Last Thursday night, Sarah was invited on a date. A real date with a real fella! She looked especially lovely as she waited for her date’s arrival.
And just in case you’re wondering the name of her date? It was, um, Steve. For some reason that sounds vaguely familiar.
Although Steve has taken Sarah on many daughter/daddy dates for no reason whatsoever, this time around the date was due to the fact that Sarah had gotten straight A’s (yet again) this past quarter. Steve took her to a great local restaurant called Pamlico Jacks. (Thankfully, we had a gift certificate for the restaurant, which made it all the nicer.)
I took the requisite mom photos . . . .
. . . and watched them get ready to pull away.
As they left I gave thanks (not for the first time) that Sarah has a dad who had always made her feel lovely, treasured, and precious. His excellent fathering of her over the past 16 1/2 years has built in her a sense of self-worth and confidence in who she is. Those traits are so important to a young woman because they help keep her from turning to young men as her main source of acceptance and love. She is blessed to have a dad who treats her like a princess and carefully and prayerfully watches over her heart.
And Sarah is also blessed to have a big brother who has treated her in such a special way over the past 16 years. I’ve heard her say more than once than any guy who wants to date her is going to have to measure up to Nathan in order to even get her attention. And as she always says, that won’t be an easy task.
Coming from a mom’s point of view I’m thankful that for the moment at least, Sarah only has two special guys in her life. There will be plenty of time for courtship and marriage down the road and we have talked with her many times about not rushing that process. We’re encouraging her to wait to date and to be very careful who she trusts her heart with.
So until the time comes when a young man (who measures up to Nathan’s standards) arrives, she is more than happy to have her Dad as her Thursday night date.
And I’m pretty happy about it as well.
In other news, I’m scheduled for my first colonoscopy tomorrow morning. Woo-hoo! Today I am getting to consume all sorts of wonderfully delicious foods like Jello and chicken broth. Hope I don’t get overstuffed with all those filling calories! (That noise you hear in the background is my stomach growling.)
My doctor told me I am at a higher risk for colon cancer because I’ve had breast cancer so I made sure to get the appointment made soon after my 50th birthday. From what I’ve been told by veteran colonoscopy-ers, I am in for a lovely experience tonight. I can’t wait.
In the meantime, I have plenty of lime Jello to bring me comfort. Although may I just say that Jello does not quite provide the comfort that chocolate, pudding, and mashed potatoes do. Have you ever gotten home after a long, rotten day and said, “Man, I just feel like I need to eat some lime Jello?”
Yeah. Me either.
I hope all “goes” well with the procedure tomorrow – the prep is the worst, at least that is what I am told. What a lovely daughter you have. She has it all figured out. How proud you must be with her outlook on life and her STRAIGHT A’s! Amazing and congratulations
The prep is really the worst part – just stay close to a bathroom. I am surprised you weren’t told not to use green jello(something about green and the dyes in the tests) but mine was quite a while ago, so maybe things have changed. The test itself is a trip to la-la land. Best wishes!
Love the idea of father/daughter dates. I used to go on “dates” with my only son, up through his high school years, and I miss them! Congrats to Sarah for the outstanding grades!
Good luck, Becky. When I complained of nausea in addition to the, er, other discomfort of the2-part prep they gave me this time, my gastroenterologist said, “yeah, don’t you wish we could just use a shop vac and suck it all out?” Actually, that sounds preferable to the present methods! Oh, well, consider it “Spring cleaning” for your colon.And one good thing about colon cancer is if they find the pre-cancerous polyps they just snip them off, and see you in 5 years. the amount of time it takes for them to grow back.
Becky, hope you are back home by now and have a relaxing afternoon and evening. I had the procedure about 10 years ago (ice storm no less and the hospital was on emergency power). I was disappointed because when Jim had his first one he slept all afternoon. I was wide awake until 11 PM that night! No pain at all and no problems. God is good! Just got a call while typing this that my pup is doing fine (he had a dental cleaning today) and should be able to come home around 4:30 this afternoon. So glad–now to pay the bill! Like Sarah’s date. They are the best kind.
Ann, well actually today is the prep and the procedure is tomorrow. So I have plenty of time to eat more Jello! Glad your pup is doing well!
Becky, I am not 50 (but not all that far from it either) and have had @ least ten of them since 1998. The WORST part of the entire process will begin this afternoon about 4:00. The lighter you ate yesterday (Sunday) and today (Monday) the easier the process this evening will be. The drugs during the process are super, you will have no idea what’s going on, and you will blink and it’s over. Tomorrow will be NOTHING! SERIOUSLY! I am sure everyone has said the PREP is the toughest part of the entire process. The only issue the day of the process was the need to pass gas before you leave. I have a bit of stage fright so to speak and don’t pass gas in front of others (they now trust me and lead my to the bathroom for privacy). So, if that’s not an issue for you, than you should be in/out in less than three hours from start to finish. Like you, I have been held hostage by my bladder. Once for eight hours, once for a few days, and now protocol is put in place for surgery (LOL)! You will do great!
As for Sarah, I am not surprised but PROUD to hear that she once again received straight A’s. She’s one smart cookie. I hope that you all gave the date the third degree before allowing her to go with him? All kidding aside, before long, she really will be going on a date, with an actual fella. Is it appropriate for Pastors’ to carry a firearm? LOL!
Good luck, tomorrow! I bet if you do a really good job your MD might even let you take home some pretty, color, glossy photos. I am using mine from December for Holiday Cards this year!
<3, Jodi
I must agree, the procedure was nothing, the drugs you receive are wonderful and you will wake up and wait to pass gas! Kind of funny but what the heck, everyone in the area is playing the same tune! 🙂 Good Luck tomorrow.
Jodi and Kathy, I have to pass gas to get discharged?!? Hmmm. Maybe I should practice a little today? 🙂
Jodi, that was some pretty funny stuff; you made me smile all the way through! Especially loved using the films of the colonoscopy as Holiday cards. I’m sure that the recipients would be rather underwhelmed!
You could practice if you want, I guess? Maybe you can put together your own band and pass your gas to the beat of your favorite hymn? But, yes, you must pass gas to leave. The last time, the nurses were encouraging the patients to OUT GAS the person next to them.
If you recall your family is on my Holiday Card List (LOL) and this year’s card is pretty cool!
Jodi
All kidding aside, let us know how things go when you can!
I’ve done been bamboozled! I thought Sarah had a date with a non-dad type guy and was all excited. “Randy!”, I just announced with dramatic flair, “Sarah had a date!” Man-like, he mumbled something like, “Oh, wow”, and went off to the bathroom.
Then I read further and got the real story. Which I loved. So I subsided. But I was a little disappointed nonetheless.
However, I have rallied and just want to say that I am so proud of Sarah for her good grades and so thankful for a dad like Steve who gives fatherhood a good name.
Love deb
Deb, so sorry for the Becky Bamboozlement. Can I make it up to you by coming for a visit this summer? 🙂
Yes, for now, Sarah’s dates all consist of her dear ol’ dad. Which makes ME sleep a lot better at night, I tell ya that. 🙂