September 23 – “Welcome Home Blues”

Josh and Christi and their boys left this morning.  And Chris almost immediately started cleaning house.  That's her means of therapy, so it was really a good thing for her do.  She seemed excited to be back at it on her own ground.  There were still a few moments when it was evident that her emotions are still a bit raw, though.  There is so much that still needs to be done related to the funeral – thank you notes and finding a place for the plants and eventually probating the will.  Until all those things are settled, Chris won't be.   I tried to get caught up on some of the things I have to do.  I made a trip out to the school.  Things are going really well with the kids.  We have some decisions to make about funding an endowment for school operations, though.  The options are to borrow some money (about $100,000) to make sure we can get through at least two years, or wait and see how offerings and tuitions and special gifts go on a month to month basis.  That'll be the big topic at our discernment meeting Sunday.  I'm glad we are baptizing a man who has been coming to our home group.  That'll be a good reminder for us about what it's all about.   We also had to do some replacement buying for around the house.  How's this for a welcome home?  The laptop went out with all my files on it.  Thankfully we figured a way to access them.  But that means buying a new one.  And to make sure we don't lose the data as well as all our pictures, we'll also have to get one of those external hard drives to make sure everything is backed up.  While I was lifting Caleb up and down in my office chair, it broke in half.  Neither of us was hurt.  It just made a loud noise.  But it also has to be replaced.  The printer started blinking like crazy and making strange sounds.  Best I can tell, all it wanted was to inform us that it was out of ink.  That means new cartridges.  And the under counter lights are starting to burn out, so we have to get bulbs for them.  I'm just hoping the lawn mower will last a few more times.  With all the rain our grass is getting high again, and the last few times it has sounded like it was in great pain.   One last word about the funeral.  Both Dads were there, as were representatives from both of those families, along with Chris' Mom's side of the family.  There were some good friends from Josh's church in Arlington.  Not to mention the Seasiders who braved the trek.  Thank you to you all.  It meant a lot to have all of our families there.  The Van Vleck Community Center turned out to be the perfect place for the after funeral meal.  Chris' Dad even told me thanks for doing the service.    Psalms 18:46 says, "The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!"   Father, I'm needing some energy - again.  Home group tonight.  Rheumatoid doctor tomorrow.  I'll do some praising.  Amen.