March 31 – “My new friends”

We took the truck in for its annual inspection yesterday.  Yep, she’s still running.  And afterwards I drove it downtown to get the actual registration sticker.  Long line there, by the way.  And I got yelled at by a lady in said line.  All I did was respond to a query from the desk as to whether anyone was there just to get a sticker.  All I did was raise my hand, and she gruffly informed me that she was in line first.  And she was supposed to be at work.  And she was going to be late.  And these lines were too long.  And people were always trying to cut in front of her.  Oh, she wasn’t talking to me, exactly.  Just venting to the world around her. 

 

I acknowledged her position and quietly backed away, since someone else stepped forward to get a sticker.  All was well until they once again called for anyone who was just there to get a sticker.  I hesitated.  I glanced over at my new “friend.”  Without missing a beat, she hollered back at them, “Hey!  This guy right here needs a sticker.  Take him next.”  And she pushed me toward the window.  Not what I expected.  But I thanked her and went on about my business.  Hope she gets back to work on time. 

 

In between the two truck events, we had an official appointment with a financial advisor yesterday.  Sounds so official, doesn’t it?  He was actually connected with Chris’ retirement fund.  He just took over for another guy who apparently moved away.  He seemed to be a really nice guy.  Pretty knowledgeable for a youngster.  He went over all the possibilities for her account, and even incorporated what little I could remember about my annuity in an effort to determine what might be best for us.  When he finished he asked Chris if she had any further questions.  She said, “Not about this stuff, but … why should I trust you?”  Wow.  That was unexpected.  I think it took him by surprise as well.  He sat back in his chair for a few seconds formulating his answer, and then responded with some statements that he hoped would reflect his character.  One was that he considered himself a religious person.  Interesting.  I had a follow-up for that.  I asked where he went to church.  He and his family drive into northwest Houston to attend a Catholic church that still uses the Latin mass.  Pretty impressive.  He asked where we went to church, so I told him I was the pastor at Seaside Church in Jamaica Beach.  He replied, “Oh.  I wouldn’t have pegged you as the pastor type.”  I answered, “Thank you.”  Don’t think he expected that, either.

 

Our day ended with a trip into Texas for Jachin’s baseball game.  This one was in Memorial Park in Houston.  Jachin was the starting pitcher.  He only gave up one run, too.  Very nice job.  He moved to right field for a while with the score 8-0 in his favor, and even got to play first base, his natural position.  He hasn’t played there all season, though.  In the end, the good guys won the game 11-1.  Woohoo.

 

Psalms 130:1-2 says, “Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; Lord, hear my voice.  Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.”

 

Father, please be with that lady who got me a place in line.  Help her to be happy.  And thanks for our new financial guy.  Draw him and his young family close to you.  Amen.

 

March 30 – “Monday, Monday, Monday”

Monday, Monday, Monday.  Another week.  At least this one ends in Easter.  Yesterday Chris went to rehab, as usual.  I did my walk, then returned to the computer.  Hey, there is lots to do this week.  Thursday’s Bible study.  Two sermons for Sunday.  That would be two different ones.  A lot of the same people who are present at the 6:30 sunrise service come back for the 10:00 service as well.  They will already be tired from such an early morning.  Don’t want to give them any more reason to fall asleep. 

 

When Chris got home, we decided to duck out and go to Shrimp n Stuff for lunch.  We had a gift card we hadn’t used.  Chris had boiled shrimp tacos (They don’t grill them at the location we were at).  I tried something new.  I ordered a lunch combo with some fried shrimp and two crab balls.  I think I have found my new favorite.  Not even in the ballpark with Chris’ choice as far as healthy options go, but it was so good.

 

Back at home, Chris was feeling energetic.  She hauled out the wet/dry vac and attacked the car.  It needed a little TLC after our trip to Waco with three grandkids in the back seat.  Now it just has to stay clean for our anticipated return to traveling in May.  One month.  Bring it on.  I wasn’t feeling quite so adventurous, but I did pull some weeds and pick up a lot of errant sticks in the front yard.  Prelims for a mowing event yet to come. 

 

Last night we watched some college basketball.  University of Houston guys barely won their game.  First trip to the final four since Phi Slamma Jamma in the 80’s.  The Baylor girls barely lost their game to UConn.  Highly questionable no call on a pretty obvious foul at the buzzer.  But I enjoyed watching the smallest girl on the court.  She was a guard for UConn.  Freshman.  I think she scored more than twenty points.  Pretty impressive, so I was happy for her.  Actually, those two teams were so closely matched that if they played three games, one team would win two of them.  (Huh?)  Finally we watched the Baylor guys.  Arkansas made an impressive run and kept the game way closer than it should have been, but Baylor pulled it out in the end.  They get to go to the final four for the first time since I don’t know when.  Now they play Houston for the right to play what most likely promises to be Gonzaga from the other bracket.  Gotta love this time of year.

 

Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

 

Father, please be with all the Easter prep going on this week.  In the end, may it all be about you.  Amen.

March 29 – “Quite the flurry …”

We had quite a crowd at church yesterday.  Palm Sunday, one of my all-time favorite services of the year.  I love it because it is all about praise.  Close to fifty folks were there to stomp on my coat and wave palm branches and take up palm crosses and trade those crosses with someone else in the room.  There was lots of feedback during the teaching, and lots of joy and laughter during the trading of crosses time.  I was most impressed with the debriefing sessions about the crosses.  Great insights into the applications around those simple events.  All in all, it was a great day of worship … of praise!

 

And after church a great group stuck around to offer help in getting everything ready for the Easter events yet to come.  Easter eggs were being stuffed with candy.  Floors were being swept.  Tables were being set up.  The office was being filled up with items we needed to get out of the way in the breakfast serving room.  Sound equipment was being gathered into one area, ready for transport.  Plans were made to meet up on Saturday to get chairs down from the worship center.  It was quite the flurry of activity.  Truly a picture of how this one event “belongs” to each of the Seasiders in our midst.  Actually, it belongs to the Lord, but I do appreciate everybody taking ownership and responsibility for carrying it out. 

 

And now we pray and anticipate.  Resurrection Sunday is coming!

 

In John 14:7 Jesus said, “If you really know me, you will know my Father as well.  From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

 

Father, thank you for the great display of teamwork and love I saw yesterday.  Please bless each one of those folks who worked so hard.  And would you join us for Easter on the beach (and inside) next week?  It just wouldn’t be the same without you.  Amen.

March 28 – “Camping with the Kents??”

It’s Sunday morning.  Palm Sunday, in fact.  It’s a pretty big day at church.  At least for me it is.  Aside from East, which is huge around here, and maybe Christmas Eve, I have more pre-service prep for Palm Sunday than any other Sunday in the year.  Gather palm fronds from somewhere (an issue now that we no longer have a palm tree in the yard.  Thank you this year to Nathan for trimming his trees).  Make palm crosses.  Prepare a prop-laden teaching.  All the while, there is also the monster Easter prep looming ahead and mingling in.  Just a full week and day.  But it will be worth it in the end.  After all, God is involved.

 

I have to share another dream segment.  Happened a day or two ago.  As with any dream, I have no idea why I happened to remember this one, but here goes …

I was involved with a summer camp.  Sort of.  It was a pretty convoluted mess of activity.  I’m not sure if I was a camper, a counselor, or just a spectator.  The interesting thing happened when campers started showing up.  I noticed the parents who brought them more than anything.  Especially one family.  Didn’t see the kid, but Mom and Dad were none other than Clark and Lois Kent.  You know, Mr. and Mrs. Superman.  Not the ones from the new TV show, though.  These were the real deal from the 1960’s comic books I grew up on.  And I guess they encouraged my dream state, because the action suddenly morphed into a vignette about a caped superhero who rides around hanging off the rear of a bus.  And finally there appeared the three bananas that had somehow been growing together, making it impossible to peel.

 

There’s one for you psych dudes to figure out.

 

Zechariah 9:9 says, “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!

Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!

See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

 

Father, please be with us at church today.  Receive our Palm Sunday worship.  Amen.

March 27 – “The perfect date?”

I walked for three miles yesterday with no grackle/hawk incidents.  But there was an unexpected encounter.  Seems there was this huge ball of bright light in the sky.  Warm.  I understand it appears every so often.  A phenomenon called the sun.  Fascinating.  I certainly haven’t experienced it in such a manner in some time.  It was… nice.

 

Chris went to cardiac rehab again.  She is more than halfway done now, so they are really ramping up the cardio-intensity.  She was scheduled for her second Covid shot right after the appointment.  Pretty convenient, since they are in the same building and all.  But she realized something as she finished up the last few minutes of bicycling.  She left the card at home.  That meant she had to come all the way home to get her card, then drive all the way back, all for the coveted Zombie Shot. 

 

We did determine a plan to cut down her efforts somewhat.  I met her at Target with the card.  I was planning to go back over to Office Depot anyway to pick up the flash drive I left behind.  As it turned out, the girl who originally waited on me for the miracle encounter the day before was at the door welcoming customers.  She recognized me (or perhaps my mask) right away.  I told her I was impressed with the one day turnaround.  I expect great things in the future.  She wasn’t exactly sure how to respond, but she hollered over to the counter where she had been working the day before and told the guy to hand me the flash drive that was still in the computer.  Easy enough.

 

After a quick lunch and a WalMart trip for a few groceries, we made our way into Texas.  This time it was just into Texas City for a funeral viewing visit.  Christina’s uncle died a few days ago of pneumonia.  His kids have gone to church at Seaside, and to camp with us a time or two.  Todd was a really nice guy.  Great drummer, too.  And his moustache was always epic.  I know his family will miss him a lot.  Besides the kids we knew, we also saw some good friends, Jim and Laura.  We spent a good amount of time catching up with them. 

 

After the visitation we decided to make an actual date of the whole afternoon.  We were right around the corner from Chris’ favorite Mexican restaurant, Gringo’s.  So we stopped in.  They have taken the 100% order to heart, and their constituents have fallen right in with them.  The place was really full.  Masks were optional.  Some covered up, others didn’t.  But then, I saw a lot of uncovered faces at WalMart, too.  The food was great as usual, and we now have another meal or two with our leftovers.  Josh called as we were leaving, so we chatted with him all the way home.  How’s that for a great date?  Funeral, Mexican food, and a phone call with a son.  Doesn’t get any better than that …

 

John 1:29 says, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’”

 

Father, please walk with Demetrius and Miranda and Amanda through the valley they face without their Dad.  Help them sense your presence.  Amen.

 

March 26 – “Miracle Central”

I experienced another miracle yesterday.  It involved Office Depot.  Guess I should explain.

 

Since next week is Easter and our big sunrise service on the beach, one of my responsibilities is to put together the booklet that contains the words to the songs that we will sing.  I touched base with our worship pastor to get his song list and got started.  I even worked overtime to make a mock-up of what a completed copy would look like, with print on both sides and the appropriate internal paging system intact.  I printed out a one-side-only set of pages.  I even made a digital copy on a flash drive - Word and PDF files.  I was all set for this one.

 

And then I took it all over to Home Depot.  The girl jumped all over the flash drive idea.  Saved her a lot of work.  I even explained which options to choose when she sent it to the printer.  Not that it helped much.  She still turned it upside down and had to rerun the sample copy four times.  But she finally got it and I approved.  Then she asked how many copies I needed.  500.  You would have thought I threatened to run her through the automatic document feeder or something.  She immediately said, “Oh, we can’t do that many copies here in the store.  I’ll have to send this order out to our regional center.”  Curious, I asked where the regional center was.  “Somewhere just north of Austin.  Grand Prairie, I think.  Yes, that’s it.  Grand Prairie.”  Well, Grand Prairie IS north of Austin, I’ll give her that.  As she typed the order into her computer, I asked, “When did this procedure of sending big orders out get started?”  She answered, “Well, forever.  I’ve been here three years and it has always been that way.”  I calmly replied, “Well, that’s not actually true.”  She retorted, “Oh, yes, it is.  We have never done that big an order in the store.”  Boom.  Had her on the hook.  Now it was time for my ace in the hole.

 

I slowly and methodically pulled out my receipt from the last order of exactly the same thing – 500 booklets.  It was made two years ago, since the sunrise service was Covid-ized last year.  I mentioned the existence of said receipt and she was a bit reticent to believe me.  But there it was.  She asked if she could see it.  Sure enough.  In store.  This store.  She stumbled a bit in her protestations of policy after that, but continued to enter data into her computer.  Then she suddenly stopped.  And what she said next was … interesting.  “It seems that the computer is not letting me send the order to regional.  It looks like we’ll have to do it in the store.”  Well, imagine that.  She continued, “Maybe that’s why they did it this way two years ago.”  Maybe.  She asked to see the receipt again, and used it to write up the order.  Step one accomplished.

 

Then she got to the money part.  The initial cost was way too exorbitant.  But she assured me it would come way down.  First she took off taxes.  Then she did something else that dropped the total by almost half.  Finally, I handed her the coupon I had for 20% off all print services.  More excess fat trimmed.  The final total now was certainly more manageable.  Next came the promise of delivery date.  She knew it was for Easter. So she first said the day before.  I knew better than that, so I negotiated for two days before Easter in case something was amiss.  She finally agreed.  I left the flash drive and continued on my way.

 

Yesterday afternoon, as I worked on our round crossword puzzle some more, my phone rang.  It was a Galveston number, but not one I recognized.  On a whim, I decided to answer.  The voice on the other end said, “Mr. Vaughan? This is Office Depot.”  Uh oh.  What now?  She continued, “Coincidentally, your order is ready.”  Wait.  What?  I asked, “The whole 500 copies?”  She assured me that it was.  Not sent to Grand Prairie just north of Austin, mind you.  All done in one store in around two hours.  Amazing.  Nay, miraculous.  And even more miraculous?  When I picked them up, they were done correctly.  Of course I was more stunned than I thought.  I forgot to pick up the flash drive.  I guess I’ll be making a quick trip over to Miracle Central (a.k.a Office Depot) today.

 

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

 

Father, thank you for the small miracle that happen every day.  Forgive us when we don’t recognize them as such.  And please begin now to prepare people for the sunrise service.  Amen.

March 25 – “Grackled …”

I had quite the harrowing experience on my walk yesterday.  Well, the harrowing was not so much for me.  More startling for me.  Harrowing for at least one of the participants of what I witnessed.  Got your attention yet?  Here goes. 

 

As I walked along the very middle of the street (because it is flatter there rather than on the sides that slope for drainage, but that’s an issue for brighter architectural brains than mine), I took in the cool morning air and the chirping and jabbering of the local birds.  Those pleasant morning sounds were mixed in, of course with the occasional harsh racket of the seagulls fighting over scraps of bread they find in the street.  All in all, it was a pretty perfect tropical island paradise Spring morning.  Until …

 

Until I noticed a particularly frantic chittering from down the street a ways in front of me.  I was pretty sure it was the unmistakable squawk of a grackle complaining about something.  It’s what they do.  Sure enough, as I got closer the sound got louder.  Suddenly the noisemaker swooped from the treetops and headed off about four and a half feet off the ground … right toward me. The grackle was flying as fast as I have ever seen one move.  Why?  Because right on its tail (literally) was none other than a beautiful hawk.  I have seen a hawk nail a pigeon before, but I’ve never seen one chase down a grackle.  That in itself was enough to capture my attention.  But the identity of the combatants was not the primary concern at the time.

 

As you might recall, the grackle had filed a flight plan approximately four and a half feet off the ground.  The grackle settled into place right behind.  And that height put them on a collision course for … my neck.  That grackle was going to bore an escape niche right through me.  I came to a complete stop, stunned at the developments around me.  Run?  Duck?  Fight?  I had but seconds to contemplate my options.  Instead I simply stared in petrified silence as they sped closer and closer.  Until … at about four feet from me … the grackle veered suddenly to my right.  Not to be fooled, the hawk made just an abrupt a change to my left.  I felt like I had just set a pick and roll screen for the fastest point guard in the history of basketball.  I whipped my body around to follow the action.  The grackle grackled his way into the sky and beyond over the houses to one side of the street.  The hawk gave up his pursuit and soared in the other direction.  I’m a little rusty at translation, but I’m pretty sure I heard a faint cry in hawk-ese, “Curses, foiled again.”

 

Psalms 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

 

Father, your creatures never cease to amaze me.  Keep ‘em coming.  Amen.

March 24 – “On pre-road trip check-ups”

We attempted some minor pre-planning of a vacation yesterday.  The pre-planning was yesterday, not the vacation.  The thought is to take off right after Chris finishes her cardiac rehab and physical therapy and completes her next visits with the cardiologist and her PCP.  That should get her covered with everything that needs checking up on.  Kind of like a pre-road trip check-up for your car. 

 

Right now we are toying with the idea of leaving in early May for parts unknown (at least unknown to us).  We would return sometime towards the end of that month if all goes as planned.  Destination choices have been all over the place.  Literally … all over the place.  Hawaii is pretty much off the table for right now, although as soon as they fully open up the state, we plan to be all over that one.  We are also looking at a bit of a Western excursion.  Not too far west, though.  No California in our sights.  But the Grand Canyon/Arizona/Utah area does loom large in our sights.  The opposite direction has also been garnering our interest, though.  We have never been down to the tip of Florida to the national park at the outermost Florida Keys.  On the plus side for both of these areas is the fact that they seem to be opening up to tourists again.  Especially the Florida connection.  Then in the back of our minds – way back right now because of Covid restrictions – is a trip north to North Dakota (no particular reason … we’ve just never been) and then over to Pennsylvania and north again to Vermont (again … never been to Vermont).  And we always keep another trip to Alaska in our back pocket, just in case. 

 

So … where to go in May.  Hmmm …

 

Psalms 27:4 says, “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.”

 

Father, thank you for the chances we have had to travel.  We would sure like to get back at it.  Amen.

March 23 – “The Tune Zone Questions”

Have you ever had one of those days where you get a song stuck in your head?  I had that yesterday morning during my walk.  Three miles of the same tune over and over, with the squeak of my shoes providing the percussion accompaniment.  I tried to change it to something else, but as I zoned out into the world of walking, there it was again.  The zoning and tuning almost led me to get hit by a car at one point.  A lady was backing out of her driveway and neither of us saw the other.  It was totally my bad, too.  I was in the Tune Zone and never even looked up to see what was in front of me.  The poor lady rolled down her window and apologized profusely.  I assured her that it was my fault, but I don’t think it did any good.  At least now she has a story to tell about the old guy she almost hit on her way to work. 

 

That was almost as good as the lady I passed who was getting ready to do some kind of construction industry related work.  She had two long broomstick-looking things in one hand and was pulling some kind of machine behind her.  I smiled and waved.  She struggled to wave back with her hands full and almost lost control of the machine.  I assured her that I didn’t require a return wave.  I was just being neighborly.  At that she stopped completely, let go of the handle of the machine, and vigorously waved a return hello.  That led to a few minutes of chatting where she said I was an inspiration to her, because she sees me walking a lot, and she knows she needs to walk as well.  Gee, an inspiration because I walk.  Must be the Old Guy’s Badge of Honor. 

 

Later in the morning Nathan brought over some palm branches for me to use for Palm Sunday.  Many of the palm trees on the island didn’t survive the freeze, so it was helpful to get some that weren’t all brown and dried out.  I spent the rest of the afternoon making palm crosses and palm fronds to use on Sunday.  I know they will be dried out by then, but you make do with what you have, when you have it.

 

Oh, I forgot to ask the second half of the question about the song in my head.  First was: Has that ever happened to you?  The rest of the question is this: How come now I can’t even remember the name of the song that I couldn’t get rid of just yesterday?  Ah, well.  A question to ponder another day …

 

Psalms 18:2 says, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

 

Father, thank you for the neighbors I get to meet – albeit in unusual ways.  Bless them as they go about their day.  Amen.

March 22 – “Steps toward normalcy”

We had quite the room full of people at church yesterday.  Chris even got to take care of some little ones in the nursery.  It’s been a long time since she did that.  Guess that was one of her steps toward normalcy again, after both the world’s Covid issues and her own heart attack issues.  There were some new folks from Sea Isle that I met.  They had been invited to come by several of our Seasiders out there, all of whom claimed a part in this little victory.  I suppose they have been putting forth the invites for some time now.  I also had a chance to chat with a guy who came last week with his grandkids.  He’s living in his RV and traveling the country.  He was really happy to have found a church he really liked so he could enjoy attending on the road.  And for the second week in a row, someone stayed after to talk about salvation and baptism.  Hard to beat gaining a new family member.  And they seemed all set for a baptism at the Easter Sunrise Service on the beach.  Don’t forget there will be breakfast served as well back at the church building.  Oh, and we still need individually wrapped candies to put in plastic eggs for the Easter egg hunt after breakfast.  You can bring them next Sunday.  Yep … that’s really Palm Sunday.    

 

Dinner on the grounds went really well, too.  There was an abundance of great food … as usual.  Our Sea Isle guests stuck around and kicked things off by being first in line.  It was all good, from the chicken spaghetti to the baked chicken to the macaroni and cheese to the chili to the bean soup … amazing variety in main dishes.  And the dessert table was overflowing as well.  Word has it people were practicing for the Easter breakfast feast to come. 

 

The rest of the afternoon we spent trying to stay awake and watch March Madness basketball games.  Well, Chris did some reading in there, too.  And I put a few more pieces into the round puzzle.  But basketball was the main attraction.  Every bracket in the country has been broken by all the upsets.  The only two teams I have left in mine with a shot at the finals are Baylor and Gonzaga.  I picked Baylor because they are pretty good this year.  I picked Gonzaga because I always pick Gonzaga.  I just like saying that name … Gonzaga. 

 

1 John 4:4 says, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

 

Father, thank you for the chance to meet new people at church.  Be with them in their journeys with you.  And please be with us as we get all the preparations done for Easter.  Amen.

March 21 – “What will they think of next?”

We made it to that early morning soccer game of Caleb’s.  Officially it was 43 degrees.  I was afraid to check the wind chill, but Chris said it was negligible.  But we braved it anyway.  To sit outside … in an open field … for an hour and a half. 

 

And cold it was.  We were all bundled up, though.  I wore my snow jacket over a hoodie, long-sleeved shorts, and t-shirt, with accessories of gloves adorning my poor, freezing fingers.  Christi was sporting her new heated vest that Josh got her for Valentine’s Day.  Pretty creative offering there, Josh.  Wish we had had one of those things a few weeks ago here during the freeze.  Battery operated heating vest.  What will they think of next? 

 

Caleb’s team did manage to get warmed up.  So much so that they actually won the game two to nothing.  And Caleb made some good saves at sweeper.  I guess that makes it all worthwhile, huh?

 

We hung out in Waco until after lunch.  Josh grilled some hamburgers and hot dogs and chicken, which we enjoyed before hitting the road for home after a very full day and a half.  I think the kids had a good time.  They did everything from video games to airsoft wars.  We even got to watch some pretty exciting NCAA basketball games whenever Josh could commandeer the TV. 

 

The ride home was fun.  Loud, but fun.  We had supper at a Whataburger in College Station.  After a little mishap that ended in Josiah wearing a portion of his drink and rapidly downing the rest, we pulled into Buc-ees for a bathroom break.  No neurosurgeon in the bathroom this time.  At least none that I recognized.  Back on the road, I finished a John Grisham novel that I started several months ago.  Hey, I do my best reading in the car on long trips.  Well, at least after I get my nap in …

 

1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray continually.”

 

Father, thank you for the chance to get some of the cousins together for some fun. Always a good thing.  Amen.

March 20 – “Where’s my snow jacket?”

Chris went to rehab as usual.  But yesterday was a milestone.  She is officially half-way through.  Woohoo.  Definitely cause to celebrate.  And what better way than to take a trip?  Even a short one.  OK, a tiny one.  How about Luke’s basketball game?  I got started packing for an overnighter to Waco.  Packing problem.  It was supposed to be 39 degrees in Waco.  I was already freezing in Galveston where it was 55.  And we were anticipating a bonus activity.  We were going to watch Caleb play a soccer game – outside.  Where’s my snow jacket?

 

We loaded up our winter clothes and our three hitchhikers – Cailyn, Micah and Josiah – and hit the road.  All was pretty uneventful.  We made our usual stop at Buc-ees for a bathroom break and lunch.  And who should I see in the bathroom?  As I turned to leave the room, there, walking toward me with an eerily familiar gait, was a man in hospital scrubs and a hospital mask.  I did a double-take.  Yes, it really was him.  There before me was … my neurosurgeon.  The guy who had his hands inside my back.  Micah and Josiah had paused for me to catch up with them, so I made the comment, “Look, guys.  It’s my neurosurgeon.”  The doc looked up and made a pretense of recognizing me.  I appreciated that.  Seems he was heading to Waco to see his grandchildren as well.  Imagine that.  Something in common besides his hands on my spine.  Nice.

 

We got to Waco in plenty of time to watch some NCAA basketball before Luke’s games.  Enjoyed the upsets.  Blew all of our brackets, but lots of fun to watch.  Luke’s games were fun as well.  They won one and lost one.  Pretty good shooters for as young as they all were.  Needless to say, we were proud of that Vaughan kid.

 

Back at the house we at taquitos and cheese dip and enjoyed some more NCAA basketball.  As Josh said, “Greatest time of the year.”

 

Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

 

Father, thank you for the safe trip.  Help these cousins continue to enjoy each other’s company.  Amen.

March 19 – “Actually …”

Sigh.  This is becoming a monthly ordeal here at our house.  I spent yet another hour on the phone with AT&T trying to get some answers to why our phone bill increased by a hundred dollars a month.  There are a million tiny reasons they have come up with as to why it might have occurred, so this time I told them to just start over from scratch, sign me up with a plan that costs what I am willing to pay, and be done with all the “fixing.”  Honestly, I don’t know if the issue has been resolved or not.  We’ll see when two things happen.  One, if they actually do email me a correct bill for this month.  And two, if the bill next month is actually what the guy said it would be.  Not holding my breath …

 

Our afternoon was one of computer work and errand-running.  Randall’s was the target this time.  No, I don’t mean Randall’s was Target.  Or even WalMart.  Just that I had to go to Randall’s.  We each had a prescription waiting.  Oh, and their coffee was on sale again.  I picked up several bags to have on hand.  Chris stayed home and cleaned house, then continued work on her latest quilt. 

 

Home group was a small one this week.  Kind of fit the story from the book of Joshua.  The Israelites were going up against the tiny town of Ai, so they didn’t take their whole army.  That’s where the comparison breaks down, though.  I’m pretty sure we don’t have anyone hiding religious contraband under a tent in their backyard.  I was just referencing the smaller group.  That’s all I was saying. 

 

Now I have to go pack.  We are going on a tiny road trip – just to Waco.  And we’re picking up three Spring Break hitch-hikers on the way.  One from Galveston and two from LaMarque.  Should be a fun trip.  We’re returning tomorrow.  Just want to go see Luke play some basketball and Caleb some soccer.  It is supposed to be cold, though.  In the 30’s as I understand it.  That’s fine, I suppose, as long as they keep it up there.  We do not need any more cold on the Island.

 

Ephesians 4:31-32 says, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

 

Father, please join us on our road trip today.  Always room for one more when it’s you.  Amen.

March 18 – “It’s just not scary”

Welcome to our tropical island paradise.  Yesterday we had to turn on the air conditioner in the house.  Yep.  Those mid-70’s are killers, aren’t they?  But wait … this morning we woke up to a blustery 54 with a wind chill in the 40’s.  OK.  Which of you Northerners stuck your weather in your back pocket?  Feel free to pick it up and send it home any time.  You are more than welcome to stay, though.  Enjoy the beach and the sun and the outdoor fun … you know, all those things that pretty much require … WARM WEATHER.

 

Enough ranting.  On to yesterday.  Not much to report.  Chris has her double rehab – cardiac followed by physical therapy on her shoulder.  The shoulder lady said she was making great progress.  Chris said it still hurts.  Classic “no pain, no gain”?  After lunch she even joined me for part of my walk (Chris, not the therapist).  She is very determined to get herself in shape to hike again. 

 

I had an appointment with the ENTPA (Ear, Nose, and Throat Physician’s Assistant).  It was actually just a follow-up to check on two things.  First, how the allergy nose spray she prescribed me was working.  Great, by the way.  Makes me sleepy, so I only take it at night.  But I haven’t had a decent sneezing fit for as long as I’ve been taking it.  And I seem to be sleeping better as well.  Second, she wanted to let me know the results of the MRI.  Yes, I had already seen the results online at the MyChart site, but I wanted to see what she had to say as well.  She had just gone over the test with an ENT surgeon.  They both concur that “there is nothing scary there to worry about.”  She did confirm that there was a brain, however.  It’s just not scary.  Glad to hear it.

 

John 13:14 says, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.”

 

Father, thank you again for the good news about my head.  Oh, and we could sure use some warm weather before Easter.  That water is still pretty chilly for baptisms.  Amen.

March 17 – “Don’t Mess with the Liver”

I started off my day working at the computer.  Wish I could have stayed there.  The next destination was … new tires and an alignment for our car.  Ouch.  Bad news is they are really proud of new tires and all it takes to get them road ready.  Good news is they took the car right in and had it ready in less than two hours. 

 

Next I went to the clinic where they are doing Covid vaccine shots.  The chatter among those waiting the required ten or fifteen minutes after their shots was quite entertaining.  My two favorites came from two different guys talking on their telephones … loudly. 

One was reassuring whoever was on the other end of the line: “No.  We got the good stuff.  From Pfizer.”  Guess that guy should be in one of their TV commercials.

The other was talking to his wife, explaining why it was taking so long: “No, honey.  I already got the shot.  Now I have to sit here like a rotisserie chicken to see if I fall out.”  Loads of fun …

 

While I was out, I went to Randall’s to pick up some prescriptions.  The one for me was nose spray for my allergies.  The one for Chris, however, was a new one they wanted to try that isn’t supposed to mess with her liver.  I guess the “Don’t Mess with the Liver” tag is what makes it so expensive.  It sure better work. 

 

Got a text from Chris on my way home.  A neighbor needed me to help jump his truck.  Dead battery.  This is the same neighbor who helped me jump our truck a while back.  Sure enough, as I rounded the corner into the subdivision, there he was in the street, waving me down.  His truck started right up, fortunately.  He was headed right out to get a replacement.  He asked how long batteries are supposed to last.  As it so happened, I had just asked that question when I bought my last battery.  Apparently they last either one or three years.  No more five-year guarantees. 

 

After a trip to WalMart for bananas and some props for the sermon on Sunday, I sat down to create again.  This time I had to figure out how to create an event on FaceBook.  I have done it before, but not in a year or so.  Oh, what event?  Easter Sunrise Service on the beach at 6:30 a.m. on Jamaica Beach just down from the church.  (Baptisms are happening.  Let me know if you want to be baptized).  Breakfast afterwards (Bring some food to share.  There will probably be a lot of people to feed).  Then an Easter egg hunt for the kids.  Then regular Easter Sunday worship at ten.  Spread the word …

 

Mark 16:15 says, “He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’”

 

Father, thank you for safe cars and good neighbors and medications and bananas and … Easter.  Amen.