God can do what He says He can do!

So, Friday at lunch, I got a call from my mom saying that my dad was in the hospital and on a ventalator. He was not breathing on his own. After I freaked out right there in the restaurant, I went home and packed my stuff and came straight to Louisiana, where I am now typing on my parents "speedy" dial-up connection.

Let me start at the beginning...My mom has had the flu, and been sick for a while. So my dad, at the first signs of feeling crummy, went to the doctor Friday morning and got two shots. He'd had both meds before, so they gave him some prescriptions and sent him on his way. Well, he went to the local K & S drug store and noticed his palms icthing and noticed that he was having a hard time breathing. He was having a severe allergic reaction to the shots they's given him. The pharmacist asked if he was okay and needed help. The last thing my dad remembers before collapsing, was saying "something's wrong with me..." Somebody shot him up with adrenaline and they called the ambulance. My dad woke up in the hospital with a tube down his throat.

Now, those of you who know what happened several years ago to my dad when his heart stopped remember that he had a quadrouple bypass and he swore he never wanted to be on a ventalator again. Imagine waking up with that dang tube down your throat. I'm sure he was scared and thought he'd has some more heart issues. As it turns out, his heart is still doing just fine. Dr Tom had to explain to my father that this was reversable, and that if he'd needed it to sustain life, he would not have intibated him. Dad, with this tube in his throat, shook his head that he understood what was happening and decided to get better right there.

My mom and grandma had been praying over him since this happened. Meanwhile, I'm making the 10 hour drive in the rain to try and get there as fast as possible without having an accident myself. Well, dad started breathing on his own and they got to extibate him that afternoon before I even got there. I didn't get in till about midnight. I was so happy to see my dad sitting up in that hospital bed that I just started crying right there. Dad and I prayed together and I came home to see mom and grandma, who'd left to try and get a little rest.

They let my dad out the next evening (Saturday). Haleluja!

Dad was bound and determined to go to church the next morning. They regularly attend the early service which starts at 8:30am! I certainly didn't feel like getting up, but I wasn't about to deny my father his request. He just couldn't pass up the opportunity to praise God.

Now, every service there is a chance to offer up prayer requests, or you can just share your joys and praise. Before the pastor could finish his sentence asking if anyone had a joy to share, my daddy hops up out of his seat and commences to praising God for watching out for him. He mentioned that he could have had that allergic reaction anywhere, where no one would have noticed. He could have had it at home or in the car. If it had happened there, he would be dead!

Praise God for having him exactly where he was. The pharmacist had the adrenaline he needed!

Rewind a few years ago... Dad just happened to die at the hospital. He'd been fine; just went in for a check up when his heart decided to quit. They had to revive him with the paddles! God has had his hand on my father (and all of us really). I don't understand why we have to go through this junk, but it sure has increased our faith in the Father. We are all closer to Him as a result.

Some may want to say that my dad's had a run of good luck, but honey, I don't believe in luck. God's got it under control, and even if my dad hadn't lived through either one of those situations, God would still be getting praise and glory from my family. I can't express to you how awesome it's been to see my dad become even closer to the Lord through all this. His admiration and love for Christ is more than just about anyone I know. (Well, my mom's up there with him too.) I have to say thanks to them for teaching me what being a Christian really is. A follower of Christ. They truly get it, and I'm so thankful I have them as examples. I won't have them around forever, so I have to learn all I can now, and soak it up like a sponge. Thank you mom and dad, I love you more than life, and thank you Christ, without you, I'd be nothing.