August 14 – “Happy Birthday to Me”

One thing about Facebook … I got more birthday greetings through Facebook this year than I have received birthday cards in years – maybe ever.   It was really nice to hear from each one.  Maybe someday I'll figure out how to do that Facebook App and return the favor.  In the meantime, if I have your address and know when your birthday is, I'll send you a card.  Thanks, Lanny.  You sent my only card this year.   This morning when Chris and I were talking she said she planned to cook a meatloaf tonight for supper – one of my favorites.  She asked what I wanted to do.  Well, in the back of my mind I remembered that yesterday she said that the only thing she wanted was for the house painting to be finished.  Actually she may have meant the whole house thing in general, but I was painting at the time.  So I answered, "I want to paint the trim."  Of course, I couldn't begin right away, because the house became a mini-construction zone today.  It's been a long time, but I remembered the feeling well.  The contractor's guys got here around 8:00, but they weren't sure what to do, so they waited for the contractor.  The painters got here about thirty minutes later, about the same time the contractor arrived.  Suddenly, they were all at work, touching up paint and hanging closet doors, and sanding stuff, and installing closet door tracks.  Chris and I finally went out in the backyard and installed some new screen in the eaves vents.    The crews all broke for lunch, but by the time they came back I decided to start painting, even if I was in their way.  I started in the back, because it was afternoon and Chris would probably have made me stay indoors if I had tried to start in the sun.  It was hot, but the Galveston breeze was back.  At some point in the day Nathan and Cailyn came over.  He decided to stick around and help with the painting.  It's always good to have one of my boys around helping me do stuff.  We talked a little – after all, we are guys, and guys never talk a lot.  I think we got a lot done, though.  He worked longer than I did.  Around four he told me I had to go inside and see my grandkids.  By that time Jachin and Micah had arrived for their sleepover with Nana and DadDad.    One of the most fun segments of the day was when Cailyn and I chased the boys around and around the house and we all got yelled at by Nana for running inside.  Some things never change.  It's just fun to run in the house when a little kid is squealing and laughing the whole time.  Multiply that by three and you have pure fun.  We ended up not even having meatloaf.  We some leftover pizza out of our freezer.   It was not the birthday I imagined.  But memorable, nevertheless.   Ephesians 3:20-21 says, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."   Father, thank you for my human being birthday gifts this year – my wife, my Mom, my sons, my daughters (in law), my grandkids, my Facebook well-wishers.  Amen.

August 13 – “Slow”

Days always go so slow when Chris is not around.  She left early this morning for Bay City to take her dad to a doctor's appointment in Houston.  Not that it's  something she's never done before.  She does it all the time with her mom's cancer treatments.  But it still makes time crawl.  I miss her.   I did some touch-up painting on the outside of the house.  There were a lot of little places where our scraper crew didn't get all the bubbles out of the old paint.  It looked fine, but the evil bubbles were still there.  I scraped as many as I could find yesterday and today, and then I painted the now-old new spots.  I also found some more places that I needed to caulk.  I thought I was finished with that.  Chris called while I was painting.  She said, "I'm here.  Are you drinking water?"  She knows me.  I forget to drink when I work, and then I get a bad headache.  Maybe when I grow up I'll learn.   Our contractor met the head paint guy here at the house to go over the final touch-up things.  The paint guy will be back tomorrow around 9:30.  The contractor and his crew will be here shortly after 7:30.  Whatever they have to do has to be done before the paint guys.  We're also waiting on a piece of the chimney to come in.  Guess we'll see them again soon as well.   I tried to follow Chris' admonition to do my computer work in the afternoon.  I'm almost done with the sermon.  The school stuff is never ending.  At least the initial curriculum order is in.  Last night Chris talked to another prospective student.  Sounds like I'll have to order some more eighth grade stuff.  The prospective headmaster is praying about the offer.  The school board is scrambling to creatively put together enough salary to hang on to this one.  She sure brings a lot to the table.  We'll see.  Soon, I hope.   I just took Mom to water exercise class, so it is really quiet here right now.  And how's this for a random jump?  When I got out of the truck I found a squished piece of silverware.  A fork.  Simeon & George H. Rogers Co. Stainless.  WooHoo.  Anybody hungry?   Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."   Father, old Simeon and George were proud enough of that fork to put their name on it.  I accepted your name on me.  I want you to be proud of me, too.  Amen.

August 12 – “The Butterfly”

OK, Galveston.  Everything is going to be all right.  Today I saw a butterfly.  But not just your plain, old, ordinary, garden-variety, all-white butterfly that has been hovering over Galveston for the last ten months.  Today I saw a black and yellow butterfly.  Honest to goodness colors.  Did Moody Gardens release some more Jurassic butterflies, or was this a naturally occurring event?  Either way, at least one colorful butterfly is back.  We're on the move.   Colossians 1:16 says, "For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him."   Father, thank you for creating that butterfly.  And for taking the time to paint him.  Amen.

August 11 – “The Curse”

The fireplace chimney is in.  At least all except one part of it that wasn't in the package when they opened it up.  It's a collar that fits around the pipe that is inside the house and helps seal the hole in the wall.  The fireplace lady made her guys put caulk in the hole so we wouldn't have any leaks until they could get the part in.    I tried to work on the sermon today.  Actually, I did get most of the research done.  I still need to compile it all into a bite sized morsel and come up with some applications that mean something to real people.    I did some Seaside Christian Academy work today, too.  I think I finally have a handle on the curriculum.  At least I know most of what to order.  If all the students would get their registration and book fees in, I would feel more assured about making the order tomorrow.    The school board met again tonight.  They decided to offer the headmaster position to the lady we interviewed the other day.  They also were trying to put together how much of the school's money we need to hold back to cover expenses for the year and how much we can release to help pay for the building.  The student handbook is finished.  The baseline staff handbook is in the board members' hands.  They will meet again next Tuesday to go through it.   I had a little time this afternoon to begin cleaning out the garage a little.  I managed to clear enough space to get the screens out of the house.  I couldn't pick up much, though.  Not only did my back hurt, but my elbow joints are aching now.  Is this the curse of the arthritic aged one?    Philippians 1:4-6 says, "In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."   Father, it's good to hear someone else has not finished a work he has started.  Amen.

August 10 – “Day Off”

I got my plans for today handed to me on a silver platter by Chris this morning.  She said I was not to do anything that remotely resembled work.  That meant no work for the church (so, no sermon preparation).  It meant no work for Seaside Christian Academy (so, no employee handbook or curriculum).  It meant no work around the house (so, no painting or cleaning out the garage).  It's been so long since I did that, I couldn't even fathom what it would be like.  And I sure didn't have any ideas of what to do.   I didn't feel good enough to argue.  My back still hurt.  But I did some back door maneuvering.  I spent the first part of the morning balancing the checkbook.  It took forever.  Not so much because it was so bad.  Mainly because I kept falling asleep.  I think I finally got it done.    The floor guy stopped by to check out the grout in the master shower.  It's cracking in places and turning very dark in others.  He's going to send over someone to take care of it.  Our contractor called to let us know that the fireplace lady will be here tomorrow to install the chimney.  What a thought.  By tomorrow night we could be making a fire.  And today we were under a severe heat advisory.  Maybe the fire can wait a few days.  Or months.   I watched two movies.  Well, I slept through the last one for sure.  I'm pretty sure I saw most of the first one.  Something about a dog actor who ends up a firehouse dog.  Cute.  The second one had Keanu Reeves in it, but he wasn't Neo.  He had long hair.   This afternoon I slipped off the wagon.  I went through the personnel manual for Seaside Christian Academy.  I got chewed out for that one, but we have a meeting tomorrow night.  And I already have a full day planned for tomorrow.  I had to do something.    Ephesians 5:15-16 says, "Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."   Father, thank you for the rest today.  My back still hurts.  Could you help me a little there?  Amen.

August 9 – “Oh, My Aching Back”

Church this morning held great promise.  I guess by definition, it always does.  Today was no exception.  I knew there would be a big crowd, because the group from Arlington was staying.  We also had a baptism, so that was a special treat.  Sure enough we had lots of folks.  Some new locals along with our usual summer visitor crowd.   We stuck around for lunch with the group from Arlington.  They brought in some Papa John's pizza and heated up some of the leftover food from their stay this week.  They then split up into several groups.  Some went to the beach for sun.  Some went to the Strand for ice cream.  Some went to Seawolf Park for culture.  We went home for a nap.    My back really hurt today.  It started when I woke up this morning around five.  It didn't bother me while I was teaching.  That's a God thing, though.  It rarely does.  But after I finished and sat down for awhile, it really started hurting again.   I know it's because I'm just really tired.  But I don't know when I'm going to have time to rest.    We interviewed another possible headmaster yesterday.  She sounds great to me.  Lots of experience with private Christian schools.  Can teach English.  Has a close friend who wants to teach math.  Very bubbly.  Seems to be a real people person.  And she radiates her faith in Jesus.  She is active in her Catholic church.  She wants very much to work in Galveston.  And my favorite thing about her … she understands that we are at a crossroads.  She has hope for the future.  For Seaside Chjristian Academy's future.  And for Galveston's future.  And for the West End's future.  If we hire her, I need to spend most of the next week filling her in on what I have found out about the administration of Seaside Christian Academy.  So much for time off.      We went for supper to Taco Cabana with Josh and Christi and Zak and Caleb and Kel and Christina and Micah and Jachin.  Oh, and all the people from Arlington.  It was their send-off meal.  They did a great job helping us this week.  Now we can get started of painting the trim and doing the touchup.  More work.  Woo Hoo.   Exodus 33:14 says, "The Lord replied, 'My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'"   Father, I am tired.  Amen.

August 8 – “It didn’t happen”

I went to bed around 11:30 last night.  I woke up this morning at 1:15.  And at 2:45. And at 3:50.  And at 5:30.  I finally got up at a little before six.  The work crew got here near seven, and we started right to work.  We were all a little excited.   Today we got to actually use paint.  And from the looks of things we were all a little extra tired as well.  I found out their reasons for tiredness sounded a lot more fun than mine.  They played Ultimate Frisbee on the beach.  In the dark.  With a glow in the dark Frisbee.  I was just tired from working all day on the house preparation.   They jumped right in with the blue paint and caulk.  I was removed from my caulking job not once, but twice.  They kept saying the old guy needed to sit down for awhile and watch.  Tough to do if you're the old guy and it's your house.   They finished two coats on the main part of the house, though. And a few of them skipped the trip to Schlitterbahn and began work on the trim.  Looks like we'll be finishing up the trim painting ourselves.  But they did so much for us, just doing the trim seems like not much.   This afternoon I had to sit in on another interview with a potential headmaster /principal.  It was up in LaMarque at a restaurant right on the freeway.  As I said before I didn't get much sleep last night.  I was really tired.  And it was afternoon.  And it was hot outside.  And the car was droning on and on as I drove on the freeway.  And the next thing I knew I was waking up.  And the car was on that little side part of the freeway just before you head into the grass that is planted at the foot of those poles that point to the next thing ahead.  And it was still moving.  Not nearly the speed limit, but quite fast at any rate.  Now I was awake.  In an instant I figured out that I was still a mile away from my exit, and that I probably shouldn't be taking an exit right now.  Somehow I also remembered that Ford Explorers are well known for their uncanny ability to roll over when pushed to the stress point on quick maneuvers.  It also entered my mind that I couldn't panic and swerve.  That would take away from me looking cool.  So I casually righted the front wheels, glanced over my shoulder, and reentered the freeway.  And I was wide awake.  And I was whispering to myself, "It didn't happen.  It didn't happen."   I have to put this one in here again.  Just for me, OK?  Jeremiah 29:11-14 says, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,' declares the Lord."    Father, thank you for all the "didn't happens" in my life.  Especially today.  Amen.