Foundations

Jon once had a schedule that went like this- 


Monday thru Friday


7:00 am- wake up and eat 


7:30 am- have Rebecca drive me to work in our one car


8:00am- 5ish pm- lay hardwood floors for Roy Garret Flooring Co.


Pick up and back home by 6:00 pm


Eat dinner


Sleep until 7:30 on night of class at Memphis State University; no class that night sleep until 10:00 pm


 10:00 pm- Drive the one car we owned to Federal Express Hub to work from 10:30 pm to 4:00 am.


Return home and sleep until 7:00


Sleep as much as possible on the weekends and spend time with Rachel, who was a year old...


And with Rebecca, my wife.



Sometimes when Jon was sleeping I would crack open the door just enough not to bother him and peek in just to see him. I was starved for adult interaction and just a glimpse of him made me feel better. I could then return to my endless days of Sesame Street, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and toddler activities with our little red-headed Rachel. It was during these crazy days I also became pregnant with Carly. 


Despite the insanity of those days we were learning a lot about ourselves and each other. Nothing was particularly easy and most days were tiring but we were making our way in life together with hard work and lots of love. There has always been an abundance of that.


I am grateful today for that foundation we forged then and see how important it was for our future challenges. We learned to lean on each other and to trust in one another.We figured out what our roles were and went about them cheerfully..most days.


We ate ramen noodles and watched tv with Rachel asleep in our arms for a date night.


I learned how to can peaches, tomatoes and pickles. I put up strawberry jam and frozen peaches and strawberries. I made applesauce and painted walls. I sewed curtains and hung wallpaper. I searched for needed items at garage sales and thrift stores. I sang songs and said prayers with my little girl before she went to sleep. 


And Jon worked and worked and educated himself to get better work; and didn't complain; Just slept. 


One night when he had been struggling with a fever and chills and a sore throat his sister, who is a nurse, gave him some antibiotics to help him get well. It was hard on our tiny budget when he couldn't work. His sister explained the dosage he should take but after his evening nap he was feeling much worse and looked rather pale. It became evident that he needed a doctor so I took him to the emergency room. After some preliminary tests one thing was determined, his blood pressure was extremely low and he needed an IV immediately. The dosage he had been taking was too high. 


I remember sitting in the hospital room with him and just talking with him. The sterile and silent environment was comforting in a way and I remember cracking jokes and laughing with him there. His rush to the hospital room that night was a blessing. I had the chance to sit with him without a hurried moment and without interruption. He missed work that night and our meager budget survived.  


I am aware each day that I am receiving blessings. I just have to have the eyes to see and the heart to recognize them. Today I see them in abundance and my heart is happy.