Sunday, September 20, 2009

Sleeping With Memories

I always love sleeping in the spare room at Steve's parent's house. Last night as I got into bed, I looked over to my right and saw the white wicker chair where I had "arranged" Sarah as a newborn so that I could take her picture. And at the foot of the bed was the dresser with the drawer where Nathan slept as an infant.

As life goes on and time goes by, touching base with those precious memories is especially good for the soul.

And now those little teeny Smithlet babies are fourteen and twenty years old, which means I'm a few years older, as well. I'm older and wiser and I'm sleeping with memories.

And speaking of memories, when I borrowed my mom-in-law's ironing board yesterday, she happened to mention that she got it for a wedding gift. A wedding gift? That means her ironing board is fifty-five years old!

In a world where so many things are "obsolete" in just five years (or even in six months, or ten minutes) I found it quite wondrous to use an ironing board that has lasted through five and a half decades and has been carted to Pennsylvania, England, Hawaii, New Mexico (twice), Denmark, Nebraska, and North Carolina, to name just a few of the stops the Ken Smith family made along the way.

That's the ironing board that held Steve's clothes when he was a 7-year old, a 15-year old and a 22-year old, and last night it stood and faithfully held the clothes of the 52-year old man who emerged from those earlier ages.

The older I get, the faster time goes and the quicker each day passes. I'm especially grateful that ironing boards and dresser drawers and wicker chairs still hold the memories that time left behind.

______________________________

Caleb Update:

Debbie called last night and said that they were getting ready to discharge Caleb yesterday afternoon when he threw up.

No big deal. It isn't unusual for someone who has been through everything that he has endured to throw up.

But then he threw up again. And again. And his doctor got more concerned and said that throwing up indicated there had been more trauma done to the brain than originally thought. And so Randy drove home last night to get ready to preach this morning and Debbie stayed behind at the hospital with her sweet son.

She said that several times yesterday he said to her, "Come over to my bed and pray with me, Mama." And Debbie would go over to him and pray and cry. There's nothing quite as sacred as a loving mother's prayers, punctuated with tears.

Thanks for your continued prayers for Caleb and also for his Mom and Dad. Steve and I are very well acquainted with the emotions that come and visit the hospital room of a sick child. Our hearts are very much with the Mantik family today.

4 Had Something To Say (Just click here!):

Anonymous said...

Becky,

Just wanted to let you know that I'm still praying. My heart goes out to Caleb and his family - and to you and Steve.

Sandy

Pam D said...

Still praying here for Caleb; I am thankful that his symptoms showed up before he left the hospital. And I'm so glad that knows the value of prayer and was asking for it instead of TV or video games. I loved your memories, too, Becky. In an IKEA world. where everything is disposable, I wonder what people will do when there's nothing around to remind them of their past?
hugs...

Anonymous said...

Prayers for Caleb (and Debbie and family too). Please keep us posted.

Jodi

Anonymous said...

Becky
just read about Caleb. I am so sorry. Have they figured out what happened to make him fall off his bike, and fracture his skull? If he was wearing a helmet, it didn't protect too much, did it?

mrs pam