There are so many things that we had planned for our blog this year...so many things that had to get put on the back burner. As many of you know, I've had my hands full with more pressing issues -- Papa's ongoing fight against pancreatic cancer, mainly.
But, today, I am determined to post something on our blog! A story that we weren't sure would even be a story at all. But, it happened...Papa made it to Keller's 16th birthday!!!
The day Papa was diagnosed, he asked the doctor, "what would it take to get me 6 months?" That was February 11th of this year. When I asked Papa that day, "what's 6 months?", he said that "6 months is your boy's 16th birthday...and I taught that boy to drive. 6 months is another football season." To say I cried is an understatement.
Fast forward (although there has been nothing FAST about the last 6 months...each month has seemed like a year) and we made it, HE made it. Keller turned 16 on 8-8...and Papa was alive & well to celebrate. In fact, he bought Keller a truck!!!
Par for the course, surprising Keller with his truck was nothing short of an adventure! His birthday fell on Monday...a day after I drove home from a convention...and also the first day of school...so we made plans for a family cookout the Saturday AFTER his birthday. But, once Papa bought the truck, he just couldn't wait to give it to him. So, we decided to surprise him at dinner on Sunday night upon my return (after driving 8 hours alone, mind you)...and of course, when Keller was asked where he'd like to eat, he chose a restaurant 30 miles away! Thus, my mom called & said I had to find a way to get his hidden truck down there to the restaurant's parking lot. Ooookkaaaayyyyy, I can do that....hmmm...call a dear friend (Ken) who lives there...tell him I'll drive down to get him...drive him back to Thomasville...have him drive truck to restaurant in Tallahassee...got it figured out. First, I had to call Keller & tell him I had hit traffic problems & would be an hour later than I originally thought. :)
That gave me time to get the truck under control. I rush home to change clothes & meet up with Mom & Papa & Keller to go eat....we have a fun meal with us & Ken...and Keller never questions why Ken is there with us...so after dinner, Papa had hidden the key in a precious gift he had wrapped for Keller -- one of his Bibles that Keller had commented that he would love to have one day! So, that was enough for us all to cry...but then the look of excitement on Keller's face when he found the key!!! We then blindfolded him & led him outside...when he was close to the truck, my mom removed the blindfold & told him to go get his truck!! He ran to it, jumped in, put the key in, turned the ignition...
tick, tick, tick.....
nothing.....
tick, tick, tick.....
then more nothing.
"Is this a joke?" asks Keller!! NO, we say, half laughing and half crying...trying to figure out WHY it won't start!!!
Then we realize that we don't need jumper cables because it's a 5 speed & we can push it to get it to start...(see picture)...so after many, many laughs, Keller enjoys driving his truck around the parking lot! But, making it home was no small feat...every time it would stall, it was the same thing...push it again...so 3 hours later, we make it home...with a police escort by that point, no less!
Papa assured Keller his truck would be fixed by the time he came home Monday from football practice after school...and we all laughed & cried, telling Keller he certainly NEVER would forget his 16th birthday!
The next day, Papa held true to his promise. He got the alternator replaced, and the truck was good to go. I picked Keller up in & he drove it to their house for another birthday dinner. After dinner, he was driving home...
and....we had another surprise.....
and....we had another surprise.....
we were within a 1/2 mile of mom & papa's driveway...and another truck crossed the center line & hit us!! Keller was driving & handled it so well, maintaining control to get off the road...but was furious that his truck was messed up! I was just shaken & grateful that my son was alive!!
So....4 days after that...the truck once again was fixed & ready for Keller...just in time for his birthday cookout with the whole family & lots of football players!! Like I said, always an adventure with us. But, that's what makes life great, huh? I wouldn't trade our adventure for the world.
And, Papa, we are so incredibly in awe of you & your strength...and ever grateful to God that you're still with us. Thank you for loving us!
Kim
3 comments:
What a beautiful story, Kim. I know you must be truly exhausted, but what a blessing to have this precious time with your Papa and Keller. Praying for many more memories for your family!!
Kim,
God is so good to keep his hand on your precious family. I was laughing and crying at the same time while reading this story. Can't wait until you come to Seattle in November.
See ya soon!!
A papercrafting friend lead me to your kits & I found your blog. Your entry had me on an emotional roller coaster: awestruck, laughing, sad, remembering my b-in-law who had the same cancer... 'One day at a time' is more than an old TV series; it's a way of life w/ a fragile family member. Love and live one day at a time.
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