May 22 – “Released”

A day all planned out that actually works out.  Now that would be an interesting occurrence.  I can't remember when that has ever happened, but it would be interesting.  Chris wanted to work in the yard today.  She told her Mom that unless something changed she would not come up to the hospital today.  That done, she planned out the day.   She started out by walking up on the deck and staring at the back yard for awhile.  She told me that was the only way she could visualize where she wanted to put plants and pots and stuff.  I was finishing up the sermon while she did that.  When she came back inside she sat in the rocking chair near my desk and said, "OK.  What's on your agenda for today?"  See, that's the loaded question we always ask each other.  The one who asks it first gets to sit back and decide if they want to follow what they hear, or if they want to create a new one.  I have learned to be careful to make agendas that are extremely flexible.   After a little negotiating, we decided that we both wanted to hit WalMart and Home Depot.  The WalMart list included chocolate milk (that's from my agenda), so we went there first, with the plan to drop off the milk at home before we went to Home Depot.  And the big purchase there was dirt.  That's right.  Just dirt.  The grass we put out in the back yard was taking root pretty well, but it also stuck up a few inches and made it feel like you were walking through a bunch of ruts.  The dirt was to fill in between the squares of grass.  I also was looking for something to use to determine what size a drill bit was.  I have a bucketful of drill bits with no way to tell what size they are.  All the cases were destroyed by Ike.  I found something that would work, but to get it I would have to but a whole other set of drill bits.  Not something I needed.  I did find out what it was called, though: a bit bar organizer.  Now I at least know what to ask for or look for online.   At Home Depot we got some shelving to use in our new shed and some plants.  Now that's where Chris' mind was.  They were having a sale on high biscuits, or something like that.  We came home with four of them, three yellow for the back   and one pink for the front.  We went right out to plant them when we got home, and no sooner had I dug the second hole than Mom came out and said Chris' mother was on the phone.  We both jump every time that happens.  This one was good news, though.  She had been released from the hospital after having both lungs drained of fluid. Of course that meant we had to drive up to Houston so Chris could drive them to Bay City and then drive our car back home.  Fast showers and a quick trip later we walked into her room, and there sat Kel and Christina and their boys, all three of them.  Chris' Mom was holding Baby Josiah and Micah and Jachin were climbing the walls.  It was a good sight.  We were hoping she would be able to see the baby soon.   Ecclesiastes 3:11-12 says, "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."   Father, your time is always the best time.  Help me focus on the beautiful and leave time in your hands.  Amen.