True Spirit of Christmas

Guess where I'm typing this from?
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania!!!

My best friend and her husband are here for a year for him to complete a Masters at Carnegie Mellon (yup, that smartie), and since it's only a 3 hour drive from Columbus, I decided to brave the weather and drive here. We made this arrangement a few months back, but I kinda invited myself to Christmas... but I really didn't want to spend Christmas in Columbus again (I did that for the past 2 years... enough!), and they were so gracious to agree to my plans. Bwa ha ha ha ha! I've been here 2 days already and it's been nothing but relaxing, fun and GOOD food. I'm telling you, it's awesome to have friends that cook well.

Anyway, while I was here, I ended up going to the hospital on Christmas Day.

Wait, don't freak out. Let me explain. About a week ago, a 10-year-old child from West Virginia developed an ailment in her brain. She was air-flown into Pittsburgh, and remained in the pediatric ICU of the hospital this entire week, while her frantic and very patient parents stayed by her bedside in the hospital.

We found out about them because her parents go to a congregation of my church in West Virginia. Their church leader contacted the church leaders here in Pittsburgh, and coordinated with them to drop off meals for this couple in the hospital (the power of the Relief Society- seriously). My best friend signed up to deliver food to them on Christmas Day, and that's how I ended up in the hospital yesterday.

The visit was like a lightning jolt to me. Not only was I able to witness the Christmas Spirit in action, it was humbling to be reminded of what I have. True, I'm far from home, the weather is super gloomy, school is tough, and life is just... hard. But my parents don't have to be at a hospital bedside on Christmas Day, praying that I'll wake up from a coma.

Truly I have been so blessed.