October 20 – “Taking one for the team”

Yesterday was grocery replenishment day at the Vaughan house.  Several reasons for that, and they all have names: Jachin, Micah, Josiah, and Noa.  Oh, and Cailyn, too.  We are going to have the first four with us for a few days while Mom and Dad are out of town.  Cailyn will be here at her regular times when her Mom and Dad are both at work.  So … we had to go to the local Mercantile to stock up on some supplies fer the new crew of hands arrivin’. 

So we loaded up a cart and paid fer the vittles and headed out the door.  And jus’ as we was awalkin’ through, one of them thar “You’re a criminal” horns sounded right in our ears.  We stopped dead in our tracks like the decent, law-abidin’ citizens that we are.  Cain’t take no chances with them revenooers, ya know.  Sure ‘nuff, they had one of em stationed right there by the door, hidin’ behind one them big signs advertizin’ a motion pitcher show.  She took one look at our filled-to-the-brim cart, took her a deep breath, and … tole us ta go on through.  Sometimes it just ain’t worth the trouble, I spose.  Sorry.  Reverted to mah old timey talk thar fer a minute. 

When we got home Nathan came by to borrow the truck.  His is broken down behind a fire station somewhere.  Sounds like it has the same malady our lawn mower has.  Starts well enough, but when you move off the gas to put it in gear … sputters and dies.  Sounds like a fairly major purchase may be in their near future.  And I’m no fortune teller.  Anyway, I told him he could take the truck if he agreed to bring me back his lawn mower in exchange.  Kind of a good faith deposit.  Actually I just wanted to mow the grass for what I hoped would be the last time until the Spring.  Our mower is suffering from the aforementioned illness, and Nathan’s jet pack powered lawn mower won’t fit into our car. 

The mowing took place without incident.  Went really fast in fact.  Amazing how quickly that new-fangled, self-propelled jet pack can move when you put it in gear and let it do the work.  The edging took a little longer, though.  Back to the old way for that task – a weedeater turned sideways.  And then came the really fun part of the whole process.  Blowing the grass over into the yard next door (40 Steps).  And that’s when it happened.  I was blowing grass on the side of the house right in front of the gate to the back yard.  Fritz heard the ruckus and rounded the corner … just in time to take one for the team.  He took the full brunt of dirt and grass.  Completely covered him.  He was stalwart, however.  Turned to the side and dared me to keep it coming.  So much for his bath this week. 

Hebrews 12:2 says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Father, thank you for that truck we had available for when Nathan’s vehicle crisis occurred.  That’s what you provided it for.  Amen.