Waiting for the Christ

December 19th Sunday - Beautiful Sunny 6 degrees this AM

I have been out of the hospital one week today and this has been the most difficult week of my life.

I have told my husband and my daughters if it had not been for them I would rather have died and I can not thank Lou enough for all he has done for me. I could not have come home from the hospital if he had not been here to care for me. He had laid in bed and held me tightly so I could sleep, he has washed me, dressed me, given me my medication, fed me and most of all loved me through all of this. I won't go on about all every one has done for me, each and everyone knows the good deeds they have done and the difference it has made in my life. I had asked that no one visit me in the hospital, as I was so sick, I didn't want anyone around me and now, I don't remember my hospitalization. I know I have a wonderful flower arrangement from Lou's children, two of them brought it to me at the hospital and for a long time it was all of the Christmas decorations we had, but now we have some very special items sitting out.

On an afternoon when I was feeling a bit more like myself Lou got our some very special items that my daddy had made for our family many years ago when he and mother were just getting into ceramics and they had to share with us. As Lou unpacked them they brought tears to my eyes and many memories to mind as time goes on. The tiny ceramic Christmas tree Daddy made for my desk at the office so I could enjoy it each day while I was at work and I certainly did, while the smaller one was enjoyed by the family as it sat in our dining room at home.

The Nativity set was poured by my mother and was poured in tiny pieces and pieced together, and Krista has found what a problem child this creation this can be, after this was fired this was painted by the other grandma, Grandma Bryant, and each wise man and camel were painted to match each other. Over the years, the cows, have lost horns, sheep have lost legs, and many have been glued back in place, but once again great memories. After Michelle was born, she was given the honor of recreating the scene in the manger that her grandpa built and she has done that each year with the exception of last year, so this year Lou and I waited until she returned from college yesterday and sure enough she was ready for the task, and she remembered she didn't set it up last year but did pack it away last year. Now these are great memories.

After the last few months Lou and I have had we are certainly awaiting the Christ and a new year with healing in many ways and a year of new beginnings. Our church service today was so inspiring noting that as we await the coming of Christ, we can anticipate it in many ways and we have chosen to look for healing of our bodies, healing in our families, healing in our friends, new priories in life and a richer life with Christ. We feel that

there is a reason that the Lord has chosen to slow both of us down and we need to search that reason out and act on it. I have always professed that, now I have to act on it. Food for thought??