I knew we had to go to the grocery store, but how was I going to manage? Howard had used his walker to go into the restaurant for a seniors' breakfast that morning, but that wouldn't do to buy groceries, and he wanted to go in. I parked the car and went inside for a wheelchair cart. I'd done this before, but it was heavy to push with both him and the groceries. Then I spotted a motorized cart across the store, and buried my apprehensions about operating one. But in a few moments I was victoriously headed to the car to collect my husband!
Whew, these groceries were piling high in the cart. How would I bag them and transport them to the car? Just then we saw a friend from our Bible study, and he came over, helped bag them, loaded the cart and pushed them to the car, then loaded them for us. We had already arranged for our son Greg to be at the house to take them in. He and his son showed up and effortlessly took them all to the kitchen.
All through Howard's recent hospital stay and recuperation at home, God had gone before us and smoothed the way that I was so concerned about. Our daughter Julie and husband Steve had come from Tennessee to take us home from the hospital, then stayed two weeks to assist me in Howard's care. They left on a Thursday evening, and daughter Amy flew in that night to help me for several days. The day after she left, Greg flew home from his job in Canada and has been invaluable in loading the wheelchair and taking us to church and doing errands. Everything has just dove-tailed into place as if choreographed by heaven itself!
Before we could go home, it was a requirement that we have a hand rail to our door. Our son Mark offered to build one. On a quick overnight journey home, he would attempt this while our daughter-in-law Rhonda and I would go call for our mail and take care of other details. The whole venture would hinge on Mark's getting tools from Greg's garage, getting the parked truck to start, (providing I had the right keys to gate, car and garage) and getting the materials before our 12:00 noon deadline when they had to head home! Miraculously, everything fell into place in time! Only God!
This whole experience has been a journey of faith and a lesson in trust. I didn't think I could stay in rehab with my husband 24 hours a day and cope with the rigors of a huge hospital. But by God's grace I got through every day! Our first room assignment, while adequate for Howard, required me to shower on the 10th floor and use restroom facilities on the 5th floor! The very next day, though, we were offered a much larger room with all private facilities! It was like a tastefully decorated little apartment, our home for the next three weeks!
I often felt like a conjoined twin as I assisted my husband with everything. I couldn't risk his falling after surgery and a small stroke, so I have been at his side day and night. But I think I'm seeing light at the end of the tunnel! He is walking better every day and his strength is increasing. Feeling ill from allergies and sinuses, I actually slept in a different bedroom last night for the first time. I think we both rested better.
This scripture was shared with us as an encouragement from Howard's heart surgery: "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he will strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." Psalm 27:14.
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