Morning

My morning started with a coffee date with my Airbnb host. She popped into my room and we visited before I took off. Midway through our chat, I realize that I’d forgotten to brew the coffee. No matter…it was an encouragement that I cannot describe.

Arriving at hospital seemed wrong. He was supposed to be discharged, completely healed from a routine appendectomy. How did we get here? No matter, this is where we are and not alone.

If I ascend to heaven, you are there!

If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

Psalm 139:8 ESV

J and I visited. I sang. We talked. We listened to worship songs. I wrote out some note cards to staff and my new friends-through-shared-difficulty. Just before I left, I ate the rest of my plov, a gift from my hosts M & S. The goal is always to leave in the most normal and uneventful way possible. Why make a hard thing harder?

I prayed and headed downstairs with A. I hugged her and tried to say something encouraging (pretty sure I failed). I zipped out the door with a quick wave to the front desk staff. I couldn’t bear it.

Outside, I started putting my bags in the Uber when S, front desk staff friend, ran out to give me a hug. Dang it! I needed that hug, but I knew it would open the floodgates.

I got in the car and just cried as the driver navigate to the airport in the rain. Partway there, where I learned of my flight delay. Probably best I didn’t know or I wouldn’t have been able to go.

Afternoon

More delays. Airport people watching. Random tears. more people watching. Unanswered texts to J & A…they were probably getting much-needed sleep. I can’t call it rest, because you know: hospital.

Evening

More delays due to weather everywhere. Flight left a bit after 8:30 pm. I landed in Minnesota somewhere around 11 pm. Tears. This driver let me grip his hand. He understood my tears. He has shed his own. It’s his son, too.

You number and record my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle—are they not in Your book?

Psalm 56:8 AMPC

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Use the form for notes to J & A; these will go directly to Stephanie, and she’ll pass it along to J&A.

A Note to the Family