Over coming obstacles

It all started back in late October when I heard movement under my sink in the kitchen. Of course the fear initially sets in because i dislike bugs and critters big time. So I called my husband and we called the exterminator people. They came out to inspect the house and received bad news that we had a rat infestation. I believe it was from clearing out land at the side of the house and they then entered our garage and ate a hole through the wall that led to our laundry room. So they laid out the traps/During this same time our AC unit decides to quit. We then proceeded to have more bad news that we would have to redo the duct work upstairs since it was all messed up and didn't follow regulations. So more money went out the door. Well then during that same time our outside fence was rotting and just fell over and our dog kept escaping and scaring the neighbors ( he wouldn't hurt anyone but he does have a ferocious bark). So we ended up hiring a guy to repair the fence.. more money gone. Also the rat inspector noticed rotting to the door frame on back side of house and states we would need to replace the whole frame and door. We had the fence guys replace and they did an excellent job. Our house is not dumpy by any meeans..it's absolutely beautiful but was built in 92 so things are starting to fall apart if you will. So I felt major spiritual attack at this point..it was one thing after another and I was trying to get ready to go on this amazing trip to Israel and I felt the enemy was trying to distract me from really focusing on the Lord and all that he had planned for me. I always start my day in his word and doing my devotions. I highly recommend "Jesus Calling' if you don't have it already. He really speaks to me through this. I'm reminded of Ephesians 6 where it talks about putting on the full armour of God. We went to Israel leaving the "mess" behind and had an amazing time (see previous post). We then get back and do a load of wash and the washer starts leaking..I thought "those rats ate through the hose"..sure enough they did . See we laid out rat poison while we were gone and my parents watched my dog..well rat poison makes them thirsty so they go to a water source. So now we had to replace the hose. Shortly after i ran the dishwasher and then we had a sink leak and the dishwater Plugged up. So now more money out the door and had to fix all of that and it ate a hole through the dishwasher hose. I was really ready to lose my mind at this point. I didn't really know how much more I could take..of course I would think "it could be worse" so I really counted my blessings and continued to trust in God. We hired a person to cover all the "holes" the rats made and caught a few in the traps and whatever was left in the wall well they would eventually die. After that took place I haven't seen any more rats!! Praise God! I was sure glad that was All over.. Move forward to Jan 2018: We all went out to cracker barrel to celebrate my 38th birthday on the Saturday before my birthday..things were finally feeling back to normal..well that Tuesday My father (age 67) developed a cough after going to visit my grandmother in grand bay. I thought "ok it's just a cough and it should get better, after all this is the worst flu season i've even seen in my 16 years as a nurse." Needless to say it got worse and then he started having diarrhea/vomiting and very weak so on the day of my birthday my mom shows up at bible study with this beautiful cake from public and everyone sings to me but then mom said "dad is worse and I'm going to go take him to ER". So they went to the ER and he was found to be very dehydrated (you see, his large intestine isn't there due to familial polyp disorder -had it removed years before) so when he's sick he can be very sick. They then tell him he has a bowel obstruction (which he had one year before after his hip replacement) so again I wasn't too concerned since we went through that before and it was bowel rest and he was fine..well not this time.. we thought he was getting better and could possibly go home as he was allowed to have clear liquids and soft foods /well that tuesday night he started vomiting again and didn't have any bowel movement and received a text wed am "help me". We then talked to the Dr and they said the general surgeon wants to perform surgery that day..Really? I then felt my world tip / I of course went to prayer and we prayed over my dad and went tho the beautiful prayer chapel in the hospital. I knew I"m not in control and God is..this is completely out of my hands. His surgery went well however they had to remove a portion of his small intestine and found his stomach lining coated with polyps and even thought some were possibly cancerous..they said he would have a long road ahead as he would possibly have to get his stomach removed and go on tube feedings. We were devastated. I know though that my God is bigger than my problems and I knew he could heal him if that was his will to do so. So I kept positive and just wanted to see my dad. He finally got back to his room and he was in some pain. I noticed his respirations were high/so i checked his pulse and it was 130 and so I thought let me check his bp/ 86/50. Normally my dad has high blood pressure. I called the nurse and things just spiraled from there. They bolused him with fluids since he was in some state of "shock". I believe it was hypovolemic since he had nothing really to eat/drink x 1 week and they sucked all that fluid out through the ng before surgery. I was highly upset as well as my mom but I knew I had to be "strong" for her and my dad.. I would just go out in the hall and cry. my mom and I stayed with him all night as he was moved to ICU. The nurses and Doc's were awesome. I did hear the monitor go off at one point and i flew off the couch. They did an EKG as he had a run of V-tach. I asked Dad if he was ok and he said yes. They then came and did one shortly after again and states he's having a major heart attack. My body was shaking..I thought then that I could really lose my dad..I had NO Control..I told him that "I love you Dad, You have to fight!"..He then proceeded to go to cath lab and it felt like FOREVER. The cardiologist came to talk to us and stated that they had to place 3 stents on left side of heart (he had 95 percent blockage in 3 main arteries ) and that they would have to give him integrillin which is a blood thinner but now he runs the risk of bleeding. He also was placed on the ventilator as he couldn't maintain airway. We walked back up to see him and that was very hard. All of his labs kept getting worse as the was not able to perfuse very well to his organs due to his bp being low /despite being on vasopressors) He also started having some internal bleed due to blood thinner. Needless to say it was a highly stressful time but I kept strong in front of my dad but I did lose it a few times.I would sit and stroke his hand and played music and read scriptures over him. We could do dialysis as a last ditch effort but his body had enough. I told him "i know I told you to fight but you have fought but now's your time to go and be with the Lord." That wasn't easy to say as I was still holding hope that Jesus would save him...after all he came and saved my mom years before. God told me "not your will, but my will be done"..it reminded me of Jesus in the Garden as he was submitting his life to God and not wanting to die but was willing to so that we could have eternal life!!! I then completely surrounded my father to God. I knew beyond a shadow of doubt he was going to better place where there would be no more suffering or pain. His bp then dropped after I told him it was ok to let go and that we would be all right from 100 systolic to 50 systolic. his reflexes went and i knew he probably went to be with God in that moment as the machines/pressors were just keeping him alive physically. During that night mom and I were resting on couch and she felt someone squeeze her arm. She thought it was me but was not. I believe it was my Dad saying "i'm all right, you will be ok". We all gathered around his bed the next day as we said enough was enough and took him off the "pressers" and he died within 10 min. He wasn't suffering as he was sedated and already really left the night before. I did feel great sadness but I also felt happiness for him as I could only imagine what he was seeing in that moment and for the rest of eternity. My father was a great man of faith in God and a huge advocate of prayer. I loved seeing him become so close to the Lord during the last few years and he always attributed it to me since I invited him to my church and he saw how close I was to God. We Then went through the next days with the Strength of God . It was only by God that we were able to even function. I did pray to the Holy spirit on that wednesday (day of his surgery ) to give me strength and joshua 1:9 was mentioned as well as 5 other verses about strength..Wow..ask and you shall receive.. On the day of the viewing my grandmother fell getting into the car/we thought she was alright initially but then after the viewing couldn't stand and felt woozy. she had hit her head. I then proceeded to go with her in the ambulance to the ER but then the CT scan breaks and she had to be transported to Fort walton. My aunt lucy went with her as we had dad's Funeral the next day..I thought what else Lord?? Her brain scan came back negative but she ended up having fractured pelvis. She then had to stay in hospital a few days and then go to rehab which is where she is currently. Big praise though is that she will come live with my mom since she is 92 years of age and that will help my mom focus on her rather than other things. It's bad as well since it's a lot to deal with at one time. We know God's in control though. I went to visit my dad's grave the other day..while there wind chimes started going and there was no wind..but then a big wind burst came out of nowhere and the leaves fell and then big rain drops fell from the sky for a few seconds ..i went back to my car an no water was on my windshield. I do believe it was a sign from my dad..he knows i love signs from God. In closing..I'm so very grateful for all my family and friends and their support during this difficult time. I know my dad is so very happy with Jesus and all the relatives who have gone before. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.