February 28 - “Find-a-friend”

We got the car all packed and ready for departure. Then we sat down and called Kel. It was his Happy Birthday call. Of course we ended up talking to him for about an hour. I kinda like that kid. 

After a stop at Bucees for lunch (and a bathroom break, of course), we headed onward to Waco. I munched on fried chicken strips and fries. Chris had her cold chunks of turkey. 

When we got to town we went straight to … HEB’s. We were gonna get gas, but the line was way too long. Instead we went inside. Grabbed some Minute Maid frozen lemonade and headed back to the car. Just as we were pulling out, I noticed on Chris’ find-a-friend that none other than Caleb was at that moment walking through the store. I jumped out and ran back in. Sure enough, there he was. Before long Chris joined us, and then Christi and AnnaGrace. Caleb selected some flowers for his girlfriend and we all headed home. Well, to their home. 

Last night we watched the movie Short Circuit with AnnaGrace while Josh and Christi went dress shopping (for her, not him). She is trying to find a dress to wear to Zak and Lindsay’s wedding. So is Chris. Not me …

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬ says, Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children.

Father, thanks for the safe trip. Help the ladies have a fun time at the shower this afternoon. Amen. 

February 27 - “the rest of your millions”

Great way to start the morning. Well, it’s how we have started our Thursdays for a very long time. Cleaning house. Now, remember, my only task is vacuuming the two rugs. Chris handles all the important stuff. 

We had an appointment with our financial advisor guy in the afternoon. Nothing special. We just have to check in with him once a year. I told Nathan we were going, and he said, “Y’all

 gonna spend the rest of your millions!?”  Millions? In think I missed something. I told him to get our room ready at their house for when the bucks do run out. 

We stopped at Randall’s on the way home to pick up some prescriptions and to get some gas. We still have to run by the bank this morning, but otherwise I think we are ready to head for Waco. Tomorrow is wedding shower day for Lindsay. 

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37‬:‭4‬ says, Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.

Father, again I ask, please ease the pain Chris is having in her hip. Amen. 

February 26 - “Bye bye Blue”

Well, the day finally arrived. Good ol’ Blue the 1992 pick up truck is gone. It had a shaky transmission, needed a new fuel pump and who knows what else. That, combined with years of Galveston rust, brought her to her knees - or would that be tires? 

We donated her to Cars for Kids. They try to get the cars up and running and resell them. We get an IRS donation credit based on what they sell it for. 

She did a lot of ministry here on the Island, beginning with Hurricane Ike. Thanks to Blair Jones for making her available all these years. 

Guess we are officially a one-car family. Here’s hoping that will be enough … 

Chris had an appointment in the afternoon to have someone check out the pain she has been having in her hip. The recommendation was that she have an x-ray (insurance requirement), then a shot, then meds. She got the x-ray before she left the clinic. The new meds prescription was called into the pharmacy. And she has an appointment for the shot in a a week or so. All Chris wants is some relief before we leave on our looong cruise. With lots of steps. And walking excursions in Spain. 

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭25‬:‭1‬ says, Yahweh, You are my God; I will exalt You. I will praise Your name, for You have accomplished wonders, plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.

Father, please ease the pain Chris is having. Amen. 

February 25 - “Two birds. One stone”

Chris got one of her wishes granted yesterday. It was a beautiful day (albeit kinda cold), so she went to work on the flowerbeds. She has really been chomping at the bit to get after that yardwork. I’ve been telling her she has to wait until after Zak and Lindsay’s wedding in April. Yeah, THAT hasn’t gone over well. 

Meanwhile, I waded back into our income tax stuff. Our accountant sent over the first of the inevitable emails asking for clarification or missing forms. Sadly, there were a few of both this time. I think I found what she needed, though. I was pretty sure we’d have to pay a lot this time. That unexpected  executor fee I was paid didn’t include any deductions with it. But her last email indicated it didn’t look quite as bad as I anticipated. I’ll take that. 

After lunch we did our errands run. Walmart first to get a few groceries. Oh, and a Chris HAD to make a quick run through the garden department. She’s got Spring fever bad. 

Next we went to the East End of the island to pick up my errant hearing aid. It took some doing, but they finally came through. And Chris was able to get her glasses tightened up while we were there. Two birds. One stone. 

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13‬:‭44‬ says, The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field.

Father, thank you for the somewhat good news on the tax front. Amen. 

February 24 - “Not what I was hoping for”

Chris had her weight-lifting class yesterday. In fact, she was the only one who could be there, so she had a personal trainer for the day. Worked her pretty good. She even brought out the actual barbells this time. 

I wanted to get the truck cleaned up and ready to sell. Nathan had called and said he had rounded up a potential buyer. All I had to do was get it to Santa Fe. And … it  didn’t start. It cranked just fine, but then nothing. 

I called my retired mechanic for some advice. Being the good guy that he is, Dennis just came on by the house. He did his diagnostic. Even poured some gas directly into the carburetor. The engine really liked that special treat, but once it burned off, it died again. After some more checks and rechecks, he made his diagnosis:

Fuel pump shot. Pretty expensive to replace on that vehicle.  And combined with the rapidly accumulating Galveston rust, it was just not worth the hassle. 

Well, that was not what I was hoping for, but it is what it is. I got the contact info for Carsforkids.com from Nathan (he has used them before) and set up a donation for a tax write-off. They will pick it up tomorrow. 

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬ says, When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is: fear God and keep His commands, because this is for all humanity.

Father, thank you for Dennis’ friendship and help. Bless him. Amen. 

February 23 - “Farewell, Olympics”

After church we hung around and talked with our friends, Dale and Debbie. He is a pastor, so he and I connected.  They are in their early 70’s - connection number two. And she and Chris share a lot common. Oh. And they are interested in doing some cruising and road tripping. Made for a lot of connections and subsequently a lot to talk about. 

Back home we watched some of the Olympics closing ceremonies. We always like to see the athletes big entrance. Sometimes they have good shows, too. One of them was really weird this time. Some traditionally garbed Japanese lady walked around while some ballerina kind of dancers flitted about on stage. The actual hand-over-the-Olympic-flag ceremony was pretty cool, though. And they showed the actual men’s hockey team gold medal ceremony. Go, USA!

‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭16‬:‭11‬ says, Search for the Lord and for His strength; seek His face always.

Father, be with Dale and Debbie. Bless them and give them wisdom about retiring. Amen. 

February 22 - “Misdirection”

I had to make a quick dash back over to H&R Block yesterday. They are handling the income tax filing for Sam’s estate. Why? I received another form in the mail that was apparently part of the packet of financial info I already turned over. Not sure what took them so long. And I had no idea it was coming anyway. My advisor won’t be back until Monday, so I had to trust the receptionist to get it to her. 

I got back just in time to head for Ezra’s football game in League City. He’s on a team with some six-year-olds, so it’s hard to keep them focused (very frustrating to Coach Kel). Jachin (assistant coach) said it’s like herding cats. And to make matters worse, the team they were playing towered over them by at least a head or two. 

We did have one play that made the whole morning worthwhile. Ezra went out for a pass. He turned toward the quarterback , pointed across the field, and shouted, “He’s open! Throw it to him!” The defense bit hook, line, and sinker. They all shifted that way. The quarterback gave a casual glance that direction, then tossed out to Ezra. He made a big gain after the catch. What a misdirection. Proud of those little guys!

After lunch I decided I didn’t want to wade through our lawn weeds to search for the newspaper any more. Time to mow. Yep. In February. It was so thick - and even wet underneath - that I had to mow over every patch twice. That is … tiring. Chris made me stop without weedeating. I didn’t argue. 

‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭6‬ says, Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Father, help those little football guys remember to just have fun. Amen. 

February 21 - “A flustered Australian”

Got in a quick walk. Two miles. A little faster than usual, so I guess that’s progress. We were joking about how we have two weeks to get in shape for the cruise. And then Chris remembered that we signed up for a beginners’ pickleball class. That’ll be interesting, for sure. 

I had an interesting development come up after lunch. For some insane reason one of my hearing aids decided to … stop. That’s it. Just stop. No sound at all. Not a helpful position for a hearing aid to take, wouldn’t you agree? Sigh. See you next week, O thou tool of my ear. 

We stopped on the way home at Randall’s to get a prescription and some gas. From there we went to CVS to get a vitamin for Chris that is only sold there. 

But it was on our way out that we had our fun experience of the day. A very flustered lady was frantically typing into her phone when we entered. When we came out she was still there. She apologetically asked if we could possibly help her. She had been trying to explain to an Uber driver where she was, and was having no luck at all. She just needed someone to tell the driver how to find her. 

Well, instead of going to all that trouble, we eliminated the middle man and offered to take her where she needed to go. She accepted in her heavily accented way. We found out she was from Australia, in town to meet her daughter who works on a cruise ship (as Cat in the Hat!) and join her on a cruise. An Uber had taken her to Walmart, and she had wandered to CVS searching for a WiFi signal. In her words, we were her “angels” for giving her a ride. She promised to pay it forward when she got back from the cruise. So if a very nice Australian lady offers you a ride in a week or two … she’s OK. 

‭‭Acts‬ ‭20‬:‭24‬ says, But I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.

Father, be with our cruise lady friend. Help her enjoy her time with her daughter. Amen. 

February 20 - “Apps and gold”

We had quite the full morning, and we never left the house. We both switched into cruise preparation mode. We enrolled in one of those Facebook groups for people going on this transatlantic cruise. It’s fun to see what other people are thinking and wondering about. 

We also downloaded the app for the airline we’ll be on coming home from Spain. We took care of some of the details about flight information and pre-registration. Now we can see our seat assignments and keep watch on any changes that might happen. And in a week or so we can even choose what we want for our in-flight meal. 

After some lunch we turned on the Winter Olympics to watch the women’s figure skating. The U.S. girl who messed up on her first skate did amazing on her second try. Skyrocketed her into first place for a while, anyway. She ended up fifth, but one of the other Americans won gold. And speaking of gold … the American girls’ hockey team beat Canada in overtime to win that gold. Woohoo! Go U.S.

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭11‬ says, No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Father, thank you for the encouragement of the other cruisers on that Facebook page. Amen. 

February 19 - “Ash Wednesday”

Well, I’m excited anyway. We did some walking again. Got our two miles in without much stress. Check. 

Chris worked out in the back yard for a while. She has been chomping at the bit to get out there. Not that she was able to do a lot, but there are now fewer dead leaves and branches than there were when she started. 

Last night was the Ash Wednesday service at Seaside. I’ve been leading that for 20 plus years, so Kel asked me to do it again. The teaching is essentially the same. What is the history and meaning of Ash Wednesday and Mardi Gras? The litany part is exactly the same (well, the same as when I updated the old Episcopalian version). We also did communion and the administration of ashes. It is certainly an experience not common to the average everyday Baptist. There were numerous folk who had not been to the service before, and I received a lot of positive comments.

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬ says, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Father, be with those who experienced Ash Wednesday for the first time. Amen. 

February 18 - “Good ol’ treadmill”

I had the early doc appointment yesterday. 8:00 in the am. Of course, Doc didn’t come in until 8:15, but I think I saved him some time. In a nutshell, he said I had “a clean bill of health.” He recommended a few vitamins (he’s a big natural healing guy as well). 

Next was Chris’ turn. Her appointment was a tad more involved than mine. She had to undergo another stress test on the good ol’ treadmill. They asked if I wanted to go back with her, but I passed on the privilege. I stayed in the waiting room and read and I did a little praying. And I have to confess, there may or may not have been some pacing involved - especially after an hour passed.  Stress tests are not Chris’ favorite thing in the world. Mine either. 

As it turned out, the doc back there didn’t “see anything immediately distressing.” Guess that sounds good? Now we wait for her cardiologist to look at the pictures and numbers and decide what’s next. 

The early afternoon brought naps mixed with a smattering of Winter Olympics, followed by homemade vegetable soup that Chris made. That’s one good afternoon. 

We watched some basketball last night. Texas did well. Baylor, not so much. I started the Texas tech game, but that was too late for me. Found out this morning they lost too - to an unranked  team. Ouch. 

‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬ says, For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord’s glory, as the waters cover the sea.

Father, thank you for the good results in Chris’ test. Amen. 

February 17 - “A Pancho’s novice”

Chris took off early yesterday. Well, not “early” early. She had to be at the church by 10:15 for her weightlifting class. I stayed behind to work on some things I needed to get done before our next cruise. And I did get a lot done. Even got things ready for the Ash Wednesday service. 

I got a text from Josh. Seems that Luke experienced a first in his young life. Pancho’s. Yep. Raised the flag and everything. And from the looks of the photos they sent, he liked it. Well, at least some of it. Especially the sopapillas. Sigh. I’m just pining a little here. 

We battled the ennui with a trip to Walmart. We were out of a lot of things from clear back to our cruise, so there was some catching up to do. And of all things for them to be out of? No distilled water for Chris’ C-PAP machine. But all is well. We found some at Randall’s. 

Last night we took in some college basketball. Didn’t get enough of the old round ball last week. Had to cheer on University of Houston against Iowa State. Guess we should have gone on to bed. UH lost by 3. 

‭‭2 John‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ says, And this is love: that we walk according to His commands. This is the command as you have heard it from the beginning: you must walk in love.

Father, thank you for this pretty good weather. I like it better than the cold version. Amen. 

February 16 - “A date??”

We stuck around after church for the third Sunday dinner on the grounds event. As a a result we had a chance to chat with one of the two visiting couples. One couple was from Georgia. They were really sweet. The one we talked to at length was from Houston, but had a house in Galveston. They really enjoyed their visit, and they definitely plan to be back. Great folks. 

After lunch, Chris went with Christina and Noa to get the latter a new dress. Why? Seems 12 year old Noa has a date. For a dance, no less. But never fear. It’s a Daddy-Daughter dance. Made course that means she’ll be dancing the night away with Kel. Have fun, Noa. You too, Daddy. 

Last night we had a blast from the past visit. Our friends Anne and Eric and Cedric and Donna, along with a friend of theirs, stopped by to say hi. They live in the Austin area now. Just enjoying Galveston for a day or two. 

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭23‬:‭24‬ says, The father of a righteous son will rejoice greatly, and one who fathers a wise son will delight in him.

Father, give the Geswender clan a safe trip back home. Amen. 

February 15 - “Valentines Victory”

Breakfast at the hotel was a lot quieter. All of the four girls softball teams checked out before 8 to get to their last games. As I said … a lot quieter 

The finals of the basketball tournament were not held in Bryan like the rest of the games. All three final games (girls, boys division 2, and our championship game, boys division 1) were played at none other than Snook High School in Snook, Texas. Yeah. I never heard of it either. It’s a small town roughly southeast of College Station. 

Wow! What a defensive battle that championship game was. The Texas Wind (good guys) scored just enough, then played the absolute best defense in have ever seen in a high school game. And it was like our boys were playing a home game. The stands were packed with Texas Wind families as well as the other teams we played against. They were all cheering wildly for us the whole time. It was absolute madness. So much so that the coach asked the fans (who had stormed the court after the game) to return to the stands for a photo op with the team and the trophy in front. As an ex-coach, I understand how much of a difference a highly-partisan raucous cloud can make. Thanks to all for making the drive. You made a difference. 

Check out the scoring breakdown beginning at halftime:

19-6 at halftime

24-6 at the end of the third quarter (6 points given up in three full quarters!)

29-22 at the game’s end (that’s with the uncontested three pointer they made at the buzzer) 

Our guys really played their hearts out. I think they’re gonna be sore this morning. Proud of you, Seahawks. And especially Caleb, of course. He spearheaded the suffocating defense. That’s my grandson. 

We didn’t stay for the all star games. Three of our girls and three guys were on their respective teams. Nice job to all of them for the recognition they received. 

We did get invited to join the team post-game celebration. That was held at the nearest Chick-fil-A in College Station. And it was pouring. Raining cats and dogs. Torrential downpour. And I got a message on my phone that Galveston was under a tornado watch until 9 pm. Of course. We decided to give it a try, and if it got too bad we could pull off and get a hotel room. 

We finally got on the road home around four. The rain was coming down hard, but we eventually outdistanced it. We made it as far a Buc-ees by 5. We got some gas, raced inside to the bathroom, and raced back … into a driving rainstorm. It caught us. 

We switched out drivers, and I took the final shift home. It took us until well into downtown Houston to get a little ahead of the storm. The rain finally stopped completely somewhere just south of Houston. We made it home, and with the help of our neighbors, Corey and Janell, got everything inside before the rain caught up with us again. Phew. Missed us by that much. 

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭10‬ says, Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Father, thank you for watching over the boys and girls in their games. Sons of them got pretty physical. But no apparent terrible injuries. Amen.