June 11 – “Up, up, and away”

On their way home our friends from Arlington texted us with an unusual request.  They wanted to get a picture of a sign just on the Texas side of the border heading north from Galveston.  They were impressed by the irony of the whole thing.  Yep.  They saw Dimitri's and the Ocean Cabaret with their signs advertising naked girls right under the billboard for Church of the Living God that recommended checking out the Naked Truth of the gospel.  Welcome to Galveston.   We headed out to San Antonio yesterday for Zakary's fifth birthday party.  It'll be a very quick trip.  Down yesterday and back this afternoon.  Last night we went to a new Mexican food restaurant.  Where else would you eat out in San Antonio?  It wasn't actually a new restaurant.  Josh and Christi just discovered it, though.  I had beef quesadillas and couldn't even finish them.  Good food.  Zak and Caleb were only interested in getting out to the playground they had.  Good concept.  Outdoor patio dining option overlooking nice playground equipment and a stage for live musical entertainment.  We missed the band, though.  They were just unloading their equipment as we were leaving.  We did get a solo performance by Caleb.  Dance and song.  Not sure what the words were, but then I can't remember the last time I fully understood all the words at a live concert.  Must be a hangover result of my hippie days.   After supper we went into WalMart so Christi could finish gathering supplies for the party.  Christi went one way and all us boys went the other.  Mom sat in McDonalds and waited for us.  Chris made a Happy Birthday phone call to her sister.  The boys had one assignment.  Twine for hanging the piñata.  Of course Christi finished her entire list before we ever got half way through the toy department.  Yes.  It was a necessary detour.  While there we heard a mom and dad telling their three young boys that if they got the super soaker in the basket, then they wouldn't be able to ask for anything else for Christmas.  Just as the mom said it, we made eye contact.  I couldn't help myself.  I started laughing.  Then I had to explain that I was responding from the perspective of the grandparent.  Of course they would get something else for Christmas, asked for or not.  That's what grandparents are for, right?    Well, the super hero themed birthday party begins in a little while and we are responsible for getting the birthday boy and his little brother to the park.  Zak just asked me if we had our super hero costumes with us to wear to the party.  Really?  He expects this old man to dress up like a comic book superman and go out in public?  Really?  It's time to shed my secret identity, don my cape and uniform, and get on the road.  Up, up, and away.  Yes.  Really.   Proverbs 12:25 Says, "An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up."   Father, thank you for the words of friends that are so encouraging.  Amen.