August 19 – “Trim”

Today Chris and I worked together.  Well, I guess to be more accurate I should say, we worked at the same time sort of near each other.  I got a lot done on the sermon after I woke up pretty early.  Any time before six is pretty early to me, and it was around ten 'til.  Chris was fired up about getting some painting done, so today we painted.  And I decided that I really don't like to paint trim.  You have to be too careful.  And then when you accidentally bleed over into the other color, you get frustrated because now you have to touch up the other color.  And you know good and well that you'll probably get some of the other color on this color and have to do the whole thing over again.   We discussed this afternoon how we were back to feeling overwhelmed again.  For awhile it was overwhelming to think about all that had to be done before we could get back into the house.  Today Chris realized the overwhelming nature of the individual projects we still have to get done.  Painting the outside trim.  Hanging pictures.  Emptying those final few boxes, and then going over to Terri's garage and getting some more.  Finding a place for everything when there is no place to put anything else.  She did a great job on painting.  We still have a lot to go.   The tile guy was supposed to be here today or tomorrow.  I should have known better.  Maybe they'll get here tomorrow.   I didn't realize how tired I was until I took a shower and sat still for a few minutes.  I fell asleep in my chair.  The harsh ring of the telephone woke me.  It was the Cancer society wanting me to mail stuff to my neighbors.  Then the doorbell rang.  It was Jachin and Micah and Kel.  Their electricity went out so they came over to get cool.  Just as they drove up, the electric company called to let them know their power was back on.  They stayed for supper.   Youth group was kind of fun tonight.  I did a dance with one of the girls to a praise song.  She had made a comment earlier about how she was sad and didn't want to sing this particular song, because her two good friends were not there to dance with her.  That sure sounded like a dare.  Maybe a challenge.  At least an invitation.  I couldn't resist.  My back did okay, too.  At least until later on.   Psalms 89:9 says, "You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them."   Father, please keep those waves stilled for the rest of this hurricane season.  We could sure use the break.  Amen.

August 18 – “Chain saw tuneup”

I started the day working on the sermon.  I have a basic outline, but still need to fill it in.  I left around eight to go to the post office and up to Dickinson.  I had to take our chain saw in to the Sears repair center.  It's still under warranty and the chain won't stay tight.  The guy said for up to $25, depending on what it needed, they could also do a mini-tuneup.  I said sure.  It won't be ready until next week.   We did Luby's for lunch.  All the Galveston Vaughan's except April and Chris were there.  Mom was in heaven.  She really gets a kick out of her Tuesdays at Luby's with the family.   I did some marriage counseling after lunch.  The couple is getting married at the San Luis next month.  They really liked the love knot that I did for them as a symbol of their lives mixed with God's.    I cleaned out some boxes that were in the garage.  One of them had a bunch of off brand tools that were covered in rust.  The ones that were supposed to move – pliers, crescent wrenches - didn't.  They were a mess, so I ended up throwing most of them away.  I also finished repairing a chair that we salvaged from Mom's garage.  I'm not sure where it will end up, or even if it will hold up.  But I did sit in it.  Maybe tomorrow I can take the boxes of books in the garage to the church.   The Seaside Christian Academy school board met tonight.  They decided to make another offer to the potential headmaster.  It's not bad.  It's about as good as we can do right now.  They also offered a position to the lady I interviewed awhile back for elementary.  I think she's ready to go.  I finally got a message from the science teacher.  He's back in town and ready to get started.  I emailed him and asked if he was interested in doing a PE class for the high schoolers on a stipend basis if the board okays the stipends.  That would be really helpful.  I haven't heard from the Dad who I had hoped would teach Bible.  If he doesn't do it, I'll have to.  But I have already figured out that I can't do it more than two days a week.   I got a text from Chris during the meeting that she made it home.  They didn't do the draining thing from her Mom's lungs yet.  That department is supposed to call her and set up an appointment.  It will be done in Houston, so that means Chris may have to turn around tomorrow and head back.   Psalms 89:1-2 says, "I will sing of the Lord's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. 2 I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself."   Father, I do appreciate your love.  I'm not sure I completely understand your faithfulness.  Amen.

August 17 – “New Old Bed”

Last night we put together our bed that "made it" through the storm.  Actually the side rails were permanently bent into the position they were forced into by our cedar chest forcing its way underneath.  And they were made of wood.  Chris couldn't bring herself to let me throw them away, though.  Anyway, we used some siderails from another old bed and slept in our new old bed last night.  We were both so tired that collapsed was more like it.  And now tonight I'll be in it all by myself, since Chris is in Bay City.   She texted me when she got there.  Her Mom's cancer count went down a little this time.  Good news in a little package, I guess.  She goes tomorrow for a next round of chemo and maybe to have her lungs drained of fluid again.  This time they may leave a tube in so it can drain without doing the procedure every time.   Chris' brother Lee left a message on my cell phone for Chris.  He said, "I just wanted to know what it was like to be 55, since I won't know for awhile yet."  That's classic brother-sister humor.  I called to make sure she had the opportunity to appreciate it.  He had already tracked her down and done some more "humor" to encourage her on her birthday.   I put her gift on our bed this morning after it was made (the bed, not the gift).  That's what Chris always does with my gift, except she usually does it at night and then goes to sleep.  She was about to walk out the door, and I asked her if she found it.  She had not.  The funny thing was, she had put the old wrapping from my gift right on top of it.  It was a little gold cross I found that I liked.  It made loops at each point of the cross.  I think she liked it.  She put it on right away, anyway.  She made the comment that she had been wearing the same cross since the storm because she hasn't unpacked her jewelry yet.  She's afraid to see what might not have made it.   Nathan and Cailyn came by around lunchtime to say happy birthday to Nani.  I noticed that's what they are calling Chris now.  It's what Zakary uses, so I guess we'll just have to keep up with how to sign cards and stuff.  After some scrumptious burgers from Sonic, Nathan and I pulled down the painters' tape from around the windows and doors.  We still need to do touchup, but it looks pretty good so far.    My distant cousins from Spring showed up today, too.  They were doing a day trip to drive around Galveston and just stopped by to say hi.  Didn't even come inside.  Mom knew she knew them, but couldn't place exactly who they were.  It's been years since we saw them last, so I don't blame her.   Amos 5:14 says, "Seek good, not evil, that you may live.  Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is."   Father, I want you to be with me.  Help me seek and then see where to do good.  Amen.

August 16 – “Plywood and a mailbox”

Today was the third Sunday of the month, and that means … Dinner on the grounds.  Somebody let the cat out of the bag about my birthday.  There was a birthday cake for Chris and me.  Strangely enough, there was also another birthday cake - for Harry Potter.  I share a birthday month with someone famous.  The youth group made me some cards with some of my favorite sayings incorporated in them … beep-boop … Native South African … swicked … bee toe mumgai … Waffles.  It was great.   We went to Home Depot this afternoon and got a mailbox, some house numbers, and thirteen sheets of plywood.  The mailbox was the last remaining thing that I know of that showed the official unofficial water level of Ike here at our house.  Chris asked if I wanted to save it as a souvenir.  It is in the garbage can.  The house numbers are still sitting on my desk.  Our old numbers are nailed to a piece of wood and the piece of wood is leaning against our brick wall in the front of the house.  I need to ask Chris where she wants those new ones.  I should be able to get that done while she is in Bay City all next week.  As far as the plywood goes, that is for our new windows.  Now that we have them all installed and operational and almost all stained, there is a tropical storm in the Gulf and two in the Atlantic.  Our new windows came with the requirement that they be covered in a storm or our windstorm policy is somehow void.  We plan to cover them.  Besides, it gives me another excuse to play with the power saw.  Ah, life on a barrier island … a sand bar … a hurricane magnet … Galveston.   Tonight we cut the slats for our old bed that we salvaged.  Actually I guess it remains to be seen if it really is salvaged.  If it collapses tonight we'll know it needed more work.  As it is, I have to say it definitely has the character of something that went through a major flood.    Tomorrow is Chris' birthday.  And tomorrow she leaves for Bay City to take her Mom to the doctor.  She is not really expecting good news, so she is leaving her return home day kind of open.  I'll try to get as much house stuff done as I can while she is gone, but we still haven't hired a new headmaster, and school starts September 8th.  We still have to hire at least one more teacher and offer a stipend to another teacher to take on PE for the high schoolers.  At least I got the curriculum order off.    2 Chronicles 7:13-14 says, "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."   Father, I just wanted to read that verse again tonight.  I want it to happen.  Amen.

August 15 – “Dremel”

Chris gave me a birthday present last night.  When I went to bed she was asleep already, but there was present on my side.  It was a dremel power tool.  I had one before the storm.  It is really helpful when carving.  It can do a bunch of other stuff, too, if you have the right attachments.  I was pretty excited to get it.  The funny thing though, was when I opened the gift.  It was in one of those gift bags with crepe paper stuffed on top so you can't see what it is.  When I pulled out the paper, it made that crinkling, scratchy noise.  Chris jumped and shot up out of the bed.  I don't know what she thought, but I said, "Thank you.  I love the gift."  She eased back into her pillow and kind of groaned.  I guess she was thinking that the boys would probably wake up early in the morning.    Jachin and Micah actually slept until sometime after seven.  I was reading the paper when I first heard them.  Once they got awake – which took awhile – that was all she wrote for our morning.  They had big plans for playing with Nana and DadDad.                                                          They stayed until just after lunch.  Their mom and dad stuck around for some spaghetti before they left.  And when they left, so did we.  We still had to clean the church.  And it took awhile.  While Chris cleaned the church, I changed the sign and cleaned up some of the supplies that belonged to Seaside Christian Academy.  We were there a long time.    We heard nothing on the house today.  Didn't really expect to, with it being Saturday and all.  Chris says she want to put a trellis around the chimney holding tower.  Sounds like a great idea to me.  Then we can look out the window and see flowers or green or at least a painted trellis.  What color?  Hmmm.   I hurt again.  All my joints ache, but my left elbow is especially sore.  Both my big toes are throbbing and numb.  Can that be happening at the same time?  If it's numb, how can it also throb, which implies feeling?  Oh, well.  Motrin again tonight.   Colossians 2:8 says, "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ."   Father, I trust you.  Amen.

August 14 – “Happy Birthday to Me”

One thing about Facebook … I got more birthday greetings through Facebook this year than I have received birthday cards in years – maybe ever.   It was really nice to hear from each one.  Maybe someday I'll figure out how to do that Facebook App and return the favor.  In the meantime, if I have your address and know when your birthday is, I'll send you a card.  Thanks, Lanny.  You sent my only card this year.   This morning when Chris and I were talking she said she planned to cook a meatloaf tonight for supper – one of my favorites.  She asked what I wanted to do.  Well, in the back of my mind I remembered that yesterday she said that the only thing she wanted was for the house painting to be finished.  Actually she may have meant the whole house thing in general, but I was painting at the time.  So I answered, "I want to paint the trim."  Of course, I couldn't begin right away, because the house became a mini-construction zone today.  It's been a long time, but I remembered the feeling well.  The contractor's guys got here around 8:00, but they weren't sure what to do, so they waited for the contractor.  The painters got here about thirty minutes later, about the same time the contractor arrived.  Suddenly, they were all at work, touching up paint and hanging closet doors, and sanding stuff, and installing closet door tracks.  Chris and I finally went out in the backyard and installed some new screen in the eaves vents.    The crews all broke for lunch, but by the time they came back I decided to start painting, even if I was in their way.  I started in the back, because it was afternoon and Chris would probably have made me stay indoors if I had tried to start in the sun.  It was hot, but the Galveston breeze was back.  At some point in the day Nathan and Cailyn came over.  He decided to stick around and help with the painting.  It's always good to have one of my boys around helping me do stuff.  We talked a little – after all, we are guys, and guys never talk a lot.  I think we got a lot done, though.  He worked longer than I did.  Around four he told me I had to go inside and see my grandkids.  By that time Jachin and Micah had arrived for their sleepover with Nana and DadDad.    One of the most fun segments of the day was when Cailyn and I chased the boys around and around the house and we all got yelled at by Nana for running inside.  Some things never change.  It's just fun to run in the house when a little kid is squealing and laughing the whole time.  Multiply that by three and you have pure fun.  We ended up not even having meatloaf.  We some leftover pizza out of our freezer.   It was not the birthday I imagined.  But memorable, nevertheless.   Ephesians 3:20-21 says, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."   Father, thank you for my human being birthday gifts this year – my wife, my Mom, my sons, my daughters (in law), my grandkids, my Facebook well-wishers.  Amen.

August 13 – “Slow”

Days always go so slow when Chris is not around.  She left early this morning for Bay City to take her dad to a doctor's appointment in Houston.  Not that it's  something she's never done before.  She does it all the time with her mom's cancer treatments.  But it still makes time crawl.  I miss her.   I did some touch-up painting on the outside of the house.  There were a lot of little places where our scraper crew didn't get all the bubbles out of the old paint.  It looked fine, but the evil bubbles were still there.  I scraped as many as I could find yesterday and today, and then I painted the now-old new spots.  I also found some more places that I needed to caulk.  I thought I was finished with that.  Chris called while I was painting.  She said, "I'm here.  Are you drinking water?"  She knows me.  I forget to drink when I work, and then I get a bad headache.  Maybe when I grow up I'll learn.   Our contractor met the head paint guy here at the house to go over the final touch-up things.  The paint guy will be back tomorrow around 9:30.  The contractor and his crew will be here shortly after 7:30.  Whatever they have to do has to be done before the paint guys.  We're also waiting on a piece of the chimney to come in.  Guess we'll see them again soon as well.   I tried to follow Chris' admonition to do my computer work in the afternoon.  I'm almost done with the sermon.  The school stuff is never ending.  At least the initial curriculum order is in.  Last night Chris talked to another prospective student.  Sounds like I'll have to order some more eighth grade stuff.  The prospective headmaster is praying about the offer.  The school board is scrambling to creatively put together enough salary to hang on to this one.  She sure brings a lot to the table.  We'll see.  Soon, I hope.   I just took Mom to water exercise class, so it is really quiet here right now.  And how's this for a random jump?  When I got out of the truck I found a squished piece of silverware.  A fork.  Simeon & George H. Rogers Co. Stainless.  WooHoo.  Anybody hungry?   Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."   Father, old Simeon and George were proud enough of that fork to put their name on it.  I accepted your name on me.  I want you to be proud of me, too.  Amen.