August 31 – “It makes a difference”

Electrician Jim made another appearance at church yesterday.  He was still trying to track down the issue causing us to have no lights.  He did find some whole new problems, but nothing that would be related to the immediate issue.  He recommended calling in the big guns and letting a professional track it down.  That guy is coming this morning around nine.  Guess that’s how I’ll spend my Saturday.

Yesterday afternoon I was going to go fishing.  I got all my gear out of the garage and put the first of it into the truck.  That’s when something made me stop for a second.  I got into the truck and started it up.  Except it didn’t.  Start up, I mean.  It was deader than a doornail.  No fishing today. 

I hooked up the jumper cables to the car and tried to get it rolling that way.  Nothing.  I checked the connection.  A little better.  At least it cranked for a few seconds.  It finally took just letting it charge for a long time before it cranked and caught and started up.  I let it run for a good thirty minutes while I caught up on the news about Hurricane Dorian and all my other FaceBook friends.  Best I could tell … one little overhead light appears to have been left on, and that drained the battery.  It’s amazing that such a tiny little thing can cause such devastation.  Reminded me of what that first little sin can do to a person spiritually …

2 Corinthians 4:18 says, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Father, help me and those around me be wary of the little things that do make a difference in the long run – both positively and negatively.  Amen.

August 30 – “Attack of the MEMM”

All eyes around here are at least peeking occasionally at Florida.  Hurricane Dorian is barreling toward the east coast of Florida.  All models put it hitting there, but turning northward before it ever gets to us on the western Gulf Coast.  Checking our hurricane list … just in case.  Peak of the season is mid-September.

I went up to the church yesterday to deliver the supplies we bought at Sam’s and to meet with our Seaside electrician, Jim.  On Sunday after a video, we tried to turn the overhead lights back on, and nothing happened.  Just … nothing.  Completely dead. 

Fortunately we have a Jesus-church kind of building.  That’s the kind where the construction causes you to look around at each other, and it has some large windows as well.  A God-church construction causes you to look up when you enter the room.  Usually very ornate.  Stained glass windows and the like.  A Holy Spirit-church construction, on the other hand would have been most helpful.  That would be a Jesus church with lots and lots of windows.  Let’s in lots of light. 

Anyway, our two large windows provided us with enough light to see, and everything else power-wise worked just fine.  Jim worked on it for more than an hour, trying to track down the source of the glitch.  He plans to return today with a more extensive selection of tools.  Electricians are among those professions that I look up to as untouchable from my arena of expertise.  I know nothing and do my best to stay out of the way.  From my perspective, our problem Sunday was caused by the Attack of the Mysterious Electricity-Munching Monster.  Kudos to Jim as he attacks back …

Psalms 118:24 says, “The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice and be glad.”

Father, I know he has developed the skills over the course of his life, so please give Jim the wisdom he needs to track down the electricity issue.  Amen.

August 29 – “The Dream …”

Well, yesterday was boring, but I woke up this morning to an unusual dream sequence.  It started with the song I found myself singing to myself.  Ever done that?  Woke up with a song in your head that just won’t go away?  At least this time it wasn’t “Baby Shark, doo doo doo doo doo.”  Hah.  Now you have that one flying around your frontal lobe.  Nope.  This time for me it was “This Land is Your Land.”  I know.  Classic, right? 

Well, while I silently bellowed out the chorus, I was involved in a pretty significant fishing expedition.  I was on a boat.  I had already made one amazing catch.  No, not a spec.  Not a redfish.  Not a flounder.  Nothing so … simple.  My catch was a perfectly formed, not a scratch on it plastic replica of the Millennium Falcon from Star Wars.  Kel had one when he was a tyke.  It was flopping around on the deck next to me when the captain said to reel in all lines so he could move to a different site.  Oh, and speaking of the captain … I can’t be sure, because it was a dream, after all, but I think his name was Captain Jon.  In any event, I prayed for the only Captain Jon I know of …

I dutifully grabbed my pole and went to follow his orders when I realized my reel had no handle to it.  No way to reel in the line.  And on top of that the pole was bending over as if I had another nice catch.  Undeterred, I set the pole down and began pulling in the catch by hand.  It was exciting stuff.  The captain in the background urging me to hurry up or he would cut the line and just leave it.  Me pulling with all my might to get whatever creature was on the other end of the line close enough to the boat so I could grab it and pull it on board.  Would I make it in time?  Would the line break leaving me in suspense as to what in the world could possibly have been dangling out there?  Would Captain Jon simply take off, ready or not?

Now if this were a Thursday night Bible study dream, it would have simply ended there with the admonition to return next week for the rest of the story.  But this one has a different ending.  The captain waited for me, and sure enough I managed to wrangle the critter onto the boat.  And what was the catch this time?  Well, I don’t know what it was called, but it was another Star Wars space vehicle.  Bigger than the Falcon, to be sure.  And in perfect condition.  It was the ship that was shaped like a cross that had no business flying through the universe.  I looked it up, and I think it was the one called B-wing.

So what’s the dream interpretation here?  Anybody?  Is it a cry from the deepest recesses of my soul that I need to go fishing?  Or perhaps a longing from within to take another trip?  A long trip …

Psalms 91:2 says, “I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’”

Father, thanks for the fun dream last night.  Guess you knew I had nothing to write about today.  Amen.

August 28 – “… be very careful out there today”

So Sunday we were preparing to leave the church for the beach to do two baptisms.  As I stood near the door, beach towel in hand, I was approached by a tiny child.  It was a little girl who attended with the American Girl group who had been in our retreat center for the weekend.  I’m pretty sure she was too young to have been an actual participant in the retreat.  She couldn’t have been more than six years old.  Cute as a button, though. 

She marched right up to me and said, “I need to talk to you.”  Well, OK then.  I was immediately intrigued.  So I bent down so I could hear her.  I didn’t have my hearing aids in, so I anticipated a bout of hearing childish sounds and struggling to piece together meanings.  Let’s just say, I needn’t have worried.

She saw that she had my undivided attention before beginning her topic of concern.  A look of serious compassion spread across her chubby little cheeks.  No smiles here.  All business.  I was drawn even more into this web of interest standing in front of me.  And then she spoke.  And the anticipated childish sounds were not at all what spewed forth.  Nay.  Before me stood instead a tiny little adult.  At least her words were oh-so adultish.

“Here’s what I need to tell you,” she began in her matter-of-fact, just-the-facts-Jack way.  “My sister over there (She turned and pointed with awe and respect to one of the older girls in the room) has been researching sharks.  In this area there are bottlenosed and several other types of sharks in the water.  So you need to be very careful out there today.”  Message delivered.  She nodded her head ever so slightly to indicate I was dismissed, turned and skipped away to join the other girls. 

Well, OK then.  I had been duly warned.  That was the first time I have ever been cautioned to watch out for sharks during a baptism.  Never by an adult … and certainly never by a cute little munchkin.  Thanks for the warning, my little friend.  I will remember your words every time we have a baptism.

Revelation 21:4 says, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Father, thank you for sending that youngster to deliver a warning to me Sunday.  Bless her for her efforts to minister to me.  Amen.

August 27 – “… like ‘weird’”

After having to postpone it twice, I finally managed to keep my dentist appointment yesterday.  I have now officially had my temporary crown replaced with the permanent one.  The doc endeared herself to me with just the appropriate terminology when she pronounced herself finished.  She added, “If it starts feeling weird after a few days, the height probably just needs to be adjusted.”  I love it when she uses complicated medical terminology … like “weird.”

After lunch we made a trip into Texas.  Our first destination was the UPS distribution warehouse in LaMarque.  One of the groups who stayed in our retreat center at church accidentally took the keys home with them.  It took some doing by our center coordinator Amber, but they finally sent them back.  But they put the mailing address instead of a physical address, so UPS held it at the distribution center until someone could come pick it up.  That would be me.  At least we have them on hand once again.

Next we went up to Lifeway Christian Store to stock up on birthday cards and communion supplies.  They are going out of business.  All of them.  They have succumbed to the on-line barrage of sales marketing and will be moving to that option alone.  It’s a very sad development.  Inconvenient. 

We finished up our journey with a Sam’s run.  We are running out of supplies much quicker at church since we have been having so many people attend.  The shopping part was pretty easy.  Checking out … not so much.  The checker asked, as is her duty, if I wanted to upgrade our card for “only $27.99.”  I just as dutifully said “No thank you.”  And she proceeded to push the “yes” button.  Oops.  That meant she had to void the transaction.  And that meant a customer service manager had to be called and waited on.  Lucky for us, however, she had an assistant who was also qualified to operate a register.  So the assistant opened up the register next to us and moved us on over.  Fortunately she hadn’t removed anything from our cart.  We did make sure a manager got the void taken care of before we left the store. 

Whew.  Now if we can just find some time to go take our ride on a slingshot that the boys gave us for our birthday.  Slingshot.  Car/motorcycle.  What are we, crazy?  Yep …

1 Peter 5:6 says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”

Father, please be with the folks who work at the Lifeway stores.  Help them as they struggle to find new jobs.  Amen.

August 26 – “Into the water …”

We started the day with a really big crowd at church.  Best guess estimates and attempts at counting placed the numbers at around 95.  We had to bring in some extra chairs to hold everybody.  At the end of the service we dismissed from the building and headed to the beach for baptisms.  And it was raining. 

Yep.  It looked like a pretty bad thunderstorm was just beginning to roll in.  We were on the very early beginning stages of it, though, so we continued our walk over to the baptism spot.  No dilly dallying this time.  A pretty big crowd joined us on the sand where we prayed for the two who were to be baptized.  Then it was out into the water.  Young Elizabeth’s grandfather came with us, and he did the honors by baptizing his granddaughter.  That is always such a special time when a family member can do the baptizing.  Granddad then helped me with the young man who followed.  There were lots of people watching from the shore, taking pictures and videos, and shouting some general cheering and encouraging.  Oh, and the rain held off.  We are very proud of you, Lizzie and Casey.

After a quick shower we joined some Seasiders, as well as one of the visitors of the day, at a nearby restaurant for lunch.  One of our folks introduced us to the lady at the counter, who said she has really wanted to come visit Seaside.  She asked about a weekday Bible study, and we let her know when she could come plug in there.  As we enjoyed lunch, the visitor at the table began to ask questions about the sermon and about the validity of the Old Testament for Christians.  I even got to tell the story of Balaam and his talking donkey.  She just didn’t know what she has been missing.

Once back home we settled in to watch the Astros and the finals of the Little League World Series.  That meant flipping between the two stations, so it was kind of hard to get my usual 40 winks in.  As it turned out the good guys won both games.  That would be the Astros of course, as well as the U.S.A. team.  First team from Louisiana to win the series.  The youngsters from Curacao did really well, too. 

Oh, yeah.  I know it’s football season.  And I know the Texans played the Cowboys.  I checked in on that game once or twice.  In fact at one point our house phone rang.  I checked the caller ID.  It said “TEXANS.”  That’s all.  Do you reckon they want me to come start at quarterback for them this year?

1 Chronicles 29:11 says, “Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.  Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.”

Father, please watch over Elizabeth and Casey as they keep striving to walk daily with you.  Amen.

August 25 – “Hospital reports”

Our neighbor George who was taken by ambulance to the ER the other day after a fall ended up in ICU.  He has some pretty severe issues with his COPD and a lung infection to go along with the gash in his leg and some broken ribs from the fall.  They almost sent him home, but his wife insisted that she was not taking him unless he could walk to the bathroom and back.  They got his shoes on and gave it a try, and he lost his balance and lurched forward.  Then he became unresponsive.  He is now on a breathing machine and is not doing so good.

Speaking of hospitals, we went to check on Seasider Pat on Friday.  She was in really good spirits after hearing that she didn’t have to undergo the surgery they mentioned to her.  Apparently another consultation determined that it really wouldn’t do her any good anyway.  She was just happy to NOT have surgery.  The plan now is to send her home with a combination of home health and hospice managing her pain. 

Kel and his family came over Friday evening.  They brought all the fixin’s for hamburgers.  Really big, one-third pound hamburgers.  Good stuff.  Then we watched the Astros game.  Well, some of us did.  Kel fell asleep.  Jachin and Micah stayed with the game.  The rest of the crew were in one stage of playing or another.  I had to do the DadDad multi-tasking thing.  I watched the game, of course.  I also listened to Noa tell a story.  I read Ezra a book.  I listened to Noa tell a whopper of a tale.  I watched Ezra push Josiah around on a riding toy.  I listened to Noa … just talk.  That girl can talk constantly.  I watched Noa and Ezra play hospital.  And we are back full circle to where we began.  I’d much rather be playing hospital than actually being in one. 

Ephesians 6:10 says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”

Father, grant some of that God-power to Pat and George so they can do some physical overcoming.  Amen.

August 24 – “God bless plumbers”

Skilled labor time again in the Vaughan house.  I’m not altogether sure why that would involve me, but here I am.  The faucet in our master bathroom has been leaking for some time now.  It seeps out from improper crevices every time we turn it on.  So yesterday … I changed it out.  We already had the new faucet in the garage.  Bought it a year or so ago when the problem started, but then it stopped doing it.  Then it started again.  Then it stopped before I could get it switched out.  Then it started up again.  Get the picture?  Yet another of those weird homeowner discoveries.  I mean the discoveries are weird, not the homeowner.  Although …

Anyway, I read the instructions.  Yes, really.  I even watched a youtube video of someone changing one out.  Pulling the actual faucet was no problem at all.  It was the thingie inside the sink that gave me fits.  You know.  The part that the water drains into.  Little circle on top.  Long pipe on bottom that connects to the main plumbing system.  And that sneaky little piece of metal and plastic that jabs its way into the pipe so it can operate the sink stopper.  Now I got the actual construction done with relative ease.  Well, if you can call being stretched out on your back, contorted into every possible position to be able to reach the connections “ease.” 

But it was hooked up.  I turned on the water and Chris turned the faucet handle.  We had water.  Sadly, however, our success was short-lived.  A leak.  A big one.  Right down the middle of the drain pipe.  The gasket wasn’t sealing.  So Chris turned off the water and I grabbed the tool and started tightening.  Test again.  Tighten some more.  Test again.  Tighten some more.  I had to revisit the underside of that sink no less than four times.  And I am not completely convinced now that it is really stopped.  I am quite sore from the contortionist activity.  God bless plumbers. 

Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

Father, thank you for the plumbers of the world.  They don’t get enough credit for the work they know how to do and the outrageous contortions they have to get into to do it.  Bless ‘em.  Amen.

August 23 – “The wrong kind of excitement”

After such a busy early part of the week – and middle part, for that matter – yesterday was my day to get the bulk of the teaching completed for Sunday’s sermon time.  That meant I spent most of the day at the computer, looking up Hebrew words (we are studying through the Book of Hosea right now, so Old Testament) and making connections with the present.  I had three days of missed worked to make up for, so there was a lot to do. 

Last night was home group.  And we did have some excitement there.  The wrong kind.  As we talked with Lauren and waited for others to arrive, our neighbor knocked at the door.  She was asking us for some help getting her husband to his feet after a fall in the bathroom.  Lauren is with the Jamaica Beach Volunteer Fire Department, so she came with us to see what we could do.  Chris did the initial assessment.  On his fall he had cut a pretty bad gash on his leg.  He was also complaining of pain in his shoulder and elbow.  Rather than just help him up we decided to call for help, since he would need to get the leg stitched up anyway.  The ambulance arrived and the medics came in to do their assessment.  For some reason, though, they couldn’t seem to figure out the best way to get him off the floor and outside onto their gurney (Yes, they left it outside).  Lauren finally took control of the situation, and between her and Chris and one of the medics they wrapped him in a sheet and got him to the stretcher.  Once they got him propped up so he could breathe (He has COPD), he seemed to be doing a little better.  We’ll have to check on him later today. 

Guess we’ll be heading to WalMart sometime today.  It’s been almost all week and we haven’t been in yet.  I can think of a few things we can pick up …

Hosea 6:6 says, “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.”

Father, would you be with our neighbor George as he goes through the wringer at the hospital?  Amen.

August 22 – “Surprises”

Well, talk about hitting the ground running …

Our first order of business yesterday was the building dedication for the new fire department station one.  It was held in the bay of the new station, so it was pretty hot anyway.  Add to that several hundred people who showed up for the ceremony, and it was a scorcher.  There was a bit of a natural breeze.  It is, after all, Galveston.  But I was glad the chief decided not to wear our class A uniforms.  That came later …

My part of the program was the blessing of the building.  I used a ceremony I developed for blessing homes that involved, along with the prayers, the use of a flower and water as symbols of God’s presence and his Spirit.  I dipped the flower in the water and sprinkled it in every direction.  It was kind of funny to see the look on the faces of the folks in the front row when I turned to them with the wet flower in hand.  It was a gentle flick of the wrist, though.  No spectators were drenched in the performance of this blessing.  Instead of a ribbon cutting, they had a fire hose uncoupling.  A ceremonial hose with numerous sections was brought out, and all the dignitaries uncoupled each section.  I was handed one of the sections, since I was part of the program.  That was a surprise to me.  Pretty big honor, too.

After the ceremony a man from India approached me and said the blessing was very similar to a Hindu one he had seen before, with the Christian twist, of course.  One of the new fire fighters told me that he really appreciated me praying in Jesus’ name.  He didn’t expect that and was pleasantly surprised that I had the nerve to do it.  The building was open for tours, and the response was really good from all who attended. 

After lunch we drove up to see Betty Head, our 90 year old in Home Group.  She seems to be doing pretty well in the assisted living facility up near Kemah. 

Then it was back home for a bite to eat.  I changed into my class A uniform and we headed back to the new station for the pinning ceremony for new hires and for those getting promoted.  We all got a real surprise when the fire chief announced his retirement.  He’s moving to Hutto, Texas to be the emergency management coordinator.  Lots of changes going on at Galveston City Hall.

Meanwhile, we got a call that one of our sweet Seasiders, Pat, was in the hospital.  So right after the pinning we headed over to the hospital to see her and pray with her.  She appreciated the full uniform regalia.  Her husband is a retired police officer, so she made a point to tell me she married a man in uniform.  She was in good spirits.  Tests have all been run, and now she is playing the waiting game.  She did say she was up for all the company she could get … hint, hint …

Quite a day.  Quite a week already, in fact.  And I still have to get a teaching put together for Sunday.  Oh, and home group is tonight.  Guess I’d better get started …

Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

Father, be with Chief Wisko and the department as they undergo the transition.  And be with Pat and with her docs.  Amen.

August 21 – “Trapped in Durant”

It was a nice night in Durant, Oklahoma.  Isn’t that how all horror movies start out?  We used our frequent flier points for the first time ever to get a free hotel room.  Made us feel pretty special.  After breakfast we hit the road headed south for home.  Sort of.

First we drove east.  Through the booming metropolis of Bokchito, which is, according to their town sign, “The Biggest Little Town in Oklahoma.”  That was pretty impressive until we passed Bennington High School in the next town.  Home of “The Best Rural School in Oklahoma.”  We had no idea our little 30 minute detour would bring us by such highlights. 

Our destination was the Master Works Dulcimer Shop near Bennington.  Why there?  We wanted to reconnect with some old friends from our South Oaks Baptist Church days in the 80’s, Russell and Merla Cook.  He started out making hammered dulcimers by hand back when we first met them.  Now he has quite the huge operation, with band saws and machines I don’t even remember the names of, and human beings … actual employees.  He gave us the grand tour of the facility, and Chris bought some strings for the mountain dulcimer we have.  She also got a book that should teach her how to play.  I almost bought some kind of thing that hangs around your neck like a guitar, has four strings like a ukulele, but you only have to use one finger to hold down the strings and strum.  Right up my alley … easy.  Maybe next time.

After saying our good-byes, we headed towards home for real this time.  But that meant backtracking to Durant to get back on the right road.  And from there … Oklahoma didn’t seem to want us to leave.  First we had our exit cut off by the appearance of a fire truck running hot.  No problem.  Google Siri quickly gave us an alternate route.  Unfortunately, that route was where the fire truck was headed to help with a pretty bad wreck that had just happened.  So we missed that turn as well.  Not to worry.  We simply headed back toward Durant again, making a huge circle.  We could access our road a different way.  Oops.   Turned on the wrong street.  We pulled into a driveway and finally made it to the highway headed back to Texas,  Except then we realized that we needed gas.  Yep. Didn’t even have enough to reach the Lone Star State border.  So we pulled over at a station owned by the Choctaw Nation.  The receipt didn’t print out, however, so I had to go inside to get it. I think I know why it didn’t print.  To get the receipt inside you have to walk right past the entrance to the casino.  It’s all about marketing, you know?  We finally got back on the road at about … yep.  Lunchtime.  Nope.  Not eating in Durant, Oklahoma. 

We made it as far as the Cracker Barrel in Sherman, Texas.  It was difficult, however, to drive right past the gigantic head on the side of the road in Denison.  Big ol’ head of Dwight Eisenhower.  He was born there.  But Cracker Barrel.  This one was stuck somewhere in the 90’s.  Everything seemed so … old.  I ordered my fried chicken livers, and then Chris made her usual order.  Chicken fried chicken.  But horror of all horrors.  Cracker Barrel is “no longer serving chicken fried chicken … ever again.”  That’s what we were told.  Even the manager came and told us it was true.  It took Chris a while to recover, but she finally settled on a chef’s salad. 

The rest of the trip home was rather uneventful, unless you count the traffic slowdowns near Dallas and Houston.  We did stop in LaMarque to say hi to those grandkids.  As a bonus, Cailyn happened to be spending the night with them, so we got to see her as well.  It was good to get home, though.  We could watch the Astros game on a screen larger than my iPhone …

John 10:10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Father, thank you for the chance to see Russell and Merla again.  And thanks for the surprising pockets of beauty we uncovered in Oklahoma.  Amen.

August 20 – “Oklahoma (Not the musical …)”

We did something a little different.  A little impulsive.  A little love-based (Not so much for each other, although that spark is still around).  This one was for a Seasider.

After dinner on the grounds Sunday we rushed back to the house, packed some clothes, got some gas in the car, and headed out of town.  One of our Seasider’s Dad died in Oklahoma, so we decided to do our best to attend the funeral.  We had until Monday at 2 p.m. to get to Atoka, Oklahoma.  Could we make it? 

We began to wonder when we passed a wreck on 61^st street.  GFD and GPD were both just pulling up to assess the situation.  The accident victims were in good hands.  We made our way past and continued on.  Next stop was Bucees in Madisonville for lunch.  It was … not any less crowded than when last we were there. 

Our goal for the day was to get as far as the Dallas area, spend the night and continue on the next morning.  However, when we hit Dallas, Google Siri said it was only an hour and a half further to our ultimate destination.  Chris was on a roll and didn’t want to stop, so we carried on.  We found what is apparently the northernmost Bucees.  That was in McKinney when we realized we really needed some gas.  We crossed the Red River into Oklahoma at 8:52, and pulled into Atoka at 9:35.  For once Google Siri was right on.

We spent the next morning taking in the sights of beautiful downtown Atoka.  No, that didn’t take long.  We did locate the funeral home.  Right across the street from Wyrick Lumber, owned by the family we were there to support.  On one side of the town we drove past the high school.  Their mascot?  Wampus cats.  Very cool name.  I have no idea what a Wampus Cat is, but it certainly strikes fear into my heart.  Anybody know where I can get a stuffed wampus cat for my collection?

We found a Confederate graveyard and museum just outside the city.  The graveyard was pretty interesting.  Some very old graves and gravestones, of course.  The museum, however, was fascinating.  Incredibly eclectic.  It had everything from dresses to dinosaurs, from baseballs to bullets, from Indians to interesting oddities.  It was really a gem of a find.

The funeral was nice.  Very simple.  Several country songs.  A nice poem written by Mr. Littleton’s wife and read by his granddaughter.  It was good to see several members of the Wyrick family and impart to them the itinerant Seaside hugs.

After the funeral we started our drive home.  Well, sort of.  We considered going home by Interstate 35, which would bypass Dallas and take us through Waco.  That was an hour to the west.  Just beyond Wapanucka and the Tishomingo National Fish Hatchery.  Oh, and we passed through Mill Creek and Bulldog football stadium.  Watch out Wampus Cats.  Just beyond those in Sulphur we found a National Park Recreation Area, so we stopped in to get our book stamped.  The place was really beautiful.  We even saw some wildlife.  A grasshopper.  Some wasps.  And the highlight of it all … Bambi - a baby deer.  Still had its spots and everything.  Never saw Mama Deer though.  Will not speculate as to where she was.  I saw that movie.

After our little drive through the Rec Area, we changed our minds and headed back in the general direction we came from.  Not exactly the same route, of course.  We ended up in Durant, Oklahoma for the night, but not before we passed a real highlight of the trip.  Right there on top of some billboard supports was the biggest, gigantic, chocolate-covered-with-sprinkles-on-top donut I have ever seen.  It was massive.  We really should have stopped for a selfie in front of it.  I was simply stunned.  Coincidentally, there was a donut shop nearby.  Can you believe that?

Matthew 6:7-8 says, “And when you pray, do not keep babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

Father, please continue to walk with the Wyrick’s through their grief.  And would you work some healing in their cousin who fell and broke his back and ribs while here?  He’s a long way from home and in a lot of pain.  Amen.

August 19 – “when someone actually listens …”

It was another great day at church.  Chris and I were presented with a birthday card everyone there signed with well-wishes.  It was the third Sunday of the month, so we got to be near the front of the line at dinner on the grounds.  Always a treat.  The food was especially fabulous.  Mr. Bob the fisherman brought a passle of fresh fish he caught.  Mrs. Violet had some really tasty ribs and someone brought chicken legs.  Who doesn’t like chicken legs?  Not to mention the birthday cake and myriad of other desserts and dishes.  The works.  Great time to make a visit to Seaside … every third Sunday of the month.

The teaching was from the Book of Hosea.  All about how the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) figured they could just back off from sinning until God either forgot about them or forgave them “like he always does.”  It was more about getting caught than repenting for them.  Last night I was tagged on FaceBook.  One of our Seasiders sent a picture of a dog and a cat eyeing several hamburgers.  The caption read, “Dear Lord, thank you for this food we are about to eat … Please don’t let us get caught.  Amen.”  Our Seasider queried, “Pastor Kelley, I wonder if their humans are from Ephraim.”  Gotta love it when someone actually listens …

Later I got a call from another Seasider who was concerned about finding a bed for someone she was ministering to who had virtually no furnishings for a new apartment.  She put the word out and within the hour she had a bed and a pull out sofa.  Her comment?  “And just like that I got a bed donated!  That was a quickly answered prayer.  Way to go God!”

Jeremiah 17:7 says, “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.”

Father, thank you for the folks at Seaside.  I sure do love ‘em, and I know you do, too.

August 18 – “Not expected … most anticipated”

Picture progress.  I worked on transcribing more of our Alaska photos.  There will still be way too many, but there are already way fewer than there were.  Guess that’s progress.

Nathan and April and Cailyn came over.  Not that unusual an event.  And Nathan and April were each carrying a phone.  Also, not unusual.  But this time both phones were in use.  Not as FaceBook generators or as google searchers or as email checkers, however.  They were each on FaceTime with someone different.  Odd.  As it turned out, on one of the phones was Josh and some of his kids.  On the other was Christina and some of her kids.  Nathan had us sit on the couch, then he sat the phones down on our TV cabinet (we had to move it to the table later so we could see.  The whole aging thing, I guess).  They were all in various phases of singing Happy Birthday to You. Then Nathan presented us with a monkey card (of course).  And inside that card was a gift card from Saltgrass Steak House for a dinner out.  Very nice.  But they were not done yet.  What about after dinner? 

Well, then they presented us with a strange framed picture of our heads photoshopped as if we were driving around in one of those three-wheeler, one wheel in the back, hybrid, spider things that they rent over on 61^st Street here in town.  So for our after dinner treat?  We have an hour and a half rental of one of those sweet rides all paid for.  We just have to make our reservations.  Wow.  That was not expected.  But now?  Most anticipated.  I told Chris she would be the one driving.  She insists that will be me.  We’ll figure it out.  We’ll probably wait until during the week sometime after the tourists clear out a bit.  Pictures to follow, I’m sure …

Proverbs 17:22 says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

Father, once again I am amazed at the creativity of our offspring.  They get that from you, you know?  Amen.

August 17 – “Happy birthday, Chris”

Yep.  That’s it.  Today is my beautiful bride’s birthday.  It’s the big one.  Well, one of the big ones.  After all, after a certain point in life, you come to realize that the next one is the big one.  I won’t say out loud how old she is, though, so don’t ask me (You might check with public records of the Social Security Administration). 

I finished another day of our pictures.  We have arrived in Whittier and boarded the cruise ship.  It is slowly sailing out of port, headed for … wherever was next.  Maybe I’ll get to some more of that today.

We started on our way to see Betty Head yesterday.  The traffic was backed up going out of town, though, and was beginning to pick up coming into town.  What were we thinking?  Leaving the Island on a Friday?  We will shoot for Monday after I get my new tooth crown installed.

We did swing by WalMart to pick up some supplies for church.  I also got some silicone.  I plan to attack and replace our leaky bathroom faucet in the master bathroom at some point when I get brave enough.

I might have begun the attempt yesterday, but we got a call from Christina.  They wanted to come by after picking up Kel from work.  She brought along some pork roast and rice and salad.  Chris had already fixed a turkey pot pie.  Good feed.  After dinner we watched some Little League World Series baseball.  Always a fun afternoon. 

Not sure quite yet what is on tap for Chris’ birthday.  Maybe watch a movie or an Astros game on TV.  I hope she has a lot of calls and texts and FaceBook well wishes.  Hint … Hint …

Love you, Chris.

Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”

Father, thank you that in the midst of an ever changing world (politically, socially, religiously) we can count on the fact you never change.  We could sure use some stability.  Amen.

August 16 – “Song included”

I spent a good deal of the day yesterday trying to cull my way through our Alaska pictures.  The plan is to get them down to a more manageable number.  That goal is proving quite difficult, since we started with over 2600 photos.  Hey, my wife is a prolific photographer.  Anyway, I just got as far as Fairbanks, preparing to fly back to Anchorage.  Almost half way.

Cailyn came over.  She had some homework to do.  She is entering fifth grade this year, which in the Galveston system is middle school.  She was accepted into the advanced program, and part of that honor was an assignment to be completed over the summer.  Great fun, right?  Summer homework.  She had two parts to her assignment.  One was a math packet.  I think she got that one done without too much trouble.  The other part involved reading a book.  Not too difficult.  But then she had to write a summary of it.  Also not too difficult.  And then she had to somehow transcribe that summary, along with illustrations of the book cover and made-up book jacket illustrations, onto a … ready for this one?  Onto a t-shirt.  She finished her last colorful illustrations yesterday.  I saw the t-shirt as it stands so far, by the way.  Her Mom helps her to somehow iron on the summary and illustrations.  They are both quite the little artists.

Cailyn also had volleyball camp last night.  She started that sport along with softball.  She is working to get a handle on her serve, but like any good athlete, she seems to have a knack for knowing what she’s supposed to do and where she’s supposed to be.  Oh, and it looks like she is having fun.  That would be the most important thing.

We started home group back up last night.  It was really good to see everybody again.  I had the Alaska pictures I have culled out so far going as a slide show when everyone arrived.  Probably could have just done that.  Well, that and enjoyed the cake Sam brought.  I’m not so sure about the card she presented to me for my birthday, though.  It was one of those song-included kinds.  And the “song included” was Happy Birthday to You, of course.  Sounds so sweet so far, doesn’t it.  Well, the only thing is, the song was sung by … cats.  Cat’s meowing.  And images of cats all over the card itself.  It was a cat extravaganza.  Let’s just say … it is rather well-known around here that I am not a cat person.  But good ol’ Sam.  She saw the card and just knew it was the one for me.  Thanks, Sam.  I love you, too. 

2 Thessalonians 3:3 says, “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.”

Father, thank you for the folks involved in home group.  More family.  They are a great gift from you.  Amen.