May 14 – “Here’s to Mobile Moms and Dads”

We had a visit yesterday from some old friends.  Well, they are much younger than us, but we have known them a long time.  They used to go to Seaside back when they lived on the Island, but they moved away some time ago to be nearer to her parents in East Texas somewhere.  Once they got established and secure in jobs, then her parents decided to move to Central Texas.  Gotta hand it to that mobile Mom and Dad.  My parents lived in Galveston their entire marriage career.  They did change houses a time or two.  Once to move into the apartment behind my grandparents.  Once to switch houses with them when us kids started coming, and once to move “way out west past 61^st Street” to where I grew up.   Chris and I lost count of how many times we moved.  Let’s see … Dorm, married student apartment, apartment closer to church, apartment in same complex after a fire, back to original apartment after repairs, our first house, rent house in Fort Worth, bought house in Fort Worth, brother’s house in Southwest Houston, rent house in inner-city Houston, rent house in Fort Worth again, bought house in Mansfield, rent house in Denver, Mom and Dad’s house in Galveston, the house we bought in Galveston, my brother’s house in Tiki Island we stayed in after Ike, the temporary house in Omega Bay that we stayed in after Ike, and finally back to our Galveston house.  By my count that’s eighteen moves.  Some were more stressful than others, but it sure has been good to stay put for a while.  Must be getting old.

Chris and Heather used the ensuing years to complete their education, have a baby, survive not one but two serious fires that destroyed their home and all their possessions, and now they are checking out job opportunities in Galveston County.  Chris has an interview today in Dickinson.  Heather has a degree in Biology, so she’s hoping to be some kind of “lab rat” over at UTMB.  That’s her words, not mine.  I told her the only other person I knew of who kind of fit that description ended up being a Physician’s Assistant, and she is doing quite well.  Hope you don’t mind that designation, Jennifer.  I really don’t have any idea what you did over there at UTMB, but I am proud of you for becoming a PA.  Heather seemed to be encouraged by the thought.  Sounded like she was keeping all her options open, though.  Anybody with a degree in Biology and Microbiology ought to be able to find a job somewhere.  Maybe she could get on with the restaurant inspection team.  I hear they find all sorts of critters …

Psalms 90:4 says, “For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.”

Father, walk with Chris through his interview today and with both of them as they look for your will about where to locate next.  Amen.

May 13 – “Sparring”

Welcome to holiday uncertainty at Seaside.  That’s the best way I can think of to describe our attendance on any holiday here in the resort capital of Southeast Texas.  This particular holiday was Mother’s Day, of course, and like all others, our attendance could have gone either way.  Would it be packed out with people bringing Mom to church so they can all dress up and make her happy?  Or would they let her sleep in and get an early start for one of the many Mother’s Day brunch specials offered around town?  It has gone both ways in the past and it is impossible to tell from year to year.  In our case this year it was the latter.  We topped out at 26, but they were some of the very best holiday worshippers we have had.  The singing was really good, thanks to Jim and Jimmy Stone and Cory Anderson.  And the children who participated in the kids’ sermon were great.  We had one family visiting from Copperas Cove.  They were staying at the Seaside condominium.  As they got acquainted with our own Temple-area exes, Ned and Nancy, another visitor arrived.  I introduced myself to him and realized that he was from Temple as well, and was even staying at the same condo for the weekend.  I interrupted the Temple old home week and got him plugged into that discussion as well.  It always amazes me how even with just a few folks, God brings the “right” few folks for everyone to feel connected to fellow believers.  Way to go, God.

I stopped on the way home and got some flowers for Mom.  She likes the bright colors, and is especially fond of pink.  That makes it easier for me, since I can’t tell the difference between shades of color anyway.  I found some that fit the bill and she seemed to really like them.  Chris got her phone calls from Josh and Kel, so she was happy.  April and Nathan and Cailyn came over later in the day.  Nathan and April sparred in the kitchen while fixing us some supper, so I had plenty of entertainment.  For some random reason April threw down the gauntlet before Nathan, challenging him early to a rematch of their legendary Christmas sack race.  Word has it that Nathan might have employed less-than legal tactics in his win.  As I recall, April did bite the dust in that one, “somehow” losing her balance mid race.  She assured him, however, that now that school was over she intended to be doing some serious training.  She also had another plan in mind.  It involved something about making sure he was well-fed between now and December.  She figured a few extra pounds might slow him down just enough.  I don’t want to say that the girl has some devious intent there, but …

Oh, and while all this scrapping was taking place in the kitchen, Chris was busy having a Nani Makeover from Cailyn.  Manicure, pedicure, hair curling with some kind of device.  I’m still not sure what all went into that process.  Chris came out of it with painted fingernails and toenails and a coat of makeup on her face.  Cailyn had on false fingernails that kept falling off.  Don’t remember our boys ever providing that sort of personal service for Mother’s Day.  I told Cailyn I was jealous and I wanted one of those makeovers next time she came over.  Her mother assured me she wouldn’t forget.  Uh-oh.  Any suggestions on toenail color? 

                          
Psalms 90:1-2 says, “Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.   Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”

Father, thank you again for my mother and for the time you have given me with her.  And thank you for the mother of my children and the mothers of my grandchildren.  Keep them all happy.  Amen.

May 12 – “Happy birthday, Josiah”

Well, let’s look at that agenda again.  Didn’t work out so well this time.  I did meet Nathan early on to get some tables for their graduation party.  Not a problem there at all.  But when I called the bride to let her know I was on my way, she struggled to get out, “Well, uh, I’ve been watching the weather reports.  It’s stopped raining here.  And the wind has stopped gusting.  And it’s supposed to clear off.  And it looks like it is clearing off.  And … and … I just don’t know what to do.”  Clearly not an ideal situation – a bride having to make a major decision about venue on the morning of her scheduled 1:30 wedding.  She finally determined that she would like to go for the outside spot.  I assured her that we could make a hasty retreat to the church if we were forced to.  As it turned out the weather was beautiful and the site they picked out was gorgeous as well.  Water in the background always adds the perfect touch as far as I’m concerned. 

I had the agenda situation well in hand when I arrived on site around one.  The wedding would take around fifteen minutes.  I could excuse myself rather quickly and swing by Nathan’s to see if Cailyn wanted to go to Josiah’s party that started at two in LaMarque.  Chris and Mom would already be there, so we could then all return to the graduation party and have a hamburger.  Perfect plan?  Indeed.  But I have been doing weddings long enough to know that there has never been a perfect wedding, at least not in my little segment of the history of man. 

Sure enough, as I pulled out the book I took with me just in case, there were three people present at one.  A few more arrived by the time 1:25 came around.  And right at 1:30, when I finally exited the truck, the groom walked up.  OK.  So this one would be a late starter.  Little did I know at the time what an incredible understatement that would prove to be.  I began to observe the comings and goings, and finally figured out that everyone was somehow connected to the house right next door.  They either lived there or had rented it for the weekend.  And that’s where the bride was.  1:45 came and went.  I watched the children play for a while, clad in their matching outfits.  2:00 came and went.  The best man and the husband of the photographer were struggling to get the music system to work properly.  A sit turned out, the CD they were using was really dirty.  After they cleaned it off the music sounded great.  2:15 came and went.  I began to hear shouts back and forth from the house to the people milling around under the pavilion.  The bride’s grandmother appeared, made her way down the stairs and over to where we waited.  She was my connection to the whole process.  She attends Seaside pretty regularly.  Here presence could only be a good thing.  2:30 came and went.  And finally the bell dropped.  The starter’s gun went off.  The green light appeared.  Or whatever other image you can think of that means “Let’s get this thing started.”  Official start time?  Let’s change that from 1:30 to 2:40.  Wonder which I should write on their marriage license when I fill it out?

We got them hitched and everyone was happy.  I never made it to Josiah’s party.  I went by Nathan’s and Cailyn was busy plating on the huge waterslide they rented.  She was happy to stay where she was.  I picked up their two dogs (a Boston Terrier and a boxer.  A big boxer), and ferried them to our house to spend the evening with Heidi and Fritz (our two dogs).  The boxer cracked me up.  As the terrier paced around trying to find a suitable spot to settle down, the boxer promptly sat down in Cailyn’s car seat and stayed there pretty much the whole way.  Very funny picture, but not many could see it.  Chris and Mom came by the house and picked me up so we could return to Nathan’s and grab that hamburger.  It was indeed a hectic day, and I completely missed Josiah’s party, so I decided to put his name in the title.  Seemed the least I could do.  I’ll put up an extra post about Mother’s Day, but for now … Happy birthday, Josiah.  Okay.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 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.”

Father, thank you that all our plans really don’t matter in the long run.  You are all we really need.  Amen.

May 11 – “In the beginning”

And the graduations have begun.  Yesterday we went to April’s nurse pinning ceremony in the afternoon, and then back for her graduation from Galveston College at 7:30.  One full day.  A good thing, though … we actually took Mom with us.  She stayed in her wheelchair the whole time and actually did pretty well.  She didn’t really know what was going on, but there was enough going on that she seemed to stay involved.  Kel and Christina brought the boys with them to the pinning, so she responded well to them, especially Josiah.  He’s too young to realize there is anything different about her, so he treats her just like he does anyone else.  Great lesson there, don’t you think?  There were several time when he sat in the chair next to her, hands on the arm of the wheelchair, and big ol’ eyes looking up at her with a sneaky little grin on his face, as if to say, “Let’s me and you take this classy vehicle out for a spin, shall we?”  Meanwhile Jachin and Micah and Cailyn were playing cards on the floor nearby, and Noa was enjoying a mid-afternoon snack. 

They didn’t come back for the graduation, and it’s probably a good thing they didn’t.  The place was packed.  I dropped Mom and Chris off at the elevator entrance of the parking garage, and I ended up parking across the street at Kroger’s.  That’s actually where I usually park for graduations and other events at the Convention Center.  It’s a lot easier to escape from than the parking garage.  As it was, when the ceremony was over, I still had to come back into the garage to pick up Mom and Chris.  As I began the turn I realized that there was a car exiting from the entrance.  Great. What a potential for calamity.  Fortunately I saw him soon enough to stop traffic so he could get out.  And the driver seemed completely oblivious to his mistake.  Of course he may have known exactly what he was doing, in which case he was probably chuckling at the sucker who stopped traffic so he could complete his getaway.  Ah, well.  People are funny, either way. 

Galveston College had its biggest graduation class ever, something over 500.  There were a few others whose names we recognized, but they didn’t all walk across the stage.  I think the police academy graduates are doing their thing next week.  We have a few Seasiders in that one – Cory and Sarah.  I haven’t scoped out when Ball High’s graduation is, but that will probably be in June sometime.  For the time being I’ll concentrate on the agenda for today … nine o’clock - open church for Nathan to get tables and for bride to set up for wedding that was supposed to be outside, wedding at one thirty, Josiah’s birthday party at two, then back to April’s graduation party that actually started at one.  OK.  Let’s begin …

Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Father, help me start every hectic day (and the non-hectic ones as well, if they ever happen) like that … in the beginning, God … Amen.

May 10 – “Nature attack”

Chris and I did some work out in the back yard yesterday.  She was putting mulch in the flower beds.  Guess she read somewhere that all you have to do to keep out weeds is put some newspapers down and cover it with mulch.  Guess those pesky weeds don’t like to read.  Problem was, about an hour after she finished she went outside and discovered that the dogs apparently do like to read.  They had uncovered the newspapers and strewn them all over the yard.  Just being helpful, I’m sure. 

I drew tree trimming duty.  I have a Brazilian pepper tree that I have been working on keeping shaped up.  It is actually in the vacant lot next door, but it is right up next to our fence, so I wanted to develop it into a bit of a shade tree.  Problem is that it is also right under the wires that run from the telephone/electrical pole to our house.  If the tree gets too tall it will obstruct the wires.  That’s been a challenge.  Of course said pole is doing its best to fall over right now, and the electric company has put it on the back burner since they installed their so called “temporary fix.”  Chris picked a point and measured its distance from the neighbor’s wood fence.  Maybe if we can give them some evidence that it is leaning more, then they will accelerate plans to replace it. 

Speaking of the vacant lot, I also attacked some of the trees over there.  One encroaches on our yard regularly, one is a random bush that I keep trimmed, and the other two are just two gigantic weeds that have grown into trees.  They probably have a name, and they are probably real trees of some kind, but I don’t remember them being there before the hurricane.  They don’t seem to have much of a canopy for providing shade or I would welcome their presence.  Ah, the plans we have had for that property.  It would great if we could buy it, but as far as we can tell, there is still no clear title. 

In honor of Betty Head, I did get the oleander bush over there free from the clutches of the evil demon devil weed that was wrapped around it.  I certainly didn’t get the nastiness eradicated completely, but for the time being the oleander can catch its breath.  I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that people pay good money for that weed in nurseries.  Anyone that wants it can come dig some up for free.  It is impossible to completely kill it.  It always lurks just under the surface, waiting for its chance to emerge and slowly consume its host.  Sounds like a bad sci-fi movie.  Or … sin.

Genesis 4:7 says, “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."

Father, when it feels like sin has slowly crept in and wrapped itself around every fiber of our being … help.  Amen.

May 9 – “Out of the box”

I tried to spend some time working on fire department stuff yesterday.  I have realized that it really should be a full-time job if it is to be done right.  I’m trying to put together a data file on each of the firefighters and staff so I can know who they are and what their family is like and ultimately the kinds of spiritual needs they or their family might have.  It would be helpful to have a picture of each guy and his family so I can learn to recognize them when I see them.  Maybe FaceBook can help a little with that.  I did get to go to the union meeting last night.  It was interesting to watch them try to hash out issues and be careful to maintain working relationships.  And it wasn’t all that unlike a church business meeting, actually.  Only ten or so guys were there discussing the business of the 120 or so in the union.  I think they did a pretty good job, though.  And it gave me some more specific things to pray about concerning the department.  Oh, and I finally got to wear my “chaplain shirt.”  Chris sewed on the Texas Corps of Chaplains patch.  Hopefully it won’t be long before the actual uniforms come in.

I got an email from a guy who visited Seaside Sunday.  He was in town from Abilene looking for a house to buy in Jamaica Beach so he could move here.  He is a pilot of an old biplane, and he was looking for a place where he would have more opportunities to fly for fun as well as a home base for doing overseas missions.  He loved the service, and “coincidentally” he met a couple in the church who have been trying to sell one of their two homes.  They connected.  He visited the house.  They close this weekend.  Coincidences like that sure make me smile.  They also make me more and more positive that not many coincidences are actually coincidences. 

I really enjoyed going to the movies with my oldest son Kel the other night.  I mowed the grass at his house here in Galveston that he is trying to sell, so he treated me to a movie and a wild cherry ice.  It is always good to spend time with my boys, but I have to confess that the genre of the movie contributed a great deal to my enjoyment.  It was that baseball flick, 42.  The one about Jackie Robinson getting into the major leagues.  Very well done.  And how can you beat Branch Rickey being played by Han Solo/Indiana Jones?  Sure fits, doesn’t it?  All adventurers, out-of-the-box thinkers, daredevils in their fields. 

Psalms 89:18 says, “Indeed, our shield belongs to the Lord, our king to the Holy One of Israel.”

Father, thank you for the shields of protection you have given us.  They have taken several forms over the years, but the important thing is that you are involved.  Stay involved.  Please.  Amen.

May 8 – “Staying out of the way”

Sports Center Report:

Jachin’s team lost 7-6 after a great comeback that tied the game at 5-5.  Their last-ditch rally in the bottom of the 6^th fell just short.  Jachin led the team in hitting, going three for three.  Falling behind in the count 0-2 in each of his at-bats, the left-hander adjusted his swing and rapped the ball the opposite way.  His last line shot to left turned into a three bagger with some daring baserunning that completely discombobulated the opposition.

I’m not sure who was awarded player of the game by Coach Dad, but this humble sportswriter and sometime official scorekeeper (not to mention proud Grandad) knows where it should go.  Nice game, Jachin.

On the home front reporter Chris weighs in with this eyewitness account of the interchange between Cailyn and Mom.  It was time for Mom to have her breakfast, and Cailyn was in one of her helper moods.  Cailyn pulled up a chair and some food for herself and joined her Great grandmother at the table.  The on-the-spot report I received via text message from Chris follows …

Chris: Been listening to the sweetest interchange between Cailyn and her MeeMaw!  Cailyn decided to eat breakfast with MeeMaw.  Then I heard:

Cailyn: “MeeMaw, we need to pray.”

She held out her hand and waited until MeeMaw joined hands.  Then she closed her eyes and prayed!  She said:
Cailyn: “Jesus, be with Aunt Christina’s baby so she’ll get all growed up so she can listen and do what she’s supposed to do.  Amen.”

A few seconds later the text continued …

Chris: She is now having seconds on cereal.  Of course, she has to pray again!  For Aunt Christina’s baby to be 4, and then 5 so “she can get big like me.”  Then she says, “In Jesus’ name Amen.”  She is on a roll!

My only response was then, and still is … Just Wow.

And to that, Chris responded, “Yep!  Just the two of them.  I am staying out of the way!”

Psalms 89:17 says, “For you are their glory and strength, and by your favor you exalt our horn.”

Father, I’m not sure what “exalting our horn” means, but you have certainly done a great work in our grandchildren.  Keep it up.  Amen.