Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad

A repost from CaringBridge, January 11, 2020

Today marks 56 years that Mom and Dad have been married. What an accomplishment. What a testament. What a commitment. They met as children in upstate New York. Dad robbed the cradle, and they married young. At nineteen and twenty-two its unlikely that when they promised ‘til death do us part’ and ‘in sickness and in health,’ that they fully understood what they were signing up for. Yet, here they are – 56 years later – showing their family, friends and community what those vows really mean.

This post is in honor of their grit. Their digging down deep and staying when it wasn’t easy. Their decision to put Christ in the middle of their marriage and lean on Him when feelings came and went and forgiveness was hard and the road wasn’t smooth (because we all know it is never always smooth for any married couple.)

This post is in honor of the family they built. The love and confidence they poured into their daughters and continue to pour into their grandchildren. Their legacy grows and becomes richer as the years pass.

This post is in honor of Mom. Mom – who used to let Dad take the lead in most things, but since the stroke, has had to step into that role and become the rock for him to stand on. She has truly amazed us. Her entire world turned upside down ten months ago. Her plans for what her future would look like completely imploded. It’s been so hard for the family, but I can’t even imagine what it’s been like for Mom. Still, her steadfast love hasn’t wavered. She serves tirelessly and has learned to accept this new normal. Together, they’ve learned a new “language.” They communicate now with knowing looks, giggles and funny gestures. Their eyes tell their love story. Her fierce protection of him shows the depth of her feelings. Sure, she has tough days and sad moments, but my God, she’s solid. She’s compassionate. She’s committed. Over the last ten months she has truly lived her marriage vows as an exceptional example to all who are watching. We’re blessed to have a front row seat.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad. We’re so honored to see the unconditional love you two share with each other. We’re thankful to God to have you both here with us to celebrate this milestone.❤️

Six months post stroke and much to be grateful for

A repost from CaringBridge, September 6, 2019

It has been six months to the day since Dad’s strokes. Six months of living in a “we can’t believe this is our life now” state. Six months of learning to let go of what we thought would be and embrace what is. Six months of tears and prayers and hope.

So much has changed. So much is clearer now. First and foremost, we thank God Dad is still here with us. The strokes were severe, and frankly, they could have killed him. As shocked as we were and still are by his sudden health challenges, had we lost him entirely, it would have been beyond devastating. So thank you, God, for sparing his life.

When we look at the quality of his life we are so saddened by the things that he may never regain – golf, preaching homilies, running down to Safeway several times a week, teaching his last grandchild to drive… these are likely gone. On the other hand, God is big and mighty and certainly able to provide the miracle, so who knows? And, despite our sadness, there is still much about the quality of his life which is oh, so good.

He’s surrounded by the love of family, steadfast friends and an incredible church body.
He eats and swallows anything he wants. When his strokes first hit he was on a feeding tube.
He’s now walking – slowly, but no longer confined to a wheelchair!
He can now get out of his chair by himself – he no longer needs to be lifted.
He seems to be more and more “with it” during speech therapy.
He can sing and recite prayers.
He shows his sense of humor and teases even without using words.
He understands when something is wrong or amiss. Mom always says, “He doesn’t miss a thing.”
He can still be bossy and try to direct us around which is his “old self.”
Words, though few and far between, are slowly starting to come.

So, on this six month anniversary of Dad’s life altering event, we want to say THANK YOU to all of you who have walked this journey with us. Your interest in these updates, your support, your prayers — they really have been the greatest blessing of this whole experience. We’ve been witness to such an outpouring of love. We’re forever changed. ❤️

We know You are here with us

A repost from CaringBridge, May 1, 2019

I’m struck tonight by how much we take for granted in life. God bestows on us breath and the ability to think and talk and move. These are all such gifts. We take being able to say “I love you,” “I need…,” “I wish…,” “I feel..,” “I hurt…” as a given. Getting out of bed and walking outside seem like a right, not a gift. Watching someone struggle who doesn’t have these abilities is so hard, so painful, so sad. It makes me better understand the great gift life is and reminds me to be thankful for all the little things. It helps me focus on the small miracles and reminds me to thank God for my own health.

I’d be lying, though, if watching a loved one suffer doesn’t also make me question why? Why does God allow such suffering? What on earth could be His reason? Before his strokes Dad was so vibrant and animated and outgoing. He seems trapped now, behind a veil, trying to get out, but unable. Sometimes he seems sad and defeated. Who can blame him? Sometimes, just behind the veil, we see glimpses of the the Dad we know is in there. This gives us hope again. But, there is still always that question, Why? We don’t ask it often, because we have faith that God has a plan and a purpose, and we ask ourselves who are we to question that plan? As one of my favorite songs goes, “What do I know of Holy?”

Yet, tonight, I find myself boldly asking – Why? What should we all be learning from this journey? What is Dad feeling and thinking? How is he growing closer to You, Lord? Who might be finding You through this tragedy? Who is learning to cling to Your promises by watching our Dad do just that – cling to You?

My prayer tonight is that we would find peace sitting with all these unanswered questions; that we would feel comfort knowing You are here even when it’s hard; that we would build faith as we learn to trust You in the unknown; that we would find strength in the love You show us through friends and family. You are a good God even when our circumstances are not good. Thank you for giving us a Dad and Papa who instilled that truth in us so deeply, so securely, so confidently, that even now, as we watch that man suffer, we know You are here with us.

Clinging to the promise, “With Christ all things are possible.”

A repost from CaringBridge, March 9, 2019

The day has come and gone. Dad is resting comfortably. We are all still kind of in shock and disbelief that our active, healthy, golfing, preaching, “shucking and jiving” (one of his favorite phrases) DadPapaRon is having to fight this uphill battle. Yet, here we are. We cling to our faith that God is in control. We know He is always good. We take comfort in the fact that He loves him even more than we do. And we pray. We pray for a miracle of healing.

As we’ve read the many comments of love, support and prayers here, on Facebook, through text messages and phone calls we are reminded that God chooses to show His love through His people. And boy oh boy is he showing it through all of you. We feel the fingerprints of God through you. You’re holding us up, and we know the heavens are well aware there’s a big need down here because you’re asking on our behalf. Thank you from all of us in the Horan Clan. Thank you for loving us. Thank you for loving our DadPapaRon. He loves you too, and we pray that he’ll soon be able to tell you all that himself as only he can preach it!

Tomorrow is a new day. Wow, it’s amazing to think how quickly life can change. Hug your loved ones a little tighter tonight and cherish each moment. Life really is good. We take so much for granted. Suffering – and watching suffering – makes us really realize what’s important.

Clinging to the promise that “with Christ all things are possible.”