Update 4/22/10 Day 164

Dear friends,

Things are hopping here in the Smith house. This weekend, Smitty’s mom is coming to town, along with all Steve’s brothers, sisters and their offspring, to celebrate his mother’s 80th birthday. It’s a surprise, but I’m not quite sure how we’ll pull off all the details. I think this will be a happy birthday for Grandma, especially since her son and granddaughter will be alive to share it with her. I’ve mentioned it before, but Stephen’s mom calls him every night since the accident. When she first arrived in the ICU the day after the crash, Stephen responded to her voice and squeezed her hand even though he was unconscious. That primal voice, that voice you heard even from the womb, must be very powerful. Anyway, I hope she has the time of her life. Her brother and sisters are coming from parts afar as well. Normally we would do this type of party in Virginia. But as well as Stephen is doing, a 7 hour car ride is still a bit much. I hope to post a picture of the whole gang on Saturday night.

So as you can imagine, I’m trying to get my house at least a little bit cleaned up for the pre and post party festivities. I washed my kitchen floor today to the Newsboys singing “He Reigns”. I love that song, and it’s great housework music. Check it out on You Tube if you’ve never heard it. I played it a few times, and kind of got caught up in a little twirling while I washed. It was just me and the Great One, happy together in the kitchen, cranking through the mundane stuff of life. My heart was light after unloading some wrong motives and snippy attitudes through the powerful and necessary process of repentance. I don’t know what I would do without a Savior. The rough and tumble of every day life along with the selfishness of the fallen nature create a virtual greenhouse for sin. It stinks. But it doesn’t have to be our boss, because as the apostle says “Sin shall not be your master, for you are not under law, but under grace.” That’s something to twirl about!

A few great things about today:

Judy the Good stopped in for a cup of tea. I was delighted to stop sweeping and mopping to while away an hour with such a fine soul.

The hospital was packed tonite, but we all worked very hard to get every patient the right bed. It felt good to do our little part in keeping Albany Med humming.

Delightful to read the comments and emails about Baggins’ and Took’s from yesterday’s post.

Bilbo Baggins made it out of the Goblin cave in one piece (barely).

Washed that gray right out of my hair.

Do some twirls, friends. And sing, really loud.

Your friend on the pilgrim road,

Loriann