May 30 – “Extra day”

We were greeted with a pleasant surprise yesterday morning.  No, it wasn’t the rain and threat of more, although that was directly related to it.  Because of the rain and all the tourist traffic leaving the Island, Josh and Christi decided to extend their stay for another day.  The kids were ecstatic, especially when they found out the LaMarque cousins were planning to come for hamburgers at lunch time.  They decided they didn’t want to tell them.  Just let them be surprised.  And they were.  Whatever after lunch plans they might have had were launched through the window. 

Nathan did the food prep this time.  His recipe for hamburgers is pretty amazing.  Anytime Chris would ask him if he needed some ingredient to put in it, he said, “Sure,” and made it happen.  I personally like the fact that he makes them about twice the size of one you would get at the burger places.  Well, at least he started that big.  April somehow convinced him that we might need a few more patties, so he slopped them all back into the bowl and started again.  They were still pretty big.  Just not quite as thick.  All in all, the end result was as I said before … amazing.  Great flavor, and they covered the whole bun. 

Josh heard my cries, and the hours between one and about four were blocked from all video game incursion.  All morning, anytime I was asked by the boys if they could play a video game, I happily said, “Yes,” on the condition that they be done by one o’clock.  They didn’t understand at the time, but their all-knowing Dad picked up on my plea.  At one o’clock the TV belonged to DadDad so he could watch the Astros game.  Quite a game, too.  They were losing 8-2 and scored eleven runs in the 8^th inning.  Added a few more in the ninth as well.  I think the final came out to 16-8.  That was a fun game to watch. 

The older kids went to the park for a while to blow off some steam at some point.  The much older Moms and Dads played a board game at the table.  Something about stopping an epidemic that was threatening to destroy the world.  Hope they succeeded.  We capped off the day after the LaMarque went home by watching the movie “Bedtime Story” with Adam Sandler.  Great fun.  I still love that raining gumballs scene.  After family worship it was on to bed for all of us.  It was a really special “extra” day for good ol’ DadDad. 

Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Father, thank you for the “extra” days you give us in our journey.  Amen.