Most of you know that several year ago, we had a season that the Lord provided us with so many funny happenings that gave me a lot of blog stories. With Randy having Parkinsons, our season of life is quite different from years gone by. Our days have changed but our humorous attitudes have not! Still, so often there comes a circumstance that just, well you just have to laugh at it because some days become routine with us staying home so much more than before. Saturday was one of the days that just caused us both to not be able to quit laughing. We were headed to Target to get a SIM card for his phone when I realized that we were near the Outlet’Mall. It has been several years since going out there and there are stores I love to go to when we go! Well, we used our brand new handicap permit and parked right in front of the first store I wanted to visit. Randy got his Walker out of the back seat and proceeded to go sit in the nearest bench while I went in to spend his money. I’ve so very good at doing that. It is a wonderful talent of mine! So when I exited the store with a bag in my hand with my new purse, he told me he wanted to go to the Columbia store which was just a few stores down, so off we went with him and his Walker which we have named Speedy, and me limping since I was not able to go until this morning to get a steroid shot in my knee! Advil only works so well! We slowly make our way to the next store which is about 10 stores down from where the car was parked. Once again he finds the nearest bench and waits for me. I came out after a few min and he looked shocked when I didn’t carry any new bags with me! When I told him I really wanted to go to the Chicos store he just looked at me and said “of course you do! I knew we wouldn’t get away from here without going to Chicos” When I backed into the street to see if I could find it, I still didn’t see it but I knew it was on this side of the outdoor mall! But I also knew my knee had gone as far as it could go! It was already swelling and I knew that even if I could walk to Chicos, Randy would have to be lifting me up on the handle bars of his Walker to take me back to the car! So it was then that he said, “why don’t I go get the car and come back and pick you up and drive you to the Chicos store?” And you wonder why I love him so!!!
Well I argued for a minute with him about that as I knew it was hard for him to walk all the way back to the car, half of the way in the parking lot and half on sidewalk. Walkers are not made to be used in rough parking lots ! We found that out the hard way!
But then the talent part of me where I spend money, kicked in and I agreed! So off Randy goes pushing the Walker (while his wife who looks like she isn’t hurting or has any problem walking (when I sit down I look pretty normal) into the parking lot at a very slow pace, toward our car while I sit and watch him, All the while picking up the Walker to lift it over the speed bumps and uneven cracks. When I began to think of what it just look like to anyone watching this, they must have thought how horrible to have such a spoiled wife who sits with the items she had bought with his money, while she makes her husband who has to use a Walker, go get the car for her! When he got back and I waddled and limped to the car, I was laughing so hard, I couldn’t tell him why! Finally seeing the Chicos store I was able to tell him why all the laughter. What people must be thinking, made us both laugh and it just felt so good! As we go through some difficult days with health issues, the Lord is so gracious to give us special days of laughter and be able to find joy in the most unexpected places. While I was in Chicos, Randy found the most comfortable patio chair under the shade and just enjoyed the sunshine and wind. I had already prepared him not to expect me to come out of Chicos without bags. And I didn’t disappoint him! I had 2 bags of goodies to show him! He just smiled and told me I could go get the car this time! Laughter and shopping….so good for the soul! And today is our 27th anniversary! God has truly blessed our lives with so many wonderful days, even in the midst of a few valleys! Happy Anniversary to a most loving and precious husband who continues to love me no matter what!