I love it when he snuggles against me after breakfast.
His laugh is so tender it brings tears to my eyes. And it makes your heart stop a beat when he squeals after catching your eye.
I love finding him curled up in his crib, holding his hands tightly together. It’s as though he fell asleep praying for a puppy, ice-cream, or just one more kiss from Mommy.
My Granny has been in rehab in a nursing facility for almost two weeks now. She is slowly regaining her strength and mobility as well as her wry outlook on life. Each time I go to visit her, I’m not sure if she will encourage me with a bit of spiritual insight or fuss at me because I didn’t get the ice cream out of her fridge yet. And while we are on the subject, she is going to FUSS when she comes back home to discover that I have “gone on a diet.” Real southern women never go on a diet, you know.
Our visits to Granny are still sweet though, and I am so thankful that she is gradually getting better. The worry that she’ll take a turn for the worse and we’ll have rough days ahead is ever present but I must remind myself that the Lord knows the path ahead and also will give us all grace and strength to tread it.
While winding through the halls, you cannot help but see aching faces, missing limbs, sad eyes, and hear quiet, yet desperate moanings. It is creepy. And the smell when you first walk in is enough to make you stop and turn around and head right back home. Thankfully, Granny is on the good side and her hallway is relatively normal. Well, except for the lady who presses the nurse call button over and over and over. Each time we bring Drew by, the wheelchairs start heading our way in a freakish zombie-like way and they mutter, “baaaaby!” There is pointing. And they always ask, “What is it?” Um. A baby. Oh, you meant is it a boy or girl?
And even though I am repulsed at times, I cannot help but feel so terribly sorry for the folks who are there. Some are merely there for a short-term stay, like Granny. And others are there always. And not all of them have family stopping to see them. Such loneliness.
I walk through the halls and try to smile and whisper hello. Some catch my eye and their smile grows wide and they catch their breath. And others have a blank stare. Already gone.For sure, the Lord hears many prayers from this place. Some are for healing and some for visitors. But many must be in the form of “Oh, Lord, please help me to never end up here.”
For the first time in awhile, I have the house to myself today. Daniel is off working from eCity Java in Anderson and Drew is sleeping quite a bit today (he had a Very Busy Day yesterday complete with a nice old man in the nursing home trying to convince me to let him take Drew). I keep using the remote control to keep the baby monitor playing and that really makes me feel lazy. I’m not really sure what to do. Goodness, there is laundry, the kitchen to be straightened, and the diaper genie to be emptied…but I’m ALONE.
