This year has been an eventful year to say the least, it was filled with ups and downs, and never knowing what was going to happen next. Although at the time, I wished that the events that happened in 2010 never would have happened, but now I am thankful that they did.
It all started in June, Dad had a procedure done earlier that day in Springfield. I was at work; but Mom had been texting me telling me that he was done and was at home resting and was doing just fine. I was finishing up my day at work when I got the call from my grandparents telling me that daddy was headed to the Emergency Room. I left work and rushed home to meet them, and was headed down to Skyline. All that I was told from others around me was that he was probably just dehydrated. I wish that was the case, but it wasn't. Mom met us in the waiting room, and let us go back and see him. When I first saw him he didn't really look like the dad I knew. He was really pale, his whole left side of his face was slumped down, and he wasn't really moving much, or talking. After seeing him my sister and I; as well as my grandparents knew that he had a stroke. The next 72 hours were hard, everyone was taking turns at the hospital staying with him, while relieving others to go eat or go home for a little while. It was difficult at the time. Here is my dad who was never sick, always working, never slowed down, just a hardworking farmer. Now he was having to depend on us to help him do just about everything.
Over the next few weeks it was going and seeing dad at the hospital every night. I had just started my summer courses, and was working when I could, and helping feed in the morning, before having to go to school or work. Ben had taken a leave from work in order to keep the crops on course, and to feed everything. Everyone was pulling together and doing the best that they could. We were told dad would be in the hospital for probably a month. He surprised us all by only being in there two weeks prior to his stroke. He was now talking better, walking, and eating regular foods like he always did. He was home for Father's day , and everyone was happy to see that. Although it may have seemed like everything was going just fine,we still had a long road ahead of us. He was constantly going to doctors, getting on new medications, and going to therapy a few times a week.
Ben was doing a great job with keeping the crops on course. Tobacco was now in the barn, we were blessed to find a man to harvest our beans and corn for us. October came and dad was having to have surgery on his shoulder. He came out just fine, and has been in therapy since his surgery. We were blessed to have the tobacco stripped, and sold by the beginning of December(this was a first for us). Although everything was done, there is always work to be done on a farm it's a never ending process. We are all thankful that things happened the way they had; mom was home with dad the day of his procedure and was able to get him to Skyline just as soon as his stroke had happened, Ben was able to take a leave from work to be able to finish things on the farm.
December was fast approaching and I had a lot on my mind, I was in my last semester at school and had a lot going on. I was getting anxious about finishing up, and beginning a new chapter in my life. It seemed though that everything that could go wrong was, so my mind was elsewhere from just school. Dustin had suggested to take me out on December 4, and I had agreed if anything I could get my mind away from things for a while and spend time with him. We went to eat at O'Charleys in Gallatin and decided to go to Opryland afterwards to look at the lights. (We have went to Opryland every year around Christmas to see the lights so it was nothing new). He had been acting weird all night, just rambling on about things that he had already told me several times before that week. I didn't say anything because he sometime does that he forgets he tells me things, and tells me the same story two or three times. When we got to Opryland he was walking slowly behind me, and was looking all over the place. I felt like I was talking to a brick wall. He didn't want to go all over the hotel like we usually did, he said there was "too many people" in my mind I am thinking this is how many are usually here. So we were in Opryland possibly a total of an hour, and he decided he wanted to look outside at the lights. Again in my mind I was thinking we just froze out there looking at that while walking in, why the heck does he want to go out there again? He tried to get a horse and carriage ride it was around 8:30 and the next time to be able to ride was 10:20, I was not waiting around that long to do that, especially with him acting weird. So we decided to go walk down this walkway with all these trees lit up, and when I turned around to see if he was still following he was down on one knee asking me to marry him. DING DING DING that is why he was acting weird he was nervous.
So of course my answer was YES there wasn't a better man out there for me, that truly understands who I am. There was always something about him since the first date we ever went on. (June 2007) We have set the date October 15, 2011. We are both very excited, and we can't wait to begin our lives together with our "Four Children" as we call them. (Lilly, Teal, Kiara, Chex). I get a text everyday from Dustin saying I can't wait until we are married in March, or June, July etc. You think he wants to get married sooner? (lol)
This year has been a year of never knowing what was around the next corner, it was full of tears, worries, hopes, and now dreams. 2010 will be a year I will never forget, there were times I was ready to give up and not go any farther; but with the encouragement from my family, friends, and Dustin I got through it. I am proud to have accomplished the things I have. I am thankful that my dad will be here to walk me down the aisle on my wedding day, I am thankful to be engaged to a wonderful man that has always been there for me, and makes me laugh even on my weakest days. I am blessed to have the family that I have, we may be a little strange at times but we stick together and that is what a family is for.
So what does 2011 have in hold for me? I guess I will just have to wait and see, I know there will be a great deal of changes, but change is good and I am ready for it!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
