January 3 – “The Plans”

We had the distinct honor of babysitting our granddaughter last night.  The plan was for her to spend the night and her Dad would pick her up before we left for church.  Once again we found that plans are pretty much meaningless.    See her Dad planned for her to stay up until around 8:30.  The she "always" goes to sleep and sleeps until 7 or so the next morning.  Well, she fell asleep at 7:30.  We were OK with that.  According to Dad's timetable, that would put her waking up around 6, and I get up at that time anyway.  Fine.  She woke up at 9:15 … p.m.  And she was wired.  She didn't go to sleep again until shortly after 11.  Still OK with us.  After all, we're grandparents.  She can do no wrong.  But it sure didn't fit the plans.   This morning a we were packing up for church Chris got a call from Nathan.  They were just waking up.  Morning Plan B.  We put the extra carseat in our car and took her with us.  Mom and Dad could meet us at church to pick her up.  Otherwise it would have to be after the vows renewal that started at 2:00.  At 2:00 Chris got a call wondering where we were.  Mom and Dad were at our house to pick her up.  They thought we meant we would be home at 2.  So much for those plans.   She fell asleep during the vows renewal, so she was fine.  But Chris didn't realize the vows renewal was going to be a full blown, people got invited, reception with sparkling non-alcoholic grape juice and tiny little food particles served, we have to clean up and set up for school afterwards kind of event.  She thought it was just me and the couple.  She said had she known she would have brought two cars so she could take Cailyn home.  No good for those plans.   We did get to have lunch with some very close friends from college days and their daughter.  We went over to Bluewater Grill in Jamaica Beach.  He had come with some of the men from his church to help us gut our house and work on it after the storm.  I had hoped to show them our house as it looks now..  But I forgot about the vows renewal when he called to say they were coming.  So those plans?  No.   Jeremiah 29:11-13 says, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.'"   Father, thank you that we can count on your plans.  Amen.