Update on Jud and a few random thoughts...

Most of you know that Jud is in a hospital in Orlando.  I flew down Sunday afternoon to be with him and Andrea.  Here are some updates and random thoughts...

• Jud was alert today (Monday) and looking pretty good. The nurses kept saying, "You look so much better!"  Jud was telling the nurses that I am his brother... 
• Until today - they had a nurse sitting in the room with him 24 hours a day!  Today it was just Andrea, Megan, and me... so they must think he's doing MUCH better.  Soon after I got there - an infectious disease physician came in and talked to Jud & Andrea. It seems that it is a strainn of pneumonia and they have figured out the particular combo of meds that should clear it up.  Jud is very weak and was just taken off oxygen today.  He has gotten up Sunday and Monday to walk the hallway using a walker.  So I expect his recovery to take a couple of weeks (or more), but I do expect to see him back to his old self again before too long. I'm so glad I went down to spend some time with my good friend and colleague. 
• I was able to sit with Jud to relieve Andrea and Megan, and let them go enjoy Orlando on Monday afternoon.  I think Jud enjoyed "talking shop" and not all about his health for a couple of hours. 
• I mentioned on Sunday morning that I found a flight, but there were no rental cards available... I did find one rental car for $250 per day!! During the third service on Sunday I remembered that we have friends who own a vacation home in Orlando.  I remember that eight years ago they had talked about leaving a car at the house so they wouldn't have to rent one each time they flew down from Harrisburg.  I hadn't called their home phone in eights years... but God brought their phone number to my mind and so I called and left a message.  They called me back and told me that I could use their car!!  So when I landed, I hopped on a taxi, went to their house (13 miles from the airport) and found their hidden key and took the car. One other cool thing that God worked out is that they are flying down to Orlando on Tuesday - so instead of returning the car to the house  and getting another taxi - I left the car in long term parking and they will pick it up there on Tuesday morning!

Random thoughts...

• I told Sue if I ever get sick - to take me to the hospital in Celebration, Florida. It feels more like a resort than a hospital!
• I love priceline.com!  I got a very nice hotel for $51.  It was the Hyatt Regency right at the Orlando airport. If you ever fly into Orlando - when you get off of your plane, you get on a tram to get your luggage. As soon as you get off the tram - you walk into a "shopping" area.  If you look up - that is the Hyatt Regency right in the "lobby" of the airport.  It was a VERY nice hotel for $51!!  I'd stay there anytime.
• WAY TO GO NORTH!  I was told today that we are giving somewhere near $2000 of gift cards to the Nelsons!!  When I heard that news - I couldn't quit smiling.  Thanks for showering Mark and Gretchen with love.  Sometimes the larger a church gets - the harder it is to do these kinds of projects. When a church is small - everyone follows through.  When it is larger - everyone assumes that everyone else will follow through.  Thanks for acting like a small church - even as we continue to grow larger!
• My flight down on Sunday was memorable. It was a direct flight to Orlando. If you remember the wind was REALLY blowing on Sunday.  That made for a very intense take-off and first few minutes of flight. The hispanic woman sitting next to me was not enjoying it one bit. She went from grabbing the arm rests to grabbing me. And since I don't know Spanish, I don't know if she was praying or swearing, but I kept smiling and telling her it will be fine. I don't think there is any brusing on my thigh, but I will check again later. In front of us sat a young boy with some learning "challenges" (or at least it seemed).  He took pretzels off my tray and kept me laughing.  He LOVED the take-off and kept laughing and clapping. I'm sure it was more exciting than any ride he will take at Disney this week.  He also kept grabbing my hands and my book...  He wasn't annoying at all.  He was adorable.  I couldn't resist taking this picture...                                                                             

• I didn't get as much work done on the 3-hour flight as I would have liked to, but it was worth it. Dillon was a fun flying companion.

I'll be back at the office on Tuesday.  I hope all of this made sense...

Comments

[Maria Connor]

That is a GREAT hotel deal! I have never gotten such a sweet deal on priceline or hotwire. Good job :) Thanks for going to see Jud. I'm sure that meant a lot to both him and Andrea.

[Christina Smart]

I'm so glad everything worked out! I'm sure you were a big blessing to Jud and his family. Our friends from Orlando were out of town and didn't get back to me quickly, but I was glad to hear you found a solution to the car issue anyway!