so lucy

Gina has always remarked how her mother reminded her of Lucy.  She's always doing stuff that Lucy Ricardo would do.

We just experienced one of her Lucy moments this morning.

Last night Gina returned from the hospital after getting news about her mom.  She said that mother might be out tomorrow, but a certain procedure had to be done first thing in the morning.  Gina asked me if I would please get Kelsey off to school and meet her at the hospital to be with her in the waiting room.

Gina was late getting away from the house, was going to miss Mrs. Hale off into surgery at 7:00.  I rushed as fast as I could from Southside to East Gadsden and made it at 7:30.  I got there before Gina so I decided to go ahead and put some clothing items of Mrs Hale's in her room instead of lugging them to the waiting room.  I also needed to ask someone at the nurses station what floor the procedure was taking place.  I went to the room first.

When I walked in, Mrs. Hale was still sound asleep and not in surgery.  I quietly left her clothes in the room and went back downstairs.  I met Gina on the first floor and told her that her mother was still in her room.  Gina was perplexed yet relieved at the same time. Gina wanted to see her mother before they took worked on her.  We went upstairs and Gina saw for herself.

Gina stepped in and saw her mother sleeping and quietly left the room.  We walked down the hall and found the attending nurse.  The nurse stated that Mrs. Hale's surgery delayed till one o'clock.  The nurse was talking kind of soft I couldn't make out all she was saying.  I thought I heard something about an Oreo.

Gina walked back to the room and looked at her mother again.  She then glanced around the room and came out laughing.  "What's wrong?" I asked.  Gina said, "I didn't understand what the nurse meant about Oreo...I thought 'Oreo' was some medical lingo.  No, there's a bag of Oreo's in her room.  My mother is Lucy!

She had been told by the doctor not to eat anything and she just couldn't resist an Oreo.  I asked Gina what she wanted me to do.  She told me that I could go home now, that she was sorry I went out of my way for nothing.  I told her that it was okay, this made my day.  I came home and told Katie the story.  Katie laughed and said, "That is so grandmother!"

That is so Lucy.

endless daze

Gina's working at Gadsden Regional.  Gina's now living there.  Gina's mom has been in the hospital for over a week now.  She's getting better, but needs company night and day.  I'm hoping that someone can take a night shift so my wife can come home sometime and have a good night's rest.  Her family misses her.  She did get some relief Friday night, slept late Saturday morning but had to get back to be with Mrs. Hale.

This morning I went to have breakfast with Gina at the hospital cafeteria and catch up a little.  Gina is really tired.  She said she'd get a couple hours sleep here and there, but it hasn't been very restful sleep.  We both have colds and have been plodding from day to day. Gina's has had long endless week since her mom fell ill.

Our sweet daughters Katie and Kelsey have been great.  I know they miss their mom, but they understand.  We all love grandmother, we all want her to get better.  We're hoping that Gina will be home tonight, to see her and let her sleep.   I hate to see her so tired.  Gina's a wonderful wife, wonderful mother, and wonderful daughter. 

other mother

When a guy considers marrying, he's not sure how he'll stand with the mother and father of his bride to be.  I considered it, but it wasn't long into dating Gina that I realized I was loved by Mrs. Hale.  The in-law part gets stuck in my throat because Mrs. Hale is a second mom.

When I started dating Gina, her mother took me right into her wings.  Most nights at the end of a date, I'd usually end up in their den talking with Mrs. Hale.  Gina would usually go to bed at nine or nine-thirty and Mrs. Hale was a night owl like me.  We'd get into long conversations.

At the time she was still reeling from a divorce.  I felt my listening to her gave her a sounding board.  If memory serves, that's what most of those late night conversations were about.  Nevertheless, Mrs. Hale has never been a downer.  She never wanted to be a burden, and never has been a burden.  As long as I've known her, she's always made the best of even the worst situations, always tried to be joyful in all circumstances.  Mrs. Hale is the kind of gal that's great to have around.  How many mother in-laws would you want to take on a vacation?  Mrs. Hale is always easy going and always part of the merriment.

She couldn't wait for us to give her grand children.  I think she was getting doubtful that we were going to have children.  We didn't have Katie until the sixth year of our marriage.  When we did start having children, she showered them with so much love.  There's one thing that makes it harder to call someone an 'in-law' is when they love your children so much.  Betty Hales is more than just my mother in-law, she's more than just my wife's mother and my children's grandmother. To use the word in-law doesn't define my relationship to her.  Down through the years, she's become my other mother.

Seeing her small unconscious form in the ICU is unsettling.  She's trying to recover from surgery through infection and pneumonia. Her blood pressure is erratic.  Beneath the tubes and cords, she looks so weak, as if she's fading.  Her future is uncertain.  At this moment, things can go either way.  We are all hoping and praying for her.  I am I recounting the good times, and how she has enriched all the lives of those around her.   She has enriched my life.  She loved her in-law son as her son.  She opened her heart to me.

Get well Betty.

Kelsey's a 10

Kelsey went to bed a little melancholy last night while mommy tucked her into bed.  She asked mommy if it was okay to cry.  Gina asked her why, and she said that she didn't want to wake up 10 years old.  She didn't want to grow up. So Kelsey went to bed after a little cry, comforted in the warmth of her mother's arms.

Today was different. Gina had taken the girls for a birthday biscuit and gravy at Jacks before taking them to school.  She also dropped off lots of cupcakes for her 4th grade class. Kelsey came home upbeat and happy.  She said that her class sang Happy Birthday to her.  Last night was history and so was 9, 10 was just another age and another day.

When Gina got home we had PaPa Johns cheese pizza as per her request.  We had carrot cake. She opened her presents and we had a joyous little occasion.  We prayed thanksgiving for the youngest member of our family.  She is such a smart, creative and funny little girl.  We are blessed to have her in our lives.

message on 11/11

"Do not fret because of evildoers, be not envious toward wrongdoers. For they will wither quickly like the grass and fade like the green herb. Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.  Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD,  Trust also in Him, and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; do not fret; it leads only to evildoing. For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land. Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; and you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there."

-Psalm 37 excerpt

No matter what has befallen our individual lives; no matter what dangers arise against our nation, we are to trust in God.  No man can bring about the hope and change we as a nation really need.  No matter what befalls us individually or collectively, we are to not only trust in Him and fear not...but are to delight ourselves in Him!  Yes, this is the time that tries men's souls, but let us each pursue God through these trials and cultivate faithfulness!

an unexpected reading

My daughter has been asking me to read J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Hobbit' during the holiday season this year.  We were going to do it last year, but we didn't get around to it.  About three years ago, by a Winter's fire I read four of the Narnian Chronicles to Katie.  We ate muffins and drank hot chocolate and hot teas as I read on and on.  I read for hours on end.  Katie remembers that time fondly and has since been wanting to repeat the experience.

When Gina and I were first married with little money in our pockets to go out do things. We found ourselves looking for books to check out at the Bowling Green Public Library.  That's when  I came across a copy of The Hobbit and asked Gina if she'd ever read it.  She said she hadn't, and I insisted that she should.  So after dinner every night we sat in our little apartment and I would read to her.  It's a good memory.

So tonight I went to the bookshelf and pulled down my copy of The Hobbit and began to read.  Katie beamed like a flashlight.  Not long afterward Gina came home and prepared banana sandwiches and milk and brought the food downstairs.  She scolded me for starting without her.  I took the time to catch her up and then off we went.   Tonight we read The Unexpected Party and onto Roast Mutton.  We are going to read on as the weeks go by, finding time whenever we can to enjoy this wonderful Middle Earth adventure together.

Hopefully we'll finish it before the movie is released next month.

i love a girl

I love a girl that loves to laugh, that's why I married my girl.  I once asked Gina long after we married why she even took notice of me. Gina said that she always wanted to end up with a fellow who could make her laugh.  I just so happen to be a guy that always wanted a girl that loves to laugh.  I'm glad we've got each other for better for worse, for richer or poorer.  I could not imagine this journey without her.  She's the girl for me.