Sleeping on the Couch!
While our daughter’s husband was away last
week, I was asked to spend two nights at their house as back-up for her mom and
step-dad who were there visiting from California. It would be a full house,
including daughter Shanda’s two sons Nate (14) and Elliot (12), their Bernedoodle
and me. In case she needed something during the night, the probability that at
least one of us would hear her and wake up was pretty good!
Shanda
would be staying in a lift-type recliner during the day and sleeping in it at
night as well. As her cancer progressed, sitting in the recliner was the most
comfortable arrangement for her. It was located in the family room, the hub of
activity in their household. Shanda’s faithful companion, Huey, hung out there
too, often lying at her feet or putting his head in her lap.
It
was at Shanda’s urging nearly seven years ago that we decided to put our house
in Springville, California up for sale and move to Michigan. At that time, Al
and I were thinking that she and her husband Chris wanted us to move so that it
would be easier to take care of us as we grew older. Little did we dream that
the reverse situation would happen and that we would be helping to take care of
her.
Looking back, it is apparent that the Lord’s
hand was in that decision. Both Al and I are so happy that we followed His
prompting. We have also been able to strengthen relationships with our Michigan
family and have had more opportunities to be involved with Nate and Elliot
during their adolescent years.
Before
leaving home for the “sleep-over,” I got a few things together, including my
down sleeping bag used on many camping trips in the high Sierras over the
years. No problem about getting cold in that down bag!
Once
when Al and I hiked to Guitar Lake on the west side of Mt. Whitney, we decided
to sleep out under the stars. We were planning on getting an early start the
next morning to make the ascent up the 14,500-foot peak. At that high
elevation, the night was very cold. I had to curl up in the bag with my head
completely covered; but it did keep me warm.
Unless
the air conditioning was turned way down at Shanda’s house, there would not be
a problem of getting too chilly! As it turned out, the rest of the family and
Huey all slept upstairs, and I put my sleeping bag on the couch beside her
recliner.
She
and I both slept fairly well on Thursday night. When the first light filtered
in through the skylight, I woke up. Shanda was already awake, anticipating the
visit from the health care nurse who would be staying with her through the day.
It
wasn’t long before Elliot came downstairs with Huey. After letting him outside
and feeding him, Elliot went back to bed; however, the adults in the house were
up for the day. When the nurse arrived, I headed home, leaving my sleeping bag
behind to use again that evening.
Sleep
came harder on Friday night. After midnight, I realized that it was Nate’s
birthday and asked Shanda about some of the details of his birth, fourteen
years prior. She shared that it was a long labor, lasting about twelve hours.
Towards
the end of her labor, Shanda said she was so tired that she asked the doctor if
she could stop pushing and take a little nap! He agreed, and she closed her
eyes. Not for long though, because after the next contraction Nate arrived!
Happy birthday, Nate!
When
the nurse came on Saturday morning, I collected my things and returned home,
happy for our sleep-over and late night conversations.
By
the way, Al and I had to wait until another time to climb Mt. Whitney. When we
reached the pass for the final ascent, a blast of cold air hit us, causing one
of Al’s lenses to fall out of his glasses! We decided to turn around and take
the trail to the parking lot at Whitney Portal.
Life—full
of twists and turns, joys and sorrows, ups and downs… Yet through it all, we
know that the good Lord is with us.
“The
Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor
forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV
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