The Best Birthday Gift Ever

If you have been reading this blog recently, you may remember that my father, Pete Turner, has recently been very ill with pneumonia.  After a week in the hospital and a month in a rehab center, he was not showing much sign of recovery of strength.  My sister, Katy, moved him into her house to take care of him several weeks ago.  What a difference a little TLC has made!  From not being able to sit up by himself, he made it down to the beach with us on Tuesday!

We thought the stairs up to the beach cottage would be a problem, but he made it by himself with just a cane.

We went out to eat each night.  On my birthday, we drove to Ocean Isle to meet my uncle Jerry and his wife Missy for dinner.

Dad got to play with his newest great-grandchild, Jake Turner.  In this picture, Jake is with two of his great-grandfathers!

As if all this were not enough, Dad asked if I brought any art supplies to the beach.  Oh, yes!

His first painting since he got sick was a birthday card for me, complete with poem!

None of us would have believed all this would happen just a few weeks ago.

Here is Baby Jake in the Hawaiian shirt I brought home for him...

and here is my daddy in his.  I wasn't sure he would ever get to wear it!

Thanks to everyone for your prayers and good wishes.  They worked!

We are home now, tired but happy and feeling very blessed.