July 4 in hospital

Happy 4th of July to all! I thank God that I was born and raised in this country that He has blessed so richly. Here's a photo of a flag that I took one night while in Vero Beach recently. Vernon and I plan to watch fireworks tonight from the window of his room on the 9th floor of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at Orlando Regional Medical Center. He's been hospitalized since this past Sunday. He'd been in abdominal pain for 3 hours and woke me at 2 AM to drive him to the ER. After ultrasounds, an x-ray, CT scan and blood work over several days, it was decided that he'd passed a gall stone and his gall bladder needed removed. He had laparoscopic surgery Wednesday morning without complications, thank God. We are still here Friday because his G.I. tract hasn't returned to full functioning.

The office I'm in at Campus Crusade sent this dish garden to Vernon Wednesday afternoon.
This part of ORMC is very nice and comfortable. Each room includes a twin-size murphy bed, so I've spent the last two nights here with Vernon. Here's how we looked Thursday morning.
The tech who came in to take his vital signs took this picture of us. Do you like my colorful flannel pjs? A friend gave those to me last October and I chose to bring them to the hospital because the room was very cool.
I discovered a very nice "chapel" here on the 2nd floor. I'd call it more of a prayer room and here are the stained glass windows along one wall. Be sure to notice the one-syllable word at the bottom of each one.
These sofas face the windows in the opposite wall. Notice the mural behind the sofas.
On the bench in front of one sofa are some devotional books, a Bible and a journal. Inside the journal are hand-written prayer requests and also prayers that people have written while in the room.

My favorite part of the room doesn't show well in a photograph. Imagine a 6 foot mirror on the entry wall with water running down the surface, almost silently. Engraved on the mirror are these words: "Surely the Presence of the Lord is in this place. May God wash away your concern and fill you with an overflowing feeling of hope and love."

I noticed while standing in front of it that besides seeing my reflection, the water also appeared to wash over me as if to indeed wash away my worries and concern. It was a wonderful experience. The whole room is explained by this statement on a mirror opposite the waterfall: "We were inspired by God, Dr. Clarence Brown and Anne Peach to create a place where blessings abound, and where you will be lifted up, and will leave with a feeling of faith, hope, love, and healing." ~Cynthia C. & William E. Perry.

Also yesterday, while on an elevator, I noted the invitation below:
So I went to the tea room and enjoyed talking to some other women there. One was an 80+ year old volunteer who helps serve tea every Thursday afternoon and loves it. After selecting a tea cup and saucer and a small piece of cake, I added "clotted cream" and honey to the cup before hot tea was added. This was a nice treat and another experience making this hospital a pleasant place for visitors and patients alike.

The last bit of news I'll share at this time is our new car. Last Saturday morning, Vernon and I purchased this car, just in time before his hospital stay. It is a 2007 Hyundai Azera and we like it alot. Our other car is 10 years old, has 150,000 miles and is having some problems.
We hope to be home again tomorrow, Saturday. Thank you for praying for Vernon's complete healing. I have been able to miss work this week and be with him, so I am grateful.