Homeschooling in the face of crisis.. My Dad's story.

When I decided to homeschool I was a naive newbie that had this image in my head of a perfect family and a perfect life.... If I had only known.


It was February 7, 2009... The phone rings... "Hello", I say all chipper, knowing it was my Daddy by the caller ID. But the voice on the other end was not at all like the Daddy's voice that I was used too. He sounded weak and defeated and just not good at all.

"Hi, Honey" is what I heard and next "I am not feeling so good, maybe we should go to the ER?" My heart sank. Here is a man that was always supposed to be tall and strong and right now he sounded so weak and scared. Well, I am scared too! "Ok, Let's go right now!" I said in a hurry.
We got to the hospital and expected to hear that he had stomach ulcers or something like that, that would be causeing his belly pain. What we would hear next would change our lives forever!

"There is a large black spot on your Liver", said the ER doctor to my Dad and I. The room fell silent and we knew what that meant. CANCER!
Over the next couple weeks we tried to stay optimisitc and up beat as we went through motions of getting biopsies and test after test. I continued to keep a positive attitude around my kids and try and keep some sense of "normal" in our home, but inside my heart was shattering. I was going to lose my Dad... At 57 years old, my Dad was going to die! These were the thoughts that haunted me everyday!

In time we got the news that we knew was coming.. It is Cancer and it is really progressed. So whats next.. How do we fight this? In between my ABC's and 123's I am taking Dad to all his appointments and treaments and also trying to be a wife, mother and teacher! Somehow over the next couple of months I managed to keep it all together and keep my sanity intact and keep my Homeschooling going and thriving!

The kids are learning and happy.. I kept telling myself this.. Dad is getting the best care possible and we are surviving, Day by Day!
So here we are alittle over a year later and Dad is still here and receiving the best care I can find, the kids are still happy and learning something new everyday. We are getting our home ready for Dad to move in with us in the fall so that I can take better care of him.

I am nervous for this new life to begin as not only wife, mother and teacher but also Caregiver. I didn't think at 31, I would be caring for a parent yet, but this is what God has chosen for me to do and I plan on doing his will the Best I know how. He has blessed me with so much and I plan on using everything that I have been given to better the lives of not only my children but also my Dad. I don't know why all this is happening to me or my Dad right now, but I know that the Lord would never give me more then I can handle. I find comfort in prayer and the support of my family and friends.
When I look at my Dad I see a man who has always given everything for his family and now it is my turn to do my part and give everything back in return. The love and Care he gave to us as children was an awesome gift and I am grateful that I am willing and able to take care of him in his time of stuggle and pain. I Love you Dad.

So moving on.. I am still Homeschooling, thats the moral of this post!! Even though as a family we are facing diffucult times, I know that we can do anything! We are still having fun and enjoying everyday together and I know we have many more wonderful days to look forward too...
This is not the end..


To be Continued........