Hero by Jackie Arnett

When I was growing up the word hospital was a foreign word an place to me. I grew up in a family of eleven, there were plenty of broken bones, sickness, and ailments of sorts, but my father always had a remedy for it. And somehow all eleven of us have made it out healthy an well, I would like to think it was because of the love and care my father gave. He was our life saver, he was all we needed to get through any trial or pain. Dad seemed to have all the answers that no doctor or teacher would ever have. My dad has always been great to me and my family, unconditionally loving every one of his children, it is only now that his health is being threatened that I am coming to appreciate the magnitude of this love, it infectiously makes me want to love harder and spend more time with my father.

Dad always went to bat for me. Any issue I was having in school, with friends, or my brothers, my dad was there to protect me. Not only did he keep me under his wing, my dad believed in me. There was nothing in my fathers eyes that I couldn’t accomplish. All growing up I dreamt of being a dancer. We never had enough money to send me to a studio for proper dance training, but dad made it possible for me to take one or two novice dance classes once a week. Just last year I started running track for the first time in my life. My dad was at every meet, he bought me my first track spikes, and would spend hours talking over strategy’s, an encouraging me to not give up. By all means I was not great in either dance or track years ago, but because of my dads endearing love an belief in me I now am on both the varsity track team and varsity dance line. Dad put his needs and struggles aside to help me over come my weaknesses. About two years ago I went through a miserable time, I guess it was a typical case of high school blues, but somehow I was unable to shake my un happiness out of my system. I only got worse and eventually fell into depression. My parents were confused on what to do with my condition, nonetheless they let my sister take me in to her home to see if it would better my circumstances. My dad, loving let go of me, knowing that it would be painful to lose his last daughter, but all along he kept my best interests in mind. He is the most giving man I know.


Within the past month my fathers health has gone down hill. For two years now dad has been a diabetic, but it is only now that he is being taken down by this disease. I have been in and out of the hospital within this past year more than I have ever in my lifetime. His at-home remedies will not cure his serious condition. To me my dad has been invincible up into this point. It never occurred to me that despite his worsening medical condition and old age, that my dads life was being threatened. Its like growing up in poverty but never realizing that your poor, I have been oblivious. It has been hard to come to terms with the fact that my heroic father is now fighting off various illnesses. It is hard to see him weak.


Though my dad is not as physically strong anymore, I have gained strength through watching him. Now that my dad cannot be there for me the same way he was for me in my child hood, I somehow feel it an obligation to now be my dads hero. I want to save my dad the same way he always rescued me. He truly has left an impression on my heart, and taught me how to love unconditionally. It is natural instinct for me to want to relieve my dad of his pains and reach out to help him. My only hope is that I can be such a caring and nurturing parent to my children as my dad was to me. In a sense I want to carry on the tradition.


My heart has grown immense amounts this past year. It has been traumatic to watch my dads health suffer, but in the long run he is only making me want to be a better daughter. I am so glad for my blissful child hood and adolescence, my dads weaknesses are now making me stronger and causing me to hold on tighter to my family. More than anything I want to be a hero to my dad, it is now my turn to lift him up.

Happy Birthday Mom

Happy Birthday to my mom. The prettiest lady I know. As pretty as she is on the outside, she is even more beautiful and lovely on the inside. She has raised 11 children with love , kindness, and enduring faith which she has passed on to her children. We didnt know you then but we would have loved to be your friend. We got something more precious, we are privaledged to be your children. You taught us to love the gospel with unwavering faith. You taught us how to work hard and not complain. You have taught us to love unconditionally. Even in the most trying conditions your attitude of kindness, love, and happiness never ceases to amaze and teach me. I can only hope I grow older with such grace and beauty. I love you mom.

Funk

I am an early riser. I cant help it. It gets dark and I am done. So this naturally means I get up early since I went to bed early. However we went to a late movie last night ( Bourne Ultimatum )by the way awesome. So this means I got up late. 9:00 am. For whatever reason it really threw me off my groove. I was grouchy and disagreeable. I know most of you are shocked because I am usually so agreeable. When I am like this Wayne takes it as a personal challenge to bring back from the dark side. This entails annoying me. Its like an itch , he just cant resist. So this morning my case of the grouchies was unusally stubborn the normal teasing was not working so he had to bring out his ace. " Lets go shopping." I dont like shopping that much unless it is purposeful but Jack and Jess (the other girls had plans)were in and that would have meant I was left alone with my funk. Which you know is only fun if you have an audience. So I had to go along. He is a smart man.
He is such a smart man he fed us first. While we were waiting for our food we decide to write down 2 things we like starting with A and finishing with Z .

Here is a little sampling see if you can guess who did wrote what.
U-underwear, Udders---his name starts with W
O-Ongo bongo, OP shorts----his name starts with W definitely dates him.
F-Farting, Fries-----Jackie, so Arnett to be obssessed with bodliy functions
T-Twilight, Tommy----Jess ( she is so obsessed with this book she cried because she forgot it at home) Eclipse in 2 days.
N-negro day,nothing (from hairspray)----Jess
H-Hairspray, Harry potter----Jess
P-Pooh, Preston----guess?? the obvious
Y-Yada, Yada--
Z-Zac Efron, Zoom
G- gambling, gillion dollars



Long story short, my funks are easy to cure with food and retail therapy.

Tommorow I will share with you my retail therapy.It has its own story. You guessed it , Its dark and I have to go to bed.

1st day of school

I would like to dedicate this song to all the girls (mine) who spent so much time on their do (hairdo). Hopefully it wont get dented.

How to save a life.

Jessica and Nick (our neighbor) have been taking a lifeguard training class. It has been quite informative for me. Did you know its a federal law that only a 16 year old is qualified to push the button at the water park. A FEDERAL LAW. Wow that serious business. I guess Jess will be qualified in almost 6 months for this most serious task. I also learned that as a lifeguard when you are "saving a life" or a drowning victim you can ask him for a little help. For example Jessica was practicing bringing in the drowning victim (Nick). He is really heavy all 140 lbs and she asked him "Can you just kick? This is really hard." So I am thinking to my self" Can you do that?" "Maybe there are stages of drowning like in princess bride you know Mostly Dead. Apparently Jess is only planning on saving the Mostly drowning victim as opposed to the All Drowning victim. Anyways she is still ahead of her dear old mom who when took the same class didn't make it through the treading water with the 10lb brick. I think it went something like this. Hold this brick and tread water for 5 min. I made it 30 seconds. then I went under and all that was left was a mostly drowning victim.

Taryn finally got baptized yesterday. It turned out very nice. We had a full house. She has been waiting for this day for a really long time. She said she finally feels 8 now. She had the biggest grin all day. The dress turned out so cute. I have to show it off. Thanks everyone for your support.
As I edit this I am pretty spent I cant think of any witty to say. Wayne calls it the day after syndrome when I go go go and then crash. Im not sure what I did except try to make a blanket , hand made invites, and a little book which will probaly fall apart. I didnt even have to talk and I didnt serve refreshments. I think I am getting old.

obsessed

I am pretty sure I am crazy. Plenty of evidence in my life. Case in point. Taryn is getting baptized saturday. So I have been obsessed with making the perfect invatation. (as well as the perfect white dress. krinkle linen layered skirt with aqua ribbon and a peekaboo ruffle with tiny blue polka dots. moms working on it as we speak) Never mind that my friend at beautifuldayinvatation.com already made a perfect one.I did however do a take on the one she designed for Chad. I hope she is flattered not offended. Imatation is the highest form of flattery right?But I cant resist. I love the paper. ah the papers. the ribbon. the little dodads. And the only time I can allow myself to obsess for 4 days about one invite is an occasions like this. I think I love the creative process. Oh and ignoring the laundry that still smells like the ocean, which now is not as charming. It has aged to the fishy smell no longer the Kramer Beach perfume that it once was.
p.s.
I just notice there werent any photos of me and wayne from the beach.
see I told you I was crazy. Nothing like blogging your stream of consciousness.