October 21 – “A Real Pirate Ship”

I took today off from school to spend the day with Josh and Christi and Zak and Caleb.  They were only going to be here today.  This morning we headed over to see the Elissa.  We almost didn't.  Josh checked the internet site and saw that the ship had sailed to Corpus Christi.  I remembered the regatta was last week, so it sounded reasonable to me.  But when he double-checked it, we found out that he was reading an article from 2007.  We got into the gift shop to buy our tickets about five minutes before the first wave of rain hit.  It actually went by fairly quickly, though, so we boarded ship during a light sprinkle.  Zakary was great.  He couldn't believe we were getting on a real live pirate ship.  He is planning to dress like a pirate on Halloween, so this was quite a treat for him.   We had to choose somewhere other than Luby's for lunch, so we went to the Spot.  Even Zakary commented on how loud the music was.  He and I did have fun pretending after we ate.  The dining room became our … you guessed it! … our pirate ship.  He would go to each window and check the waves.  The air conditioning condenser unit became the ship's engine.  His favorite place was the window facing the beach.  That made it seem really real.    After a rest time, all the cousins descended on the house.  For the rest of the afternoon chaos prevailed at the Vaughan house.  The boys were running constantly around and around and squealing and laughing.  Cailyn wouldn't go far from her Mom.  She couldn't figure those boys out.  I fried a batch of fish for supper, and the wildness finally settled down around 8 or so.    Josh had his laptop with him, so I tried to make it easier for him to connect to the internet by changing something in the way the wireless works on my dsl.  Bad decision.  To make a long story short, now we don't have internet service at all, and the software that operates our air card is not there anymore.  Computers can do strange things.  I called tech support and the best they could do was tell me we needed to switch to a slower bandwith because we must be too far away from the nearest signal.  Doesn't make much sense to me.  OK, Geek squad, help me.   Psalms 36:7-9 says, "How priceless is your unfailing love!  Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.  8 They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights.   9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light."   Father, cover me with your light so that is all I can see.  I'm tired of the dark.  Amen.

October 20 – “Be Quiet”

We had an interesting evening..  I worked on the sermon last night until around eleven.  As I was closing up the house and getting ready for bed, I noticed out the front window an unusual flickering of light.  I opened the door and saw that a car's headlights were pointed in our direction and were not moving.  And that flickering light appeared to be a person with a flashlight walking around in our neighbor's yard (The condemned house).  As I leaned around the corner I heard a lady's voice, "Can I help you?"  I responded rather quickly, "I was just coming outside to ask you the same question."  She entered into the light where I could see her.  She was a police officer.  She said our neighbor's front door was open and she had just gone inside to check it out.  I told her the house was abandoned and if anyone was inside, they were probably dead by now.  She immediately radioed that whoever was coming to back her up could forget it.  As she left she told me, "You're being a good neighbor, watching out for their house like that."  I told her she was doing a great job as well.  Nice way to head for bed, all safe and cozy.   I had a first today at school..  A four-year-old was brought to the principal's office for time out.  He crawled up in one of the chairs in my office and as soon as the teacher left he started talking.  He didn't stop for twenty minutes.  He told me in a progressively louder and louder voice that what he had said that got him in trouble was, "Be quiet.  Be quiet!  BE QUIET!"  By that last one he was screaming.  It was all I could do to keep from laughing.  He agreed that he was not the one to say "Be quiet."  He promised to tell his teacher he was sorry and to say "Yes, Ma'am," when she asked him to do something.   On my way to school I prayed the prayer I have been praying for weeks now, "Lord, please send us a headmaster."  Not long after the four-year-old incident, the high schoolers came and told me there was a man out on the porch.  I went outside and greeted him.  He said he was working as an assistant pastor at one of the local churches, and lived in one of the subdivisions near Seaside.  He had seen the ad in the paper and wanted to stop by and see if this might be a place God might want him to work.  We talked for awhile, and he revealed his interest.  He moved here from Colorado where he had been … headmaster at a Christian school.  Not only that, he also taught math.  The two things we need.  Imagine that.  He came in and we talked for a long time.  I introduced him around, and gave him a quick tour.  He took an application and said he would return it tomorrow.  Could this be an answer to prayer?  Maybe.    Josh and Christi and Zakary and Caleb came in tonight.  They will just be here tomorrow, but it will be good to see them for however long they can be here.  Christina brought her boys over, and Nathan and April and Cailyn came, too.  It was "Cousin Heaven" here for a few hours.    2 Peter 3:13 says, "But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness."   Father, if your new heaven is anything like the joy I saw on the faces of the cousins tonight, I sure am looking forward to it.  Amen.

October 19 – “Cookies”

My hands and left elbow are still pretty sore today.  I sure hope this wave goes away soon.  It has gone beyond annoying again.  Now the pain has begun to consume my thoughts and make it hard to concentrate.  My appointment with the rheumatologist is November 2nd.  I guess I'll have to make it.   I had another frustration at school today.  The kids were really great.  They are getting better and better.  But one of the teachers didn't show up today and didn't call.  It was one of the volunteers, so there's nothing I can do about it.  But now I have to develop a contingency plan in case she does it again or doesn't want to come back at all.  During that class today the kids played Monopoly.  That worked pretty well for most of them.  I really don't know what to do.       We have been receiving calls about the teaching positions.  Several today were interested in elementary.  We have two or three possibilities for headmaster, but so far only one resume has been returned.  I'm praying several of the others will get their application back in so we can have a choice.  The guy who sent his resume used to work with my uncle.  I asked about him, and my uncle said he was a really hard worker.  I know that doesn't help much.  I guess we'll have to wait for an interview.    I talked to Chris.  We were texting back and forth and I kept getting ahead of her.  She decided it would be easier to talk.  That was great by me.  Her Mom had chemo today, and her Dad has an appointment tomorrow, so I won't get to see her until tomorrow night.  She told me to ask Mom if she ate anything today.  I asked.  Ensure and some cookies.  We went to McAlisters Deli.  We both had a good meal.  And of course, a chocolate chip cookie for dessert.    Luke 24:36-39 says, "While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, 'Peace be with you.' 37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, 'Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.'"   Father, I admit I am troubled.  Let me see you.  Amen.

October 18 – “A Bad Hand Day”

Today was a bad hand day for me.  They started springing up every couple of days or so since about August.  Some days I dread shaking hands with people.  Today was close to that bad.  Every joint in my hand aches.  My knuckles swell up.  I have been afraid to wear my wedding ring because of that one.  My wrists hurt, too, so I unconsciously try to protect them by putting my hands in my pockets or by holding them up against my body.  I didn't know I was doing that until Chris told me.    Speaking of Chris, she left this afternoon for another round of Bay City doctor appointments.  Her Mom's is in the morning.  Her Dad's was supposed to be in the afternoon, but they switched it to Tuesday.  Chris is pretty upset about that, because this is supposed to be his surgery followup visit.  He's already been to the emergency room since his surgery, and his surgeon still hasn't seen him.  Chris is supposed to come home Tuesday afternoon in time for Jachin's soccer game.   Church this morning went pretty well.  We started late, but everybody seemed to be following the teaching and not falling asleep.  One single man who has been visiting for awhile said he wanted to join up.  He actually already has as far as participation is concerned.  He brought some ribs for dinner on the grounds, and he helped set up and clean up.   Matthew 11:28-30 says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."   Father, once again, I just needed to hear that today.  Rest.  Gentle.  Easy.  Light.  Amen.

October 17 – “Skimming on the Wall”

I finally got a teaching ready for tomorrow.  Another one on David and his conquests.  This time it's more expository than story-telling.  Let's see if it's the one God wants to use. A bunch of the Seaside students came by.  I think there were ten or eleven of them.  They were doing a fundraiser.  A guy in the church was paying them to put business cards on people's doors.  One of the territories was our neighborhood.   Chris put me to work in the yellow bedroom.  We hung two shelves.  She wanted to display some of the memorabilia from our sons' careers.  She managed to get some pictures and trophies and other odds and ends up there.  Then she decided to hang up Nathan's old skimboard.  We had it on the wall of his bedroom back before the storm.  We looked at some old photos to see where to put the supports.  I had some trouble with the screws, though.  I pretended that I was three or four years old and slapped at it.  Sure enough, it skimmed right off the supports.  I had to replace screws three times, and each time I had to use a progressively larger one of those sheetrock hanger things that you hammer into the wall.  We were on a roll then.  We went ahead and hung up a picture in Mom's room as well.  It's a painting of her house across the street.  She seemed pretty excited to have it up.   I tried several time to do something outside, since the weather was so nice.  I painted a little, and cleaned up some back yard stuff, and even started to organize the garage.  Every time I went outside, though, I eventually got hit by allergies really bad and had to come inside.  I feel like I got hit by a train.   Mom was into football today.  We watched some of Texas vs. Oklahoma and Tech vs. Nebraska, and then we saw the last 40 seconds of the Miami vs. Arkansas game.    Kel called as we finished up supper.  Christina wanted to know if we had enough old newspapers to crumble up and fill up a garbage bag.  Chris' answer was, "What size garbage bag."  They are supposed to come over later and pick them up.   Isaiah 40:11 says, "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young."   Father, let me be one of those lambs.  Amen.

October 16 – “Spare Time Project”

Nothing very exciting happened at school today.  It was Friday – Subway Lunch Day – so the kids were glad for that.  The Bible and PE teacher both called in that they couldn't come.  The Bible teacher had a video for them to watch.  I had them help me clean up as PE, then let them leave early.  They didn't mind that, either..   Chris and I went to Home Depot this afternoon.  We picked up some boards so she could put up some shelves in one bedroom and over the TV.  One will be painter white and the other stained to match the hunk of furniture that the TV is sitting on.  Yet another "spare time project."  I'll never get to be a part of that one.   Jachin has another soccer game tonight, so we are planning to head over there after supper.  I don't know if they can beat the "cute factor" from last night.  I can't wait to find out.   We may go over to their house after the game.  Not to relax and enjoy the grandkids or anything.  Just to borrow the lawn mower, and maybe the gas weedeater they just had fixed.  Their neighbor fixed it for them.  He added gas.  I think I have some gas.  Maybe it'll work for me, too.   Nathan and April apparently spent some time over here today.  They used the computer this morning, then brought some stuff to store in our attic this afternoon.  I wasn't here either time, so I missed seeing Cailyn.  It's all a plot against me to keep me from learning how to most effectively spoil all the young female children related to me.  She needs me.   Matthew 6:8 says, "Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."   Father, you know I don't know what you want me to say Sunday morning.  Do I need to know?  Apparently not yet.  Help me to wait on you.  Amen.

October 15 – “Jachin’s Team Won”

The new newspaper ad for teachers and a headmaster at Seaside Christian Academy came out today.  I really had high hopes for it.  Well, we have only had two responses so far.  One was interested in a junior high position.  But the other was a man interested in the "principal" position.  They made us call it principal rather than headmaster because head MASTER is sexist.  I don't know anything about him yet, because he just requested an application.  But I can hope..   The PE teacher couldn't be there again today.  Her husband let me know when he got there to teach his Art class right before hers.  I told him I would take care of it.  When the time came I had them all dress out and meet me on the porch outside.  I told them they had a choice of activities today.  First choice was the list I had in my pocket.  I read it to them.  Run the perimeter of the property.  Run sprints in the parking lot.  Jog the perimeter of the property.  I don't remember what all else I had on there.  By the time I finished their mouths were hanging open and they were formulating their excuses.  Then I quickly added, "Or we can all walk down to the beach."  Guess what won?  The beach is a nice place when it's not too hot.   When I got home Chris was babysitting with Cailyn.  Nathan and April were moving into a little larger apartment.  It was sure good to see her.  Then Chris snuck off to take a shower.  It took Cailyn about three minutes to realize she was gone.  She puckered up, grabbed her Elmo doll, and started on a toddler's trek to find Nani.  She only got as far as the kitchen before she finally gave up and turned back.  Elmo kept sabotaging her attempts to walk.  But when she turned back, good old DadDad was right there.  Since Mom or Dad or Nani weren't anywhere to be found, she decided to settle for the old man.  She crawled into my arms – with Elmo, of course – and snuggled in for the count (that would be the countdown until one of the Big Three showed up again).  We walked around the house a few times.  She finally decided that she liked two of my old carvings – the elephant and one of the dogs.  They even beat out Elmo.  They weren't a powerful enough attraction for us to sit on the floor and play with, though.  Nope.  "We must stand, DadDad.  We might miss the Arrival of one of Them if we're way down there on the floor."  Hey, DadDad happily took all the hugs he could get.  And it was a good thing.  As soon as Nani walked in, it was all over.  Girls.    I went to Jachin's soccer game this afternoon.  The other team didn't have quite enough players when the game began, so Jachin flipped his shirt around and played for them.  He loved it, because he never had to sit out.  He is quite the little athlete, too.  I saw him score a goal (would that be for or against his team?).  I also saw him knock a kid down with a slide tackle from behind.  Not something to laugh about.  It's a highly illegal maneuver.  But I couldn't help laughing when Coach Daddy, who was the king of illegal slide tackles from behind when he played, had to tell him that what he did was wrong.  He said something like, "That was a really good move, Jachin.  But it was really illegal.  But it was a good move.  Just don't do it again."  Talk about conflicted.  I also laughed when the other team's last player finally arrived.  Jachin didn't want to rejoin his team.  So the two coaches said, "Why not?" and kept playing.  They don't keep very close track of the score at these games (also tough for Kel - Mr. Competitive), so I don't know who had the most points.  But what did it matter, anyway.  If the team Jachin played for scored more, then Jachin's team won.  But if his real team scored more, then Jachin's team won.  So … Jachin's team won.  That's my grandson.   John 1:1 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."   Father, I wanted to read something simple tonight.  There it is.  Simple. But very complex at the same time.  That's my God.  Amen.