May 14 – “Rain”

I got a preview today of the big Seaside Rummage Sale.  It doesn't really start until nine in the morning, but the crew has been  hard at work doing pricing and sorting.  There is a lot of stuff.  Furniture, clothes, books, videos, cups, golf bags, beds (I guess that counts with the furniture, doesn't it?), coolers … all the usual garage sale goodies, only lots of it.  One guy is going to grill hot dogs and I think there will also be face painting for the kids.  Sounds like a lot of fun.  I have to officiate a wedding at the San Luis Hotel at eleven o'clock – right in the middle of everything.    We had a two hour window of opportunity for outside work this afternoon, so we started the project of re-leveling our back patio.  It is made primarily of one foot square blocks of concrete.  The flood did a number on it, and in several places it was buckling up or sinking down.  We popped up a good portion of the blocks and got started re-setting them.  Chris made me stop before we could finish, though.  It was time for me to get ready for a wedding rehearsal.  I think she was being kind by saying that.  That way she didn't have to say I looked horrible or comment on why I dropped the shovel again.   Speaking of the wedding, they were really hoping it didn't rain this weekend.  The service is scheduled to be outside at the hotel's gazebo.  The ground was already getting a bit sloshy from the high humidity.   And then it rained.  For the first time since February or March.  And not just a little sprinkle, either.  It was a full blown thunderstorm.  And we weren't home.  We left the island around six to go to a graduation over in Texas.  It started drizzling on our way there.  The graduation was nice.  It was the daughter of some good friends back in my homeschool basketball coaching days.  We haven't seen them in a really long time, so it was great to do some catching up.  But when we left to come home, the bottom dropped out and it started coming down in buckets.  It rained pretty hard on the island, too.  Enough that Mom called her friend to talk to someone until we got home.  Lots of lightning and loud noise.  I guess the power went out briefly, too, because the computer had rebooted.  All in all it was a good day for our new grass and for our rehabilitating pecan tree.   Psalms 92:12 says, "The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon"   Father, we don't have a cedar tree, but our palm tree and pecan tree sure did need the drink you gave them today.  Amen.

May 13 – “Cousins and brothers”

I can hardly hear myself think.  We had Jachin and Micah last night and all day today.  Baby brother Josiah was due to come home this afternoon - and he did – but Kel and Christina didn't call about getting them back right away.  I think they took a nap or something.  Then April brought Cailyn over.  April was trying to finish up all her finals and get her grades together and talk to her professor.  She found out that she made a C in her hardest class, Anatomy and Physiology.  I was proud of her.  I know she really worked hard.   So we had all three of the grandkids all afternoon.  And it was rowdy.  Lots of fun, but loud and crazy.  On more than one occasion I was just about to take out my hearing aids.  But I didn't want to miss anything.  They were laughing and squealing and running and being cousins and brothers.    I worked on the sermon for Sunday as much as I could.  I also had to get started on the new Experiencing God study we're starting at Home Group tonight.  It's been several years since I taught it, and I found out that all the books have been updated and revised.  That means I have to start all over in my preparation for teaching it.  At this point I just hope I can get through tonight's introduction without falling asleep.   The new regimen of medications seems to help some as far as the pain is concerned.  But then the steroids helped last time as well.  I can feel the same steroid high, just not as pronounced.  I do sleep some.  My wrists and fingers are sore most of the time, and they are getting weak.  I dropped a glass today and it shattered all over the kitchen floor.  Not good when there are small barefoot children-type creatures running around.  The problem lately is staying focused when I have to something "intellectual."  Not that I was all that great at being intellectual before.  I find myself staring at the screen thinking of nothing in particular.  I could handle it better if I was daydreaming.  That would be fun.   I've had some great ideas while daydreaming.    Obadiah 15 says, "The day of the Lord is near for all nations.  As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head."   Father, your "Day" looks to be exciting.  And frightening.  And exhilarating.  Come on.  Amen.

May 12 – “Mickey Mantle”

So what has happened to Galveston since I was a kid?  I searched all over town for an individual hard plastic baseball card holder, and no one had any.  Are there no collectors?  Did they all move to Texas after Hurricane Ike?  Must I now drive into Texas myself to find a simple card holder?  Alas.   I have presented each of my grandchildren with a baseball card in honor of their birth.  To be more specific, a Mickey Mantle baseball card.  He happened to be one of those guys I had numerous cards of.  He was a great player.  Every kid wanted a Mantle card.  Hey.  Every kid wanted to be Mantle.  Besides, it was too hard to find Bob Aspromonte cards.  Mantle cards also happen to be pretty sought after among modern collectors.  I figured I had enough for each of my boys to have a kid or two.  We've hit six grandkids so far, and I'm not hearing sounds of letting up from any of them.  Bring 'em on.   Tonight was the night for Josiah to receive his Mickey Mantle.  We had to go to the hospital to pick up Jachin and Micah from their Aunt Jen.  They are staying with us now until Mom and Dad and Baby Brother get home.  Tomorrow afternoon, hopefully.  Soon as the final results of all his bloodwork come back.  So the pressure was on.  And no plastic card holder. But never fear, Pete Rose was here.  I remembered that I had a Pete Rose rookie card in a case.  And since his suspension from baseball for gambling, I figured it was time he was demoted.  At least until I can get to a Hobby Lobby to get another case.  Case closed.   2 Corinthians 9:15 says, "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"   Father, thank you for the great gift you have given Chris and I called grandchildren.  Nothing quite like them.  Amen.

May 11 – “No Cigar for Baby”

1:30 A.M.  Phone call comes from Kel.  "Can y'all come over and stay with the boys?  We are heading on to the hospital."  Of course we jump out of bed and hurry over.  Chris takes the couch.  I take both phones and head into the bedroom so she can sleep.   3:30 A.M.  Text from Kel comes.  "We are in an L & D room."   4:00 A.M.  Text from Kel comes.  "She is at a 4.  70%."   5:13 A.M.  Phone call from Christina.  "We have had a development.  Kel is in the emergency room.  My mom is with him.  I'm here by myself.  Can y'all come on up and bring the boys?"  I groggily reply, "Emergency room?"  She chuckles nervously, "Yes.  He went into the bathroom, and the next thing we heard was a loud crash.  He passed out and hit his head on the bathtub.  He was knocked out cold.  They took him to the emergency on a gurney."  (Kel told me later that they tried to do an MRI and a CT scan and all kinds of blood tests.  He refused them all and said, "Look, I have vaso-vagal synchope.  This happens all the time.  I have a headache.  I'll take some ibuprofen.  Now let me out of here so I can go back upstairs and watch my baby be born."  He finally convinced an ER doctor to let him go.).   6:10 A.M.  The boys are all loaded, we have gas in the car, we have stopped by our house so Chris and I could change clothes, and we are in the car, on our way to Texas to the hospital.   6:40 A.M.  We are in stop and go traffic near Hobby Airport.  Text comes from Kel.  "Water broke."  Wonder if his use of fewer words is a result of his brain shakeup?   7:20 A.M.  We arrive at St. Luke's Hospital.  As we walk across the  sky bridge we get a call from Kel.  "Aunt Jen will meet you in the waiting room to take the boys.  Tell Mom to hurry up and get up here.  This baby will be here in thirty minutes."  Chris takes off.  I call Aunt Jen, and she doesn't answer her phone.  No service inside.  I don't know which waiting room.  Me and the boys stop in the main lobby and sit down to wait.  I call Kel and he says he will try to track her down.  Soon Chris calls and says they can't find her.  They think she went to the McDonalds in the building, but we should come to the third floor waiting room.  We swing by the McDonalds and there is no sign of Aunt Jen, so we head for the purple elevators.  Sure enough, we enter the labor and delivery waiting room, and there is Aunt Jen … waiting.  She takes the boys off for an adventure in exploring the hospital.  I take the opportunity to catch a few winks.  8:15 A.M.  Christina's mom calls out, "Mr. Vaughan, would you like to come back now?"  Well, of course.  I hurry in and there is Kel, holding his brand new … son number three.  Josiah Cristian Vaughan was born at 7:56 A.M.  He weighed in at eight pounds, eleven ounces, and was 20 ¼ inches long.  Kel beamed as he introduced me.  He said, "Now we have a prophet (Micah), a priest (Jachin) and a king (Josiah).  We wanted a good king, and David just didn't work."   I got the privilege of holding the little man for awhile.  He was alert, with kind of dark hair, long eyelashes, and wide, interested eyes.  He was happy to be hanging out with DadDad, of course.  Jachin and Micah arrived shortly after with Aunt Jen.  They were great to watch with Josiah.  Jachin was the ever-cool oldest brother.  He jumped at the chance to hold him in his lap all by himself.  Micah was a little more cautious about the whole experience.  He didn't quite understand the new wardrobe Mommy was wearing.  He did finally crawl up in his Dad's lap and the two of them held Josiah together.  Someone asked Jachin and Micah, "What are you two older brothers planning to teach your little brother?"  Micah had an answer right away, "Flipovers.  And jumping."  Jachin was a bit more pensive, then added, "I'll show him Legos."  Then, remembering that babies shouldn't play with Legos because they may eat them - something that he learned from Mom babysitting cousin Cailyn – Jachin quickly said, "Well, maybe Duplos."   After things settled down a bit, Aunt Jen and the boys left to spend the night with their cousins in Houston.  Their car seats were in the car we drove, so Chris and I met them in McDonalds to make the swap.  They had stopped for a quick breakfast.  And there in McDonalds we saw a good friend from our college days, Tim.  He is now a pastor, and last summer he brought a group down to Seaside that led Vacation Bible School and did some work on our building for us.  One of his church members had a daughter undergoing heart surgery.  It was great to see him.   We finally convinced Kel to get something to eat.  It usually takes him a day or two to fully recover from his passing out episodes, and he was still feeling kind of woozy.  We went down to McDonalds and grabbed a sausage McMuffin.  Then he remembered that he had to go out to the car and get Christina's pillow.  We headed on while Art, Christina's Dad, stopped at the gift shop to get some flowers.  Before we went back upstairs I remembered that Kel needed something to give away to announce the birth.  I figured the gift shop had some of those bubble gum cigars that said "It's a Boy" on them.  So I went up to the volunteer working at the counter and asked if they had any.  The little lady was old-school Oriental, and had a very thick accent.  She looked horrified at me and said, "No.  No.  No.  No cigar for baby."  Ah.  Failure to communicate.  Language barrier and all that.  I tried again, "No.  Not a real cigar.  A bubble gum cigar."  After about a three count she let out a relieved sigh and said, "Ah.  Bubble gum on shelf right behind you."  Sure enough, there they were.  Except they had milk chocolate, fruity flavored gum, or bubble gum to choose from.  I asked Kel what he wanted, and he picked plain old bubble gum.  Great choice.  So I went to check out.  The same little volunteer rang it up and said, "$16.24."  Wanting to make this as simple as possible for her, I handed her a twenty, a one, and a quarter.  She smiled, took it, and looked long at it.  The same look of confusion returned to her face.  She handed me back the one and said, "Why give me this?  Is too much."  Trying hard not to chuckle out loud, I responded, "That's Ok.  Just keep what I gave you, and give me back a five dollar bill and a penny."  Again, confused, she entered the amount and pushed the total button, which of course showed that she owed me $5.01 in change.  The smile returned, and she happily handed it back, patted the box of bubble gum cigars, and warned me to be careful or I would spill my coffee.    The rest of the afternoon was fairly uneventful.  Josiah had his bath and his first blood test stick, but mostly he slept and ate.  And that's just what he was supposed to do.  Ain't life grand when you're four hours old?   Romans 6:4 says, "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."   Father, thank you for the new life we saw today in Josiah.  What a great picture.  New life … In Christ.  That's pretty grand, too.  Amen.

May 10 – “Things are progressing”

Christina had an appointment this morning with the midwife who is following her pregnancy.  They dropped off Jachin and Micah around 7:30.  They don't do inducing labor as a rule, but apparently there was some kind of procedure they were thinking about doing that could trigger labor.  So in the midst of our baseball and Legos and walking around with a child hanging onto each leg, we kept one ear attuned to the cell phones for some good news.   We thought the boys were well into some serious play after lunch.  Cailyn was here by that time so her Mom could take a test at school.  They were all gathered in the den floor playing with Nathan's old GI Joe's and Josh's old Legos and blocks and such.  Jachin and Micah had a running commentary going of the events surrounding the battle they were re-enacting.  I was on the floor in the hall just the other side of the couch, listening and trying to stay awake.  That's when I heard Jachin speak.  He randomly said, "Micah, next time we have a baby, I want to know what it is."  Ah.  So they were missing their Mom.  Now we had heard from them at that time.  They had been sent out to take their second walk, and "things were progressing," whatever that meant.  It looked like were in this for the long haul.    But Chris was supposed to leave for Bay City this afternoon sometime.  Her Mom has two appointments tomorrow, and her Dad has one Wednesday.  By 2:00 she was getting quite antsy, trying to decide if she should have her Mom postpone her appointments for a week.  That would give Chris an extra day to be around for the birth.  Then she called to check in and found out that one of the doctors had already canceled.  The other one agreed to postpone for a week.  The extra day was acquired.   The boys decided they wanted to send a message to their Mom.  Both of them said something along the lines of "I want my Mommy!"    While we were typing it in, we got a text from Christina.  They had given her the option of going to the hospital and having them break her water or coming home and wait a little longer to see what happened.  She opted to come home.  Her sons were happy until Jachin realized that meant no baby yet.  He asked me to text her back and say he'd rather see a baby.  She replied in that very best grammar of texting, "Me 2!"   Romans 12:1 says, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship."   Father, thank you that Christina has made her body a sacrifice to you.  That means the little one inside in already in your hands.  Amen.

May 9 – “Chubbs”

The Mother's Day crowd at church today was pretty slim.  And everybody there was someone who had been there at least once or twice before.  Felt like the family had just gathered for the morning.  Our worship pastor went to see his Mom in Waco, so our youth pastor put together s collection of music videos with the words to the songs built in.  The sermon was on how to honor your mother.  My favorite part was when I was talking about how your Mom was always hugging you and changing diapers and stuff.  Then I walked over to my son Nathan, licked my thumb and pretended to wipe dirt from his face.  Has your Mom ever done that?  Mine sure did.   This afternoon all our Galveston brood came over for crockpot roast and a bunch of rice.  I guess there was a vegetable or two somewhere around, probably corn and green beans.  That's our family staple that everyone will eat.  Nathan and April brought all their kids over.  Cailyn was in rare form, and Scooter spent the morning running the backyard with Fritz.  But the star of the show was their new little pug puppy.  His name is Chubbs.  Chubbs Vaughan.  That's what it says on the little tag he has on his collar.  And it fits.  He's still pretty little, so he did a lot of sleeping, but Cailyn thinks the world of him.  She sneak over to him, sit down next to him, and bend at the waist like a gymnast to give him a hug.  Jachin carried him around off and on.  Micah had the most fun when they had the little guy trapped up on the couch.  He wasn't about to jump down, so he played lick tag with them until it was time for his next nap.  Play and rest.  Play and rest.  What a life.   We did get in a few rounds of hitting the baseball out in the front yard.  Incredibly pregnant Christina, Chris and Mom all sat on the porch while the guys took turns hitting monster home runs and running the oddly-shaped basepaths.  To the concrete paver stone at about the middle of the garden – first base.  The to the neighbor's palm tree – second base.  To the new sycamore sapling – third base.  And back to the rectangle of new grass sod – home run.  It helped that we were inspired by the Astros come from behind victory in the bottom of the eleventh inning.  Watch out.  They are on the move.  Double digit victories.   Romans 8:26-27 says, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will."   Father, thank you for my wife and mother and the offspring you granted because of them.  Amen.

May 8 – “Grass Day”

Today was the day our pallet of grass was to be delivered.  It was also voting day for Galveston's mayor, city council, and a new football stadium for the high school.  We decided to head over to the polling place early so we would be done in time to focus on the grass when it arrived.  We just had to walk around the corner over to the little church in our neighborhood.  There was already a small line, but with only three things to read, it didn't take long.  I had trouble remembering how to operate the machine.  It was one of those with the little circle thing you turn around and around until your guy is highlighted.  I figured it out, though.  And I didn't even have to resort to reading the directions.   We got the call from the nursery not long after we got back home.  Their supplier couldn't make the delivery, so they had two of their guys load it by hand into a pickup, drive it over, and unload it, one square at a time.  So much for the nice, crisp, cube of grass we expected.  Instead we had more of a mound of sod in our driveway.  So we grabbed our rickety old wheelbarrow and got to work.  The tire on the wheelbarrow was almost flat, so we could only get seven pieces of grass at a time.  And even then it was really hard to push the silly thing.  It served us well after Ike, though, so Chris is wanting to retire it and use it as a planter.  Of course.  We already have one wheelbarrow-planter as well as a toilet-planter.  At least she was talking in terms of replacing the one already back there.  It's rusted bad, but that's where the bluebonnets randomly showed up this year.  Maybe they'll get a new home.   The backyard got a real makeover.  We took out about half of the concrete squares of the patio and replaced them with grass.  I think it made the yard look considerably bigger.  We did a patchwork job out in the front yard.  It already has a lot of good grass growing, both St. Augustine and Bermuda.  But it's green.  We just filled in where we put all that free dirt awhile back.    We had to quit in time to go to a funeral at Sacred Heart Catholic Church this afternoon.  A guy who used to live in the neighborhood died.  His wife was in Mom's card club.  I didn't know him well, but he did have some great fish stories.  The church was freezing cold inside.  I'm sure that was because they expected a lot of bodies, and there was a huge crowd.  But it stayed cold.  For an hour and fifteen minutes.  My hearing aid was making all kinds of random beeping sounds throughout the service, and the acoustics in that building make sound bounce all over the place, so I couldn't hear a lot of what was said.  One thing I did hear, though.  We exited the church to a resounding rendition of "The Eyes of Texas Are Upon You."  The guy was a huge University of Texas fan.   Mother's Day tomorrow.  Crockpot roast.  Lots of rice.  All the Galveston kids and grandkids are coming over.    Proverbs 23:25 says, "May your father and mother be glad; may she who gave you birth rejoice!"   Father, help me find ways to make my Mom glad.  I sure do appreciate what she did for me.  Amen.