August 11 - “The Sneaky Storm”

We were just sitting around the kitchen table and den couch, enjoying our morning cup of coffee (freshly arrived from the Walmart run Christina made). Chris happened to glance out the back window. When what to her wondering eyes should appear, but a rodent of sorts on the ground so near. We grabbed all our phones, to “search” gave a whistle, and found that new friend from a picture, snap twistle. Ezra was already outside on the search, found a burrow indeed, but not critter’ perch. The search engines hummed, their results all came out. The critter, indeed, was a Woodchuck, no doubt. 

Our first stop was … Walmart. This one was for Micah. He had a laundry list of things he needed/wanted for his dorm room. I bought a few more bags of yellow slug food (aka candy corn). Gotta keep up Sasha’s strength. 

Then we swung in at Chik-Fil-A and grabbed some to-go grub. Then it was on to the dorm room to unload … again. This time I had a specific task. I was assigned putting together a little rolling cart that was destined to become his pantry. It took all nine of us most of the afternoon, but we got him pretty much set up. 

Since we were on campus anyway, we decided to check out the rec center. That included the rock climbing walls, the racquetball courts, the basketball courts, and even the running track (that would be an Ezra challenge). It’s a pretty amazing facility. 

Meanwhile, while we were snug as a bug in a rug inside, a very sneaky, severe thunderstorm ripped through the area. We never heard a thing. It was sprinkling a bit as we made our way to the van, but nothing bad. 

However, after we arrived home, Christina happened to glance out the kitchen window. And to her surprise, a massive branch of one of the trees in the backyard had crashed to the ground. Looked like a tornado had paid us a visit. And while Chris stared at the downed branch, what to her wondering eyes should appear, but a deer munching on grass. And soon three or four of his best friends joined him. Quite the spectacle, indeed. 

Last night turned into a game night. The guys have been chomping at the bit to play their Magic game using the array of new cards they have been buying all trip. There were a few others in the mix as well. Chris and I opted for sitting on the porch swing - The game of champions … ex- champions? … long ago champions?

‭‭Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭36‬ says, Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

Father, thank you for protecting this house - and us - from the storm. Amen.