December 31 – “Good Night 2009”

Chris' mom and dad were supposed to come over for lunch today.  Didn't happen..  We got a call first thing this morning that her mom had not had a good night.  They were going to go into the hospital in Bay City for the scheduled blood transfusion, but they decided not to try to come.  Later on we got another call that they were refusing to do the transfusion because her blood pressure was 50 over 30.  Even a medical illiterate like me knows that's way too low.  They were giving them a bit of a hard time, so her dad called to see what they should do.  Chris was in a dilemma.  She really felt like she should be there.  But yet she really wanted to be here, too, with all her grandkids.  She seemed to be getting flustered, so I went with her into our bedroom and talked awhile.  She finally calmed down and I encouraged her to go on.  The kids would be fine.  They would understand.  So she headed on to Bay City.   They finally talked to her mom's cancer doctor in Houston, who told them to go ahead with the transfusion to see if that would help..  After two units, the blood pressure still wasn't stabilizing, so they wanted to admit her.  Not going to happen.  They really don't like the hospital in Bay City.    So they were determined that any admitting would be done by St. Luke's in Houston.  They called for the transfer to an ICU bed at St Luke's, and by 5:00 had still not been cleared for transport.  There were no available beds at St. Luke's.  Chris was still in control, though.  Her plans were to come on home whenever the ambulance arrived.  I hope so.   It was nice to have everybody over again today.  We had a brisket, and the girls took over in the kitchen.  I told them daughters were awesome.  Not that I have any experience in that category.  But they did a great job.    We left for Kel and Christina's for a play date and for a pizza supper.  Actually, they left.  Everybody's gone right now but me.  I'll leave as soon as I finish typing.  It sure is quiet over here.  But I miss those little guys.    Good night, 2009.   Malachi 4:5-6 says, "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse."   Father, my heart sure is turned to these children.  Love them with me.  And bring home my wife soon.  Amen.

December 30 – “Lights”

Finally.  Today was Christmas Day at the Vaughan house.  We thought we would get started opening gifts around 8:30.  Kel's family got here right at nine.  Nathan and April and Cailyn finally arrived around 10:30.  But once it began, it continued in earnest.   We like to try to open presents one at a time so everyone can see what each person gets.  It allows for thank you's and oohs and ahs.  We did pretty well.  The little guys were helping out by crawling under the tree to get another present, and by delivering them to the appropriate person.  It resulted in the usual semi-controlled chaos.   I am very excited for tomorrow morning to come.  One of my gifts was a Belgian waffle maker.  I'm ready for breakfast.  I think everybody was pleased with the varying expressions of love from the family.   One of the things I like to do for the adults in the clan is buy special "Dad Gifts" that have a reason behind them.  Rarely are they expensive.  In fact often I don't spend any money at all.  This year my favorite Dad gift went to Kel.  Cailyn has always been a little skittish around him, and he has bent over backwards to get her to let him hold her.  I wanted to help with that little relationship difficulty.  So I blew up a picture of April's face, made it into an April mask, and gave that to Kel.  I also included a tutu for him to wear.  I figured if Cailyn saw those familiar things, her fears would ease toward her Uncle Kel.  He put the mask on.  It didn't help.  She was speechless, but she still wouldn't go to him.    Tonight we all went to Moody Gardens to see the Festival of Lights.  We got Mom a wheelchair, mixed in a few strollers, threw on some coats, and took a stroll.  We were actually impressed.  They have reconfigured since the last one we went to (that would be pre-Ike).  There seemed to be a lot more lights.  The little ones were very excited when we began.  Before long Cailyn succumbed to the warmth of the bundle in which she was wrapped, and went to sleep.  Caleb made the next move, but it was not toward sleep, but rather toward Mommy.  The older three did fine, and seemed to have a good time.  I was impressed with the fire juggler at the end.   Isaiah 1:18 says, "'Come now, let us reason together,' says the Lord.  'Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."   Father, thank you for the color change.  My life sure needs it.  Amen.

December 29 – “Children’s Children”

I didn't sleep much last night.  No pain problems.  I just kept waking up.  I finally got up around 5:30.  I got a lot of work done, though.  I finished the visual verses for this week and next.  When Chris got up, she was in house cleaning mode, so I tried to stay out of the way.  She wants it to be finished by the time Josh and Christi get here.  It helped that I had computer stuff to do.   Well, now.  It has been numerous hours since I started.  Josh and Christi made it.  Kel and Christina and their boys and April and Cailyn got here around suppertime.  Nathan was at work.  April said he fought a fire at 18th and K.  That's where my grandmother used to live.  But she didn't live in a two story house, so it must have been the one across the street.  I hope we get an update tomorrow when he gets home.   Meanwhile, we had our own balls of fire around here.  Five of them.  The boys who could walk, didn't.  They ran.  And screamed.  And growled.  And laughed.  Loudly.  They were … boys.  They should sleep well tonight.   The other little guy who doesn't walk yet and the only girl cousin did their best to keep up, crawling and toddling along.  It had to be frustrating for them.  It certainly was for their parents.  Well, for their moms, anyway.   Nani and DadDad were basking in the glory of the moment.  This is what we so hard worked for all those years.  To have a chance to see our boys "get theirs" and have to keep up with their own younguns.   Proverbs 20:7 says, "The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him."   Father, I want my children and their children to be blessed.  Show me how to be righteous.  Amen.

December 28 – “Early Start”

Woah.  Talk about an early start.  This was one of those days when Chris was not here.  That means I usually wake up early.  I did.  Several times.  2:30.  4:15.  5:45.  That was close enough.  I got up and even remembered to let the dogs out and feed them.  I also put some clothes in the washing machine.  Makes me sound good, doesn't it?  Actually, I'm wearing my last pair of clean underwear.  Necessity requires action.   I was determined to get as much work done today as I could.  Josh and Christi and their boys will be here tomorrow sometime and I just want to play with them.  Oh, yeah, and talk to Josh and Christi, too.  I did pretty well.  I finished one sermon and got started on the next one.  I typed up a renewal of vows service for this Sunday afternoon.  I still have to cut it out and punch holes so it fits into my wedding book.  I finally finished the visual verses for this Sunday.  It's a really long one.  I want to show everyone how the visual stream can go on for as much paper as you have available.  I wrote out the announcements for Sunday.  I researched and selected a movie clip.  Had to call Kel to borrow the movie, though.  He's supposed to bring it Wednesday when they come over for Christmas.  I took Mom to Golden Corral for lunch, and we made a quick run to the post office to mail our Christmas letters.    I did rest for awhile this afternoon.  I put my feet up and turned on a movie.  I was just beginning to doze when Nathan and April and Cailyn came by.  They wanted to use the computer, and Nathan wanted to test out the divinity Chris just made.  He was ready to take the whole bag.  He even let Cailyn taste some.  She loved it.   Chris got home just before dark.  She said it was another long day.  I'm glad she feels like this is her calling as a daughter, a nurse and a Christian.  Knowing that energizes her and helps me stay OK with it all.  God is using her in amazing ways with her family.   1 Corinthians 10:23-24 says, "'Everything is permissible'-but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissible'-but not everything is constructive. 24 Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others."   Father, keep Chris tightly in your hand.  Amen.

December 27 – “A Family Thing”

Ah, for more days of quiet and peace.  Today was one of them.    Mom slept in this morning, so Chris waited for her to wake up before coming to church.  Mom was exhausted from her vacation with my brothers in Houston.  I think it was mainly that her routine was disrupted.  She didn't look as tired when she and Chris got to the church.    The church gathering this morning was very small and all "home folks."  At one point just as the service was beginning, everybody decided on their own to all move closer together and sit in the same section.  No one asked them to.  It was just a "family thing" as one guy said.   After church I was delegated the job of going to Sonic to pick up lunch.  It took longer than it ever has to get our food.  They messed up a few things in the order, too, but nothing that too bad.  I took it on home so we could eat.   Chris had to go to her Mom's again this evening.  She had a little time to work on the quilt she's making.  While she did, I turned on Spiderman 2 and took a nap.  Chris said I should give in and embrace this needing a nap in the afternoon.  I have to admit, I did feel a lot better when I woke up.  And I even got  to see the end of the movie.  I thought about going to another movie, but decided to stick around Mom tonight and help her with her eye drop medications.    Chris was still talking this morning about how it just wasn't right that we didn't do Christmas stuff on Christmas.  She loved the movie, but we didn't exchange any gifts at all.  Not until everybody is here Wednesday.  She missed that a lot.  I don't imagine we'll do this again.    Colossians 1:9-12 says, "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light."   Father, I'd like to have someone praying for me like that.  Help me to pray like that for my sons and grandchildren.  Amen.

December 27 – “A Family Thing”

Ah, for more days of quiet and peace.  Today was one of them.    Mom slept in this morning, so Chris waited for her to wake up before coming to church.  Mom was exhausted from her vacation with my brothers in Houston.  I think it was mainly that her routine was disrupted.  She didn't look as tired when she and Chris got to the church.    The church gathering this morning was very small and all "home folks."  At one point just as the service was beginning, everybody decided on their own to all move closer together and sit in the same section.  No one asked them to.  It was just a "family thing" as one guy said.   After church I was delegated the job of going to Sonic to pick up lunch.  It took longer than it ever has to get our food.  They messed up a few things in the order, too, but nothing that too bad.  I took it on home so we could eat.   Chris had to go to her Mom's again this evening.  She had a little time to work on the quilt she's making.  While she did, I turned on Spiderman 2 and took a nap.  Chris said I should give in and embrace this needing a nap in the afternoon.  I have to admit, I did feel a lot better when I woke up.  And I even got  to see the end of the movie.  I thought about going to another movie, but decided to stick around Mom tonight and help her with her eye drop medications.    Chris was still talking this morning about how it just wasn't right that we didn't do Christmas stuff on Christmas.  She loved the movie, but we didn't exchange any gifts at all.  Not until everybody is here Wednesday.  She missed that a lot.  I don't imagine we'll do this again.    Colossians 1:9-12 says, "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light."   Father, I'd like to have someone praying for me like that.  Help me to pray like that for my sons and grandchildren.  Amen.

December 26 – “Braving the elements”

We decided to brave the elements this morning.  No, not the weather.  It was cold (45 degrees), but it was a pretty nice day.  I meant the crowds at stores.  Chris had a few things she wanted to get for the grandkids, so how could I say no?  And we had to get there early because we had a family Christmas party at 3 this afternoon.  So early meant a little after 8:00.  We started at WalMart, and there were not many people there at all.  Chris stocked up on wrapping paper and the like for next Christmas – all the extra stuff you like to have around that was washed away.  We got the things we needed there and proceeded to our next site.    Randall's came next on the list.  We were going to see if they had stamps so we wouldn't have to go to the post office.  They did, so now our Christmas letters can get in the mail.    Office Depot was next, and they had the computer ink cartridge we needed.   Then after we got home and I started running the last of the Christmas letters, the printer gave me the message that the color cartridge needs to be replaced as well.  I guess that's be another trip.   Our final destination was Target here in Galveston.  If they had the last two gifts Chris had in mind, we were done.  The first stop within the store proved moderately successful.  It wasn't exactly what she wanted, but it finally passed muster.  The last item, however, was a toy, so we had to venture into the wilderness that is the Target toy section.  Again, very few people were prowling, so it was quite nice.  We made a selection or two (hey, birthdays are coming up, and I have to test some things out before I entrust them to my grandkids).    I told Chris that I was really proud of her.  She accepted the first selection and didn't postpone the purchase until another day.  Of course, when we got home she started switching out gifts and rotating the birthday ones to Christmas and back and forth.  Ah, Christmas.    We both decided it just doesn't seem like Christmas yet.  We need some little people running around and wrapping paper strewn all over the place, and chicken enchilada pie to eat.  That happens next week.  So, back to anticipation mode.   Colossians 1:3-4 says, "We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints"   Father, thank you for the saints you have placed in my care and for those who move through our touch on their way to you.  Amen.

December 25 – “The game is afoot”

We stayed up until 1 a.m. this morning watching a cheesy Christmas movie.  Thank God for Hallmark channel.  We slept in until around 7:30.  It was cold outside.  I didn't check before I went to get the newspapers, but Chris did.  It was  32.8 degrees at Moody Gardens.  That's right in our back yard.   I had to rehang the Christmas lights again.  We had wind gusts all day yesterday that had to be 50 or 60 miles an hour.  And did I mention that it was cold?   Chris finished wrapping almost all out Christmas presents.  Is this really Christmas day?   Chris sent a text to all our kids wishing them a Merry Christmas..  What year is this?   We started printing out our Christmas letter.  Right on time.  I Hope I can find the labels file.   This afternoon I convinced Chris to go with me to see Sherlock Holmes.  She said she still had a ton of stuff to do, but she came anyway.  The character was nothing like the stereotypical Holmes – sedentary, contemplative, playing the violin for inspiration.  This guy, played by Robert Downey, Jr., was more like a dark side, Batman-ish private eye.  He was physical – involved in a lot of fist fights.  But my favorite part about him was the fact that he was crazy.  He did play the violin, but not with a bow.  He held the whole thing close to his body and plucked at the strings.  Sometimes he made a melody.  Often it was discordant, random noise.    I would have liked it a lot more if I could have stayed awake for the whole thing.  Right in the middle I was totally overwhelmed by this outrageous fatigue that has been attacking me every afternoon about the same time ever since I started on this new medicine.  It sure has helped the joint pain, but I almost have to give in to a nap whether I want to or not.   Nathan, April and Cailyn are supposed to come over tonight for taco soup.  Sounds really good..  It's still cold.   Philippians 3:16 says, "Only let us live up to what we have already attained."   Father, I sure have enough to live up to.  But I want to get to the next level with you.  Amen.

December 24 – “Christmas Eve”

A Vaughan Christmas Eve:   1.  God trimming our pecan tree for us with a terrific storm last night 2.  Nathan stopping by on his way home from work and wrapping a present 3.  Going through our Christmas list one more time and making some more changes 4.  Picking up 16 dozen donuts that we will give away to people who have to work on Christmas Eve. 5.  Shopping at WalMart with the other thousand or so who forgot this or wanted to add that or just wanted to hang out and watch a lot of other people 6.  Watching a cheesy Christmas movie with Chris 7.  Putting "Merry Christmas from Seaside Church" stickers on the 16 dozen donuts 8.  Practicing the monologue for the service tonight 9.  Wondering if we'll have directions to the after Christmas Eve service open house at the Stone's 10.  Watching Chris make a cheese ball 11.  Not eating any of the cheese ball 12. Making a list of what I still have to do when we get to the church to get ready for the service 13.  Making sure I have all the props I need for the teaching tonight 14.  Actually going to the Christmas Eve service 15.  Stopping by our neighbor's house who always has a party when there is a holiday 16.  Wondering just how excited are Jachin, Micah, and Zakary 17.  Chuckling at how Caleb and Cailyn may react to the paper and boxes and people everywhere   Romans 1:11-12 says, "I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith."   Father, this is what I want when I think of my sons.  And the church you have given me to.  And my grandchildren.  Amen.

December 23 – “Late”

It's really late.  Well, it's just 10:30, but I'm usually done with the blog long before now.  It's just that today has been a strange day for me.  Chris left for Bay City early this morning, so I had the day to try to finish up as much of our Christmas shopping as I could.  And that was a tall order.  I am not very good at doing the "real" shopping on my own.  I like to do the fun stuff – hence the Dad gifts – but Chris always has just the right thing in mind.    I went to Galveston Target first and found a few things.  And that's where I sent my first text to Chris.  She sent me back a great idea to follow up on, so I headed over to Randall's, of all places.  On the way one of my hearing aid batteries went out, so I trolled Randall's in silence.  The great idea was sold out.  So I headed back by the house to get a new battery before I started for Texas.   I went to Lifeway by Baybrook Mall.  They had a few things, but the main items I went to that specific store to get … they didn't have.  None of them.  Another text.  And a phone call.  And a quick trip to the Target down the street.  Texting began in earnest to Chris, Christina, Kel, Nathan – anyone out there who was listening.  At one point I got three responses at the same time.  Scared me to death.  I bought some things and didn't buy others.  All will be pending Chris' approval, of course.   When I got home I did something I haven't done in awhile..  I actually got in bed and tried to sleep.  Now, don't get me wrong.  I have slept in the afternoon before, just not usually on purpose.  I dozed a little before Kel called and invite me for supper and to have some human companionship.  The corn dogs were great, and I can't wait to see the finished result of the cinnamon Christmas ornaments Christina and Micah made.   I left there to make a quick trip out to Jamaica Beach for an open house.  I went by the house to get the address.  It was hard to go because Chris drove up just as I was leaving.  She stayed home to crash from another typically stressful day.  When I got home we watched a bad girlie movie – Bride Wars.  That's when I remembered I hadn't written anything yet.  So how'd I do?   Psalms 32:8 says, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you."   Father, help me be a better student when you teach.  Amen.

December 22 – “Long lost evil twin”

I got an email from Mike today.  Looks like I may have to do a completely different teaching from what I planned for Christmas Eve.  The software is not working to put together the video clips for the teaching.  It would be hard to do a lesson entitled "Video Review" when you have no videos.  I know I have a few days to reposition, but I was really looking forward to doing this one.  Just to make sure, though, I went through my files of Christmases gone by and grabbed a teaching from the Ghost of Christmas Past.  I thought I was almost through with that part of my Christmas preparation,  but I'm also trying to memorize a short monologue for the service.  That means every so often I come into my office and try to at least read it all the way through.  Over the next few days, I'll try to start quoting it.  By Thursday, I'll probably forget the whole thing.  Hey, I just had an idea.  Why haven't I already done this?  I need to draw a picture for it like I do with Visual Verses.  Now I have a plan.   A big portion of the day was spent helping Chris work on our family Christmas letter.  She made her "last" changes to the written part.  I went through and added a few comments.  Then it was time to insert the pictures.  Choosing pictures of everybody was harder than making them fit on the page.  We couldn't find one of Kel and Christina that passed the "Chris and Kelley both like it" test.  Christina finally brought over the card form their camera so we could download one from their stash.  Then we added some cool letter to the title.  And now we have to decide if we're going to use plain old white copy paper or maybe that resume paper I accidentally bought the other day.  It looks pretty good either way.  I'll let Chris decide when she gets back.   She went to the quilt store to get some material and thread for I think three quilts she wants to make.  She also has one in there that she is finishing for her Mom.  Chris has been driving to Bay City and then Houston, then back to Bay City for quite awhile now.  Her Mother's chemo treatments and her Dad's heart and foot issues keep her on her toes.  She almost didn't come home last night.  Her mom was wheezing and couldn't walk from the couch to the kitchen.  She got her head and feet propped up took it very easy the rest of the evening.   It is so quiet around here with Mom gone to Stan and Sue's and Chris on her way to Texas.  And it's afternoon.  I'm getting sleepy.  I need to go to WalMart for some Claritin-D, but I have to wait for Nathan and April to come rescue their fish.  He's not dead yet.  In fact, he's been quite active.   Come quickly, oh, ye owners of "Fish whose name starts with B."   Just had a false alarm.  Salesman rang the doorbell.  He thought I was "the long lost evil twin of his neighbor in Florida where he hasn't been in two years but used to have wild parties when he was there so the neighbor didn't like him all that much are you the owner of that rocking pickup truck out there do you have trouble seeing at night through the headlights (That's what he said, "through the headlights") if not then you're either lying to me or you're the first person around here who can say that I'm selling …"   I'm not sure how much more he had, but as soon as he pulled the jar of spray cleaner out from its hiding place behind his leg, I told him I wouldn't buy any.  I'm pretty sure it was the same stuff I saw at the dollar store the other day.  As soon as I said that he turned rudely and walked away.  I told his back thank you.   1 John 2:28 says, "And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming."   Father, I trust you.  Help my mouth to reflect that.  Amen.

December 21 – “DadDad Parchment”

Have you had one of those minor moral dilemmas yet this holiday season?  You know.  The kind where the situation really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things.  No one will ever know about your decision one way or the other.  And if they did, they would probably be totally confused as to why you saw it as an issue in the first place.    Here's my example.  I was determined to get as much preparation for the Christmas Eve service done today as I could.  I also wanted to finish my "Dad Gifts."  Every year I try to come up with some extremely appropriate gifts for my kids and wife and mother.  The rarely cost much, if anything.  It is truly a case of "It's the thought that counts."  Mainly because I also include a brief description of why that gift fits that person.  It's a lot of fun for everyone – as long as it's not your turn.  I combined the two goals and set out this morning on a quest to complete.  I began at the Dollar Store.  It is amazing what they have that no one else in the retail world has.  I immediately found one of the things I was looking for.  It was perfect for what I had in mind for Kel.  There were a few other things as well, but I still had to make a WalMart run.  That's where I planned to pick up the paper for the bulletin.  Lanny and I talked about it Sunday.  It was obvious he really wanted parchment, but he was willing to settle for the paper I already had.  I decided to go ahead and buy some of the parchment and surprise him.  That done, and satisfied with the present choices as well, I headed back home to wrap the gifts and print the bulletins.   I started with the gifts, because I wanted to be sure they were done before Chris got home.  All was going well when I ran out of tape after the second gift.  It's not that I was being overly generous like I hear Cory Anderson is when he wraps gifts.  We just ran out of tape.  And I couldn't find any anywhere.  That meant another trip to WalMart.  Not bad in and of itself.  It's just that it is getting into the afternoon and I was getting sleepy.  I'm waiting to see if that is a side effect of the new medicine.  It sure hits regularly in the early afternoon ever since I started on it.  But the tape.  Not a problem.  Back home, I easily finished up the wrapping and hiding.    Then I could concentrate on the printing.  I pulled one of the sheets from the brand new box and ran off a copy of the bulletin.  I folded it over to look at it, and realized that this was not the parchment paper I thought I picked up.  It was nice paper.  But not parchment.  Hence cometh the dilemma.  I only used one sheet of the hundred in the box.  All I had to do was grab the receipt and take it back to WalMart.  They would never question it.  I could make an even exchange and be back home in minutes.  Not that I wanted to go out again.  But if I had to go out, why not get the paper for a swap?    But the box said there was 100 sheets of paper within.  If I took it back, that would not be true.  I would be causing WalMart to lie.  And that would be on me.  The right thing to do would be eat the cost of the paper, buy the parchment, and move on.    Guilty conscience?  Or Holy Spirit?  We will have parchment Thursday evening.  And I paid for it.  Again.  It felt right.  It was right.  Didn't matter how I felt.   1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."   Father, it feels a lot better not to do it in the first place than to do it and have to get forgiveness later.  Thank you for your Holy Spirit.  Amen.

December 20 – “Ready”

Anne's mom sang with praise team and played keyboard.  We knew her from seminary days..  She has a great voice.  Today it was almost operatic.  Kind of blasted our little building.  Wow.  There was a lot of discussion during teaching.  It was on the family, and everyone was in the mood to share family Christmas stories.  The new lady, Cheri, and her daughter Kimm were back today.  Cheri is  very talkative.  Chris and I got to sit across from her when she stayed for dinner on the grounds.  I'm looking forward to meeting the rest of her family again.   We set up the room to be ready for the Christmas Eve service before we left.  There was lots of help.  The ones who unstacked the pews were astonished when Chris started calling out for pews by number.  They had no idea that we had numbered the pews to show where they go in setup.   I think it makes it so much easier.  Chris seems to have been won over as well.   I have felt pretty good yesterday and today with the new anti-inflammatory medication.  I just get sleepy in the afternoon.  Like right now.  I'll trade that for less pain any day.   Chris left for Bay City again a little while ago.  She'll be back tomorrow night if everything goes OK at her Mom's chemo.  Chris told me she's starting to get brain tired with trying to keep up with her Mom's schedule and meds, my mom's schedule and meds, and of course my schedule and meds.  Good thing she doesn't have any meds to for herself to keep up with.   I think I'm going to finish up my shopping for dad gifts tomorrow morning.  I'm thinking about going to see a movie in a few minutes.  Avatar.  A guy in the paper today said some things about Eastern religions and such.  I'm hoping for action adventure, myself.  Maybe it'll keep me awake.  It is in 3D, after all.   Psalms 4:8 says, "I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."   Father, help me to appreciate the sleep you give.  Whenever it comes.  Amen.