June 15 – “Travis and Merlin”

We went to a party yesterday.  One of our Seaside kids, Travis, both graduated from high school and had a party within a week of each other, so the neighborhood that has been raising him lately threw him a bash.  A swimming pool was available for those who wanted to take a dip.  Barbequed chicken and all the fixin’s plus some kind of Mexican food buffet graced the table.  They had a big ol’ cake with some of that good kind of icing, not the kind that’s apparently easier to mold into decorator shapes but tastes bland.  The best part, though, was having all the neighbors and friends get together and chat and do some Trav-encouraging.  Oh, and several of the folks there even completed their cold-water challenges.  That’s a productive birthday/graduation party.  Congrats, Travis.

We have to find a new series to watch on Netflix.  We just finished out the one called Merlin.  It was about a young boy who arrives in Camelot to live with his uncle who happens to be the court physician to Uther Pendragon (that would be the future King Arthur’s father).  The boy (Merlin) gets a job as Prince Arthur’s servant, and through the series he has to use his magic to protect his master and ensure that he eventually rises to be king.  It was an interesting approach to the story.  All the elements from the legend are there, but have been reworked to fit the younger story line: Morgana and Mordred, the sword in the stone, the round table, and even the lady of the lake.  We tried out the Dr. Who spinoff called Torchwood, but the very first episode was full of some pretty foul and certainly unnecessary language, so we nixed that one.  They have added some new Dr. Who episodes, so I guess we’ll return to those for the time being until we can find something else.  Suggestions will be welcome.

I am still battling that sore throat.  Today should be interesting at church.  Just hoping I can get through the teaching without losing my voice completely.  Although some would probably see that as a blessing.  And then I have a week to finish getting everything ready for camp.  Here we go …….

Genesis 2:1-3 says, “Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.  By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”

Father, thank you for giving us the chance to watch Travis as he has grown up.  Walk with him into his new life-chapter at college.  Amen.