June 6 - “Happy Anniversary, Chris!”

Yesterday started out pretty … interesting. We had a kids’ fishing trip planned for our friends Corbin and Rachel and their two little girls (and Grandma KayLynn and Grandpa Cary). 

When I got up to load up the car, however, it was pouring down buckets - monsooning, if that can be a word. Not great for a fishing trip. But by the time I loaded up the car and headed out to get some bait, the rain had subsided. The window of “clearedness” had settled in. Still not great fishing conditions, but at least the girls could get a line in the water and play with the bait shrimp. 

And they did really well. They each caught three or four fish, and Lily even caught a keeper redfish. One of those adults promised to cook it for her. Hope you enjoy it, Lily. 

I caught one fish. But oh that one. It gave me the second hardest/ longest battle I have ever had with a fish (first was a Jack Crevalle at the beach). This one took at least ten minutes of fighting, probably more. I finally got it on shore with the help of my more-than-capable net man, Cary. It was a full-grown (ie 36 inches long and really heavy. I didn’t have a scale to weigh it) black drum. 

I wasn’t sure at first if it really was a black drum. It had no distinctive black stripes on its sides, which made it look almost like a miniature grouper. But as Chris and I researched it, the stripes are only visible on juveniles. So this was just a really old dude drum. 

It was great fun to catch. And our guests all seemed to get a kick out of seeing a fish that big get caught right in front of them. Thanks for inviting me on your fishing trip, Lily and Clara. Let’s do it again sometime. 

Our afternoon was spent on the road. It was our 51st anniversary trip time. Well … today IS our anniversary. And we DID take a trip. This one, however, was a quick shot up to Waco. AnnaGrace was having her big dance recital, so we couldn’t miss that one. Besides, we stopped for a Whataburger on the way out of town yesterday, and I’m taking Chris out somewhere, so that counts for the anniversary dinner and date, right? And after all, I named this blog installment “Happy Anniversary, Chris,” so I’m good, right?

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬ says, Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed, for they will be filled.

Father, thank you for my awesome wife. Give her peace about the surgery. Amen. 

June 5 - “Just foolishness”

Well, it happened again. Just as we stepped onto the porch to start our walk, the rains began. It’s one thing to already be in the middle of a walk when the rains come. Then it becomes part of the adventure. But to start out in it? With the possibility of lightning? Nope. That’s just foolishness. 

Instead we did the usual Thursday clean house for home group. Except this time I did the vacuuming, sweeping, and mopping. Chris cleaned the toilets and dusted. Got it done. 

After working some on the latest jigsaw puzzle (Northern Lights!), we raced over to Walmart. Needed some … cookies. Bananas are on the list for Monday. And while we were there, Chris got my anniversary present (51 years, come Saturday!). It was an otter box phone case. Mine was falling to pieces. 

Last night we had home group. Sandy even brought cupcakes in celebration of her upcoming birthday. Kind of like they do in elementary school, right? Yum. Happy birthday, Sandy. 

Oh, it was the last meeting for the foreseeable future. At least until we get a handle on the Chris’ arm surgery. We’ll see … 

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭5‬ says, The gentle are blessed, for they will inherit the earth.

Father, thank you for our home group folks. Bless Sandy on her birthday. Amen. 

June 4 - “18”

I finished out my fire department visits. Three stations one day, and the other three the next. Of course, there are three different shifts, so technically there are six stations with three shifts at each. So, 18 different crews. Whew. That’s a lot to try to keep up with. Definitely could be a full-time job. But the guys are all great. And there are usually a few new hires to connect with. 

Chris had a visitor while I was gone. Suzann came over. She’s our barber/hair stylist. She cut mine Sunday at church, so it was Chris’ turn. She always does a great job. Yesterday was no exception. Thanks, Suzann. 

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭4‬ says, Those who mourn are blessed, for they will be comforted.

Father, bless Suzann. She’s pretty special to us. Amen. 

June 3 - “Visitation”

We did a divide and conquer again yesterday. Chris took off on a hike. She had to cut it a bit short, though. Rain. 

Meanwhile, I took off and made a few visits to fire stations. Got to see one guy who was on his last day before retirement. At another station I saw one of the local heroes who was involved with the big roller coaster rescue. And at the third station I chatted with a guy who just got back from his honeymoon. Highly recommended adding Fiji to Chris’ travel bucket list. Hmm. Well, I sure am proud of those guys. 

And of course, to make the day complete, we made a quick Walmart run. Just grabbed a gift and took a lap to get some steps in. 

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬ says. The poor in spirit are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

Father, once again, please watch over my fire guys. Amen. 

June 2 - “Welcome to the neighborhood …”

Chris had PT in the morning. Early in the morning. Had to be there by 7:15. I had to wake her up at 6:15. She wasn’t happy. But she persevered. 

While she was gone I did our walk. Made it two miles with no company except one interesting podcast by some Scottish dude. He was talking about Jesus, and he had that fun Scottish accent, so I was hooked. 

When Chris got back she told me all about what will be her last PT session for a while (T minus seven days to surgery). She had one of her spells during the workout. Had to keep sitting down to keep from falling down. At least there was a pro there with her. 

We then attacked the back yard. Not attacked so much as beautified. We planted the bush we bought at Home Depot the other day. Looks really good. 

While we were digging and planting, we began hearing the distinctive yelps of a puppy from somewhere nearby. We looked around from the deck, but we couldn’t see anything. We were, however, able to locate where that pup was. Yep. It was definitely coming from the yard right behind us that already has a beautiful white husky named Alaska. 

We got up closer to the fence and followed the movements we could see through the slats. Sure enough, there was a beautiful puppy. We weren’t sure what kind, but it looked like a chocolate lab. As we peered through and began talking to the pup, suddenly it fell into a rather massive hole that Alaska had previously dug. They had most of it covered with a board - but not enough. And the thing about that hole? It had started collapsing on our side of the fence. The dog realized that and immediately started clawing its way toward us. 

The dog made its way through, and really enjoyed the attention we gave it. We figured out “it” was a “she,” about the time the owner came into the back yard. She told us the pup’s name was Jade, and they had picked her from someone at Walmart giving puppies away. 

The lady had to move the board to give Jade a way back home, and she was astonished at just how big the hole actually was. She promised she would get some dirt and get it filled in. Here’s hoping. In the meantime, as Chris so aptly put it, “welcome to the neighborhood, Jade.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭42‬:‭11‬ says, Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God.

Father, please watch over that cute little puppy. I know she‘s gonna be a big one. Amen. 

June 1 - “Family Missionaries”

The Alaska crew was back at church yesterday. Pastor Kel was there, but he didn’t preach, since they have only been home 24 hours or so. He’ll crank it back up next Sunday. 

Our family missionaries came over for lunch after church. There were a few other purposes in the visit, though. They brought back our suitcases, for one. And they reunited with their little white dog. Not sure who was happiest - the dog or the kids. 

After some good taco soup by Chris, we settled in to watch the Astros try to catch up with the guy who throws the fastest pitch in baseball (100+ mph). Sadly, they weren’t all that successful. Only lost 2-0 though. Hey. I wouldn’t even be able to see a pitch that fast. 

T minus 8 days to Chris’ shoulder surgery …

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬ says, But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.

Father, thank you for our family missionaries’ safe arrival. Amen. 

May 31 - “Celebrity Searching!”

We got word early (like 6 a.m.-ish early) that our Alaska missionaries had touched down in Houston. Everybody was headed home to get some sleep. 

Meanwhile, we had a few things to get done on this fine, tourist-filled Saturday. 

Home Depot. Weed killer and a bush. Not a booger one though. Plumbago. No plumeria. I don’t know. One of those plums. Named for the color of its flowers maybe? They are, well, plum-colored. 

Randall’s. Whole list of medical stuff. Prescription, tears (how do they collect tears and bottle them and resell them? Do they hire people to cry?), special mouthwash for dry mouth syndrome, arthritis grease. 

Walmart. Bananas, chicken, chicken broth, oranges, chocolate milk, salad stuff, and seven other things I forget what - it all added up to 14 items. Self check - check. 

There was lots of traffic, so … People watching! Celebrity Searching! I’m pretty sure I saw David Letterman. Or maybe it was his non-bearded double. And Chris commented that wrapping a towel around you doesn’t really count as wearing a coverup to go into Walmart. 

After lunch we had a slice of watermelon on the back porch. That led to Chris watering all her outside plants as well as the new patches of grass we just put down. I grabbed the weed killer and sprayed a bunch of the weeds popping up all over the back lawn. The St. Augustine is trying its best, but we’re hoping this will give it a little extra help. 

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬ says, Learn to do what is good. Seek justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause.

Father, thank you so much for the safety of our missions team. Bless them for their efforts. Amen.