanks for reading! I will see you all tomorrow!
Odie
