Thursday is the only day that Suzanne doesn’t have any appointments other than her radiation treatment. Today, after treatment we walked down to the food court at the Hyatt for breakfast. It’s a really nice place with unusual, non-chain food stands and has just been open for a month.

We both chose a made-to-order breakfast sandwich from one of the two vendors that are open at breakfast time. Each sandwich had double fried eggs; I had sausage, Suzanne bacon. Suzanne’s was on an English muffin and mine a speciality bun. Both of us commented how wonderful they were and it wasn’t just a slice of “Velveeta in the middle”

After we got home I happened to turn on some music and decided to play John Denver on Spotify. It is amazing to me how one singer/writer can have song after song that brings back so many of life’s memories, joyous occasions, heartaches, family gatherings, and faith in humankind. It was hard to choose but here were some of the pieces of our morning:

Home Grown Tomatoes – Not written by Denver but still made us smile. I shared with you a few days back how Suzanne was looking forward to Bacon & Tomato sandwiches the next weekend. Our son Justin also dreams of ‘Illinois Tomatoes’ so we send him a box every year.

Homegrown tomatoes, home grown tomatoes
Wha'd life be without homegrown tomatoes
Only two things money can't buy
That's true love and homegrown tomatoes

Grandma’s Feather Bed – My grandma & grandpa owned a cabin out near Homer when I was growing up. In the cabin was an old feather bed that had to be “9′ high & 6′ wide”. I still remember all the cousins piling in and getting lost deep in the bed.

It could hold eight kids and four hound dogs
And a piggy we stole from the shed
We didn't get much sleep but we had a lot of fun
On grandma's feather bed

Rhymes and Reasons – As this song started, even in the first verse, the words spoke to me: “Fear that is within you now, It seems to never end”. Words that touche me to the core of our everyday life right now, and then the chorus:

And the song that I am singing
Is a prayer to non believers
Come and stand beside us
We can find a better way

Thank God I’m a Country Boy – I Couldn’t say that all my life, growing up in downtown Champaign hardly qualified me. But My life and my attitude have changed. Now I Thank God I’m a ‘Hybrid’ Country Boy:

I'd play Sally Goodin all day if I could
But the Lord and my wife wouldn't take it very good
So I fiddle when I can, work when I should
Thank God I'm a country boy

Back Home Again – Evey day we are here in Chicago, the word to this song becomes more meaningful. Spending time together, in the house we have built together. Each Sunday that we head to Chicago, we are already planning the next weekend when we are back home again.

It's the sweetest thing I know of, just spending time with you
It's the little things that make a house a home
Like a fire softly burning and supper on the stove
The light in your eyes that makes me warm

Hey, it's good to be back home again
Sometimes this old farm feels like a long lost friend
Yes, 'n, hey it's good to be back home again

Today – Finally, the song that touches me every time I hear it. The way John Denver sings it has made it a favorite as long as I can remember; it brings a calming attitude over me that brings peace to my heart.

Today while the blossoms still cling to the vine,
I'll taste your strawberries, I'll drink your sweet wine.
A million tomorrows shall all pass away, 
'ere I forget all the joy that is mine, today.

So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
John 16:22