May 18 - “Two more years”

We finally got all packed and loaded and actually on the road by 9:16. How’s that for specific? First stop was at the LaMarque Vaughan’s. We had to deliver Josiah’s birthday present today since they are leaving for Alaska in the morning. I had the distinct privilege of waking him up with a rousing chorus of “I’m a Nut”. That was followed by, well, another round next door in Noa’s room. Needless to say, they both absolutely loved it and wished that could happen to them every morning for the rest of their natural lives. Maybe I can record it, guys …

From there we headed to Santa Fe High School to pick up Cailyn. She rode with us to Waco, and her parents followed later. They had plans to do some celebrating for their anniversary. 

After a stop at Whataburger we hit the road. We ran into some light rain along the way, and certainly saw lots of evidence of the previous day’s storms - branches and trees down and lots of flooding - but the trip itself was relatively uneventful. 

 Not long after we got checked into the hotel, Nathan and April pulled in. We could see them from our second floor windows. They ended up two doors down from us. 

After chatting with them for a while, they headed out on their anniversary date, and we headed in the direction of Josh’s house. On the way, however, we stopped at the SAS (shoe) store where I bought my last pair of black all-leather tennis shoes two years ago (all-leather because my toes have a tendency to eat their way out otherwise). Two years is actually how long they lasted. Never before in my history has a pair of tennis shoes lasted longer than six months max - and that’s if I didn’t wear them all that much. 

The sales lady asked how she could help. I obliged by placing one of the shoes on the counter and declaring, “I want another pair just like this.”  Oh. Did I forget to mention that the shoe was still attached to my foot at the time?  I think Chris was a little embarrassed. No idea why …

After what we thought was an extensive search of the store that involved calling in the big guns (a quaint, antique-ish man - had to be at least 90. We had seen him having a smoke in front of the store when we arrived), the clerk was ready to throw in the towel and declare that shoe extinct. One last idea hit though. Check the sales history. 

After much struggling through the computer data base, they finally found me, listed as Kelly Vaugn. The address was correct, however. They found out the name of the shoe, and what to our wondering eyes should appear housed on the same shelf we had been perusing, but a boxful of that shoe in just my size. She asked if I wanted to try them on. “Nope. I’ll take ‘em,” was my reply. I was all set for two more years. 

And only then did she think to add, “Oh. Ever since the storm, our internet has been down. We can’t take any credit cards, only cash or check.”  What?

I told them I had our checkbook back at the hotel, but we couldn’t get it and get back until this morning. “No problem,” they assured me. “Well hold them for you.”  So … we are off this morning to see if they will accept a check from Galveston. What fun. 

Last night Josh grilled some burgers and corn on the cob. Christi’ folks were there as well. AnnaGrace was in a particularly talkative and “demonstrative” mood. Quite entertaining. We finally made our way back to the hotel around ten. Long day. 

Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ says, And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Father, thanks for the safe trip. Please be with the folks all along the route affected by the storms and flooding. Amen.