It just occurred to me that in September, I wrote and cried and slobbered and prayed to you about my Poppy Pops. I cried about his heart transplant surgery and how I felt like I was dying inside. I moaned about my regrets, wishes and hopes,  and I how I needed him HERE to be a part of all of that.

I needed him NOT to die.
And he almost did.
In fact, if you ask him, he would tell you he almost did. More than once. From fever. From kidney failure. From a crazy one-eyed heavy-handed nurse. That’s another story.

That the pain was so bad he wanted to leave this place. But he didn’t because he kept hearing the voices of the people he loved. That our faces would appear to him at his lowest, and he made it through fighting demons and devils by calling on Jesus. All the while to his family and friends his body just laid there on the hospital bed, still. . .swollen. . . .broken.

That is what he would tell you.
He would also tell you that he could have sworn that I performed the surgery.. . . . .
which I don’t think I did. But he did know exactly what I was wearing and how I was wearing my hair. . .so maybe. . . I think he felt my prayers.

Because I  prayed and prayed and prayed. I Facebook prayed. I Twitter prayed. I prayed on my knees, in the shower, and while I was cooking.  I prayed while running, walking, screaming and yelling. I prayed all the time. And so did my friends. And my friends of friends of friends.

And I want to thank you.
Because it worked.
Look at my Daddy now.
Getting better everyday.
He can walk five blocks now.
No help needed.

All my love to all of you who had our back. I will be forever grateful.

His tried and true doctor. They are soulmates. They are planning a trip to Vietnam together.

A friend is pictured with my father who had a heart transplant two years ago.

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I’ve been thinking a lot about my Dad lately.
He lives so far away, so I don’t get to see him at much as I would like.

The other day I was in Hobby Lobby and I saw a picture frame that made me think of him.
It says. . .”America calls him a soldier. I call him Dad.”

So I picked it up and decided I would send it to him to let him know I’m so proud of him. To let him know that I love him so much. It’s a picture of me and my dad running a race together when I was 7. I beat the pants off of him. I’m wondering if he’s going to want a re-match.

Maybe I should send him this picture instead. I’m a little out of shape.

And then, after the frame was all boxed up and ready to go,  I started thinking of recipes that I could send him. Because, that’s what I do for people I love. Fill their belly’s with things that will make them strong and happy.

And this little toddy, totally fits the bill.
Super great for his new 20 year old heart, and yours too.
With orange, strawberry, banana, it’s sure to put power in his punch and fuel his body for all the rehab he has been doing lately.

I had one this morning, and I liked it so much I think I’ll make it again tomorrow morning. And the morning after that. And after that, and after that.

Here’s to our hearts!
Treat them well!

Orange Vanilla Protein Smoothie (Tastes like an Orange Julius)

Ingredients:

8 oz. orange juice
1/2 banana
5 strawberries
5 ice cubes
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp Splenda (or whatever sweetener you like)
1 Scoop Vanilla Protein Powder

Directions:

1. Stick all the ingredients in a blender and BLEND the mess out of it. Slurp, Slurp, Slurp away!!!!