Week of Joy - Day 4

 When I woke up this morning, my first instinct was to feel sad that this day was the day before the weekend that Juan-Dre would go home. I consoled myself with the Modah Ani and the thought that I would hopefully see him in PE for his birthday in just 2 months.

    I got up and did my morning things, phoned the hospital for an update on my mom and tried to slot in a couple of pieces of our 500 piece puzzle.

    When the Beloved One awoke, he ate and washed and we worked on our puzzle a little more until he could go and visit his friend. This is the picture he took at 11.05 this morning:

We're building it for the 2nd time, and it is going a bit faster than  the first time. Just as enjoyable though!

    While he was attending to the puzzle, I went outside and planted some potatoes that had started sprouting in my vegetable rack. And now it is raining softly to water them. I'm expecting a batch of Heirloom seed potatoes today or tomorrow which will go into a big red, deep planter that a friend gave me. Arriving together with the potatoes is a Spinach Tree, for which a planter had already been prepared. I hope that with God's help I will soon be able to feed myself from my little garden - mostly pots.

    In his absence I called ICU and left a message of love for my mom with one of the Sisters instead of visiting her this afternoon - my niece should be going this evening. I have also made him a small batch of  Pea Pancakes with cinnamon & sugar - he loves them! (I had one, and they are delicious).

    When he returns from playing with Connor later this afternoon, I will have - God willing - prayed Mincha with some friends and we will ease into our familiar evening routine. He comes home saying he's not hungry but 30 minutes later he eats his dinner. He has been eating quite well, but I felt his bones this morning when I was hugging him and I think he uses all the energy from his food - he is very active!

    He said matter-of-factly: "I'm just skinny, granny!"

    I am very blessed to have had him with me for such a length of time - and I still have a few days to go. Even if he goes out during the day, I have him for most of the mornings and all of the evenings.

    He is such a life- force - when he leaves there is always a void!