May 10 – “The highlight”

Boy, did we ever do the outside thing yesterday.  We started the day out with our usual three mile walk.  Chris is getting pretty adamant about that.  The closer we get to our Alaska trip, the more determined she is to do the hike thing every day.  We will at least be in shape for the start of the journey, anyway.

Next we attacked the back fence.  That’s the chore that began when we put up the new portion of a wood privacy fence on the side of the house.  It really wouldn’t be that big of a task.  After all, the neighbors behind us already built a wood privacy fence back there.  The problem is the massive wisteria bush/plant/whatever you call it that has inundated the chain link and over the years since Hurricane Ike left only a sliver of life in it, the plant has covered the entire fence.  We got the side closest to the new fence pulled down back when we first began.  Yesterday it was time to begin anew. 

It is easy enough to get the fence itself rolled up.  The crazy issue back there though is the line of concrete into which the bottom of the chain link has been sunk.  That means digging up that strip of concrete as well as making sure all the loose links of metal have been located and taken away.  Those things are really sharp as well as rusted.  Not a good combination for youngster with bare feet.  So with shovel and wire cutters and hedge clippers in hand we attacked.  And we managed to wade through another six or so feet.  And I pulled out one of the posts that was concreted into the ground.  I can be quite the beast when I have to be.  Of course I was absolutely exhausted when Chris pulled the plug and insisted we stop.  Again with the Alaska trip … “I’m not having us cancel the trip a few weeks before we leave because of something you did digging up a fence.”  She didn’t have to argue with me too much, though.

As wonderfully exciting as all that manual labor can be, the “highlight” of our day, didn’t occur until exactly 12:22 … a.m.  I guess that would technically be this morning and not yesterday.  But at 12:22 a.m. we were awakened by the absolute loudest clap of thunder I believe I have ever heard.  That thing sounded like it was right outside our bedroom window.  We both were fully awake in an instant.  Fortunately we knew that thunderstorms were on the docket, so it only took us a few seconds to orient ourselves and place the explosion in context.  It took a little longer, however, to calm down enough to get back to sleep. 

Romans 1:20 says, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

Father, thank you for the especially loud demonstration of your power early this morning.  Pretty awesome.  Amen.