Holy fun! A Note From Jan. Jud's Journal Entry Twenty-Five
Day +20 November 4, Election Day—When numbers count almost as much as on Lunder 10
Jud’s counts: Sunday +18 White Blood Count (WBC) 3.82 Monday +19 WBC 8.72 Yes!!!! Tuesday +20 WBC 10.7
When I lumbered into 1032, toting clean laundry and Jud’s absentee ballot, Jud looked up and smiled. “I like you in jeans.” Surprised he noticed. “When you wear some of those flowing kinds of outfits, it makes me think of Aimee Semple McPherson.” “What?!”
Now, for those of you lacking in church history (which is most of us), Aimee was an evangelist. A big deal in the 20s and 30s in this country, though she hailed from Canada. (Contrary to what you’re thinking, Jud and I were not alive then. Jud must’ve had a great Church History professor at Denver Seminary!) I first learned about Aimee the summer I house sat for Dick and Jody Gross. Actually, they gave me a place to stay while I attended summer school to complete my teaching credentials, way back in 1964. Dick is a fan of folk and bluegrass music. He had a record (YES, a record!) by Pete Seeger who introduced me to Sister Aimee, a pentecostal evangelist. She founded the Foursquare church in Los Angeles.
Pete Seeger recorded the song but someone else wrote the lyrics that follow:
“Did you ever hear the story of Aimee McPherson? Aimee McPherson, that wonderful person, She weighed a hundred eighty and her hair was red And preached a wicked sermon, so the papers said. Hi dee hi dee hi dee hi Ho dee ho dee ho dee ho”
So, as you can imagine, I was not beaming kind thoughts towards Jud. I’d hoped whatever flowing outfits I’d worn to MGH had conjured some angelic image. Not a long deceased flaming red-haired evangelist! Well, huff and puff and grab me some jeans! I keep hoping it’s the drugs looping around in his mind, distorting reality.
A few of you suggest—kindly but ever so mistakenly—that Jud and I have leaped from being two suffering strugglers to sainthood. Fat chance. We are not holy. Ask our children. Hole-y, yes! Holy, no.
However, the journey feels sacred. And scary. Awful and amazing. Ups and downs and loop arounds. Sometimes with God sightings. Mostly, nothing but breathe, wait, hope.
Today, after Jud filled out his ballot, he put his head on my lap and slept. Sacred. After he woke up, he ate. He ATE! No feeding bags on his IV pole. He ate spaghetti. He ate peaches. He ate apple-cranberry pie, after removing the crust. Joy!
A while later, after scooping up the laundry and kissing him goodbye, Jud smiled through his cracked lips and said, “That was fun!” Seeing me in jeans? Voting? Taking a nap? Eating real food? A masked kiss? Holy fun!
28 Comments
Keep up the good fight! Praying for you each and every day. SO great to hear about eating real food. A big step in the right direction. :)
Praying for you during board meeting and at the wives' brunch this morning with Gail, Shelly, Maxine, Leslie and me! Such good news you wrote, and fun, and holy moments! Much love!
Wonderful news about the numbers...and the flowing, flaming, angelic Jan floating through Jud's vision...
You look and sound like an angel to us. Your notes lift our hearts and bring us joy, hope, and laughter. What a blessing. It is also good to see the numbers we want to rise actually doing so! Amen and Amen!
Jay & Barb
We rejoyce with you!
We keep on praying for fully and speedy recovery!
And, you are beautiful no matter what you wear!
Love you and love you more!
Dear Jud and Jan,
Great news indeed! But Aimee Semple McPherson??!!
Bless you both in the journey. We stand with you.
Roger and Karen
so thankful to hear the counts keep rising! And that Jud is able to enjoy pie again :-).
Grateful to God (and the wonderful medical professionals!) that the up hill climb just got a little less steep and Jud is improving. Keep breathing...and wearing jeans. You are both in my prayers everyday. Love to you always.
So thankful for this news. We continue to pray!
Yay!!! Humor, love, joy, struggle, healing, God's delight in you & in all of us. What a wonderful God we have! Our prayers are continuing for you both.
Beckie & David
We are wholly thankful for higher numbers, whole food taken, and especially Jud's humor!
Times arrow is moving in the right direction. Tremendous news.....
Jan, I think she also rode a Motorcycle on stage to preach. I can see you as a "holy roller." Jud can too, I bet. Blessings.
Holy Moly Lord God Almighty! The journey continues and we thank God for this day of blessed news all wrapped up in joy and laughter, humility and love. Sending more love and more prayers.
WOW! HALLELUJAH !!!!
Praise to the Lord,...for His grace,... for the medical team He provided, and... all His pray-ers !
And thank you, Jan, for your transparency-- to make us laugh at life's challenges (big and little), and at the same time remind us of our God and all His attributes. Thank you, Lord, for J & J, two special servants. Continue to bless them with Your strength, healing, protection, grace, joy, wisdom, love, peace, more laughter, and all else that they need to walk through this time in their journey. We thank You for what You've done and for what You are yet to do.
You have never covered up your humanity to be mistaken for sainthood. I think the fact that you allow us to see your humanity is part of this holy journey.. with God being given the lime light! He shines through your "real" selves. We are all blessed to be walking with you on this journey and watch as the Lord sustains you and gives your strength and joy in the midst of a hard path! I also joy in the increase in numbers!!!!! The caring Bridges site is what I look for first when I open my email. Thank you and God Bless!!!!
BTW YOU being there was, I'm sure, the fun part!!!
Laughing out loud reading that! Holy laughter. So happy.
Apple - cranberry pie .. What is that ?? Must I cater peanut butter cupcakes to all of Lunder !!
😍 The Net Holds Fast . PTL !!
We were pretty sure that Jud would have his eating skills rarin' to go for Thanksgiving Day, but.....it's only November 4. The nutritionists sent him PIE??? That's " more than we can ask or think." It's going to be the best-ever Thanksgiving with your family. Be sure to have pie with your praises.
We are wholly thankful for higher numbers, whole food taken, and especially Jud's humor!
Times arrow is moving in the right direction. Tremendous news.....
Jan, I think she also rode a Motorcycle on stage to preach. I can see you as a "holy roller." Jud can too, I bet. Blessings.
Holy Moly Lord God Almighty! The journey continues and we thank God for this day of blessed news all wrapped up in joy and laughter, humility and love. Sending more love and more prayers.
WOW! HALLELUJAH !!!!
Praise to the Lord,...for His grace,... for the medical team He provided, and... all His pray-ers !
And thank you, Jan, for your transparency-- to make us laugh at life's challenges (big and little), and at the same time remind us of our God and all His attributes. Thank you, Lord, for J & J, two special servants. Continue to bless them with Your strength, healing, protection, grace, joy, wisdom, love, peace, more laughter, and all else that they need to walk through this time in their journey. We thank You for what You've done and for what You are yet to do.
You have never covered up your humanity to be mistaken for sainthood. I think the fact that you allow us to see your humanity is part of this holy journey.. with God being given the lime light! He shines through your "real" selves. We are all blessed to be walking with you on this journey and watch as the Lord sustains you and gives your strength and joy in the midst of a hard path! I also joy in the increase in numbers!!!!! The caring Bridges site is what I look for first when I open my email. Thank you and God Bless!!!!
BTW YOU being there was, I'm sure, the fun part!!!
Laughing out loud reading that! Holy laughter. So happy.
Apple - cranberry pie .. What is that ?? Must I cater peanut butter cupcakes to all of Lunder !!
😍 The Net Holds Fast . PTL !!
We were pretty sure that Jud would have his eating skills rarin' to go for Thanksgiving Day, but.....it's only November 4. The nutritionists sent him PIE??? That's " more than we can ask or think." It's going to be the best-ever Thanksgiving with your family. Be sure to have pie with your praises.