One week away

It's hard to believe that in one week at this time (it's 5:00 AM as I write this) we will be up scurrying about in the darkness, getting the kids up and ready for school, and then getting to the hospital for the operation.
We have our pre-operation meeting with the surgeon this coming Friday, so we will get more details then (such as how long the procedure will take, how long will it be afterwards until Cathy joins us back in the world of the conscious, and when she might first be able to eat a real meal, which she wants to be a #2 sandwich (with the house sauce instead of mayonaise) from "Dave's Cosmic Subs," conveniently located about half a mile away, just off the Emory Campus.

--A WARNING--
Reading this blog will likely subject you to Chris' (her husband's) musings and random thoughts on lots of different topics. I assure you, however, that nobody will made as uncomfortable as will I. I have guarded my emotions and pride zealously for 40 years. In the last few weeks, they have been reduced to rubble.


I believe, or at least try to believe, that this is one of those rare, life-changing experiences, for which one actually gets some time to prepare. Sometimes the press of emergency makes things easier because one has no choice, but then you miss the "teachable moment." We try to find the moments, but it's often easier to rearrange furniture and sort clothes.

That is how so many of us live our daily lives. We move forward, keeping our heads down, hunker down when we hear incoming fire, and then spring up again when there is a lull to move forward. Of course, ambushes happen, and one must do whatever necessary to survive.


Most readers of this blog are probably associated with our communities of St. Thomas More Church and Decatur Presbyterian School/Church. Everyone else should know that these two communities have been immeasurably generous to us since before Lucy's birth, which was almost two years ago.

So many people have offered their help, and so many are waiting to be called. Please know that we will be asking for specific help as the situation develops. The real juggling will begin when Cathy comes home from the hospital.

As far as the kids go, (Saint) Kathleen Jones and her family have offered, nay, demanded, to keep all four of our kids while Cathy is in the hospital. The Jones' have been there for our children since Cathy's first hospitalization, and their generosity and love and service is the kind of which Jesus spoke. We will never be able to thank them enough, except in duplicating their generosity sometime to others is similar circumstances.

So, check in often, I'll try to temper my philosophical ramblings with actual facts about what's going on.
Today, for example, we are having professional cleaners come to the house to give it a good cleaning, courtesy of my parents. I would have done it myself, but I don't want to lose my "amatuer cleaner" status.

Please, please pray for us.
Chris H.