I just returned earlier this week from a 4 day visit with my 94 year old father. The care center is pretty nice and the nurses and CNA's really like him. The dining room server is really darling with him and tries so hard to encourage him to branch out in his eating habits. He recently has been asking for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at every meal. When he ate soup and a pasta dish she was ecstatic. I'm grateful they are so nice. I got kind of attached to some of the sweet patients there - they have such interesting stories and are so kind. I made sure I said goodbye to four of my favorite ladies when I left them last Sunday. Dad and I spent time talking about different stuff and he was so pleased to hear all about my travels in Calgary recently. He loved talking to KC and Michelle on my cell phone. I loved shaving his face, combing his hair, pushing his wheelchair and sharing clementines and sweet grapes. We ate fresh raspberries together and talked about how to care for my raspberries in my garden. We ate Japanese food at one activity and he told the funny story about my mom who got stuck squatting over a 'toilet hole' that was so common in Japan. Dad had to go in and rescue her! Dad went to the morning devotional on Sunday and I joined him. I got pretty teary eyed as we were singing hymns from other churches - the words referred to walking with the Savior, meeting him when we die etc. It touched my heart to think that so many of the patients there are close to the end of their lives and may see their Savior soon. I loved hearing Dad's voice sing the songs. I could hardly hold it together when the activity leader asked Dad to give a closing prayer. He gave the sweetest, strongest prayer of love and appreciation for family and the Lord. His voice was clear and strong and he definitely knew what he was saying. Several of the people in the room acknowledged what a nice prayer he had said.
Here he is - almost 4 months after he went to ICU with aspiration pneumonia, a ventilator, and septic shock. I just wish he had not lost so much strength in his legs, requiring him to have so much help transferring from bed to chair, and to the toilet. He has taught me about patience.
On another note, since I have returned to Provo we have been having some gorgeous sunsets.
Today as I was about to close down my computer, I watched a beautiful golden light come through the trees and light the tops of the mountains. It was amazing to watch from my second story office window. I walked out the west door and watched the clouds turn to pink and the white snow covered mountains turn a soft pink. It was spellbinding. I walked through the yard to the side walk and began my trek to the far off parking lot. I saw at least 6 students on a path stopping to take pictures of the sunset. Two minutes later I heard a noise. Looking back I saw a deer darting out of the yard I had just come from, running and jumping across the road in front of cars, in front of people, and back across the road to the back side of the Faculty Office Building. And then I saw a second deer, and then a third! They all did the same thing and followed each other. It happened in just a few seconds but I won't forget it. I was happy that the girl about to cross the street had seen the deer, because if she hadn't they surely would have run into her. The darted past her only three feet away. It was a great moment to share with random strangers on their way home in the gorgeous light.
Here's one photo I took from our deck:
Looks like a fire doesn't it?
A great moment.
I'll never forget the year that one cousin wanted to be Mary, then got shy. The other cousin loudly stated as the group was ready to enter the room, "Mary does not want to come!" I think Nicole and KC stepped in to play the parts of Mary and Joseph (and they were in college).
