December 3 – (see yesterday’s post for the first half of this story)
Just about this time, Rindy loudly called, “Time to eat. Lots of good food!” Since Dale and I hadn’t eaten breakfast or lunch, and it was about 2:30 in the afternoon, we really were hungry enough to eat. First in line as the guests, we scooped up some cottage cheese loaf and a huge twice-baked potato as a beginning. Back at the table we sampled all sorts of vegetable bits from the huge tray. Talk about scrumptious! Tiny pickles, olives, ripe or green, grape tomatoes, carrots, celery, with a bowlful of delicious dip in the center of the tray. Darlene’s zippy red lemonade was my first choice as we sat down to eat.

[ Twice-baked potatoes ]

[ Rindy and her strawberry shortcake ]
After we left the table, Dale and I sat back on Rindy’s huge couch, just enjoying the good will and love in that home. With the lights turned off, the glow of the lights on the Christmas tree was really special. As Rindy looked around, her eyes fell on the gas-powered fireplace. However, there was a problem in turning on the gas. She said that the man who checked the fireplace told her that it had a smoke problem and might blow up, so she should leave it alone. “But,” she said, “I just want to see those flames and enjoy being warm, and stuff.”
After she had explained to Dale just how it was to be lighted, he went over to the fireplace, picked up the turn-on-the-gas and told her, “Now when I turn on the gas, you use your lighter to set it on fire!” Poor Rindy was so sure that the whole room would blow up that she continued to question Dale. Finally, with a hope that all would be well, she said “OK, Grandpa. Turn it on!” He did, and she turned on the lighter… Amazingly, the whole room was full of light, as the fireplace flames began to warm up the room. Poor Rindy! She was so excited and grateful and happy that she danced around the room in the light of the fireplace. “Thank you, thank you!” she exclaimed over and over. “I have always, ever since I’ve been here, wanted to see a fire in the fireplace!”
Before we left for home, Rindy wanted us to see where she works. The large community is made up of different kinds of apartments and houses, occupied by residents with various health problems. When Rindy graduated from Andrews University last year, she had earned her doctorate in physical therapy. Now she is working with patients of varying degrees of inability to take care of themselves. She showed us through the very large room where many kinds of machines are ready to be used for therapy. As we checked out the equipment, I was more than surprised that some of the machines had even been invented.

[ At the rehab center ]
I was very much impressed with all of the equipment in the room, each one with a special use to help the disabled gain back what they had lost somewhere along the way. I was even more impressed, however, to know that Rindy, our 26-year-old granddaughter, knows so much about those who can’t do for themselves what they used to do when they were younger. She treats all of them as if they were her own family, and is so happy when gains are made in their abilities.
After that, we returned to the Kansas City area before it was too late. After a safe trip, he dropped Darlene off at their home in Shawnee, KS before heading back to Missouri to deliver us home. Near his home, he drove around several areas to show us where he takes his nightly 2-3 mile walks. Rain or shine, cold, or hot, off he goes with his phone to take time to phone us or to listen to some of his favorite podcasts.

[ Rummikub ]
As I mentioned before, our family and friends are a real blessing to us both, and we praise the Lord for each one! – CHRIS