Easter Sunday

Easter has always been one of my favorite holidays.  The hope and promise of the risen Lord shines through in the music, the excitement in the early morning, and the promise of spring in the air.  This Easter was much quieter than other years, but a good day none the less.  Dad's retching has calmed down quite a bit.  Last night could not be called pleasant, but was better as there were longer lengths of time where his stomach was calm enough to allow him to rest and sleep.  We are so grateful for your prayers, and for a God who hears the cries of his children.

When I got here on Tuesday, Dad was spending a large part of his day in the living room, either on the couch or in the chair, and as will come to no surprise to those of you who followed his journey last year, he was walking laps in the house a few times a day.  Yesterday (Saturday), he was able to move to walk to the living room and spent a few hours with us sitting up in a chair, mostly drifting in and out of sleep, but no walking around other than the trip from the bedroom to the living room.  Mom and I were discussing the modern day traditions of Passover and didn't really think Dad was paying attention, but he surprised both of us by joining in the conversation a bit and defining a Hebrew term we were discussing. 

Today, he was not able to make it to the living room and spent the day in his room, and not much talking.  He is noticeably weakening as dehydration and electrolyte imbalance settle in deeper.  However, as I was sitting with him this morning, and just talking about not much of anything, I mentioned that I might go out and prune the blackberry bushes sometime this week, he did rouse enough to say "hedge trimmers... behind the blazer"  That is so my Dad. :)

We received a few phone calls today from family and friends and it is always good to talk.  While Dad is not up to talking to anyone in person, Mom and I passed on the greetings that were sent via phone and facebook to Dad, and he was smiling at the pictures of cute kids in their Easter finery.  A friend from the church in Bellingham asked that we tell Dad that he prayed through Matthew 25 for Dad today.  We passed that message on, and while I wasn't positive he understood, this evening he asked me to read him the passage, which I did (the parable of the talents "well done good and faithful servant"). As Dad was drifting in and out as I read, I continued on through the end of Matthew to read the the Easter story.  Dad woke up enough at one point to apologize for sleeping, and I reassured him that it was just fine and asked if it was OK if I sang some hymns while he slept.  He nodded his assent and I sang "how great thou art" in my warbling way, again not sure how much Dad was aware of what was being said/sung, but when I got to the verse
 "And when I think
that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die,
I scarce can take it in -
That on the cross,
my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died
to take away my sin!"

Dad lifted up his hand and pointed to himself and raised his hand in adoration.
When I finished he asked for "And Can it Be" which I sang and then went on to sing other favorites of mine and his.  He had eyes closed and not too responsive for most of this, but a couple of times I asked if I should continue and he nodded that I should.  It was a sweet time of fellowship with him.

Thank you all for your prayers and words of encouragement for all of us.  We sense them mightily and are grateful for each one of you.  Praise God that we serve a Risen Savior.  His grace is sufficient