Comments on: “NOT normal.”

By: bettyrwoodward

bettyrwoodward — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 19:41:09 +0000

Happy New Year to everyone and of course the Taff family

By: Barbara M. Lloyd

Barbara M. Lloyd — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:09:34 +0000

Happy New Year to my little Taff Family…..and to all those who read Tori’s blog.

By: delightedabroad

delightedabroad — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 11:33:23 +0000

Happy New Year !!!
I hope you all had a blessed Christmas and a good start into the new year ?!

By: jonny

jonny — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 01:42:57 +0000

… and, Happy New Year everyone!! Thanks so much to each of you, especially our wonderful, loving and much appreciated hostess, for being used to richly bless my life last year. Yep, already the New Year over here!

Peace, and MUCH love,

By: DELIVEREDJEPARKER63

DELIVEREDJEPARKER63 — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:25:35 +0000

Jonny – you were the only one up here? Everyone else must be recovering from Christmas! I had a GREAT CHRISTMAS! STILL HAVING A GREAT CHRISTMAS!

So, Tori – I think Jonny was dropping a hint, or two!

By: jonny

jonny — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 15:52:38 +0000

I hope everyone has a supremely blessed Christmas!! We’ll all have to share fave gifts, or moments, in a couple days = )

Peace!

jonny

By: DELIVEREDJEPARKER63

DELIVEREDJEPARKER63 — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:10:31 +0000

And, ya know somethin else, Tori – (3 DAYS LATER….) THEY LOOK FANTASTIC TO BE THEIR AGE! I mean, they are really up there – and look GREAT! (isnt that encouraging to you?) hehehehehe!

By: Barbara M. Lloyd

Barbara M. Lloyd — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 02:13:42 +0000

I meant to tell you….they are beautiful….and I love them becaue they gave me you.

By: Barbara M. Lloyd

Barbara M. Lloyd — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 02:12:24 +0000

Beautifully said, sweet Tori. I would imagine that one of two things might be going on with daddy: if he is not confused he may be in denial; otherwise, he may be confused himself as to what is going on and he is just talomg pme dau at a time. Either way, he is still that sweet daddy who made you feel loved and secure all of those years when you were growing up. And, as much as it hurts you to see him this way, imagine for one moment how it makes your mom feel. Her husband, her sweetheart, her protector is but a shell of the man he once was. No longer the strong man with whom she fell in love. But still and forever, the love of her life. Sometimes she understands that he is not thinking clearly and she is concerned…how much longer? But most of the time, I would imagine that she pushes it in the back of her mind and wills there to be no real change in her husband….not wanting to face it until there is no way to escape facing it. For now, it’s enough for her that she still has him…to see him sitting in his chair, to listen to her talk about something or somebody with shared interest, and to hold her hand at night when they go to sleep.

Tori, your mom and dad have accomplished a lot in their years on this earth. They have produced and nurtured their children and grandchildren not only by feeding and clothing and educating them….but by being examples for their children as well as for their friends and neighbors. After all, isn’t that what God expects of us…more than becoming famous or creating a beautifulwork of art.In God’s eyes, they have produced all of that…their job has been well done.

By: delightedabroad

delightedabroad — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:07:21 +0000

Tori, this is truly and deeply moving !! That’s a situation where I wish I had just a bit of your talent of expressing/describing with words. As I only got to know my paternal grandpa and maternal grandma I couldn’t see how they lived together as a couple, how they cared for each other. In another post I mentioned (at least I think so…)that the relationship with my parents is … difficult – but I still hope for God’s miracle. Anyway, I’m so grateful that you, Tori, and your family show so much love and respect for each other (which is NOT a contradiction to a good sense of humor !).
A second thought after reading was that this is what I’d like my partnership to be like when growing old.

By: jonny

jonny — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 06:36:02 +0000

I have my moments, I guess, but still no sock monkey = /

Oh, and this is one of those times I REALLY would appreciate being able to edit what’s been Said!. Embarrassing punctuation at the end of that last one…

By: LindaB

LindaB — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 06:06:58 +0000

I think you’re right, Jonny.

By: jonny

jonny — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 04:34:18 +0000

I still wanna sock monkey for Christmas, though!! ; )

Thanks for all the responding Tori. I wonder, in part, if the reason I experienced so much anguish when first reading the blog entry, the tears all that pain produced, and how so many here are also deeply touched by what is happening with your father, parents, how it’s effecting others of your family, is because of how precious and valued you, yourself, have become to us, your girls, your loves to sing man, this place, as well.

Peace!

By: tori

tori — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 03:57:13 +0000

jonny: He inspires me, too. Such a good, decent man.

Silver Hair Fans: We WILL treasure our time together, thank you for the prayers.

DonnaMariePatterson: What a sacred honor, to be with your dad when he passed. He sounds like a darling.

LindaB: You WOULD love them all, Linda– you have the same sense of humor!

bettyrwoodward: Wow, Stuart’s dad resembles mine? Well, Daddy does look like a bit of a toff in his new hat…!

JnnfrSr: So true. I feel as protective towards them as I do my girls.

rachelbaker: You are right, we are both so blessed.

swerchon: Thank you so much for those prayers.

Bloomfield Farm: Aw, Peggy, it was different from last year, in so many ways. But still so good.

ShowMeStGirl: Thank you for reading… and caring.

auburn60: You have been so incredibly loving towards my parents, I’ll never be able to thank you enough.

MostlySunny: Girl, you should have seen me when I was writing it!

GRITSinNC: I do not take those prayers for granted– thank you.

DELIVEREDJEPARKER63: What a difficult, difficult thing you’ve been through with your dad. I love hearing about the renewed relationship with your mom! Another miracle.

Sheena: Thank you, Sheena, that is a lovely thing to hear about something that means so much to me.

dijea: The picture kills me, too. Especially Daddy’s little wave.

themema: And I love you too.

meb: I will take those hugs– and the prayers, too.

rockin robyn: You said it beautifully–we are indeed “loving them in a different way” now.

L Opitz: Leah honey, I know. It hurts, and yet I’m still so grateful they are here, even though it’s not the same. Can’t wait to see you, Craig and the little sock monkey soon!

By: LOpitz

LOpitz — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 03:28:32 +0000

Killing me again with posts about grandpa. Of course, as usual, I cried. Mainly about grandma and grandpa holding hands each night as they go to sleep. We are so very lucky to have had them this long, but thinking of life without them, especially holidays and getting all the family together, about makes me cry every time. Every year grandma says jokingly that it may be their last but then another year rolls around and they are both still with us. I just hate seeing grandma the way he is as well and not “himself.” Thanks for the beautiful post. Can’t wait to see you guys next week!

By: rockin robyn

rockin robyn — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:21:11 +0000

Somewhere in life our lives turn and our parents aren’t those same two figures that reared us up to be who we are today… those figures that really didn’t ‘know what they were talking about” when we were teenagers. Now, we see them as so wise beyond their years and we can only wish/hope that they could teach us more of what they know with time running out… but now the love for them changes to almost so caring as one would of their own children. It’s almost like our parents turn into our children in that regard.

I can’t stress it enough to my siblings that mom and dad aren’t the same people any more and you almost have to love them a different way now. A more appreciated kind of love. You do things for them because you want to, not because you have to.

Tori! your writing nails it and paints the most beautiful picture for those of us who are so fortunate to still have our parents with us for a little longer. Thank you for this and may God continue to bless your family and your parents. I know they have shaped who you are today!

By: meb

meb — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:51:23 +0000

Through the tears I am sending hugs to all of you and keeping your entire family in my prayers.

By: themema

themema — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:10:53 +0000

(((((((Tori))))))

By: dijea

dijea — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:49:08 +0000

I was fine until I got to the picture then tears just flowed. This reminded me of all the questions in my mind about how my grandfather felt – he had Alzheimer’s, my mother-in-law suffered a stroke that left her a quadriplegic and not good communications skills.

Bless you and your family. I’m off to pray right this moment.

By: Sheena

Sheena — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:30:06 +0000

This brought tears to my eyes.

“And then I looked up and there it was, that picture I’ve seen so many other times before, two small white-haired figures freeze-framed in front of their house waving goodbye.” – This is just what it was like for me when I was growing up, leaving my grandparents house every year.

Beautifully written post. God bless you and your family, Tori.

By: DELIVEREDJEPARKER63

DELIVEREDJEPARKER63 — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:06:39 +0000

It took a few minutes for my eyes to clear in order to leave a response. I remember asking my Dad the same sort of questions as I watched AIDS slowly, but at the same time rapidly – eat him alive.
More than anything else, your comments made me grateful all over again that I stil have my MS-diagnosed mother alive, that God restored our severed relationship of many years, & that we now talk once a day, & email several times a day, & will hopefully be visiting in the next several days to come.
Its hard to put those thoughts and feelings into words. Thanks, Tori. The pic was beautiful.

By: GRITSinNC

GRITSinNC — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:03:40 +0000

Tori, you have me in tears. You write so beautifully, it makes me love your Mom & Dad & siblings through you. I’ll be praying for your Mom & Dad (and you)that when the time comes, God will answer your request.

By: MostlySunny

MostlySunny — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:26:54 +0000

Well, I’m a mess! Excuse me, please…

By: auburn60

auburn60 — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:49:25 +0000

I think you know what’s in my heart.I wish I knew your parents personally. I wish I could help in some way. I wish I could do more than pray for strength for all of you. I’m here in whatever way you need me.

By: ShowMeStGirl

ShowMeStGirl — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:17:05 +0000

Gosh Tori, tears running down my cheeks at 7;00am. Your emotions are so real to me.. your comments, questions. Thank you for sharing…

By: Bloomfield Farm

Bloomfield Farm — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:53:25 +0000

Tori, what a beautiful story! It answers the question “how is your dad?” in such a lovely way and gives us all a poignant glimpse into your wonderful family, so different from the coffee cooking scene from last year! Both let us know love is there.

By: swerchon

swerchon — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:26:05 +0000

Tori,

Continually praying for you and your sweet family. Wow thanks for going that deep and sharing your parents with us, they are truly SPECIAL.

By: rachelbaker

rachelbaker — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:27:26 +0000

Thanks Tori. That must have been hard, but thank you. Now that Mum mentions it I’ve just seen the resemblance between your Dad and my Grandad. We are both blessed to come from such loving, Godly familes. I will be praying for you all over Christmas.

By: JnnfrSr

JnnfrSr — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:14:10 +0000

My prayers are with you. Seeing a parent struggle is so very difficult – you want to protect them from harm and hurting just like they have done for you through the years.

By: bettyrwoodward

bettyrwoodward — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:53:54 +0000

Stuart just read this and it gave him a funny turn because your Dad looks so much like his Dad(87) except your’s is much more upright.

By: bettyrwoodward

bettyrwoodward — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 07:16:41 +0000

Tori – Thank you. That must have been so hard to write. Yes, it made me cry but made praying easier. Our love to you all and have a great Christmas together.

By: LindaB

LindaB — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 06:38:12 +0000

OMG! You have made us all fall madly in love with your Mom and Dad……..and your brother Joel……..your devoted and caring sisters…….and the whole family. But especially Mom and Dad! They must have been extraordinary human beings to evoke such love and tenderness from their children as you have expressed in this blog entry…….. and past ones too. When I was reading your entry above, I felt like I might cry myself. Then I scrolled down and saw that picture, and it was all over. There is not a sweeter, more beautiful sight in all the world, is there? And you have opened up your heart and let us see them as you do. Thank you so much—-it must have been a hard and painful thing to do. ((((Tori)))) I won’t forget to pray for you all.

By: DonnaMariePatterson

DonnaMariePatterson — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 06:20:30 +0000

I love to read your blogs. God’s given you a wonderful way with words. This brought back memories of my dad. He liked to wear hats too. He and mom would always walk us out the door and stand there and we would all wave at each other until we were out of sight. I miss my daddy but I’m glad he’s home. God let ME be with him when he passed. I told him he was the ‘best daddy in the world’ and that I loved him. His last words were ‘I love you’. My biggest dread – my whole life – was my daddy dying. But, thank God, because of His promises and His Spirit, it was somewhat ‘bearable’ (well … after falling apart in the shower … crying and screaming to God that I COULD NOT DO THIS!). I know with everything in me that I will see him again. Maybe we’ll all sit together one day (in heaven), with our cups of coffee, and see what else they have in common. My dad had a quick wit and was always whistling or humming. Sweet.

I will continue to pray for your mom & dad. Thanks for sharing them with us!

By: Silver Hair Fans

Silver Hair Fans — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 06:06:08 +0000

What a bittersweet and touching story…Keeping all of you in our prayers…Treasure this Christmas with your parents and hold tight all your Precious Memories!! Thank You for sharing your thoughts with us!!

Blessings and Merry Christmas from “Silver”

By: jonny

jonny — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 04:59:22 +0000

You’re dad is such an inspiration for me. Thanks so much for sharing.

By: tori

tori — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 04:50:52 +0000

grfdave– Thank you.

By: grfdave

grfdave — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 04:30:22 +0000

You ALL are in my prayers.