October 30 – “Recounting some good ol’days”

We started out our day pretty early yesterday.  Josiah had a flag football game at 8 a.m.  Not so bad in itself, but it was played in Friendswood, which is a good 45 minute drive for us.  And those of you who know Chris know that she is not very excited about those early morning hours.  She managed to “git up, git outa da bed” with very little assistance, though.  At least I think it was without assistance.  I did let Freddy into the house.  And she does like to make sure everyone in the house is in good shape before she settles down.  So I suppose it is possible that Chris had some canine feedback on wake up times. 

We got to the game not long after it started.  Always a joy to watch one of our kids involved in sports.  The two older boys were offering “helpful criticism” on the sidelines.  Not loud enough for Josiah to hear, mind you.  Not even loud enough for Mom and Dad to hear, in fact.  But I was standing right behind them.  It was kind of eerie, too.  They sounded just like their Daddy did when he was their age.  Not that he played flag football, but he did play soccer, and some of the “creative defensive techniques” certainly carry over into other disciplines.  You know, things like mastering the art of “accidentally” tripping over your own feet just as the ball carrier passes in front of you so that the both of you go tumbling out of bounds.  Not that their Dad ever used said questionable techniques …

Last night we had supper with some of our best friends who now live in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.  Mark and Melissa were in Houston for a convention where they meet with a lot of the vendors they do business with.  We grabbed a table at Shrimp and Stuff and just talked for several hours, catching up on our lives and kids and reminiscing more than a little bit about our “good ol’ days.”  Melissa and Chris have always hit it off, and now that their business sells quilting stuff, Chris was in hog heaven, talking quilts and sewing and dolls.  Mark and I are alike in a lot of ways, except he is kind of wacky and does somewhat unpredictable things.  I would never be that way.  Good old, “follow the rules” me …

Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Father, thank you for great friends.  They help me remember that we never really grow old.  Just a little closer to you.  Amen.