I’m back! Thank you all so much for all your wonderful, supportive comments and emails! All of you have become so very dear to me and I appreciate your kind words and thoughts, they helped get me through quite a rough patch!
My Dad is feeling so much better! He’s started to eat solid foods and has gained six pounds back of the 40 he has lost since June. Last week my Mom, my youngest daughter and I cajoled him into going to a small beach near us on the bay. It’s usually filled with young families with young children. “Only an hour”, he said wiggling a finger at us. It was a glorious, warm, sunny day and I set him up with a chair under an umbrella. He was in long pants and a zip up sweatshirt with the hood up (“It’s cold here, I haven’t been out in awhile”). He watched my little one hunt for shells and try her hand at using her swimming goggles in the water as she looked for hermit crabs and small fish she kept in a bucket. Of course, she ran to Hobba with everything for his deepest inspection. Suddenly, you could see the endless smile on his lips, the hood coming down, the unzipping of his jacket. Being on the beach, watching all the kids playing, soaking in the sunshine seemed to have a wonderful affect on him.
“Let’s get some lunch”, he suggested, surprising all of us. I held onto his arm as we made our way through the sand to the concession stand. “You know”, he said, “Today I feel great, this was a great idea. Maybe I only need a month before I feel better, that’s what I am thinking as I was sitting there. I’ll feel better in a month.” And you know what? After three hours, we had to drag him out off the beach to go home!
During my blogging break I was the lucky winner of Mary’s giveaway at Little Red House. Imagine what a spirit lift I received when I opened this wonderful package:
Filled with great goodies!
A beautiful runner that is now on a living room chair...
My first Cath Kidston book!
A needlepoint now in our den!
Two of her exquisite cards with her very own gorgeous photos...
And a Mary Endgelbreit book which has a pic of my DREAM kitchen!
So between the lovely giveaway and your inspiring comments, I got through it all...thank you, thank you, thank you for your kindness from the bottom of my heart! :0)
34 comments:
yay, so glad to see a happy update-i was getting worried! a day at the beach with his granddaughter and other loved ones sounds like a perfect day for Hobba! makes me miss my grandfathers!!
Tara,
How wonderful to hear that your father is improving. Sometimes a little sunshine, the laughter of children and the love of a daughter and granddaughter can really work wonders!
I'm so glad you enjoyed the giveaway. Thanks again for your votes in the contest. Now I'll be waiting to see your new "Mary Engelbreit kitchen!" LOL
xoxo,
Mary
I am so happy things are looking up.
A little sunshine is always good for him.Congrats on your win. You needed that.
Oh, Tara, I am so glad to hear your dad had such a good time and that he is feeling better. I'll bet he is right...he will feel much stronger and better in a month. Aren't prayers so wonderful!
I love all the treasures Mary sent you. I, too, received such a lovely box full of wonderfulness from her a few weeks back. She is such a sweetie, just as YOU are !
love, bj
HI Tara,
I'm so glad your dad is feeling better. There's something so healing about being outdoors and smelling fresh air by the ocean.
It sounds like his spirit is being lifted also.
Still praying,
XO Cori
Tara,
I am so sorry I've been away so long that I didn't even know what you've been going through. I pray that you're dad will pull through, it sounds like he will. My mom has been through so much, and she's still her with us. God Bless you all. I'll keep you all in my prayers.
Hugs,
Rose
Tara, how wonderful to hear that your dad is feeling better. I am sure every day he will get stronger and be back to his old self soon!
Hugs,
Penny
Hi Tara
What wonderful news about your dear Dad!
Congratulations on your win - so many great treasures.
Yeh, you are back! I missed you and thought of you and your "Hobba" - thrilled to hear such wonderful news that he is feeling better and you were able to inspire a visit out for a little sun!
My son is home after 9 days in the hospital and he lost nearly 20 pounds.... Milkshakes are on the menu and we are all taking great care to bring him back to his old happy crazy self!
Happy September and remember to put some fun notes in your little one's lunch bag! Mine love that!
My son will be home for awhile til he has his strength!
Glad things are better. The beach sounds great to me. I have loved all of Mary's books, and will be picking up this one also.
Hi, Tara! So very glad to see you back here...and best of all to know your father is doing ok! So glad he's holding steady :o) Such sweet treats you receivded--blog friends are the best! ;o) We're off this week to the US for 10 days--Hooray! The laptop will be along with us, so hope to post photos while Stateside! Until soon...((HUGS))
Oh Tara! What a wonderful update on your dear dad! I am keeping him in my prayers sweetie! Beautiful give away you won from Mary too! Wishing you a lovely week sweet friend.
Amanda (aka Cottage Contessa)
That's wonderful news Tara..I'm so glad your Dad is getting stronger..nothing like the fresh sea air and sunshine to make one feel better! Have a great week :D Gxx
Thanks so much for visiting Edward and me today. You are welcome anytime.
I am glad to hear your father is feeling better. I lost my own sweet Dad last December to cancer and I understand all too well the stress and worry you are experiencing. I am hopeful your father will just get stronger and stronger and it sounds like he's on his way! All the best!
I'm so happy to hear the good news about your Dad, Tara! I have him on my prayer list, and I hope each day will find him a little stronger.
That is a wonderful surprise from Mary! What a great friend she is. I love Mary Engelbreit ideas.
Happy "back to school"!
Hugs, Pat
Dearest Tara,
Glad to have you back and congrats on the giveaway, most importantly..glad to hear about your dad's progress :D
Tara,
I am so glad that you dad is feeling better. What a great idea to take him to the beach. The ocean seems to be a great place of renewal. I am so glad that you won Mary's giveaway, she is the sweetest person. Look at all those treasures, even more special because they came from her.
Tara, I have an award on my post for you today. Stop by and take it home. The post is A BOUQUET OF AWARDS. Have a lovely day.
Karen
Tara,
I am so glad that your Dad is doing better! I am sure being with his family is helping him immensely and the sunshine certainly can't hurt.
Nice package from Mary; that ME book is one of my favorite decorating books.
Janet
Good morning Tara! So good to hear the good news about your dear dad! I am keeping him in my prayers.... and by the way, the House in the Roses is having a Window Party this Friday and I truly wish you could participate and show us that amazing window of yours in your blog banner.... Oh yes, you have to show that window more often! :) Come see!
cielo
So glad you had a great day with your Dad. I will keep him in my prayers. Great gift too! I love the needlepoint.
Dear Tara,
I am so glad you are back and that your dad is feeling better! I have been thinking of you often and hoping everything was OK. I am so glad that your dad enjoyed the day...it sounds lovely.
annie
You are back and with such happy news, bless him and may he continue to do better each day.
What a day at the beach huh? That is such a great story, he really enjoyed himself beyond a shadow of a doubt. And your winnings you received, what a treat that must have been and what a perfect time!
Love,
kelly
Awwww, that's such great news! We're glad you're back and your dad is better. Blessings!
Hi Tara!
I'm so happy to hear your dad is doing better! There's something so healing about the beach and the ocean and being a part of God's beautiful landscape. I can just picture him coming to life as he sat in the wonderful sun watching your daughter. So very sweet!
Big hugs, Sherry
HI Tara,
Just checking in to see how things are going!
Hi Tara -
So glad you are home and that your dad is improving. Taking him to the beach was the right thing to do. While you were away we were in your area. Actually we weren't too far from your home before we headed south toward our home. I thought of you as we crossed the Narrows bridge. Oh how I wished we were driving to Port Orchard to see my sweetheart's parents - like we did in years gone by! If you get a chance to catch up please stop by my blog and see what we did while we were close by.
~Adrienne~
I'm so glad you're back xo rachel
Tara, I am so glad that you won mary's package! A little pick-me-up was just what you needed:>) And speaking of needs, it sounds like the beach trip was the perfect medicine for your dad. I pray that he will continue to improve. You are in my thoughts!
Hugs
Kathy
Tara...I'm so happy to read your dad is doing so well! And YOU sound renewed and joyful again!!
Carol
Good things here!
I just love to hear good news. So glad your Dad is feeling better. There's nothing better than a day at the beach. Welcome back Tara, ~ Lynn
How wonderful to hear that your father had such a great day! There is just something healing about sunshine and water.
Congrats also on winning Mary's giveaway! You got some lovely treasures!
Kady
So glad to hear the good news. You're in my thoughts.
oxox
Jennifer
what a wonderful day you had with your dad. I must say I had a big twinge of envy when reading about your day with your dad..mine sadly has been gone now for 3 yrs and I miss him still.
As I do my grandmother also.(granny preceded daddy by 7 months)
Anyhow..I'm really glad that your dad is feeling better..how very nice!so very, very nice that you all got to spend such lovely time together.
and I'm glad you were showered by a little "welcome home" gift too. how very sweet.hugs to you,
Tina
Post a Comment