August 7 – “The Queen … Beginnings”

And Zakary asked, "where is Nani?  She's supposed to be here."  This is the story of what could have been said.    Once upon a time when it was both right and good for princesses and even queens to have quests of their very own, there was one such princess.  And she was quite certainly my queen.   "What did she do?" you ask?  Ah.  She did nothing less than win my heart and then make me happier than I have ever been.  For she left her life as she knew it to join me in my lifelong quest.    And that's not all.  She brought forth three fine boys who loved and lived and found fair maidens of their own who agreed to join them in quests into new and larger worlds.  And in those worlds they too brought forth children.  Fine, strapping lads with joy in their hearts and mischief in their eyes.  And one lovely little girl, who was destined to grow into a beautiful young maiden who would certainly steal the hearts of all who met her.  But they each shall have their own story.  And it is yet to be told.      But her story begins when she single-handedly subdued the rival forces of the Yarrow And Ramtil Domain. Another question?  I bet I know.  You want to know what those words mean, don't you?  Well, Yarrow is but a strong-scented herb from the continents of Europe and Asia.  Ramtil is a another herb cultivated in far off India for the oil in its seeds.  And Domain simply means … where they came together.  No one can remember a time when yarrow and ramtil grew freely in the domain.  Though there have been times in recent memory when other species wantonly invaded the domain and seemed about to overwhelm the castle itself.    It was into one such time that the Queen first appeared.  Forces struggled back and forth for control of territory.  And then she arrived.  Calm.  Patient.  Gently subduing one after another of the factions until the entire domain was under her command.  So much so that her young boys could climb and play for hours on end without fear of attack from the limbs of the trees above or the hidden snares below that could tear skin from bone with ruthless efficiency.  Safe.  Clean.  Happy.   Happy, that is, until …    OK, enough of that for now.  Maybe I'll get back to it soon.  Seemed like a fun story.  In my head.    Psalms 47:2 says, "How awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the earth!"   Father, you are awesome.  I sure can't wrap my head around who you really are.  Amen.

August 6 – “The Return”

OK.  I remembered to water the grass today.  But my problem was remembering to set the timer for when to move the sprinkler around.  Some parts of the grass got a hefty drink.  Others got the specified fifteen minutes.  Our water bill will take up the slack.  And the sad thing is, by the end of the day it's going to be like I never watered at all.  Same dry patches.  Same almost-withering flowers.  Hard to believe they look so good early in the morning when they look so horrible around five or six o'clock.  There's gotta be a lesson somewhere in there.    Today's Return of the Arthritis report is getting worse by the passing hour.  Didn't have much trouble this morning, just the usual creaky knees and sore fingers and toes.  But when I stood up after eating lunch, my lower back started killing me.  That was a surprise.  This afternoon my hips kicked in for good measure.  I guess there's some sort of symphony going on and they needed some bass drums or something.  Actually, I don't know anything about the symphony.  I don't know if bass drums are even in a symphony.  But it sounded good.  To me anyway.  Something big hurts.  Or something hurts big.  Big sound.  Sure there's a connection n in there somewhere.   I'm planning to do some weed pulling this evening.  It was that or try some more fishing, but it's just too hot in the evening for fish.  Can't keep live shrimp alive.  They cook in the surf.  Maybe I can get Mom to go to Shrimp 'n' Stuff later on today or tomorrow.  I found a coupon in a magazine for fried shrimp dinners.  That's bound to better than the popcorn shrimp at Golden Corral.    Psalms 5:1-3 says, "Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing.  2 Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.  3 In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."   Father, I admit that when I do my sighing and crying for help, I usually miss out on the waiting in expectation part.  Thanks for hearing me in spite of me.  Amen.

August 5 – “On Heat and humidity”

Day Two without arthritis medication.  I was really tired last night when I went to bed around eleven.  I woke up one time during the night, but then slept through until almost seven this morning.  Haven't done that in a long time.  I have been drowsy all day today though.  I don't know if that's related to the meds or not.  Yesterday I was aching in just about every joint by the end of the day.  So far today has been much better.  If the drowsiness goes away and I stay at this level, I can live with it.   Chris said her Mom hasn't seen the little boy any more since she "found him."  They ventured out together yesterday and visited cousins and even went to the cemetery there to see the graves of Grandma and Grandpa.  It gave her Mom and Dad a much needed break apart from each other.  I'm tired of the break Chris and I have had from each other.  I understand it.  I support it.  But I'm tired of it.   So what's with the heat and humidity?  I keep forgetting to water the grass and flowerbeds.  I figured that if the humidity was high, then the plants could just draw it in from the air around them.  What's the use of high humidity if you still have to water the plants all the time.  I heard yesterday that the heat index was hovering around 110 degrees.  If the humidity can crawl into the normal hundred degree temperature in the air and magically transform it into ten more degrees of hot, why can't it seep itself into the bushes and grass as well?    Psalms 95:3-5 says, "For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.  4 In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.  5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land."   Father, you made all that water in the Gulf, and all this humidity in the air.  Could you help me out a bit with the grass when I forget to water?  Thanks.  Amen.

August 4 – “If I had been a boy”

No fish yesterday unless you count the hundreds of little tiny gaftop catfish that ate my bait every cast or the long needle-nosed eel I hooked using a spoon lure.  It's pretty bad when you can't even catch a decent hardhead catfish (not that they are ever decent).   Chris' Mom has a blood clot in her leg.  It is swelling a lot and painful.  Some days it even turns blue.  But the doctors say there is really nothing else to do.  She has been dreaming (or not) some strange stuff that she interprets as signs that it's time for her to go.   The other day when I was in Bay City Chris' Mom woke up upset and even agitated.  She was looking for a little boy she had seen and couldn't find him.  We assumed she was talking about her son Mark.  Chris calmed her down by assuring her that Mark was in Victoria with his family.  This morning Chris sent me a text saying she had found the boy.  She even knew his name.  It was the name that would have been Chris' "if I had been a boy." She said she knew that was a sign but she's still not ready.    Mom is back in water therapy three times a week.  After the first two sessions she has come out totally exhausted.  It'll get better.  So far all she does is walk around in the water with ankle weights on her feet and one of those long skinny hunks of foam under her arms.  I for one always got excited about it when my kids were going to dive for the first time.  We may have a ways to go for that one with Mom for that particular milestone.   OK.  I've been off the rheumatoid arthritis medications for almost a day now.  I have tried not to focus on it.  The only thing I haven't been able to completely disregard are my fingers and toes and knees.  It's not the sharp, stabbing pain.  It's more of a dull, behind the scenes ache right now.  So far my left elbow has stayed quiet.  That was always the big indicator before.  We'll see.  My next appointment is not for another two weeks or so on the 20th - Mom's birthday.   Speaking of birthdays.  Chris' is the 17th.  I have no idea what she could use or even what she might want right now other than some peace in the midst of tension and turmoil.    Isaiah 26:3-4 says, "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.  4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal."   Father, thank you for being the Rock.  Help me and Chris keep our minds steadfast with trust in you.  Amen.

August 3 – “Call us”

I just got some potentially disturbing news.  I have been doing really well with the rheumatoid arthritis.  Haven't had a flare-up in quite some time.  The pain has been limited to my fingers and knees and it hasn't been near as bad as it was before this last round of medication.  It has been evident that whatever this combination of drugs does, it has worked for me.    So, my rheumatologist's office called this afternoon and said I had to stop taking all the medications they have me on except the small dose of steroids.  The steroids are what I was going to lobby for stopping at my next visit.  It seems that my liver function blood test results from back in June have just now been received, and they are considerably elevated.  I have no idea what that means, other than it's obviously a no-no, and I have to stop doing what was working.  I asked what I should do if there is another flare-up.  Could I take advil?  Well, that was apparently a stupid question.  It got a quick dismissal, "Oh, no.  That's the same thing as one of the ones you have been taking."  OK.  So my next question was, "Then I guess I just take Tylenol if it gets bad again?"  Again, not such a good question.  Tylenol is on the hit list as well.  I was beginning to get a bit worried.  I asked, "So what do I do if there is another flare-up?  What do I take?"  After a pause that I know was very brief, but that felt like an eternity, she said, "Call us.  We may put you on more steroids.  But call us."    Well, that's not very encouraging.  And just when I thought I could put this one out of my mind and into my pill box.  I know this kind of arthritis is not helped by lots of stress, so let's just add this to the plate full we already have.  Chris not being here.  Chris' Mom about to die.  They need their yard mowed, and have no mower right now.  My Mom and her daily aches and pains and eyedrops and hairdresser appointments and clubs and, as of this week, her three times a week water therapy.  Trying to get Seaside Christian Academy's building finished.  Trying to get enough students registered so we can pay teachers next month.  Encouraging Seasiders to face their crisis of belief and trust God to do what he calls us to join him in doing.  Keeping up with sermons and home group teachings.  Keeping the yard from all dying out one week and mowed the next.  Cleaning house and washing clothes and dishes.  Remembering to eat and see that Mom eats.  Making sure the dogs have food and water and Fritz gets the rest of his pills (at least he'll be done on Friday).  Babysitting Cailyn and / or Jachin and Micah a time or two each week.    I love it.  The action.  The drama.  But it sure is wearing on me.  And if the pain comes back I know it'll get tough.  Hmmm …   The Astros are on a six game winning streak.  I hope to go fishing this evening.  Some things are looking up.   Psalms 73:23-26 says, "Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.  24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.  25 Whom have I in heaven but you?  And earth has nothing I desire besides you.  26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."   Father, please forgive me when I sink like this.  I know you are in control.  I know you will work all things out.  I trust you.  Give me peace.  Amen.

August 2 – “Aunts”

I spent the day with Chris in Bay City today.  Her Mom is having some real problems with swelling in her left leg.  The doctor said it was most likely related to blood clots, but there is really nothing that can or should be done about it at this point.  She keeps it propped up as much as she can.   This afternoon I got to spend some time with the aunts.  Right as Chris was fixing some lunch, one of her aunts drove up with a friend of hers.  Aunt Becky is not one the actual sisters of the clan.  She married one of the brothers.  But as far as she is concerned, she belongs as much as any of the others.  And she is a lot of fun to be around.  She has all kinds of physical problems, but doesn't let any of them keep her down.  She is loud and silly and always has something to say.  The fiend she brought was Charlene.  That's Char, pronounced with a rough ch like chicken or chance.  She was a little tiny woman who used to be a schoolteacher.  She was pretty outgoing as well, and the two of them together made for some entertaining moments.    After they had been here awhile they made a phone call and convinced two other of Chris' aunts to come over as well.  Meanwhile the hospice aide came over to help Chris' Mom with a bath.  So I went outside with the two ladies.  Aunt Becky then asked me a question about a granddaughter of hers who was worried about whether or not she was going to heaven.  She wanted to know how to reassure her.  She knew what she thought was right but just couldn't figure out how to say it.  As I began to answer, Chris' Dad came outside.   Now he does not consider himself at all religious, and does not really understand why Chris' Mom wants to go to church.  He has never been belligerent about it around me.  He just acts disinterested.    Well, I didn't slow down at all.  I went through the entire plan of salvation and answered several follow-up questions they had.  And he stayed through it all, apparently listening.  He finally went back inside.  Chris was really happy to hear about it when I got a chance to tell her later.   Speaking of later, the other two aunts got there and Chris and I went out to lunch with them while her Mom and Dad took naps.  One of the aunts was named Roxie, but went by the name PeeWee.  She made her presence known like Aunt Becky, but didn't have the same never-ending smile.  The final aunt was Aunt Hope.  She was obviously the quiet one.  She is an RN, so she spent a lot of time talking with Chris by themselves.  The trip to Chili's was a much-needed diversion for Chris.  But it was also fun to watch the interchanges the rest of the afternoon between the sisters and friends.   1 John 5:13 says, "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."   Father, grant assurance to that fifteen year old who is struggling.  And draw Chris' Dad to you.  Amen.

August 1 – “Pranked”

We got pranked.  It happened sometime yesterday or the night before.  The truck was parked in the street so Josh and Christi could get their minivan in the driveway.  That gave them an easier way to get the boys in and out of carseats.    Little did we know that at that very moment pranksters were afoot, planning their next diabolical deed.  And sometime – we know not when, but it was certainly at that one opportune moment (for the pranksters) when we were either not at home or perhaps comfortably engrossed in a quality Astros game or enjoying a family discussion or watching wild and crazy maneuvers performed by a group of grandchildren – sometime, someone, known only as the pranksters, drove down our street.  Perhaps they had recently been to Sonic and the idea had emerged there.  Or perhaps McDonalds.  Or Whataburger.  Or maybe their own home.  Somewhere with an excess of condiments.     For as they cruised by our lonely, unsuspecting house they exploded.  From the windows or perhaps the bed of their vehicle came an onslaught of blood-colored mushiness that splattered against the sides and windows of the only line of defense available to our poor estate – the truck.  That line held, however, for the house and all within were safe.  Not even disturbed in fact.  Blissfully unaware that the assault had even occurred.  But alas, the truck fared not quite so decently.  Though there was no permanent damage and definitely no injury to life or limb or rear view mirrors, the truck did sustain considerable residue from the bloody all-out attack.    Rumors abound that a congressional medal of honor is already in the works for the heroic sacrifice.  In the meantime an aquatic salute this morning served both to honor and to cleanse the brave vehicle of the last remnants of ketchup.   Psalms 20:5 says, "We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God."   Father, you have won the only battle that counts, the last one.  Amen.