Let's remember Dad

I haven't spoken about Dad in a while, so let me catch you up on his "routines."

He gets to the nursing home each day about 9:00 a.m. or so and stays until early afternoon, when he comes home and rests. He goes back up in the afternoon and stays through the evening, coming in around 9:00 p.m.

Dad's pretty much made himself at home in the back room of the house. We've got a TV back there, so he can watch whatever for as long as he wants (he still likes the Rangers). He stays through the week and leaves for Big Spring on Fridays to get the mail, check on the house, etc. He returns on Saturday, and the whole routine starts again.

With our jobs so inconsistent (we're both putting in 10-12+ hours per day), meals are "catch as catch can" around here, so Dad has his own stash of food he keeps around- snacks, candy, coffee, and cokes. When we do eat, we always invite him, and sometimes he comes home and sometimes not. He's always ready to go out- and has several favorite Mexican food spots marked out!

His patience is immense, and as Mom continues to improve, he continues to be the cheerleader. He still takes some reading to the nursing home, but they watch a lot of TV together up there (when Mom's not in therapy) and talk about all the going's on around the world. He rubs Mom's back with an old washrag (she loves it!) and puts lotion on her to soothe her down after a hard day at rehab.

You know it's got to get old fast, but he hangs in there. He had a bout with allergies a few weeks ago, and looked really bad (especially around the eyes) and tired, but seems to be doing better now.

It's hard on him, but he doesn't complain. He's tired of the travelling, but would not have it any other way. He is living his vows to the fullest; if you were to look up"in sickness and in health" in the dictionary, his picture would be there; he lives that vow superbly (and the rest of those vows, for that matter!).

I know he continues to worry and misses his friends and routines back at Big Spring, but he staunchly continues on each day without complaint. He's made himself at home as much as he can (being a guest in some one's house is never easy- I know because I did it for three months or so when I first got my job at Grand Prairie), so it's just different.

He's a real champ. A great man and a Godly husband.

A hero and a real role model. Keep him in your prayers.

Thanks, Dad.