October 31 – “Ordinarily …”

Well, here’s an unusual start to our Halloween Day.  Ordinarily we would be getting ready for a batch of kids to stop by for a treat or seven.  Ordinarily we would be pondering whether or not we had enough of said treats for the thundering hordes expected.  Ordinarily we host a big party for anyone who wants to come over and help us share those treats.  Ordinarily that includes pizza all around as well.  Ordinarily we would be opening and separating whatever special Bibles or Jesus movies we would be giving away.  Ordinarily Chris would be all aflutter getting the house cleaned and ready for company (Well, eventually she would be.  It’s still a little early for that one).  Ordinarily I would be rummaging through closets trying to decide which outrageous costume I thought Chris would let me wear.  Ordinarily I would drag Skeezix the Skeleton from his year-long perch in the back closet so he can sit in one of the rickety rocking chairs on the front porch.  Ordinarily I would be putting together my special ultra-sized package of goodies for the first fire fighter costume to arrive.  Ordinarily we would be stepping aside to avoid the latest pumpkin Chris has on the front porch.  Ordinarily …

 

Well, this year will be a little different.  For one thing, the pumpkin didn’t last through the hurricanes and tropical storms this year.  Started growing some really beautiful penicillin.  But mostly the issue is a great one.  We are headed to Waco to see our grandson Luke get baptized tomorrow morning.  So ordinarily suddenly becomes … extra-ordinary.  We are on our way …

 

Acts 8:36-39 says, “And as they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water.  What can stand in the way of my being baptized?’”

 

Father, please give us a safe journey up into the northlands today … like you ordinarily do.  Amen.

October 30 – “Negative”

The other phone calls came.  The first, the one from the hospital business office, came while I was on the way home from the Covid test.  I actually pulled over to the side of the road so I could take the call and get the information sharing taken care of.  Check on phone call number two.  And as it turned out, the one I didn’t expect until Friday came in while we were eating lunch.  That one was from the surgery suite.  I have to be at day surgery on Monday at 9 a.m.  I got the whole “no eating after midnight” speech along with the Covid questions.  And I could actually answer the Covid ones with authority, because the test results had already been posted and I had received a text letting me know that I was negative.  So … negative.  Guess I’ll have to work on my optimism, huh?

 

So back to the test.  I was all prepared for them to cram a six-inch-long Q-tip up to my brain, swirl it around, and pull out as much of the gray matter as they could hook.  In fact, when the lady asked if I had any questions before she began, that’s pretty much what I told her I was expecting.  She was … horrified.  She wasn’t sure if I was serious or not.  After all, we both were wearing masks, so she couldn’t see the wry grin on my face.  Just in case though, she assured me that it was not like that at all.  I countered with, “But that’s what I have heard.”  I finally let her off the hook with a chuckle that she could actually hear.  I really don’t like the whole mask-wearing thing, but I guess it can have its advantages.  And she wasn’t kidding about it being much easier that I expected.  The giant Q-tip was replaced with a long, pliable strand of filament with a swab on top.  She crammed it in my nose all right – both sides – but it certainly didn’t hurt.  It felt like there was a renegade gnat loose in my brain, though.  The best words I can come up with to describe the sensation are:  It tickled.  TeeHee.

 

I stopped by fire station two after the test.  Nobody was home.  Then I went by the Central Station.  Those guys were out on a call as well, but I hung out and talked to the admin people.  Really good folks.  I also went by station four later in the afternoon.  They had been on a call involving an 8-month-old baby, so I just wanted to check in and make sure they were doing OK.  All good.  Once again … I’m proud of those guys.

 

Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through him who gives me strength.”

 

Father, please be with that baby as he heals.  And use this situation to draw the parents toward yourself.  Amen.

 

October 29 – “Off to … wait”

Sigh …

 

It sure sounds like a pretty boring life when the highlight of the day is almost finishing the turtle and the airplane on your jigsaw puzzle.  Yep.  Didn’t finish either one, but at least they are on the board now.  And what do a turtle and an airplane have in common?  No idea.  If you want to go there, though, this puzzle also includes a pair of old boots, a white seal, a seagull or three, an aircraft carrier, a Chinese fishing vessel, and is centered with two giant albatross birds that appear to be madly in love.  You tell me what the rhyme or reason is with it.

 

I did get the first of three anticipated phone calls from the surgery folks.  This one instructed me to show up at a clinic on the fifth floor of the University Hospital Clinic Building for my … drumroll here … Covid test.  Routine procedure required for everyone getting any kind of surgical procedure.  Unless you’re showing any kind of symptoms.  That was followed by a rather frantic, “You’re not showing any symptoms, are you?”  Nope.  All good here so far.  Now I’m all set for my lovely Covid brain extraction this morning at 9:45.  WooHoo.

 

One of the other two expected calls will be from the surgery unit itself, telling me when to be there and what to expect.  That’s not supposed to happen until Friday.  The other one is from the business office, so I can assure them they will get their money.  That one was supposed to happen on Monday, but I haven’t heard from them yet.  Not that I anticipate falling through the cracks.  They’ll get their money, I’m sure. 

 

OK.  I’m off to … well, to wait for 9:15 or so.  That’s when we’ll leave for the test.  Maybe I can finish an airplane … or a turtle … or a flower … or …

 

Psalms 27:1 says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”

 

Father, please be with the test administer-er today.  Help him to get what he needs from my sinus cavity or brain or wherever he’ll be digging.  Amen.

October 28 – “Oh, well … well … well”

The highlight of our day yesterday came with a brief shopping trip.  Yeah, I know.  Things have been pretty slow around here, what with the back surgery looming and all.  But shopping as a highlight?  Oh, well. 

 

Well, there were only two stores involved in said shopping extravaganza.  First stop was Target.  Now we don’t go to Target much.  Mainly because you have to get on 61^st Street to get there.  That’s just too dangerously close to crossing the dreaded dividing line between East and Midwest Galveston.  Not that the line is official or anything.  Strictly in my head.  Well, and the heads of hundreds of West Enders.  But enough about that.  We went to Target.  The whole point in going was to check out some of the sale items for Christmas presents.  Yep.  Christmas.  Less than two months away now.  But the big news there is the fact that Chris was actually in the mood for Christmas shopping.  Well, within the parameters of the sale items, anyway.  As it turned out, we stumbled upon an extra added attraction.  We got one of the items (No, I can’t say what it was.  It's a Christmas present, after all) with the proper percentage off.  We found a few others things as well, and I noticed a sign on the shelves that if you spend a designated amount, you earned a ten dollar gift card.  Lo and behold, we barely hit that mark.  Of course the checker didn’t know anything about it, but the manager on duty happened to be walking by at the time.  He punched in a few extra buttons and voila, the card appeared.  Success for stage one.

 

Well, stage two of the trip was a little more boring.  Randall’s was the destination.  We did the old divide and conquer tactic at first.  I went for some stamps at the service desk (which was deserted, by the way.  They did finally show up, though).  Chris went to get in line at the pharmacy.  Not to pick up meds this time, though.  In fact, it was just the opposite.  We are on their automatic renewal system for prescriptions.  That’s where they call the doctor and fill a renewal without us having to call it in.  Very convenient for me, since my three meds are ongoing.  The problem came with all the switching of drugs and doses trying to get Chris’ blood pressure under control.  She had three or four prescriptions ready for pickup that she wasn’t even taking any more.  They got it all straightened out, though.  And then we joined forces once again to replenish our supply of fruit for my morning ritual of a bowl of fruit before breakfast.  All boxes checked.  Back home. 

 

Luke 6:35 says, “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.  Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.”

 

Father, thank you for fun little blessings like a Target gift card surprise.  Amen.

October 27 – “Night on the town?”

After a long day of work we decided it was time for a real night on the town.  Well, a real grandparents’ night on the town.  After all, we had just spent an entire romantic weekend together attending one grandson’s birthday party and another’s soccer game.  What could be better than …

 

First, we drove to LaMarque to meet up with Christina and three of their youngsters.  Stop one was three-year-old Ezra’s karate class.  They have the little ones bouncing and running and jumping and bowing and hai-yah-ing just like the big kids.  They do their best to instill a real sense of respect for themselves, each other, their friends and family, the instructor, and even the country.  That’s pretty impressive in itself.  But then … they are just so cute.  And the Littles seemed to be having the time of their lives.  They could finally say they were “in karate” just like the big kids.

 

Next stop was up in Pasadena.  Texas, not California.  Jachin and Micah had a baseball game.  It was a thriller, too.  The good guys came back from a 7-1 deficit to tie the game.  That one run?  Jachin scored it after reaching on a hit up the middle.  The shortstop fielded it but was unable to throw him out.  They continued to scrap back into it.  Micah lined out to the third baseman once and then advanced a runner with a ground out.  Jachin’s other at bat saw a runner advanced to third with only one out.  Finally, the seventh run scratched the plate, and the score was tied.  Then one more run snuck across the plate, giving us the lead going into the last inning.  Sure enough, however, the bad guys managed to get a run in to tie, and our guys just couldn’t score again in the bottom half.  The game ended in a tie, 8-8.  Well done, boys. 

 

We made it home around eleven o’clock, collapsing into bed near midnight.  See?  A night on the town.  Not our town.  But it was sure fun to see the kiddos having fun.  I think we are past our prime at that whole staying up late thing, though …

 

Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

 

Father, thank you for those little guys – and the ones who are now not so little.  Keep them safe while they pursue their athletic dreams.  Amen.

October 26 – “That’s another one …”

It was an overcast, damp day.  Sounds like a start to one of Snoopy’s novels, I know.  Although he usually begins, “It was a dark and stormy night.”  No storm here.  And it was a Sunday morning.  Just overcast and damp. 

 

We still set up for church outside under the building.  I did announce, however, that our goal date to move back inside is November 15^th.  That’s just a few weeks away.  It will also be the third Sunday of the month, so we’ll have dinner on the grounds as well.  Big steps, right?  Wear a mask if you will be more comfortable. 

 

Yesterday afternoon we went back up to the church for two reasons.  Number one was to see a long-time Seasider who moved to Tomball, Ed Jackson.  His daughter was bringing him back to town to vote since he is still registered at their house here.  Always great to see a Seasider wherever they may pop up. 

 

The second reason was to vote ourselves.  Since my back surgery is on November 2^nd, I probably won’t be too excited about getting to the polls on the 3^rd.  There was a steady stream of voters, but no one ever had to wait in line.  It took maybe five minutes from arrival to exit to get it done.  So, check that one off the list for 2020.

 

We stuck around outside to wait while Ed finished up voting.  That’s when Chris noticed a golf cart.  Now that’s not an unusual sight by any means in Jamaica Beach, even one with a flag attached.  But it was followed by another.  and then another.  And then a whole parade of golf carts.  Yep, it was a Trump/Back the Blue golf cart parade winding through the community.  That’s two parades in two days.  Wonder what wonders we will see today …

 

Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

 

Father, thank you that Ed is still getting around pretty well.  Please continue to be with him and his daughter as they adjust to living in the same place again.  Thank you that she is available and willing to care for him.  Amen.

October 25 – “Election time craziness …”

Saturday.  Luke’s actual birthday day.  we started off the big day with a breakfast selected by Luke’s personal request – a true breakfast of champions … donuts.  Nice choice, Luke.  Christi had the table full of presents from his family to surprise him when he woke up.  In fact, I caught him doing a little snooping while Christi was gone to get the donuts.  I guess he takes after his Dad.  Or would that be his uncles?

 

After breakfast we had to get ready to attend Caleb’s soccer game.  They play with some weird rules at this level.  No headers are allowed.  Oh, and the take random water breaks.  I couldn’t tell if it was halftime or hydration time.  The game was fun to watch, though.  Ended in a 2-2 tie.  No shoot-outs in this level, either.  Caleb plays sweeper, the same position his proud Dad played.  Nice job, Caleb.

 

We stopped at Whataburger on the way home.  You guessed it.  That was Luke’s choice for his big birthday lunch.  And he stipulated that it be eaten at home.  A little bit of Mom’s precautionary nature there, I suppose.

 

Meanwhile, back at Seaside, the hamburger fundraiser went well.  Raised over $1300 for hurricane relief in Louisiana.  We sure missed being there.

 

On our way home we ran smack dab into a new phenomenon.  Just as we left Bucees we noticed that traffic was slowing to a crawl in front of us.  As we snaked our way along, we finally reached the cause.  There was a Trump Parade happening.  We managed to get alongside of it where traffic was moving a little better.  There were American flags and Texas flags and Trump flags.  There were signs indicating Veterans for Trump and Latinos for Trump and Back the Blue and All Aboard the Trump Train and God, Guns and America.  My favorite, though, was the car plastered with a Women for Trump sign.  It was being driven by a man.  In the car by himself.  Hmm.  People in the vehicles would scream greetings and wave tiny little American flags from their windows as we passed.  The parade of vehicles stretched from the Bucees in Waller to Jones Road in Houston.  That’s some 28 miles.  There were even some people waiting on the side of the road to wave or even join in the line.  It was an interesting experience to be sure.  Election time craziness …

 

Proverbs 11:25 says, “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”

 

Father, please watch over folks when they are engaged in events like that.  Help them to remember to stay safe in their exuberance.  Amen.

October 24 – “On restaurant rules and zombie details”

We made another quick trip yesterday.  The exciting appeal of this one?  We drove right into a cold front.  Lots of rain, and when we came out on the other side we were in for a real surprise.  Two of them actually.  First, we suddenly faced what looked exactly like mountains.  It was eerie.  I thought maybe Chris had made a wrong turn while I was asleep and we had ended up in Colorado.  But no.  It was another bank of clouds hanging just barely above the horizon.  Weird.  The second surprise was even weirder.  See, when we left home the temperature was a balmy island 83 degrees.  The closer we got to our destination the colder it got.  Those Colorado possibilities were looming greater and greater.  By the time we arrived the temperature outside was 55 degrees.  It was cold.  Oh, I guess I didn’t mention where we were.  That frozen northern wasteland called … Waco. 

 

We were there for a birthday party.  Luke is turning seven years old (today, actually).  The plan for the party was to have an American Ninja Warrior obstacle course set up in the back yard.  Cold front.  Rain.  Mud.  Nope.  Plan B.  Fortunately, their church has a gym.  We were able to set up there, and the kids played basketball and flag football.  Josh did string up a section of the obstacle course between two basketball goals as well.  all in all the youngsters seemed to have a good time.  Oh, and they only had to wear their masks from the building entrance to the gym itself.  Kind of like restaurant rules.

 

After cupcakes and presents the kids and two Dads (not this one) played a game of flag football.  Both Dads were on the same team against a team of seven-year-olds.  And one Dad (not Josh) was ultra-competitive.  He was a big guy.  Ex-football player.  Completely took out two of the youngsters in the course of the game.  Fortunately (or not so fortunately for them) they were his own kids. 

 

After the party we went back to the house for pizza.  For dessert I shared some special Halloween Skittles with the boys.  How was I to know that a few in each individually wrapped packet tasted like rotten zombie vomit?  I thought the package was kidding.  And I did get the candy from sweet little Brennan across the street.  I’m sure he was just being kind when he gave the package to us and suggested we share them with the cousins.  Yep.  Thanks, Brennan.  The deed is done.  (Insert high five here).

 

Romans 8:27 says, “And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”

 

Father, thank you for the incredible expression of your awesomeness we saw in that cold front yesterday.  Just … wow.  Amen.

October 23 – “48 degrees??”

Over the last two days I have worked on the sermon, but honestly, I was having a hard time staying awake.  Not that the teaching promises to be any more boring than usual.  It had just been a rough few nights.  Back aches on and off.  At least this time it had the good manners to alternates sides.  Last night wasn’t so bad, though.  And I managed to sleep until 6:15.  Of course that will be equivalent to 5:15 here in a week or so, with daylight savings time ending.  Guess my body is attempting to adjust a little early.

 

The highlight of our day yesterday was getting to pick up Cailyn and Lexie from school.  Cailyn finally started back to in-person schooling this week.  She kind of wanted to go full-in on homeschooling if she had to continue the distance learning provided by the school district.  What they are doing is just not very impressive.  Apparently, it would be more accurate to describe it as almost worthless.  But she seems to be liking the in-school approach.  I think her social butterfly self is responding to the face-to-face interactions.  Well, I guess that should be mask-to-mask interactions …

 

Once we dropped Lex off at home, we headed over to Whataburger to grab some supper for us as well.  They were set up for primarily serving drive-through customers.  A few parking spaces were reserved to those who called in orders and were getting the food delivered to their cars.  We parked and went inside to order.  I think it really surprised the workers.  They jumped to attention and treated us with great respect and kindness.  Way to go, Whataburger.  And our Dr Pepper shakes weren’t bad, either.

 

Well, I need to get my back exercises in before we leave for Luke’s birthday party in Waco.  I hear it’s supposed to be downright cold up there tomorrow.  Something like 48 degrees.  What does that even feel like?  I can’t remember the last time I have been in weather that cold.  Maybe on our Alaska cruise?  Guess I’ll break out the blue jeans …

 

Mark 8:35 says, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.”

 

Father, Thanks for the afternoon with Cailyn.  They are always fun.  It has been great watching her grow up.  Watch over her and Lexie as they keep doing just that.  Amen.

October 22 – “I have veins”

We had a visit from Christina and most of her library-going kiddos yesterday.  Kel stayed home with Josiah, the vomiting one.  Yuk.  While they were here, Noa was explaining to us the ins and outs of what vascular plants are, and how they have veins to carry water into their leaves.  Three-year-old Ezra was listening intently.  Finally, he could hold it in no longer.  He chimed in, “I have veins in my penis.”  Yes, you do, Ezra.  Yes, you do.

 

A rather heavenly smell wafted through the house much of the day as well.  Chris was cooking a huge slab of sliced bacon for the hamburger fund-raiser at the church on Saturday.  I only tested one slice.  Hey, somebody had to make sure it was headed in the right direction.

 

OK.  Now we get down to the neurosurgeon visit.  I’ll get right to the point.  He entered the room and asked if the back was better, worse or the same.  I opened my phone to the notes page and began listing my current symptoms.  I got down to number three out of six, and he quietly said, “Let’s fix it.”  I told him, “Hold on a minute.  I worked hard compiling this list and I want to get through all of them.”  He chuckled and listened patiently top four through six.  Then he said again, “Let’s fix it.”  When I agreed, he added, “When can you not do it?”  That one kind of slipped past me.  I was still processing the fact that I agreed to a back surgery.  But Chris was there.  She answered quickly, “Next week.”  That’s right.  I have a wedding to officiate next week.  I finally came out of mu funk a bit and remembered to ask things like “what is recovery time?” That answer kind of surprised me.  He said I might go home the same day as the surgery.  Or maybe overnight in the hospital.  WooHoo, I guess.  The surgery people are supposed to call and set up a time.  I also queried, “is the surgery on the lower back still an option?”  It is, but I never should have opened that can of worms.  I think I awakened a sleeping monster.  Last night I felt like I was sleeping on a rock right in the middle of my lower back.  No position was comfortable.  I did doze fitfully.  But I suppose that is a story for another day, another surgery.

 

Psalms 119:114 says, “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.”

 

Father, thank you for the exciting ways kids learn.  And please help us get through this surgery, whenever it takes place.  Amen.

October 21 – “Officially and Forever Family”

The highlight of our day yesterday, to be sure, came when we were able to watch the Zoom adoption ceremony for Elliott Humphries.  He’s up in Alaska with his family, but since he’s from Texas, the judge here had to make it official.  We felt kind of like giddy grandparents.

 

The process was really fascinating, and the main characters were downright cute.  The whole Humphries Family was gathered on their couch, anxiously awaiting the start of the proceedings.  Elliott apparently asked his mom several times the adoption equivalent of “Are we there yet?”  He was ecstatic when she finally told him it was over, and he was officially and forever Elliott Mordecai Humphries. 

 

I was also really proud of his big sister Sydnie.  She was sworn in as a witness and spoke on behalf of the family to assure the judge that Elliott was wanted and loved.  She did balk, however, when he reminded her that she was under oath, then asked if she promised to always obey Mom and Dad.  That’s all right, Syd.  It’s always better to stick with the truth.  The judge withdrew the question before she answered, though.  Phew. 

 

Well, welcome to the Humphries Family, Elliott, and by extension … welcome to the Seaside Family as well.  We love you.

 

1 John 3:1 says, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!”

 

Father, thank you for Elliott and for the awesome forever family you have helped him to discover.  Grow them closer to each other and to you.  Amen.

October 20 – “so … helpful”

Monday.  It sufficed as a typical workday for me around here.  I spent much of the day at the computer wading through church stuff and trying to get a good start on the sermon for next Sunday.  I’m also trying to work ahead a bit for the days when we will be gone to Waco and beyond.  At least we hope to be gone.  Chris was pretty exhausted all day.  Her back and blood pressure issues are driving her nuts.  In fact she even went to bed.  Full on took a nap.  I did OK staying awake, but there wasn’t much sleep for me last night.  My back was just annoying enough to keep me from getting into that long stretch of zzz’s.  OK, so maybe “annoying” isn’t quite strong enough.  It did hurt.  I’ll let the neurosurgeon know the update when I see him tomorrow. 

 

I guess part of the problem was the mile walk we took.  It was a struggle after the two mile one on Saturday and then not hiking at all on Sunday.  Freddy hadn’t forgotten, though.  She saw me put a cap on, and she raced me to the drawer where her leash is kept.  She was actually helpful on the walk.  We had to stop a time or two while she explored a random mark on the road or sniffed out her compadres at the fire hydrants.  The back pains subsided every time we stopped, so … helpful.

 

We did take time to watch an episode of the new Star Trek series: Picard.  It was a little hard to follow as we endeavored to place times and circumstances in connection with the last time we watched.  That was when Picard was Captain of the Enterprise.  Now he’s a retired admiral on his wine plantation in France, and he looks about 80 years old.  Should be interesting.

 

Psalms 135:3 says, “Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.”

 

Father, please help Chris get the sleep she needs as she deals with her back issues and blood pressure issues.  Amen.

October 19 – “Don’t look, Mable”

We had a really big crowd at church yesterday.  50 plus people gathered under the building for Seaside Outside.  And we had some folks tune in online as well.  Apparently, they had some problems hearing though.  The wind was blowing, and that plays havoc with our sound system.  Well, not the whole system, but it sure swirls and whooshes through the mic I wear on my head.  Three of our little girls led off the service with a song.  They sang along (and we all endeavored to follow them) with that classic favorite, “What If Cartoons Got Saved.”  They did a great job, too.  I’m proud of you, girls. Speaking of being proud, before and after church we got to show Larry and Diane around the buildings.  I’m sure we came across as a couple of proud parents pulling out baby pictures. 

 

After church we grabbed some lunch from the Shrimp n Stuff food truck across the street and ate at the church.  we were a little late after the building tour, but I understand the plans are to celebrate Lauren’s birthday every Sunday for the foreseeable future.  Sounds good to me.  after lunch we drove to the west end of the Island.  Larry wanted to be able to say he had seen Galveston from East to West – the whole Island.  Well, check it off your bucket list, Larry.  When we reached our destination, I advised Larry to make a U-turn where one specific car was turning.  And we had a “Don’t look, Mable” moment.  The car we were following had stopped on the side of the road.  The driver was now standing behind it … relieving himself.  Not the finest moment of the Island tour, but memorable, nonetheless.

 

Psalms 23:3 says, “He refreshes my soul.  He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.”

 

Father, thank you for our time with Larry and Diane this weekend.  Please keep them safe and happy.  Amen.

October 18 – “The Hero of Rat Red-dom”

Well, I thought my friend Larry and I were going fishing yesterday.  instead we went fish-feeding.  Been there many times.  but hey, those little critters need to eat, too.  Larry did have somewhat of a successful day, however.  He caught a needle-nosed eel.  He also bagged not one but three different lines that someone else had lost.  And on one of those he also had a nice rat red that shook itself loose and thanked Larry for its freedom as it swam away.  The Hero of Rat Red-dom.  Nice to be in the presence of a hero.  I think we had some fun in spite of the outcome. 

 

We then picked up the ladies and went for a quick tour of Galveston.  We drove all the way to the east end of the Island.  Then we hopped on the ferry for a quick jaunt over to Bolivar and back.  We saw lots of dolphins this trip.  Once back on the island we drove up and down the streets of downtown to give them a taste of eth Strand experience.  Unlike hundreds of others, however, we did not stop and brave the thunderous hordes of tourists popping in and out of shops.  We also drove by the house I lived in until I was five years old.  Across the street from the church I grew up in, Grace Episcopal.  Finally we stopped at Salsa’s for a Mexican food lunch. 

 

But it wasn’t “finally” after all.  We drove back out to Jamaica Beach to take a walk on said beach.  It was kind of a shock to see just how little beach was left after out three Gulf storms back to back to back.  We ended up doing a little wading in our search for seashells. 

 

We finished the night with a handful of homemade caramel popcorn.  Larry and Diane (mainly Larry) worked on our jigsaw puzzle.  All help is always welcome.  Diane and Chris spent a lot of time at the table talking.  I crashed in my recliner and watched the final Astros game of the season.  Even though they lost, it was a nice season’s end for them after all their adversity with injuries.  Nice day’s end for us as well.

 

Romans 15:5 says, “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.”

 

Father, would you join us at church today?  Oh, and please take care of Larry and Diane as they head back home today.  Amen.

October 17 – “He’s just sixteen years old, isnt he?”

We got all gussied up last night.  Suit and tie for me.  Very nice dress for Chris.  What was the occasion?  Just a simple date night is all.  Well, actually it was a bit more than that.  We were honored to have attended the wedding of one of our “little” Seaside kids.  And we are not the only ones to consider him a little kid.  Josh called the house just as we were leaving.  When we told him we were headed to Jimmy’s wedding he quipped, “That can’t be.  He’s just sixteen years old, isn't he?”  Nope.  All grown up.

 

The wedding was at St. Patrick’s, one of the historic Catholic churches on the Island.  Beautiful place.  Lots of stained glass windows and very much a God church.  Very vertical.  Everything about it directs your eye upwards toward God.  The ceremony was quite simple.  I heard it said that we got the “Protestant version, with no communion.”  That pretty well sums it up, I suppose.   But it was quite nice in its simplicity. 

 

The receptions was held at the Garten Verein, a popular wedding venue on the Island.  It’s another of those beautiful historic places.  It is located in a park next door to the high school football stadium.  We sat at a table with five other of our Seaside “kids.”

  One of them is married with a child.  Two others are married to each other and she is pregnant.  There wasn’t a huge crowd, though, because of Covid.  The bride’s Dad announced that they had to pare their guest list way down from the original 200.  It made for a quite the cozy feel. 

 

At the reception I positioned my chair next to another Astros fan, and we watched the playoff game throughout the reception on my phone.  Between us we also may or may not have snuck a peek or two at the score during the wedding itself, but that cannot be confirmed or denied, so it will be useless to ask further questions in that regard.  The Astros did win the game, though.  Tied up the series and sent it to a concluding game seven tonight.

 

Meanwhile, back at the house, our out of town guests from Arlington, the Huntleys, were making themselves at home.  They came to Galveston to celebrate Diane’s birthday with us.  Actually, I think we were third or fourth on their list of possibilities, but we were glad they finally got down to us.  It is great to have them here for a few days.  This morning Larry and I are supposed to go fishing.  Not sure yet when he’ll wake up, and I’m also not sure what casting will do to my back, but I guess I’ll find out shortly …

 

Romans 8:31 says, “What, then, shall we say in response to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?”

 

Father, please walk with Jimmy and Mary as they head out to a life together.  Help them to get to know you better and better.  That’s the only way they can truly love each other more and more.  Amen.

 

October 16 – “giant thorns is just … evil”

The other day while I was working at the computer, I must have totally zoned out.  Or I guess zoned in would be more accurate.  I was so focused on the work that I didn’t notice Chris had disappeared.  That is, until Freddy jumped from her chair and made a beeline for the front door.  She wasn’t growling or anything, though, just wiggling and wagging, so that was odd.

 

Then suddenly I heard the melodious sound of a lawn mower hard at work.  And the sound was virtually at our front door.  Shaken from my reverie of work, I got and to check out this strange sound.  And sure enough, there was Chris, behind the wheels, so to speak, of the lawn mower.  She surprised us both, mowing both the front and back yards.  She did the edging, too.  And her sweeping. 

 

She only needed my help three times.  Twice to add more line to the weed eater and once to help trim an errant bush and some broken branches on the oleander bush.  Of course that turned into a bit more of a trim job than she anticipated, under my direction.  But she did the cutting.  Can’t blame me for this one.  But hey, some of those branches were out of control.  She did turn me loose on the booger-villa bush, though.  She explained her vision, then told me she trusted my eye for those sort of things.  No pressure, right?  She seems to like my creation now.  It’s still evil, though.  Any bush with those giant thorns is just … evil.

 

Oh, and one other thing … she almost passed out again.  She had another tweak to her blood pressure medicine, and that combined with the heat and her exertion resulted in another near-dehydration event.  We managed to get her inside and get some water and lemonade inside her, though.  She came through it all OK. 

 

Speaking of Chris, she had her appointment with the pain doctor yesterday.  He has scheduled her for another one of those shots in the back.  Actually, this time it will be six shots in the back.  They are targeting those spiny things on her spine from the L3 through S1 vertebrae.  On both sides.  That will mean another trip to that surgery clinic where she had the first shot.  It’s a really nice place, and back then they let me stay with her most of the time.  We’ll see how Covidized it has become now.  That’s not until November, though.  we should be able to get in a trip between now and then.  Unless my neurosurgeon has something new to say when I see him next week.  It’s good to have doctor friends, but it sure feels weird to have to include them in our vacation planning …

 

Philippians 2:11 says, “and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

 

Father, please take care of Chris through all this back and blood pressure stuff.  Amen.

October 15 – “On Mama Chris”

This little ditty was posted on FaceBook the other night by some dear friends who live and minister in Alaska.  I can’t say it as well as Lauren did, so here’s her transcript:

 

When Kenny and I were first married we moved to Galveston, TX. We found an apartment, sight unseen from CO. Then packed up our little apartment, left the town I’d lived in most of my life and drove to a place we’d never been with no real idea of what our plans were. We found a wonderful little church across the street from the ocean and were immediately surrounded with family, what a gift! The pastor’s wife was named “Mama Chris”. When we lived there Kenny and I used to joke that my goal in life was to be Mama Chris. She was one of those people who was just always willing to listen, always willing to problem solve, and somehow didn’t make you feel like an idiot for all the dumb choices you just made that caused the problems you were in. Haha. She also had an open door policy, I can’t count the number of times I ended up on her kitchen floor crying while she put some chocolate chip cookies in the oven and didn’t bat an eye while my foster kids ran around her house making messes. Mama Chris is definitely one of the reasons we didn’t stop foster care the first year, and she still stands as a life goal for me. Every so often Kenny and I will still joke that I want to be Mama Chris when I grow up.

 

Yesterday was one of those days that makes me smile ‘cause I think maybe there’s a little Mama Chris in me. Haha. Yesterday morn I had to take William early to the hospital for a sedated procedure. When I got home, we were working on virtual school and Kenny headed to work. Out of nowhere a lady pulled up, knocked on the door and came in and said she needed to talk. We curled up and immediately there were tears and some amazing conversation about God and hard things, and God working in/through/around hard things. It was inconvenient but also wonderful. I really did think of Mama Chris, how many times was I inconvenient to her? (Ok, maybe I don’t really want to know). What a cool feeling to be able to see how God taught me through someone else something that now I can use myself.

 

Then, in the eve Victoria called can also needed some extra loving. She came in and the whole house surrounded her with smiles and food and sweetness, and I was so blessed to see how God can use each one of us to serve.

 

Today I’m extra thankful for Mama Chris (and the other many people who have pointed me in that direction through my life) and thankful for the people that I have the privilege to be Mama Chris to, even when it’s inconvenient. Do you have a Mama Chris that you want be like when you grow up? Who are you being Mama Chris to today?

 

Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend love sat all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”

 

Father, thank you for the influence Chris has had on Lauren.  Please continue to bless the influence she in turn has on others around her.  Amen.