November 14 – “Getting it done”

This outrageously cold weather (OK … it’s cold for a tropical island paradise) has caused us to look for things to do inside.  Our poor little island bodies simply can’t take being plummeted by 34 mile-an-hour winds that have dropped the wind chill to below freezing.  So aside from my usual hours spent in front of the computer, we actually turned our thoughts to the future.  Not the “Where will we live in retirement?” future.  I don’t think I’ll ever make it to retirement.  Too much to say.  Too much to do.  And not the “We’re gonna have a baby!” future.  I’m a lot like ol’ Abraham in that respect.  Even the thought is ludicrous, and even our kids appear to be done having babies.  At least I think they are done. 

No, we were more than happy to just look ahead about 67 days into the future.  That’s when we leave for our cruise to the Panama Canal Zone.  So yesterday we went on the cruise ship website and did all the early bird check-in stuff, down to printing out our luggage tags and boarding passes.  Chris immediately inserted them in her rapidly growing vacation file.  One more thing to check off …

Sadly, we couldn’t spend the entire day nestled inside in front of a computer screen.  Or even drinking hot chocolate and watching Winter Storm Meghan wreak havoc on a Hallmark movie.  We had to get outside and into the car and make the long drive into Texas.  This time we had to make a Sam’s run.  Seaside is responsible for providing drinks for the fundraiser this Saturday for Jamaica Beach police officer Kristin.  Word has it that 400 or so people are expected to attend.  That’s a lot of drinks.  And we weren’t about to drop the ball.  We heard last night that the non-profit group that was supposed to be helping organize the event has dropped the ball in a big way.  So much so that they have been completely cut loose by the police department.  Now none other than Seaside and Jamaica Beach Volunteer Fire Department Events Coordinator Lauren is stepping in to see that the event is carried through as planned (And, I might add, as advertised). 

So we piled the drinks on.  Cases of Coke and Sprite and Dr Pepper and some diet drinks (And yes, even a few Pepsi’s) as well as water were all piled onto our cart.  Lauren had added some hot dogs to the mix since she was now having to arrange for the food at the last minute.  Chris had a few things for us to pick up for the church as well.  I gotta say, we were beginning to get worried whether we could fit it all in our car.  I had to channel my old packing-a-moving-van, Tetris skills from many years ago, but with dropping the back seats down, we got it all in.  Chris could even see out the back window pretty well.  Of course as we headed back to the Island, it felt like we were driving uphill even before we reached the causeway.  We went straight to the church to get it all unloaded.  I know it’s not needed until Saturday, but poor ol’ Bessie (AKA Chris’ car) was already groaning under the load.  We unloaded them all for Lauren to pick up there at the church.  I think a few Seaside folk are also going to be bringing up a few more cases sometime before Saturday as well.  Looks like we’ll have it covered.  Check …

Nahum 1:7 says, “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble.  He cares for those who trust in him.”

Father, please be with Lauren as she scrambles to get everything together for this big community event on Saturday.  Amen.

November 13 – “one main constant …”

I would just like to point out a keen observation we have made.  After watching somewhere between eight and twelve Lifetime movies so far this holiday season, strictly for research purposes of course, we have discovered one main constant.  As unbelievable as it may sound, virtually all of these stories take place in the same year, over the exact same season.  It doesn’t matter when the movie was produced.  It doesn’t matter which stars are fumbling through their romantic interludes.  It doesn’t even matter if they are set in Utah, Maine, Oregon, or New York City.  They all have this one thing in common.  Are you ready for the big reveal?  Winter Storm Meghan.  Yep.  That pesky cold front is still making its way through the United States, and it has been since at least 2008 (the earliest movie we have seen so far). 

We watched one of the premier movies yesterday.  First time release.  And we heard this:

“Terrible storm headed this way ... Roads are treacherous … Airports are closed …”

We were on the edge of our seats.  Finally it came … “Winter Storm Meghan …”  I leapt from my chair and did a dance worthy of a World Series home run.  Hey … what can I say?  It doesn’t take much to excite me.

What’s that?  Will I continue to watch Lifetime and Hallmark movies?  Well … I DO have some more research to do.  This is quite the project, and I need all the data I can get.  Oh, I’ll save room for a college football game or two.  And some episodes of NCIS.  And college basketball is starting up.  Maybe even one pro football game.  We do host a Super Bowl party when that comes around.  But is the meantime, I’ll see who is falling in love with whom under the wintry blanket of snow left by … our dear friend Meghan.

Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

Father, please be with the Odom family as they continue their walk through the shadow of death.  Thank you that they are looking to you for comfort.  Amen.

November 12 – “B-B-B-B-Brrrrrrr”

We got in our three mile hike yesterday.  And as it turned out, that may be our only one this week.  Why?  Oh, it’s not because we are wimping out.  Well, maybe a little wimpage.  A little bit of that tropical island paradise wimpage.  It’s just that … well … last night it got cold around here.

In one thirty minute time span the temperature went from 70+ to 50.  That’s a huge drop, even for a South Texas Blue Norther.  And this morning it’s not even funny.  Temperature is hovering around 40 degrees.  Bearable.  Granted.  But we also have 35 mile per hour winds out of the north.  That somehow equates to a feel-like wind chill temperature of (drum roll here) 31 degrees.  For my friends who didn’t do well in elementary school science … that’s freezing!

I spent my day yesterday between buried in a computer screen and up to my elbows in birthday and anniversary cards.  In other words, a typical Monday workday.  We discovered that the article I do each week for the church website has had a basic flaw.  It could only be viewed on a computer screen.  Any mobile devices could only get a look at the very first page.  That was a real problem, because my article is the source of most of our information dissemination.  Well, other than our FaceBook page and emails and word of mouth, the latter of which (word of mouth) is always the most effective anyway.  Thanks to Lauren and Chris for pointing out the exact nature of the difficulty to me so we could put the issue into the hands of our incredible tech department ace, Jennifer.  And as always, Jennifer came through.  The problem, whatever it was (I wouldn’t understand it anyway) is now history.  Feel free to check out the website from your phones and mobile devices.  www.seasidefamily.org

Isaiah 54:10 says, “’Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed.’ Says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”

Father, thank you for super-techie people like our Jennifer who can understand the workings of these computer creations of man.  I marvel every time I use one at the complexity.  And then I think about the complexities of your creation … and I am stunned.  Amen.

November 11 – “Four in a row …”

Finished up the study on angels in church yesterday.  Always hard to tell how a series, albeit a brief one, has been received.  Hopefully it answered some questions for everybody.  Now I guess it’s back to 1 Peter …

After church we rushed home to change clothes and head out again.  Cailyn had two softball games in Santa Fe, and it looked like we would be able to see one of them if the timing was just right.  As it turned out, we arrived before the end of the first game, so we had a little unexpected bonus viewing time right off the bat.  Cailyn’s team won that game quite handily.  Her next game was scheduled after one other game in between.  But one of the teams set to play needed a few girls to fill in for them to make enough to play the game.  Cailyn and another girl from her team were asked to stick around and play again.  She jumped at the chance.  So two games in a row. 

Then her team returned for the third game in a row.  They won again against a little bit better pitcher than before.  That’s one thing about this league they are in.  If a pitcher walks three batters in a row, then the last girl to walk doesn’t get to walk.  She then has to try to hit a pitch thrown by her own coach.  If she had two strikes on her when the walk occurred, she only has one pitch to hit against the coach.  If she had one strike, then she had two pitches, and so on.  Very strange rule.  I mention it only because it came up so often in these three games. 

After this third game we found out that Cailyn had already been asked to join in with yet another game.  This one was a step up in play.  She has been in a 10 and under league.  This game, though, was against girls 12 and under.  So, better competition.  And they used a bigger softball.  And they played with regular rules, as far as I could tell.  It was so much more exciting to watch this one.  Cailyn was thrust into the fray of things, being put at third base.  She handled the position admirably.  She fielded cleanly the only ball hit to her.  And she beat out an infield hit on a slow dribbler near the plate.  Even knocked in a run on that one.  Sounds like she will be moving up to this team in the Spring.  I think she can handle it.

So, four games in a row.  I remember doing that sort of thing as a kid with baseball.  I even threw in a few fast pitch softball games back then as well.  And I was also thrust into the third base position.  It’s kind of scary, but I loved playing anywhere.  That’s my prayer for all our kiddos – that they play sports or do karate or twirl in a dance studio - because they really love it.

Zechariah 14:9 says, “The Lord will be king over the whole earth.  On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.”

Father, thank you for chances the kids have to learn and play and just have fun.  Amen.

November 10 – “A flour ... what?”

We had a visit from Cailyn yesterday.  Mom was at work and Dad was sleeping.  He has finally started his actual shift work at the plant. 

So, Cailyn texted Chris even before we were out of the bed.  She asked Chris, “When did you wake up?”  I coached a response, advising her to return with, “7:30.”  Here’s the thing … it was 7:15 at the time.  Cailyn was sufficiently confused.  We got up and headed over to pick her up.  Freddy was bouncing around at the front door, thinking she was for some insane reason supposed to come with us.  We are a couple of suckers, so come with us she did.  And to her credit she ran straight to the car and jumped in (Freddy, not Chris.  Although Chris did the same). 

The girls immediately set to cooking breakfast when we got home (Chris and Cailyn, not Freddy).  Pancakes and bacon.  Or bacon and pancakes, depending on your quisine-al perspective.  Good stuff.  Hard to beat bacon and … pretty much anything.

Cailyn and I watched a Hallmark movie.  She appears to like them as much as I do.  Hey, even Jachin and Micah get a kick out of watching them.  At least with me.  As is our custom, we might have provided additional commentary for the final kiss. 

“They luuuuuvvv each other.”

“They’re kissing each other.”

“They want to get married.”

“Kissy, kissy, kissy.”

And Cailyn’s favorite, “They’re smushing their faces together.”

Such a romantic experience … sigh.

Later in the day Chris and Cailyn (Not Freddy) made some sugar cookies (or snickerdoodles, in my book.  They had cinnamon on top).  Nothing quite like a fresh-out-of-the-oven snickerdoodle.  But the highlight of the afternoon came during the cookie preparation time.  Seems someone had spilled just a tiny bit of flour on the counter.  Rumor has it that it was Nani.  Being the good husband that I am, I decided during one of my jaunts through the kitchen to supervise the culinary activities that I would be of assistance.  So I picked up the piled of flour.  Well, at least some of it.  Have you ever tried to pick up flour?  What happened next is somewhat of a blur.  Someone may or may not have started a flour fight in the kitchen.  All I know is, my efforts at assistance ended in a few faces full of flour and a broom in my hand.  Let’s leave it at that, shall we?

Matthew 5:7 says, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

Father, thank you for flour fights and mushy movies.  Great bonding opportunities.  Amen.

November 8 – “Just remember that …”

We had kind of an active day yesterday.  Not in terms of walking, though.  Too wet and cold for that.  But we did have some errands that we had to run, so it was out of the house anyway.

Our first stop was Academy.  Anyone who has seen me in the mornings knows that I drink coffee from one of those hot/cold tumblers.  Mine has the old Astros rainbow jersey colors.  Well, I dropped that thing the other day, and broke the lid.  The tumbler was fine, of course.  It’s made out of titanium or some such indestructible metal.  Not so the lid.  It’s simple plastic.  I was afraid I would have to just get a new one and sadly relegate this one to the dumpster.  To my great surprise, they sold just the lids.  Well, the lids were for one of those expensive Yeti mugs, but it sure fit perfectly on my mug.  And I had a $10 gift certificate, so it was free.  We also got a similar mug for Chris and we found an Astros World Series T-shirt that was drastically reduced.  Hey, just because they lost doesn’t mean they should be thrown to the Clearance Rack.  Go, ‘stros.

The rest of the errands were rather mundane.  We stopped by the hearing aid place to pick up my repaired earpiece.  I’m sure Chris is happy that the TV won’t be quite as loud.  Then we stopped at Randall’s to pick up a prescription.  That just took a quick minute or two, so Chris then decided that we needed to visit the store next door.  Tuesday Morning?  Or was it Thursday Afternoon?  I don’t know.  One of those days and times.  As we walked around I talked to Kel on the phone.  We were trying to coordinate getting the BMW back to the shop.  We did come up with a general plan.  It was just up to Chris and me to flesh out the details. 

After a grocery run to WalMart, we began to take action on the car thing.  We drove out to the East end of the Island and picked up the key.  Then we drove back to the post office to pick up the car.  Then it was back East again to the mechanic shop.  Finally, when he got off work, Kel gave us a call and we took the truck he is driving back over to him.  They decided against the BMW, though.  The premium gas requirement and the high costs of maintenance kind of scared them off.  Maybe next time. 

Kel gave me a hug when I handed over the keys.  Interesting little interchange there:
Kel: “Thanks, Dad.  Y’all have really been good to me.”

Me: “Just remember that when it comes time for the nursing home.”

Then, without missing a beat …

Kel: “I’ll pick a good one that Josh can pay for.  It’ll be close by so Nathan can come visit.”

Thanks, son.  Just … thanks.

Luke 12:3 says, “What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the rooftops.”

Father, thank you for Dennis’ kind heart.  Thanks as well for all three of my boys … whatever their individual contributions may be to our future abode.  Amen.

November 8 – “at least I can say …”

I got to drive a BMW yesterday.  No, I’m not making the move to snobbish-dom or anything.  Kel and Christina have been looking for a second car for Kel to use to get back and forth to work and for Jachin to use as he gets older and gets his license (Hmm.  A grandkid with a drivers’ license.  Exciting, yet somewhat disturbing).  Our mechanic knows of the search, and he shot me a text yesterday that he had something that may work for Kel.

Seems he had been working for a while on a 2004 BMW sedan.  He had already fixed everything he ran across that needed fixing.  It needs a spare tire, though.  And it runs on premium gas.  Oh, and the previous owner was a smoker, so there was a musty smell involved.  Kel said that might be a deal breaker with Christina, since Josiah has developed asthma.  On the cool side, though, we found a hidden, built-in tool kit in the trunk, stocked with all the right-sized tools for the car.  It also has one of those panic handles inside the trunk.  If you ever get trapped in the trunk of the car, all you have to do is pull the handle and the trunk opens from the inside. 

I drove it from the shop over to where Kel was delivering mail so he could take a look at it.  He FaceTimed Christina so she could see it.  They seemed to be intrigued enough.  By the time I got back to the shop, Kel had already called the mechanic and talked to him about it.  They arranged for Kel to drive the car home and see what Christina thought about it.  So they parked it outside the shop and gave me the key.  Kel then came by the house when he got off work, dropped off the truck he was driving, and I took him to pick up the BMW. 

You know, if nothing comes of this, at least I can say I have driven a BMW …

Proverbs 12:25 says, “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.”

Father, give Kel and Christina wisdom to know whether this is a car that can meet their needs.  Amen.