Today marks the one year anniversary of what Dad calls the "dumbest thing he ever did."  A year ago was hard for all of us due to the severity of his fall.  None of us imagined he would be where he is today.  We have been truly blessed to be able to keep him here with us.  It is not easy, but it has been worth it.  He still has a feeding tube as he cannot swallow, but doesn't slow him down.  With the ramp that we installed, he is able to go outside and ride a mower that doesn't have a deck on it to get around.  We also installed gates, thank you Bob Eaton, on both stairwells to stop someone from falling down the stairs again. 

He is not able to walk long distances as he still uses a walker (not the one with 4 wheels like he wants) to get around but that doesn't slow him down at all.  There is a retired nurse that comes to the house 2 days a week to sit with him and follow him around for a few hours to give Mom a break.  Thank you, Debbie, for sparking the idea to go to the VA for assistance and funding this Nurse.  She is great and gives Mom a much needed break.  She can even go to town for a sewing club! Dad enjoys putting together puzzles which keeps him busy when he is not napping.  He also has become really good at beating all of us at the card game Trash.  We are not sure if he is that lucky or if he cheats.  Either way it is fun to spend that time with him.

I have so many friends and relatives that have lost one or both of their parents and I feel blessed to still have both of mine.  No matter how much work it is to keep them both safe and healthy, us kids will be there to do what we need to do to take care of them both.  They don't travel to Fargo as much, only once since the accident, but all of us spend as much time as we can coming to Rush City to see them. It takes dad a few days after any of us leave to recover as he wants to be up visiting with everyone and watching the grandchildren and great-grandchildren run around outside or play inside.  He turns his hearing aids down as it is very noisy!  Easter was spent at their house 7 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.  He loves company and it tires him out, but he doesn't see to mind at all. Visitors are welcome, just please call first to ensure they are there and available.

Thank you to everyone for their thoughts, prayers, and well-wishes.  God is good and we thank every day that we are blessed with Dad being with us.  (And Mom too!)