January 7 – “Bending, scooping, cramming”

Ah, Monday.  One thing about Monday … I always know that I have something to do.  So yesterday was no exception.  I dove into all my usual Monday work tasks.  If I ever retire I think Monday will be the hardest day for me.  Or maybe the easiest.  Waking up without a plan … hmm.

We did take a walk again.  It has been a while, but we managed two miles.  I squeezed it in somewhere between updating my church newsletter page and point two of the teaching for Sunday.  Chris then spent most of the day cleaning house, but sometime late afternoon we ventured out into that most unusual of January tasks on a beautiful island paradise … mowing the grass.  Yep.  First week of January and we are outside doing yard work.  Gotta love it.  The one thing that made this particular foray into the outer lands different?  Leaves.  Our sycamore tree is in full-on Fall mode.  I guess you could say they are “covering lots of ground.”  That means those huge leaves that provide such awesome shade all summer are now providing shade to our yard … and yards all over the neighborhood.  Now we always leave the leaves in the flower bed to protect the upcoming flowers, but we felt it necessary to do that dreaded of all chores … raking.  As it turned out we ended up with four pretty big piles.  The trash cans were already full, since last week was Christmas, and the youngsters of course opened their presents and happily discarded the packaging.  So we had to do things the old fashioned way - stuffing all those leaves into trash bags.  Bending, scooping, cramming.  Bending, scooping, cramming.  Over and over again.  We got it done.

And last night after a hot shower, we both crashed on the couch.  We stumbled upon a new show that was fun.  Kids’ Baking Championship.  Little kids around 10 or 12 years old have to bake cakes and stuff and are judged.  One is eliminated each week, and the last kid standing wins $25,000.  Their answers to “What will you do with all that money?” were great.  One girl was going to give some to her teacher and save the rest for college.  A boy was going to help his parents finish remodeling their kitchen so he would have somewhere cool to cook.  My favorite answer was the youngster who said, “I don’t know.  I think I’m going to buy something just for me.”  Honest answer, kid. 

We stumbled to bed at our usual time, but I had a difficult time falling asleep.  And Chris’ aches and pains kept waking her up.  I have to confess, I am sore this morning.  But maybe that’s just because it’s cold again outside …

2 Corinthians 9:6 says, “Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”

Father, thank you for these sore old muscles.  Reminds me that I’m still alive and kicking.  Amen.

January 6 – “Feels like home”

I thought I’d borrow a post I saw this morning on FaceBook for the journal today.  Partly because it gives a glimpse into life at Seaside.  Also partly because it just made me feel good.  It was written by the Mom of one of the newer families at the church.

 

“One of the things I love most about our church (well besides the visual verses - everyone needs a good laugh), is at the end of the service everyone holds hands and sings ‘Family Of God.’ This is awesome to see because we are ‘family’ in every sense of the term. We've only been going to Seaside for 4 months now, so we're still getting to know everyone, but this is the first time I've felt ‘at home’ in a church in a very long time. The kids love our pastor, as do I. He's not afraid to laugh, joke around, and he has a very unique way of teaching (all while the plan of salvation stays in clear focus). I love Seaside and the people that go there (trust me when I say that everyone needs a Fisherman Bob!) I love that it's ‘come as you are.’ Many of us are struggling with things in our life, just trying to find our way. It's nice to have found a place that is accepting and feels like home. It makes a big difference when your kids get up and actually want to go to church. Or to hear the discussions among them later that actually prove they were listening! (Amanda once got mad at Jonathan. He told her ‘Pastor Kelley says that you choose how you react to a situation, whether or not you choose to be offended, it's in your hands now.’ Leave it to him to twist everything around in his favor, lol).”

Thanks for the encouragement, Jana.  Great to have you guys at Seaside.  And Jonathan … see you at WalMart.

Philippians 4:6 says, Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Father, thank you for sending families like Jana’s to be a part of the family at Seaside.  Give them all a blessed day.  Amen.

January 5 – “Tradition is hard work”

Well, here’s a really short journal entry for you.  And why would that be?  I can sure “feel it in my bones,” so to speak.  If, of course, that phrase can be taken to mean that I am pretty sore all over.  So if I am aching as a result of an obviously busy day of some form of manual labor, then why wouldn’t it take long to describe?

Well, that’s a simple answer.  We took down Christmas decorations.  Boxes and boxes of Christmas decorations.  Lights from the tree.  Icicle lights from the eaves of the house.  An array of ornaments from the tree.  An entire collection of nativity scenes – or crèches if you prefer.  Garland.  Wreaths.  Santas and Mrs. Clauses.  The Precious Moments yard decoration.  Stockings that had been hung by the chimney with care.  Stuffed Christmas bears.  Two trees.  Assorted candles.  And even Christmas Family Feud posters.  All found their places in boxes or stashed in appropriate hidden niches, waiting for their return next year.  What can I say?  My wife loves Christmas.  I think it’s pretty special, too. 

Now all that by itself wouldn’t have been so hard.  Certainly not difficult enough the warrant a collection of sore muscles this morning.  Nope.  That exertion came when we (that would be Chris and myself) managed to haul all those boxes up into the attic.  It was a sight to see, I’m sure.  I stationed myself upstairs as Chris did her best to push and shove each box high enough up the stairs for me to grab the other end and pull it the rest of the way.  Then I found spots for each one to reside until next we turn our grandkids loose to drag them all down for another Christmas extravaganza. 

Sigh.  Tradition is hard work sometimes …

                                    

Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.”

Father, thank you for traditions, even the ones that live in boxes up in the attic from one year to the next, just waiting to explode out and spew joy again.  Amen.

January 4 – “The end descends”

Yesterday was a peaceful day of reminiscing.  Each of us had his own memory to dwell upon, but AnnaGrace assured us that she was still dreaming of her very own Michael Jordan sitting on her.  She did say that “Me and Zakary like Michael Jordan,” though, so we’re pretty sure she’s not scarred for life or anything.

We had an impromptu birthday party for Caleb.  We weren’t sure if we’d be able to get to Waco between now whenever they must have an actual party due to a certain impending cruise to the Panama Canal Zone, so why not do it now?  We gave him a pretty cool little science lab kit so he could make some volcanoes for science class.  Your welcome, Christi. 

Next the boys all played a round or two … or three or four … of something on the Wii.  AnnaGrace played hide and seek with her Mom.  They finally got everything packed up and were on the road by 10:30 or 11:00.  And immediately we noticed two things:

1.  It was so eerily quiet.

2.  We were suddenly so sleepy.

As is her custom when the last of the grandkids leave, Chris started taking down Christmas decorations.  I helped for a while, but I finally collapsed in my chair at my desk with my feet up.  Not long after Chris crashed out on the couch.  And when we woke up later and started getting dinner ready, we discovered another crash.  The microwave.  The timer worked.  The clock worked.  The light on the inside worked.  But no microwaving was occurring.  Deader than a doornail.  At least it lasted through the Christmas/New Years’ celebrations.  That meant a quick trip over to WalMart.  Fortunately they had one that matched the dimensions of our shelf where it has to live.  And it wasn’t all that expensive, either.  So we have a new family member.  Congrats to us …

2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.  Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Father, thank you for a full, fun, albeit occasionally frantic family week.  Amen.

January 3 – “The Bleacher Incident”

How’s this for a feat of grandparent-dom?  We went to a college basketball game with all ten of our grandkids and their parents.  Yes.  We are very brave.

The game we went to was Houston Baptist University vs. Central Arkansas.  Not exactly powerhouse programs.  HBU was 0-10 entering, and CA was 3-10.  But we are HBU alums, so we decided to “take one with the team,” so to speak. 

There were several exciting moments, though.  Luke and Noa were selected to play a game at halftime.  Problem was Luke was asleep in his Mom’s lap when the time came, so big brother Caleb graciously took over his spot.  It was essentially a game of musical chairs, but when the music stopped you had to dribble in and make a shot before you could sit down.  It was a tense affair at first, but with an incredible surge at the end, Caleb actually won the game.  He got a packet of HBU memorabilia and a gift certificate to a local eatery.  That’s my boy.

Speaking of tense affairs, there was a college basketball game going on as well.  Not a pretty one, to be sure, but exciting nonetheless.  HBU was behind the entire game, but they staged a comeback in the fourth quarter and tied it up to send the game into overtime.  And in overtime they took their first actual lead of the game.  From that point it was a real back and forth affair, but HBU finally won their first game of the year 111-107, I think.  WooHoo. 

Now the true highlight of the game came at the final buzzer of regulation play.  An HBU player had 1.6 seconds after receiving the inbounds pass to get a shot off for the win.  He took the final shot as he and a defender flew into the bleachers.  The shot lofted through the air … and barely rimmed out.  But that’s not the real excitement of it all.  Did I fail to mention that sitting in the bleachers where the players landed was … our family?  The HBU guy landed literally in the laps of Caleb and Josh.  And the defender somehow managed to crash into … AnnaGrace.  No one was injured – player or otherwise – but suffice it to say, AnnaGrace was done.  Later, as we were loading up in the cars to head home, she commented about the action, “Michael Jordan sat on me.”  Sigh.  Now there’s a memory …

We didn’t get home after eleven.  And as Luke rushed up to front door, he somehow forgot that it was made of glass.  Yep.  Smashed his little body right into it with a crash that sounded throughout the house.  Probably throughout the neighborhood.  Hey … it was late. 

Disclaimer … no one was injured in the making of this Christmas 2019/New Year 2020 memory …

Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the day approaching.”

Father, thanks for protecting everyone involved in the bleacher incident yesterday.  Amen.

January 2 – “A fun process”

Handyman Josh was at his best yesterday.  I got to pretty much act as apprentice and assistant as he did a major installation project.  We now have one of those doorbells that gives me a phone call when anyone rings it.  We also have one of those hidden cameras so we can see who is at the door or even all the way out to the street.  Good security measure being taken by many of the residents in our neighborhood after a recent rash of car burglaries.

We finally got to do our family gift exchange.  We offered to wait until after lunch, but for some reason there were ten children who vetoed that idea.  Well, truth be told, the number was slightly higher than ten.  Hey, there were even stockings filled with goodies, and everyone knew we couldn’t open anything until Nani got her Christmas picture.  And this year it was a little different.  Josh figured out how to set the timer on his phone so we could all be in it.  It was a … “fun process.”  But we got it done.  Pretty good picture of a pretty great bunch of folks named Vaughan.

A few of the gifts that came my way: headlights and tail lights for the truck, one of those Echo Dot Alexa-talking machines, a subscription to Texas Highways magazine, a Hawaiian shirt (or as Cailyn described it, “a church shirt”).  Nathan and April were here, so he took the lead on setting up the Alexa talking machine.  He integrated it with the hidden camera so Alexa tells me when someone has activated the camera at the front door.  It’s all pretty eerie.  It’s also tuned to our firestick, but we couldn’t get her to talk to our less-than-smart TV, though.  Guess that means we need a new TV, right?  Maybe just a little bigger?

One of the highlights of the day came when we played Christmas Family Feud.  I prepared it for our church Christmas party, but we ran out of time there.  It seemed to be a big hit for all ages, though.  It was girls against guys (The guys had the numbers advantage. But as one of the fellas said, “Yeah, but the girls are smarter at this Christmas stuff”).  It went back and forth throughout the seven rounds.  I would have to say that the star of the show was Christi.  She cheered every answer just like they do on TV.  And when she went head to head with Josh and won the round, she exploded into a trash talking machine.  It was … frightening.  I have no idea who finally won.  I played it like the middle child I am and didn’t even keep score.  That did cause some consternation among the first-borns in the crowd, but all in all I think everyone had a fun time. 

Last night we topped it all off with a TV trip to the Sugar Bowl.  We had more than one Baylor fan in our midst (Plus Super-fan Caleb), which led of course to some of those who didn’t really care one way or another to immediately side with Georgia.  Sadly, though, Baylor couldn’t keep up with the Bulldogs.  They ended up losing 26-14.  Not a horrible game, but still not a victory.  Baylor’s quarterback was knocked out in the fourth quarter, and their best receiver apparently bruised or broke a rib.  It was a banged up bunch of Bears that will get on a plane home from New Orleans.  Hopefully they have some good memories to take back to Waco with them.  And we hope the Vaughan Cousins have some good memories of the day as well.

Psalms 98:1-2 says, “Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.  The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.”

Father, how many times and in how many ways can I say thank you for our family?  Sure do love these critters.  All of ‘em.  You done good.  Amen.

January 1 – “Getting started"

And so the old year passes.  And just as “so” does the New Year arise.  Welcome 2020.

We spent our last 2019 morning in great anticipation.  Josh and his crew were coming in so we could finally have our family Christmas experience.  Originally scheduled for around 10 or so, they finally made it closer to noon.  No problem there.  We had some lunch and settled in to the process of enjoying some GP time.  That would be “GrandParenting” time, of course.

Part of my free time was spent “helping” Handyman Josh install our new doorbell and camera system.  Chris got it for Christmas.  Can’t beat getting a brand new toy and finally getting to play with it.  The bad part of this one that I can see is the fact that it all runs on batteries.  That means constantly changing them.  The system does offer a battery charger, though.  Guess that’ll be appearing in my stocking before next December.

And the biggest surprise of the afternoon?  Zak and Caleb took me and Chris to the movies.  Actually Josh was going to join us, but he ended up fortifying Christi’s position in the theater next door.  They watched none other than Frozen 2.  We watched Star Wars.  Finally.  I guess it’s still too early to talk much about it.  We decided in the parking lot that we would have to watch what we say until dear old Dad gets a chance to see it.  It was pretty fun.  I enjoyed it on several levels, but my favorites were the remnants and cry-backs to the older movies.  Enough said for now.

We stayed up watching University of Texas football and Mandalorian until just before eleven p.m.  That would be midnight in New York City.  We switched the channel over to watch the ball drop.  As the countdown reached 12 seconds, I made everybody still awake (that would be me, Chris, Josh, Zak, and Caleb) stand up.  At three seconds I made everyone lift his left leg in the air.  That’s how we stood when the count reached zero.  And now we can all say …”We greeted the new year and the new decade “on the right foot”!

Isaiah 43:19 says, “See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

Father, thank you for one more day … one more year … one more decade.  Amen.