12/25/2023
Today is Christmas and the Lord said that this should be the joyful season. Although I have not addressed one card or shopped in a frenzy, I have more Christmas spirit than in any prior Christmas it seems. Joy can be found in good people and I have had my share of good people, more than I deserve perhaps.
Some people could look at our year of 2023 as very stressful and torublesome for us, but I have found my thoughts are elsewhere. My many friends and family have stood by us with phone calls, cards, personal visits, and best of all prayers. My gall bladder surgery that went south, my wonderfull spine surgery, Butch's hernia operation that he is still dealing with a hematoma and now his heart issues have given me great joy for those who were in our corner.
My joy is Butch's Apple watch that alarmed us that Butch was in grave danger, and our trip to Mariner's ER in Key Largo was the best care one could ask for. I always wanted Butch to see where I volunteer in the ER and meet the great nurses, but he picked the way to do it. The 6 days he stayed at Baptist Kendall Cardiac Ward in Miami was on a par with the Cleveland Clinic. The staff including doctors and nurses were always attentive, smiling, with the right sense of humor. They actually were happy to be at work helping patients. The doctors were not the 15 minute and out that we are used to either.
When we arrived at our cottage I met the woman accross from me who had rented her house out for 6 months so that she could take her mother cross country to see the USA. She could not rerurn to her house until Dec 20th so she was camped near me. She loved Digger becasue she recently lost her Great Dane. With only that 10 minute conversation I asked her if she could watch the zoo since the drive to Baptist was 50 miles when he was trasnferred from Key Largo by ambulance. She took care of them for 6 days.
When the guy whom I never met was pulling out his RV to leave I asked him if he wanted me to move my car to make it easier. He said no and then walked over to me and said that he and his wife prayed for us last night becasue he heard he was hospitalized.
When we look around and see all of the bad things happening it is easy to lose sight of the good around us. I am very joyous this season because I have met so many good people.
Merry Christmas and may yoiu find the joy of the season as well.