May 30 – “Installed or not?”

What a day.  We started out with a memorial service at 10:00 in Webster.  It was held at a pretty big church, and the place was packed.  The lady died at age 30 of cancer and had tons of friends and relatives, all in the area.  In fact it felt kind of strange because the only people we knew were the husband and the two little children of the lady.  As soon as the service was over we left for a funeral to be held somewhere way up the Eastex Freeway.  That's the same as Highway 59N, but Google Maps didn't understand just the numbers.  There weren't near as many people at this one, but it was good to sit with some Seasiders who made the trip.  It's amazing what a familiar face can do.   We left the cemetery around 2:30.  We hadn't had lunch yet, but the next thing on the agenda – a graduation reception for my nephew – was scheduled to start at 4:00 in Southwest Houston.  As it turned out, we made it in time to stop first at a Walgreens to get some tissue paper for the gift (and a Nestle's Crunch), then at a McDonald's for some fries.  We intended to have a milkshake as well, but they didn't taste right, so we had water instead.  We were a bit early, but we weren't the first ones there, so it worked out all right.  We were surprised when we got there.  My younger brother's college roommate was there.  Hardy has lived literally all over the world, and recently moved back to Houston with his bride from the Netherlands named Krista.  He was the guy who sent Josh to the hospital for stitches one year at the Turkey Bowl – on the first play of the game.  And he got me in trouble, too.  Because I stayed and played football while Chris took Josh to the emergency room.  How unfair is that?  We had some gumbo and Italian-looking sandwiches and some kind of taco filled with icing and chocolate chips.  It reminded me of something I had as a snack one year in Vacation Bible School.    When everybody started getting ready to leave for Tim's graduation, Stan and Hardy loaded a desk in our truck and we took off for our last function of the day – a reception for my cousin who received an award from the Knights of Columbus.  We made it just as the last of the guests were leaving, but that gave us a chance to talk to all three of my cousins.    Meanwhile, back at the ranch, as they say, Kel and Christina were hosting the installer of the appliances that got delivered by Sears.  The double oven went in fine.  Then … the dishwasher didn't have a water line, so it only got partly installed.  He also needed our plumber to get the sink and garbage disposal in and the water turned on.  Then … the vent hood didn't have a cord to plug in, so he went to the store and got an extension cord and made one.  It's probably better than one we could have bought.  He did get it in, but one of the shelves had to be moved.  Then … the cooktop was warped.  He said he couldn't install it because it had to be level on the counter.  The gas connection was also in the way of the top drawer under it, so the drawer will have to be shortened.  And speaking of gas connections, our plumber still has to come in and cut off the gas pipe as it comes out of the wall so the bottom drawer will close.  And the installer also mentioned that a gas connector line was also missing.  I tried calling Sears tonight, but the best I could do was schedule delivery of a new cooktop on Thursday.  We have to go into the store to get a refund on the installation that wasn't done.   But there was a good thing.  While we were at the house looking at the appliance fiasco, Cailyn and her mom came by and rang our new doorbell.  They saw the truck and wanted to come in and see everything.  They seemed to like it.  At least April did.   John 14:1-4 says, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."   Father, that's a classic funeral scripture.  Thanks that both ladies today are with you.  Amen.