October 27 – “Just chatting”

They bad weather has gradually wound down over the course of yesterday.  pretty high winds gave way to cloudy and quite cool conditions on the Island.  My phone Weatherbug app said we reach 60 degrees.  Brrr.  Break out the heavy coats and stocking caps.  That’s winter weather around here.  Sure felt good, though.  And this morning’s reading says 65.  Warming back up, I guess, but “Us Islanders” still need a light jacket, for sure.  The prognosis for the rest of the week is for clear skies and flounder weather moving in.  At least until Friday.  More rain expected for Halloween. 

Speaking of Halloween, I spent an hour or so yesterday stapling the gospel explanation cards to the glow in the dark bracelets that we are giving away on Saturday night.  We are expecting at least 400.  But with rain?  Who knows.  Could be 20 or could break a record.  We’ll be ready for ‘em, though. 

Saturday promises to be a long day.  We are doing another work day at church, hoping to get enough guys to get some countertops installed and maybe a toilet leak fixed.  Anything else will be gravy on top.  We still have lots of painting to do.  And blinds hanging.  And decorations to put up.  And floors to vacuum and steam clean.  And … and … and …

We missed seeing our friends from Pennsylvania.  They were in Houston at a trade show during the storm.  They were supposed to come see us for church Sunday, but backed out after they had to drive through ten inches of standing water to get into their hotel.  That’s what happens when you stay in a swamp.  I heard they got a surprise upgrade to first class on their return flight.  But then they had a four hour delay in Philadelphia.  Tough luck there.  Some Galveston friends were going on a cruise this week.  They were supposed to leave around three on Sunday.  That got moved back to four and then five.  We saw a post on FaceBook from them around seven.  They still hadn’t left port, but they were already having a great time.  I’ve heard those cruises are like entering another world.  Never been on one myself, so I have no idea.   

Hebrews 12:15 says, “See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

Father, thank you again for those slow, rainy days.  There’s a certain inherent peace amid the turmoil of the storm that has to come from you. Guess that’s why we sleep better when we can hear the rain.  Amen.