Delightful Daughters and Tender Mercies

I got home today after 3 nights in the hospital with Xander.  They took him off of IV antibiotics yesterday and started him on an oral.  Of course within 5 hours of getting him home, he developed a fever again.  When it hit, I was just past security at the airport and about to board a plane to Boise.  I’ll be coming home tomorrow, so Christi said to just go and if she had to take X-man back to the hospital, she’d figure something out.  This is starting to take a toll….

Shortly after I got home I was talking with Parker.  Somehow the subject of Christi came up and I said, “I love mom so much.”  Sophi had been listening and quickly piped up, “Don’t forget me!”  “Don’t forget you?  OK.  I love you, too, Sophi.”  “I love you, too, Dad.  You’re my best friend!”  How cute is that?

Took Lexi, Jess and Sophi to swimming lessons in the couple of hours I had between coming home from the hospital and leaving for the airport.  It’s pretty delightful to watch these three in the water.  I stay right with Soph, but can observe the other two.  Today was the beginning of a new class, with new teachers.  Sophi’s teacher was so cute with her.  He’s a teenage boy, and yet he was so sweet and careful to be aware of her needs.  I love taking them to their lessons.

On the way home I was talking to Jesi about having to leave again.  She asked, “When will you be home?  Thursday?”

 “No.  I’ll be back tomorrow.”

 “Dad, I don’t mean to make you feel bad, but isn’t that a waste of money to go for such a short trip.”

“Well, Jess, my work pays for it, so I don’t really have to worry about that.”

“What do you do for work again?”

“I sell medicine.” 

“How do you sell medicine?”

“I talk to doctors and tell them about how my medicine helps their patients.”

Jess, in an utterly incredulous voice “You talk to doctors???  That’s your work???  How is that work???  How much do you get paid.?!?”

Once I could quit laughing, I tried to explain, but to no avail.  My daughter is convinced that her father does nothing of value when he goes out each day to bring home the bacon.  She’s probably not the only one…J.

Last night I had one of those “tender mercies” experiences.  Xander had ordered dinner, and I was going to the rec center next door to the hospital to work out.  I got changed into my gym clothes, grabbed my bag and left.  I had purposely parked at the top of the parking garage so I could get some exercise as I walked up and down the three flights of stairs.  I left Xander’s room on the third floor, walked down a long hallway, down two flights of stairs to the main level.  I left the building and crossed the street to the parking garage.  I walked up three flights of stairs to the top…and realized I’d left my keys in Xander’s room.  I was just stood there frustrated for awhile.  I didn’t want to go  back and get the keys.  I thought maybe I’d run laps around the parking garage.  As I looked around trying to figure out what to do, I realized I was missing the best opportunity of all.  Primary Children’s Hospital is built in the foothills of Salt Lake City.  Right behind it is part of the Wasatch Front.  Here I was, planning to work out on a stair climber in a gym, when one of my very favorite activities was within a 2-minute walk.  So I started from right there and went on a 2-mile round trip hike up the mountain.  I gained about 900 feet in elevation and was treated to magnificent views.  Some people wouldn’t think much of this experience.  I truly believe this was a tender mercy from a loving Father in Heaven.  He knows how much I love to hike.  Several things had to align for me to experience this last night.  I had to choose to park on the roof of the parking garage (so I could see the mountains from my car).  I’ve never done this before today.  I had to forget my keys.  I had to go to work out early enough that there was still light.  I love to surprise my kids with little things I know will make them excited.  I think Heavenly Father finds a similar joy as he provides these types of experiences for us.

Life is wonderful!  Three days and nights at a hospital help you appreciate the beauty around you when you are home.  You become more attuned to the joy that can be found in the simplest events and exchanges. 

A big huge hug to Christi who continues to hold down the fort while I am gone on business.  I love you, sweetheart.  Good luck.  Hope Xander doesn’t have to go in again.

Jer