The Thursday (my favorite day of the week) Before Good Friday (my favorite day of the year)

I went to work.
Then I went to the hospital.
When I got there, he was having a snooze ...
listening to Slim Whitman.
(Notice his clean hair... Jule got him in the shower today. My sister is my HERO.)
So I called Jule.
The best cell phone reception is in the hallway halfway between floors. From the third floor, you go down this partial stairway...

.... and find yourself in the equipment graveyard.

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It's bright and sunny there - LOTS of windows.

Great cell phone reception.

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Outside the windows, there is no evidence of Spring. Nary a bud on those there branches.

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The stairwell down to the "Family Birthing Centre"...

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Looking up in the stairwell ...

Dad's roommate.

I tried to help him tonight, but the nurses were angry with me for not wearing rubber gloves or a mask.

Dad, loving having ol' Slim crooning in his ear...

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Oh? You're awake?

How're you?

It was a hard visit.

He only had one track working this evening. He had it in his mind that his friend, Johnny from California was going to visit him tonight.

"Act surprised when he gets here, OK?" he said.

For four hours we talked about Johnny coming.
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He watched the clock and counted down til 7:15 pm, when he was sure Johnny would arrive.

At 8 pm, I showed him it was all dark outside, and time for bed.

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"You mean Johnny's not coming tonight?"

"Nope, not tonight."

"Maybe tomorrow?"
"Maybe..."

God?

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This is getting harder and harder. He goes from strong to weak, from alert to confused, from clear to foggy ... and ... God? We don't know what to do, or how to pray.
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God? We are trusting You with his life. God, we pray Your will be done. Amen

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The 40 minute drive home isn't long enough to wipe the sadness from my heart. But the 40 minute drive takes too long, in that I want to be there as soon as possible.

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The transition is never easy.

I come home wasted.
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My kids are getting the worst of me. Some days I'm just barely hanging on.

I don't think they've noticed. Clint and Max are both working mega hours this week and Drew's been sick. Maybe that's a good thing?

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God? Please fill in wherever I'm failing. 4 - 5 hours at the hospital everyday is taking it's toll. Be with Jule and her family too. God, we need your strength, your patience, your wisdom in how to juggle this all. Be with mom. Direct her paths and send your Comforter to her. Be with Clint as he prepares for the Easter service at his church. Be with dad as he gets moved to a different area of the hospital. help him not be disoriented or scared in his new surroundings. God? Help. Amen.

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The latest load of techno crap in my family room:

And, my Drewbs:

Three things I'm thankful for:

1. I have a home to come home to. And usually, there's someone there. Sometimes they're cordial when they see me. Sometimes they just ask me to order pizza.

2. A solid night's sleep after that one spent on the bathroom floor. It was too awesome for words.

3. Clint playing Super Smash Bros... Mario and Bowser are old friends around here. We've been a Nintendo family for 17 years.

Shalom,