Day 11

Editor’s note: This is my Dad, Ed. God has brought us through such an amazing journey; I wanted to share it with you. This is my birth father I grew up visiting every other weekend. A Chiropractor for 30 years, he is talented (painted serene gardens to raging ocean scenes), he is witty, and mechanical (loves to work on classic cars). As a kid, he took us snow skiing and water skiing. We went to Disneyland, Mexico, and Hawaii together. I even got to nanny his second round of children and later work in his office. Yet our lives were vastly different.

                At home, it was homemade pizza and simple family games on Friday night. At Dad’s it was a pool party and rum and coke. I’ve always loved my Dad and knew us kids meant the world to him. My adult years with Dad always included the air show in the summer. And where else could you show up with the grandkids…get a chiropractic treatment for free, only to have the doctor treat you to lunch.

                Dad’s dedication to Scientology and our overt walk with Christ kept real depth at bay. There was so much we just couldn’t talk about. Until one cold December day Dad had a life threatening stroke. He spent a full month in ICU and care homes 2 more months, and then reluctantly came to live with us. He has always been hardworking and self sufficient. His humor and fight for survival blessed us all continually. He started going to church with us and after one year he wanted to meet with the pastor, and eventually got baptized. 

                In recent years, I remember Dad doing our dishes and telling me what he was learning in the bible, so excited and full of youthful inspiration.

“My Dad is telling me bible stories,” I teared up. Oh how God redeems and restores. It will be   11 years this February since he’s come to our home.  He has listened through the entire bible 14 times. He has listened to our children read for countless hours, corrected their math problems, washed 100s of loads of laundry, washed thousands of dishes, watched over our place when we’re gone (in spite of our dog that seems to bark excessively when we’re out.) He collects meaningful testimonies, lyrics, and poems on line as well as jokes to share with the family. He even tells my mom (his former wife) when it’s time for her to go home, in such a playful manner even she can appreciate it!

For all you add to our life, Dad, thank you!

And, God, thank You for this opportunity to live with my Dad, in the chance I didn’t have as a kid. You redeem and truly bring life more abundant.

Eph 3:21 “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”


A recipient of Christ's Grace,


Bethany's Mommy