What a day!

Mom and Dad had a house-full of family today! Glenda, Clint and Mollie and Austin and I were there from about 10:15 until 3:30. Dad got very amused and laughed out loud because Clint had a few days' growth of beard on his face! Mom had shaved Dad this morning and teased Clint about giving him a shave! About an hour before we left, Dad's cousins Mary and Don Vollette from San Marcos and Barbara and Jim Haley from Lufkin came! Dad loved their company and it was so great seeing all of them! Visitors make his days pass by much more quickly!

Dad was a little quiet this morning but, after a good nap, he perked up a lot! He and Clint watched the UT football game (Hook 'Em!!!) and the rest of the time Dad was out on the porch visiting with all of us and watching Austin! A 3-year old can be pretty entertaining!!! Dad smiled a lot at Austin's antics! Every once in a while Austin would decide to run over and give his Papaw a big hug! Of course, Dad just hated that!!! Right!

Sarah seems to have adjusted well to her position and Brian, who arrived just before Austin and I headed back to town, will just as well I'm sure! Mother is very pleased! Friends of Mom and Dad's, Dorothy and Conway Taylor, gave Dad a big bell to ring when he needs something. For instance, when he woke up from his nap, that bell started ringing! It has really come in handy! Who'd have thought?! I can sure tell you that when Dad rings that bell, Sarah comes running!

Dad is working hard on trying to communicate with us! It's kind of like a game of charrades trying to figure out what he wants to tell us...sometimes we get it and sometimes we don't. We're getting pretty good though! I had forgotten to tell you that Danny and Ollie put Dad in front of his computer Friday and he was able to type his full name! If we can get Dad using the computer it sure will be a huge step in progress and it will give him something to do! He used to love to sit in his office and play Free Cell and Solitaire-type games. He'll get there!!!

Dad does read the newspaper and can read a card or something like that. The speech therapist is very, very pleased and amazed that Dad can read! That is a very good sign! Regarding his speech, she explained to Mom and Sarah that the part of the brain that was affected by the stroke also controls his mouth. When the therapist asks Dad to say a word, he may stick his tongue out instead. She said that Dad may think he's saying the word but his mouth isn't getting the command correctly from his brain. All in due time. It's like a bruise healing...it's just going to take time, patience and prayer!

I hope the rest of your weekend is happy and blessed!

Albert Einstein: Good Life Quotes
There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.