July 9 – “Zak’s Manual for Proper Sleepover Etiquette”

Josh and his family arrived here Thursday night just before Life Group started.  It was a small group this week.  It usually is for a week or two after we miss a week for something like camp.  We did have a good discussion, though.  It was on taming the tongue out of the Book of James.  I guess by definition that's always a good thing to talk about.    Yesterday all the boys wanted to do was go to the beach.  Apparently that had been the big buildup this time for coming to see us.  The texts were flying with the other brothers' wives, trying to decide on a place and time.  As it turned out, Nathan and April and Cailyn met us out there.  Kel and Christina couldn't come, though.  Seems Micah and Jachin had both been vomiting during the night.  Now that could be a crisis.  Micah's birthday party is scheduled for this afternoon.  We'll have to see if it is still on later in the morning.    The beach trip was a lot of fun.  The little guys each had a boogy board.  The mommies had sunscreen and towels and water bottles.  The daddies dutifully lifted their respective kids over wave after wave.  And I had a fishing pole.  And some frozen shrimp we had left in the freezer.  I was hoping to at least get some whiting that we could fry up for lunch.  The hard head catfish were biting right away.  Not ever a good sign.  I did finally get a substantial bite.  Very good fight.  Turned out to be a keeper red fish.  No whiting, but we did add baked red fish to the menu along with the chicken enchilada pie Chris is so good at.  Nice.   After lunch Josh and Christi left for an anniversary evening together.  I think they went to the Galvez Hotel.  I heard Christi tell April that they had nothing in particular planned.  She would be happy just to loll around the pool.  Josh said he had brought along some books in case that indeed turned out to be the case.  Meanwhile, Zak and Caleb prepared for a sleepover at Nani and DadDad's house.    Now Zak was our specialist at sleepovers.  He knew exactly what was supposed to happen.  In fact he informed us that, "Sleepovers are all about sleeping bags and watching movies and food."  So after a rousing pillow fight (That one was my idea, but Zak obviouosly approved), a bath, and family worship time, we spread out the sleeping bags on the floor.  Nani made a bedtime snack.  And we popped in a movie, Despicable Me.  Zak picked it out.  He said, "We have already watched this one at our house, so I know it will be OK for Caleb to see."  All snuggled in, we took a quick picture and sent it to Mommy and Daddy to reassure them that all was well.  I really expected them to fall asleep before the opening credits.  Boy did they surprise me.  Not only did they both watch the whole movie, but they wanted to put in another one when it was over.  Nani nixed that idea, and we settled in for the night.  Well, at least I did.  See, I forgot that Zak was the one in charge of the sleepover.  He switched to a couch, then decided that he and Caleb wanted to sleep in "their room."  Who was I to argue?  It was a sleepover.  After awhile Chris tag-teamed me and before long the boys were sound asleep.  I don't know what time it was, but I sure hope it was late enough to qualify as "staying up really late" in Zak's Manual for Proper Sleepover Etiquette.   Proverbs 18:13 says, "He who answers before listening — that is his folly and his shame."   Father, thank you for our special sleepover time with Zak and Caleb last night.  Amen.