Happy Father's Day!

This Father's Day was a special one for us because we were all able to make a trip out to Oregon to surprise my Dad. The past few months have been hard ones for him as he's been on a new chemo, which has more severe side effects than his past treatment, and as generally he has been experiencing a lot of setbacks. This journey has been an exhausting one for him and for us, but it was good as always to be together. As I learn to live in the present, neither looking back wishfully at days gone by or fretting over the future, I'm learning to be thankful. I'm especially thankful to have my Dad with us this year, for the many lessons he's taught me, and for the father he continues to be even now as life is so hard for him.

I'm also especially grateful for the examples of love I've seen this week. In a world where many seem to easily fall in and out of love I'm inspired by stories of those who don't. While I was in Oregon my family got a visit from an elderly man in their church whose wife has Alzheimer's and doesn't remember him. Yet he kept saying over and over again how thankful he is that he can drive and see her every day. He knows she doesn't know him anymore but he remembers her and so he stays by her side. Similarly, I am so impressed by my own Mom and the tenderness with which she cares for my Dad. She beautifully emulates the promises that we make on our wedding day to take care of the one we love for better or for worse, in sickness and in health. She has so much on her plate and yet she continues to put my Dad first just like she always has and I'm so thankful for the example she sets for all of us of what it means to truly love someone.

It was also fun being home because it was my family's first time getting to see me "looking" pregnant. My brothers thought that they were pretty funny coming up with names for me, rubbing my tummy, and poking out theirs in the picture above, but this kind of fun was just what my heart needed. It's one of the things I miss the most about not being around them. No one can celebrate with you quite like family!

Finally, this weekend was fun because Robert's dog Coca had her puppies. They are a week old now and so precious. I couldn't get enough of them!