(This blog is the seventh in the series about “Countdowns” as I count down to Amanda’s moving out and count down to the Celebration Concert.)

A week from today we get the keys to Amanda’s apartment!  I don’t think we will get her entirely moved that day – considering I am having surgery that morning to remove the tumor on my hand.  But we will start taking things over in the afternoon.  The living room furniture is being delivered the next day.  And we still have many little details to work out.  Like, how and where to wash her hair.

I suppose you need me to explain.

All of you physically able people out there probably wouldn’t have to consider this task.  Just jump in the shower, right?  Or bend over the sink if you are in a hurry.  Amanda sits in a wheelchair all day.  She can’t jump into the shower or bend over a sink.  Every week or so I lift her down into the bathtub for a full soak and wash (her body doesn’t really get that ‘dirty’) but every day she washes her hands, brushes her teeth, washes her face, and we wash her hair for her.  Amanda has real greasy hair and it needs daily washing.  Where do you think we wash her hair?  Ted or I take on the task by lifting Amanda up so that she sits on the kitchen counter next to the sink.  With one hand and arm, we support her while she lies back, face up, and with the other hand we wet, shampoo, and rinse her hair.  When Amanda is in her own apartment, we don’t’ want her helpers to have to do that.  There is the liability of Amanda falling off the counter or her workers hurting their back or shoulders with the lifting (like my own back and shoulders that are already shot).

Some people may say, that’s a strange way to wash her hair.  Why do it like that?  You wash her hair where?  But it’s really been the best solution for us. 

So I found this plastic ‘hair funnel’ thingy today at the beauty supply place.  It Velcro’s around her head like a plastic drape, around the back of her neck, above her ears, and across her forehead.  With Amanda backed up to a sink or the tub and using a telephone water sprayer, she should be able to sit there while her hair is shampooed, with the water running down her back onto the plastic sheeting that funnels the water out – hopefully into the sink or tub.  Can’t wait to see if it works!

Ten days until concert!  I hope my little blogs have helped you become familiar with our songs.  Our seventh song is titled, “Here.”  It is a beautiful Christmas ballad.  When considering the arrival of a king, most people envision rich accommodations:  beautiful and comfortable rooms, the best food, lovely clothes for the attendees, and simply the best of everything.  No one expected the King of Kings to arrive as a baby.  In this song, the lyrics speak of it like this:

Here, where a town makes no room for two strangers, all alone and running out of time.
Here, where a stable door is open to a manger, on a night where angels fill the sky.
The Holiness of heaven has come as one of us, the Hope of all creation drawing near.
The blessed King of ages steps into hist’ry’s pages; our long-awaited Savior has appeared.

God chose to send His Son Jesus to earth to be born and to live like one of us.  I like that.

Some people may say, that’s a strange way for the Savior to be born.  Why do it like that?  Jesus was born where??  But it’s really been the best solution for us.

Just Laurel