Today was good day.

I visited John around lunchtime, and he proudly showed me some of the drawings he's been making of our yard and pool. He's VERY excited about laying in the hammock. He also sketched Franklin and Nonnie and we laughed at Nonnie's nose. He's never been interested in drawing before; it's amazing to watch him find new ways to communicate

He made sure to tell me how delicious Paige's cookies were, and shared that he had a wonderful visit yesterday with Anto, Erin, and his sister and George. Seeing family and friends continues to lift his spirits.

We took a walk outside together, and he fixed some tables and umbrellas that had blown over. He's still John.

Back inside, he was working so hard to tell me he needed something. He sketched out a box, with the word GREEN at the top. Its like a game of Pictionary and charades all in one. Finally he added a few more boxes, and I realized he was drawing the layout of the bedrooms and bathroom; he was asking me to bring more T-shirts from the green bedroom closet. We both laughed so hard once I figured it out. We've always shared a sense of humor. For 23 years, laughter has been one of the things that has carried us through life together. John cracks me up, always has a way of making me laugh, and somehow, even in the middle of all of this, that hasn't changed. These moments remind me that we're still us. Being able to laugh with each other, even on the hardest days, gives me so much hope that we'll get through this together.

We spent some time planning the meals we want to cook together once he's discharged on Tuesday. Bbq turkey meatloaf, chicken tacos, and sandwiches on rye, his favorite…simple meals that suddenly feel like celebrations.

Before I close, I just want to say how incredibly humbled and overwhelmed we are by the generosity you've shown us. When I told John how much had been raised, tears filled his eyes. He grabbed my phone, opened Amazon, and searched for 50 thank you cards, so he could personally write a note to every single person who has donated. I suggested we wait until he gets home. That's who John is. We truly don't have the words to express our gratitude. Thank you for your kindness, your support, your prayers, and for carrying us through one of the hardest seasons of our lives. It means more than we could ever say.