Sad to share ...

Yesterday, Kim put her hand in my dad's, and he curled his fingers around her hand.

My dad left us shortly before 10 p.m. yesterday to be with my mom and all of his loved ones who went before him. I'm grateful the party has begun for them all.

I'm even betting my dad may have found a golf course greater than any he's ever imagined.

I will let you know about the service when plans are final. It will be a memorial service in which anyone who wants to speak can do so. 

Thank you for continuing to share this journey with my family and me. 

Leah Rush's Coach Wil story

Here's another Coach Wil story for you. This one to take my mind off of what's to come.

Thanks, Leah!

***

LEAH RUSH

I grew up in Amarillo and played high school ball at Amarillo High. When I was about 16 and could drive, I started traveling around the Amarillo/Canyon area to find the best pick-up games after school and in the summers. Most people weren't sure what to think of an AHS kid, alone, showing up at random gyms throughout the area. 

I didn't know your dad well, but I knew him to be a strong coach and word was that he was a good guy. I remember walking into the RHS gym one day, uninvited. I was desperate to get a good game and heard that the runs at Randall were competitive. Coach Wil walked up - he recognized me - and welcomed me to the gym. After a short conversation, he said that I was welcome to come around and play ball there anytime. I remember that fondly. I decided he must have appreciated my passion for the game, and wanted to help nurture that. For the next two years, I showed up at the Randall gym on occasion and never felt out of place. He always greeted me kindly, and even went out of his way to help me on several occasions. 

My senior year we lost to Randall. I remember feeling like I played pretty poorly. I don't remember exactly what he told me, but I do remember that he said something kind, congratulating me for my high school career and wishing me well as I went off to Oklahoma to play. I appreciated that. 

After I left Amarillo, I kept ties with the hoops community in Amarillo. I remember when he and Coach Blaut helped Coach Gerlich at WT, and how much fun it looked like they were having (despite it being a tough year for various reasons). And I remember how much Coach Gerlich appreciated them for that. I, on occasion, would help with summer camps at WT, go to games, or generally just visit. It was always fun to chat to Coach Wil and hear about 'retired' life and his family, which he always spoke about with pride. 

After I left OU and began playing ball professionally, I often thought back to my basketball roots in West Texas. The women's basketball community there was special (I hope it still is). There were so many things that had such a profound impact on helping me to achieve my goals on the court (and off court, too, of course). There's a beautiful tapestry of places, faces, and lessons that make-up the fabric of my basketball career and my years growing up in Amarillo. Coach Wil is definitely part of that tapestry. I think of how he so welcomed and supported me (even as a "rival"); his generosity with his time and energy; and his dedication to the game and the lives of the kids who played it. 

Please send your father my sincere gratitude and admiration. And to you, your family, and Coach Wil, I send my heartfelt sympathies as you all go through a difficult time. I wish for you all peace of mind and spirit as you tackle the challenges that life undoubtedly brings; and that with each day, you see some of the joys as well. 

Silly Goose!

Nicki planted a big goose poop right on Blaut!

My sister received this text (plus the above photo) from Dale Blaut today:

Kim, 

Tell Jami and your dad that Nicki's wish of becoming a bird has come true, and I know what kind of bird she is — A goose. 

How do I know this? Today as I was leaving the house and reaching to open my car door, I felt something hit me on my left cheek and splatter all over my vest and shirt. It looked and smelled like goose poop, and sure enough, it was. 

I have lived 68 years, and nothing like this has ever happened to me. I don't know what I did or said to Nicki for her to dislike me, but I assure you, the first thing I'll do when I see her in heaven is apologize. 

I guess the moral of the story is to watch what you wish for. 


P.S. I hope your dad doesn't wish to be a flying elephant in his afterlife! 


With love and prayers, 
Dale

***

I was reading this text to Jordie and Dave when Dale came waltzing in the door of Dad's room today. We were laughing hysterically, and Dale knew immediately why.

(Although, I do believe the word my mother used was "annoy," not "dislike.")

Dale told us when he looked up and saw what had happened, he said, "Nicki! What did I do?!"

I seriously needed this laugh today, Mom!

Thanks for sharing, Dale.

Thoughts about my dad's health ... for today

Everything with my dad has been so up and down. He can be really horrible, and we think he's at death's door ... and then he perks up.

Last night, he took a bad turn — of weakness and confusion.

This morning, he was even worse. He hasn't been able to walk today. He hasn't made any sense at all. He couldn't hold cups to drink; he couldn't drink. He couldn't swallow meds. And he hurt.

And now, he's been asleep all day.

Kim and Dorsey keep saying, "But ... but ..."

I'm not. Forgive me, but I'm not thinking positively.

I know his hemoglobin has continued to decline. His legs have signs of the platelets in his skin ...

And this is morbid ... I've read and heard the impending signs of death.

I'm just trying to get prepared.

At this point, Kim and I are giving it one more day to decide whether to move his bed into the den to be with us — because it appears he has approached or is quickly approaching being unable to get up. (It took 15 minutes for Dorsey and Jordie to get him up to a wheelchair this morning.)

And if we don't move the bed, the next question is whether to take him to BSA Hospice.

We just don't know, but as history in this deal has shown us, the answers become clear when they need to.

Tomorrow, if I post that all is well again today, you can just laugh at me. It's okay.

I don't know what the heck to expect anymore.

Just some random thoughts on recent events

The outpouring of love we have received from friends and family during my parents' illnesses and my mother's recent passing has overwhelmed me. In a good way, of course.

I can't imagine going through this experience alone. Not once in all of it have I felt alone, and that's saying something for me. I think it also indicates where I am with my faith, too. I've not felt abandoned by God, I've not blamed God ... not one of those things. I might have in the past, but everything I've been through up until this point apparently prepared me for the magnitude of faith I would need.

I understand and know that bad things just happen. They happen as a result of this fallen world. God doesn't cause it. God is the one who can make blessings from the bad things. And I know that bad things happen to all people. God doesn't play favorites. No one is exempt from difficult times, and no one is exempt from death from this life. And at the same time I have heavy things happening in my life, lots of people all around me are suffering devastating things, as well.

It's simply not about me.

Ultimately, God is going to work ALL THINGS (read "even the bad things") according to His plan and purpose, and He will use whatever happens in our lives and others' to ultimately bring us closer to Him. I've seen some people head in the opposite direction from God as a result of broken faith, but not many. And many people, while their faith may be shaken for a bit, come back stronger than ever.

It's truly been amazing how often I've seen God at work during this time. At some point, when I've collected my thoughts more, I might write about this. But what I can say is that I also cannot imagine how anyone can get through something like a loved one's death, or his or her impending death, without faith in God and eternal life.

Where else is the hope? What a cold, dreary, lonely life without that faith.

I'm thankful for my upbringing in the Christian faith ... and while I'm not grateful for the times, especially that extended one, when I was far away, I am MOST grateful to God that He used even those ugly, painful times to put me right here, right now. I know without a doubt that anything that was in question before — or might still be — already IS OKAY. (Because even if you or I can't see it clearly, God already has it covered.)