February 21 – “Belgian Waffles”

I knew today was going to be interesting.  We went down to the continental breakfast at the hotel.  They had quite a spread.  Fruit.  Cereal.  Biscuits and gravy.  Pastries of all kinds.  And my favorite hotel breakfast of all time – Belgian waffles.  The kind you make yourself by pouring the stuff in a cup and onto the iron, closing the iron, turning it upside down for whatever reason, and waiting until the built-in timer counts down two minutes.  But this particular waffle iron was special.  It made waffles in the shape of the state of Texas.    We had some time to kill before they reception.  We both read some in the books we brought.  I watched the end of one of the Die Hard movies.  We went by and saw Cailyn for a few minutes.  Then we decided to take a drive and see the town.  How long could it take, after all.  I knew this was a small town.  And I knew it was an interesting one last night when we met one of April's uncles.  He was wearing short pants and cowboy boots.  Well, in our little drive we ended up in another town altogether – Aransas Pass.  And on the way we saw such inspiring business establishments as Good n Crisp Chicken, the Hot Rod Café, and a kayak shop called Soggy Bottoms.  Great names.  And, yes, they had a WalMart.  We stopped at a Whataburger for a chocolate malt.  As we were trying to back out of our parking space, the traffic in the parking lot picked up.  A guy standing at the bed of the truck parked next to us started directing traffic for me until we could pull out.  As we waved our thanks, his buddy reached into an ice chest and showed us … a huge speckled trout.  Had to be 28 or 30 inches.  That's going to be a great meal.   The reception was kind of fun.  We met more of April's family.  Aunts and uncles and cousins, and she had no idea who some of them were.  The invitation said the party started at 1 and went until 7 pm.  We couldn't figure out why so long, even with a full meal.  Which was great, by the way.  Well, around 3:00 I heard April's grandmother tell someone, "We have the place until 7.  That way when most of the people start to leave we can play 42."   The trip home was blissfully uneventful.  We stopped and had a hamburger in Bay City with Chris' folks.  By 8:00 we were back in Omega Bay.  I don't know who was happier for us to be home, me or Scooter.  Let's just say he didn't argue about going outside.   Great names.  Philippians 2:9-11 says of Jesus: "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."   Father, thank you for revealing a little more of what you are like by letting us hear your names.  Amen.

February 20 – “Being of Value”

Today's blog entry is pretty late.  Sorry.  We went out of town and I forgot to pick up the laptop.  But here we are.  Now if I can just get on the internet when I finish we'll be all set.   Before we left town we went to check out some living room furniture someone is giving us.  It is very nice.  Nathan and I will have to pick it up next week when we have the trucks and he's off work.   The trip was to Ingleside, Texas, a town near Corpus Christi.  April's grandparents were celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary with a big shindig, and they invited us.  Mom went to Houston to spend a week or so with Jay and Fran, so we decided to go.  We almost didn't get a room in little Ingleside, though.  Seems along with the wedding anniversary, someone else was having an 85th birthday party, and there was also a big family reunion.  Ingleside was hopping, and all the hotels rooms were filled.  We finally got word of a cancellation, though.   On the way there Chris drove.  She's awesome when it comes to driving.  I watched the movie Braveheart.  I was looking for a particular clip I could use in a sermon.  I ended up watching the whole thing.  It's a 2 hour and 50 minute movie.  Took me four hours.   After we checked into the hotel we went over to April's grandparents' house.  They live right on the bay, and Nathan talked me into going fishing off their pier.  Understand, he had to really twist my arm.  We didn't catch much.  A too-small spec and a piggy.  But it was good to hang out with Nathan.  And then April's uncle joined us.  He was hilarious.  He had a very dry humor, and he entertained us with fish story after fish story.  When he went inside, Nathan said, "You know, April said he likes me, but that is the most that guy has ever talked to me."  I think he was saying something about relationship there.   Speaking of relationship, this morning I read the story of Mary of Bethany pouring the oil on Jesus' head.  The disciples got mad.  But Jesus rebuked them and said in Mark 14:6, "She has done a good work for me."  It was a very rich gift and she did a very ordinary thing with it.  But turns out, it wasn't ordinary after all.  It showed flagrant, outrageous love.  It was not about what she did for him.  It was about who she was to him.  It's not about being of use to God.  It's about being of value to him.   Father, keep me focused on my relationship with you and not what I think I should be doing for you.  Amen.

February 19 – “Inside the walls”

Chris had to leave this morning for Bay City.  Her mom had another doctor's appointment in Houston, and Chris has become their unofficial chauffer.  Nathan and April and Cailyn left shortly after her.  They were heading to Corpus Christi for her grandparents' fiftieth wedding anniversary.  We're supposed to go to that, too.  But we don't plan to leave until tomorrow afternoon.  We have an appointment with the bathtub guy at 8:30 in the morning.  He's going to tell us if our tub is OK or if we need to add that purchase to our list.  At 10:00 we're supposed to pick up some prescriptions for Mom.  Then at 10:30 we have an appointment to see some furniture that someone has offered to give us.  So I guess sometime after that we'll head out.  My  brother is supposed to come pick up Mom to spend a week or so with them as soon as she calls.   After I taught A Seaside Christian Academy, I went by the house to check the mail.  Then I walked around looking at the new plumbing.   I am fascinated by all the stuff that's going to be inside the walls.  There was a little box in the wall for the washing machine connections.  There was also a new cleanout access on the outside of the wall for the washer.  That should make it easier to clear next time it gets stopped up.  I noticed some of that pipe insulation on the new pvc that runs near the outside walls.  Our old stuff sure didn't have that.  The gas lines had been run for the stove top.  There was a question about exactly where to put it the other day from the contractor.  It looks about centered on the wall.  That's where it looks like it should go to me.  I checked out the back yard water line.  It was still not hooked up.   Finally, I went up on roof to see the new holes for the hot water heater vent.  Actually, I went up there just because I could.  There's always something about the roof that appeals to the little boy in me.  Forbidden.  Dangerous.   While I was up there, the plumbers came back.  I saw their truck and ran to offer to move my truck out of their way.  They said they would only be a few minutes.  They were actually just checking to see if the inspector had been there yet.  Now that sounded like good news to me.  He asked about the gas line for the stovetop.  He said we should have about a 30 inch leeway – as long as it fits inside that lower cabinet we should be fine.  I asked him about the back yard line.  He said thanks for reminding him.  He just didn't have the right elbow piece yesterday.  He excused himself and went right over and fixed it up.  Then I told him I had never seen the insulation on the pipes near the wall.  He said the place pipes most often freeze is right at the elbow nearest outside wall.  Sounds like the man knows his stuff.   After they left I swept the floor.  I wanted it to look nice when Chris gets there in the morning.  I need to get a taller broom.  My back is sore now.   Hebrews 4:12-13 says, "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."   Father, it has been enlightening to see what is usually hidden beneath our walls.  It has helped me understand how incredibly merciful you are when you see all that is hidden beneath the walls I try to put up.

February 18 – “Spirit Food”

We heard from our contractor this morning – several times.  The plumber should be finished by the end of the week.  He's doing the gas lines now.  One holdup is we need to get a measurement from the cabinet guys so he'll know where to put the line for the stovetop.  That email has been sent.  The electrician is supposed to start at the end of this week.  The AC man is poised to begin when the electric guy is done.  The windows and patio door have been ordered and should be in next week.  The front door looks like it might be salvageable.  Not so much on the side door.  And Chris really wants a storm door in both places.  The garage door looks OK.  We just need to replace the opener and make sure no walls shifted (!!).  But it rolls up and down.  And with an opener, it should lock fine.  We can buy sheetrock and insulation locally.  The group from Arlington is definitely planning to hang the sheetrock.  We may need to get someone else to do the insulation, though.  All of that is supposed to be done before the cabinets are delivered the third or fourth week of March.  We may have to go to Houston to see some tile samples for the bathroom wall by the tub, the shower, and the kitchen backsplash.  Chris has already selected the floor tile and the wood floors.  Our contractor is focused on getting us into the house as soon as possible, even if it's not completely finished.  That's OK with us.   I heard from the church group in Brownwood.  They confirmed that they would be here the first weekend in March to convert our little storeroom at Seaside into showers.  They are also trying to get a team together to come down starting on the 9th to stay at Seaside and put a new roof on our house.  That will be great on both counts.    We got back home around 7:30.  It was good to see our little Cailyn.  We started right in comparing her with Caleb.  Wonder how long that will last.    Right now I'm pretty tired.  I know Chris is beat.  She drove the whole way.  And she has to drive to her mom's tomorrow to take her to Houston to the doctor.  We're supposed to go to Corpus Christi on Friday and come back Saturday.  Where's the chance to rest?  Not to mention get ready for teaching at school tomorrow and church Sunday.  I think I need a little spirit food.    Psalm 18:30-33 says, "As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless.  He is a shield for all who take refuge in him."   Father, thanks for being there with food when I need it.  Amen.

February 17 – “Cause to rejoice”

Today was actually one of those "we didn't do much of anything" days.  We stayed around the house, except for one quick trip to an Ace Hardware to check out cabinet pulls.  Chris found one she liked style-wise, but it didn't come in the color she wanted.  I'm not sure if that means back to square one or settle for the next one.  We'll see.  We got two emails from the Amish cabinet guys.  They had several detail questions after a phone call to the Amish family who would be making the cabinets.  Sounds like we might get some cabinets in the next month or two.    We heard from the folks who own the Omega Bay house.  They were wanting an update on when we might be back in our house.  They have had some questions from friends about use of the house.  I offered to go ahead and move out, but they were very gracious and insisted they did not want that.  These are some amazing people.  God is going to honor their sacrifice.  I just pray that it is in a way that knocks their socks off.   I got a phone call from a pastor who was interested in bringing a group down this summer to do some work.  He said they would have skilled people (electricians and plumbers) as well as "grunts."  I wish they could have come several months ago.    I kind of got chewed out by Chris today for working.  I spent quite a bit of time on the sermon this morning.  Then I tried to organize my disaster relief folder a bit.  That's when she got me.  I had piles of paper spread all over the floor.  I'll get to it some day I guess.   When I get to experience a day like today I kind of default back to Philippians.  There is so much in that book.  Check out Philippians 4:4-9: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."   Father, thank you for giving me cause to rejoice.  Help me to live it.  Amen.

February 16 – “Happy Birthday, Josh”

We are in Mansfield today.  It has been great to play with Zak and experience his youthful reckless exuberance.  That's another way of saying I lay on the floor and he jumps on top of me.  Then we roll around and wrestle a while.  Then ol' DadDad has to take a break.  A long break.  Then he's ready to start all over again.  That's what it means to be two years old.   Caleb is growing.  He has a lot of hair and in some light it has a bit of a red tint to it.  MeeMaw is happy about that.  He also has a favorite time to be awake.  Sometime between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m., he decides that it is time to be awake.  Wide awake.  And that usually means vocally awake as well.  He fusses and cries off and on for about two hours every night sometime during those time periods.  Then he goes to sleep and is fine for the rest of the night.  That's what it means to be five weeks old.   We made our usual visit to Panchos today.  Can't beat that TexMex all you can eat with those great sopapillas.  Glad I remembered my Zantac.  Mom loves it.  We miss it.    We stopped by Josh's church to perform a rescue operation.  Seems Zak had dropped a small toy down the leg of a chair support in their sanctuary.  Christi had an idea for the rescue.  She pieced together two wooden dowels and put a piece of chewed bubble gum on the end.  She hoped to fish it out by sticking it to the gum.  It stuck to the gum all right.  But the gum came off the dowel.  Every time they tried it.  Josh then tried turning a piece of masking tape inside out.  Still didn't work.  Even duct tape wasn't working.  Until I had the idea to tape a bent paper clip to the dowel and then put some duct tape sticky side out around it.  The concoction actually worked.  We rescued not only the small toy, but also most of the gum that had found its way down there.  A nasty, sticky mess, to be sure.   Tonight we had a little birthday party for Josh.   Nathan sent him a carbon monoxide detector.  That's what it means to be a fireman.  Nathan also helped me pick out what Chris and I got him.  It was one of those high falutin' academic theological dictionaries.  Nathan and I chose it.  Not because it was two or three inches thick, though.  We picked it because of the guy's name who wrote it.  Vanderhooven.  Now that's a name to wrap your arms around.  It just sound like a fun name to me.  Have no idea where it comes from.  Doesn't matter.  It's a cool name.  Vanderhooven.  Happy Birthday Josh.   Philippians 2:9-11 says, "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."   Father, thank you for the name my parents gave me.  I'm proud to be a Vaughan.  But thanks also for the name you have given me – "Forgiven."  Amen.

February 15 – “A God-at-work day”

Today was a God-at-work kind of day.  We went to church like any other Sunday.  That kind of talk I have to stop.  With God there's just no such thing as "any other" anything.  I forget that all the time.  Then I forget to expect things to happen.  Then it seems like a surprise to me when it does happen.  Then I feel foolish … again.   God brought a couple of guys from Michigan.  They actually live in San Antonio and are working here.  They were driving around looking for a place to go to church and almost missed Seaside.  They were really excited to find us.    And then there was the young couple who want to get married.  He's from a Catholic background and she's from a "nothing" background.  They are both believers and want to get into church so they can bring up their kids in the right way.  They'll be here every other weekend or so to work on the house they bought in Jamaica Beach.  They even brought a salad for dinner on the grounds.  They are ready to plug in when they are here.   One lady didn't get there until almost eleven.  She thought that's when we started.  She came on in though.  She told me after church that she would get here on time next time.  She also left a tithe check.    One big ol' guy also came in late.  He sat quietly in the back and left right away.  That's a God story in the making that I hope we get to see more of.    And then there was Sue.  She's been coming for awhile.  She decided after the storm that it was time for her granddaughter to be in church.  She has been here most Sundays ever since.  Today we were having a share time during the service and she wanted to know what she needed to do to join up.  Said she was ready to plug in here right now.  So we stopped right then.  I asked her about her personal relationship with Jesus, and she was happy to share about it.  We received her into the covenant community, and just as we were about to pray for her, she said, "Hey.  Maybe there's someone else who wants to join."  That's a spirit of hospitality I can't wait to spend more time getting to know.   After dinner on the grounds we took off for a day or two in Mansfield.  Mom has never seen Baby Caleb, and Nana and DadDad were dying to see how much he has changed in five weeks.  The trip went smoothly, and we arrived in plenty of time to romp around on the floor with Zak and watch MeeMaw hold little Caleb as he slept.   Psalm 9:1-2 says, "I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High."   Father, thank you for choosing many different ways to work around us.  It keeps us on our toes.  Amen.