March 7 – “Kind of strange”

It was a kind of strange Sunday for me yesterday.  I woke up feeling pretty rough.  That long day of much strenuous activity on Saturday caught up with me, I guess.  My back was killing me all across my core.  I hadn’t slept much at all the night before.  We were supposed to pick up Cailyn and take her to a church up in her area, but Nathan had already called to say she wasn’t going.  That led to an odd decision for us.  For the first time in, oh, 26 years or so, we could stay home sick on a Sunday and not worry about who would preach or who would clean the bathrooms at church.  Kind of strange.

 

I loaded up on some Tylenol and applied a heat pack to my back.  Well, actually it was one of those high class sock-like things filled with rice.  Heat it up in the microwave and voila … instant heating pad with no electric cord to fuss with.  We settled in on the couch for the morning.  Well, after I set up the computer so we could watch church on TV.  First up was Josh and Columbus Avenue Baptist Church in Waco.  Then we switched over to watch Kel and the service at Seaside.  Guess we got our overdose of church.

 

I managed to do a little dozing after church.  We were binge-watching that building show set in Laurel, Mississippi.  I think we may have found another stop on our next trip East.  Not sure what we will see when we get there, though.  Maybe drive around looking for houses we have seen renovated or maybe the guy’s workshop by the train tracks.  Doesn’t take much to keep us entertained on our excursions. 

 

Matthew 4:4 says, “Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”’”

 

Father, thank you for the chance to still worship even though we were at home yesterday.  Not exactly the same, but nice anyway.  Amen.

 

March 6 – “A couple of fires”

Chris and I did a two mile walk yesterday.  Sounds rather mundane up front like this, but because of what comes later, it is significant.

 

See, later in the day I was watching some college basketball, when I heard a fire truck whiz by, sirens blaring.  Then another.  and another.  The fire department app sent a notice across my phone.  I turned on the radio and heard that an abandoned house was on fire not far from where we live.  It was a distinct possibility that they would be taking defensive positions rather than risk entering the structure.  This could take a while.  I went right in and changed into fire department gear, told Chris I was going to the scene, and took off.

 

And I almost got to the fire.  Seems one of the 5” hoses (that’s the big ones) was stretched completely across the main street.  The closest working fire hydrant was a long way from the fire.  Traffic was backed up pretty far, primarily with people trying to get down the only road to a major residential development.  The police had the street blocked off in both directions.  I pulled over and began my second long walk of the day, this time to check on my guys. 

 

As I approached it became evident that the fire was far down one direction on the same road that, in the opposite direction led to the housing development.  No homes in danger there, then, but access for those folks trying to get there didn’t look good for some time.  On a positive note, though, the guys fighting the fire actually had it completely out within 15 or 20 minutes in spite of the danger of collapse.  Yet another fine job by the Galveston Fire Department.  I’m proud of you guys.  When they started rolling up hoses, I decided to forego another two-mile hike to the actual fire site, and headed back to the car.  As it turned out, on the way back I became sort of an unofficial public information officer.  I reassured motorists stuck in traffic that it shouldn’t be much longer.  I think I repeated the same words of encouragement ten or twelve time.  Every time I advanced a car length, another passenger side window would roll down and ask for an update.  And thankfully, my message proved to be fairly accurate.  Within ten or fifteen minutes the road was cleared, and traffic was on its way. 

 

Last night we started yet another hike of sorts.  On the way to another fire, of sorts.  I was officiating a wedding on the beach, so we parked at the church and began the walk.  As we turned onto the sand, however, there was no evidence of a wedding in sight.  I assured Chris that we were headed in the right direction, though.  After a few more minutes we were passed by a couple in a golf cart.  They suddenly whipped around and returned to us.  The guy asked, “Are you going to that wedding they have set up on the beach down there?”  We replied that we were, and they graciously invited us to ride with them.  Good thing.  That would have been another mile or more.  They weren’t wedding guests or anything.  Just neighbors out for a drive on the beach.  We thanked them for the ride, and later saw them kind of lurking in their cart during the ceremony.  Hope they enjoyed the ceremony.

 

Speaking of the ceremony, we got started a few minutes late, but not bad for an Island Time wedding.  The bride and groom joined me under a really strong arbor some guys had made just for the occasion.  Four eight by eight posts anchored the thing to the ground, so it was not going to blow away, that’s for sure.  The service was a simple one.  They didn’t even attempt to have music.  The weather was amazing.  Just a little chilly.  Bride and groom did great, and we got ‘em hitched.

 

After the ceremony they had arranged for a limo bus to pick up the attenders and take them to the reception venue – the Tremont Hotel in downtown Galveston.  The “Party Bus,” as it was affectionately dubbed, was available as a shuttle the rest of the evening.  Pretty creative solution to getting everyone there and back throughout the evening.  The reception was pretty amazing, too.  Food was great.  Steak or chicken, and your little name tag had a picture of a cow or a chicken to alert your server.  We did some dancing, of course, and the photo booth became a real fan favorite.  We finally bailed out around 10:30 with Lauren and Ed.  They had their own car, so we didn’t have to wait for the party bus.  Thanks for the ride, guys.  And may God be with you, Russell and Chrissy.

 

Quite the day.  One fire put out and another just begun …

 

Joel 2:12 says, “’Even now,’ declares the Lord, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.’”

 

Father, please walk with Russell and Chrissy as they adjust to being husband and wife.  Thank you that their friends and families were there to help them get started in that process.  Amen.

March 5 – “Clipper Guy”

The day started innocently enough.  Chris headed to cardiac rehab.  Just seven left to go.  I did some puzzle work.  I also chatted on the phone with Josh for a bit while he walked with MaddieBelle.  His kids were in co-op and Christi had a doctor’s appointment.  While we were talking, she called, so we postponed for a while.  All was good on her front.  They just had to make some arrangements for transportation for a double date their sons were going on that evening … or something like that. 

 

The day’s innocence all but disappeared after lunch.  Back into the yard.  Once again Chris was determined to start cleaning out her flower beds.  But once again that didn’t happen.  I walked out with her, and the flower bed idea derailed in favor of a bigger project that we had been putting off for at least three or four Springs.  Now was the time to get really adventurous, I suppose.  We jumped in the truck and headed over to Home Depot.  There we bought some 4X4 posts and a few straps to screw on top of them.  We did some measuring and leveling and eyeballing, followed by post hole digging and undigging and post setting and post pulling back out to adjust heights.  Finally, the two new posts had taken their places in the back flower bed, flanking the wisteria bush.  The existing metal fence bar was strapped into place.  The excess portion of the bar was cut off with that glorious invention called the Sawzall.  And the project was complete.  Well, sort of.  Now the bush has something to climb over and grasp onto.  Of course, then we had to trim the bush itself way back, but it usually grows really fast in the Springtime. 

 

While I had the clippers working, I also trimmed back the evil demon devil boogervilla bush with the deadly thorns.  And since I was in such a clipping mood (she called me something.  I think it was … her Clipper Guy, or something like that.  Sniff.  She has never had a pet name for me before in all our 46 years of marriage.  I was touched), she suggested I attack the rose bush as well.  That done, she noticed the vine that grows over the fence from our neighbor’s yard.  Got that one, too.  Sadly, she never got to her flower beds.  Well, not exactly.  Working from the top down, I guess.  But I feel certain their day will come.

 

OK.  Here it comes.  You knew it was coming.  I don’t even really need to say it, do I?  But I will.  Ready?  I’m sore.

 

Jeremiah 31:25 says, “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”

 

Father, thank you for our backyard successes yesterday.  It’s the little things … Amen.

 

March 4 – “Evidence”

Chris headed off to cardiac rehab again yesterday.  She made a declaration as she walked out the door.  Pretty simple one, actually.  Went like this: “Nine.”  Yep.  She’s counting down the days, and she is finally in single digits for this current deployment.  Nine sessions at three sessions per week.  Still on schedule.  She’ll be done just in time for our Western trip.

 

Meanwhile I stayed home to sit behind a computer and masterfully craft a finely tuned blog entry for the day.  Teehee.  Right.  I mean … of course I did do that, but my task for the day was more to nurse my sore muscles from all that crazy yard work.  Worst parts?  My lower back, of course.  That’s a given.  But under my right arm (triceraceps??) up into my shoulder blade area really gave me an unfamiliar discomfort.  Best I can tell, it was from wielding that ax against those unyielding roots. 

 

I did some more work on that evil jigsaw puzzle.  And I even experienced a bit of success.  I finally completed the outside edge.  What should have been the first thing accomplished came after I had done the entire sky at the top and the letters at the bottom.  I told you this one was evil.  Last night at home group, Lauren took up her spot at the table and managed to complete another section.  I think she got one whole cactus done.  And Cathy found a piece as well.  Good to have the help of pros …

 

Oh, I had a bit of a mishap happen at lunch.  I was heating up some baked potato soup in the microwave.  When I reached in to take it out, it kind of sloshed over the edge, landing on my thumb.  Ouch.  I managed to get the bowl set down before racing to the sink and running cold water over the area.  It got red, but no blisters.  Fortunately, the water stayed cold.  Anyone who lives in Galveston understands that comment.  Here, water from the tap can sometimes come out lukewarm at best, superheated by the sun on the pipes at worst.  By the way … the soup was hot enough.

 

Colossians 4:2 says, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”

 

Father, thank you for the aches and pains that are evidence of hard work.  Helps me remember that I’m still alive and kicking.  Amen.

March 3 – “Eagerly anticipated … desperately dreaded”

That yearly jarring event once again came to fruition in our meager lives yesterday.  The event that on the one hand is somewhat eagerly anticipated, yet on the other hand is desperately dreaded.  And what mere incident could possibly have such an array of effect?  Our income tax report arrived from our accountant.  And yes, sadly, we do have more to pay.  Sigh.  Maybe next year.

 

We did have a relaxing, enjoyable morning before the wheels came off.  We took Cailyn to school.  Marley came with us.  Really goofy dog.  Then we chatted with Nathan for a long time while April got ready for work. 

 

Speaking of eagerly anticipated … desperately dreaded …

Back at home, we decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather.  And around here that means … yard work.  Chris originally had one task in mind, but when she realized that I was going to join her, the jobs list morphed into something a little more … challenging.

 

First, we dug up the two trees in the back yard that were dead.  One has been limping along since Hurricane Ike swept through with its salt water inundation.  The other died after the intense shock of last February’s freak cold snap.  That involved an action I haven’t taken in years – swinging an ax.  Not like a lumberjack, mind you.  The trees weren’t that big.  I just had to snap through some ornery roots that wouldn’t let go.

 

Once that job was complete and all branches and trunks and roots were hauled to the street, we moved on to the next much-anticipated removal.  Well, not removal, exactly.  We dug up a third tree, but this time we moved it to a different location.  It was getting overshadowed in its current location by the three much bigger trees surrounding it.  Hopefully it will have a chance to thrive now that it is on its own.  But we were not done yet. 

 

Chris pointed out that she had three plants growing in two different flower beds that she wanted moved as well.  Sounded easy enough after uprooting and moving three trees.  And it was.  As it turned out, there were four of the little critters.  Got them all in place, and I think Chris would have stopped there.  But now I was on a roll. 

 

There is a tree in our backyard that is growing right on the fence line.  I mean, the fence runs right through it, somehow.  I decided the time had come to at least lop off the branches that were threatening to overpower one of the other trees that we would really like to see grow and prosper.  Problem was, that particular offending branch was too thick to cut with hand-held loppers.  It needed … a power tool.  Our chain saw died long ago, so this was the perfect opportunity to break out the most wonderful of all power tools, the magnificent … Sawzall. 

 

I cleared a path in the garage to get to the ladder.  With the extra wall of boxes of books out there, it is hard to find unhindered access to much of anything.  I grabbed the Sawzall and an extension cord and headed back to the scene.  I did chop a few of the smaller twigs off with the hand-held loppers so I could have easy access to the bigger branch that was my prey of the day.  Finally, I grabbed the power tool and made my way to the peak, king of the ladder.  Chris, by the way, wasn’t quite as excited as I was at my use of power from an elevated perch.  She stood at ladder’s bottom, ready to secure it and I guess catch me should I fall.  It was not an easy cut, by any means.  After all, the Sawzall was designed to cut through wood or sheetrock or even nails during a demolition process.  Cutting through live tree tissue was not exactly on the designer’s mind.  But cut it did.  And after only three or four stops to rest (rest the machine, of course.  I was fine … really), the branch came tumbling down.  Didn’t even smash the fence into tiny pieces.  Nope.  All was good.  Between us we dragged all the pieces out to the street for the trash guys to pick up next week.  Yeah.  Wednesday is not really a good day to do yard work when trash day is Tuesday.  To quote a beloved icon of a generation ago, Maxwell Smart, “Missed it by … that much.” 

 

1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

 

Father, thank you for the bonus chance to chat with Nathan.  And thanks for protecting us during our yard work struggles yesterday.  Amen.

March 2 – “What’s a Maverick?”

We are not at home right now.  Will be shortly.  No, no crisis or anything.  Not in the ER.  Not racing to assist in an emergency birth (Like I would be of any assistance in anything like that).  Not even that far away.  We are in Santa Fe (Texas, not New Mexico).  We were invited to a sleepover at Cailyn’s house.  Sort of.  Actually, it was just us.  We were the only guests.  And Nathan and April weren’t there, either.  That was kind of the situation.  April’s boss gave them tickets to sit with him at the rodeo last night.  And how could she say no to her boss, right? 

 

The evening started with Cailyn taking us out to eat at their favorite local Mexican food restaurant.  Los something or other, I think.  And it was her treat.  She handled herself admirably.  Even asked for the check when the waiter came by.  The food was pretty good.  Chris had chicken tacos.  Cailyn had nachos.  I had a grilled cheese … er, I mean quesadillas infused with beef and vegetables.  After the meal we settled in for a bit of a mini-marathon watching … drum roll here … Maverick.  Cailyn’s new favorite show.  Haven’t seen that one in years.  Still brings a chuckle, if you can find it on your own smart tv. 

 

Everybody is still asleep right now, except for me and maybe their miniature Australian shepherd named Marley.  She perked her head up at me when I walked down the hall to the kitchen.  The boxers kind of roamed the halls all night, and I think they are in the room with Cailyn.  I have no idea when Cailyn needs to be at school or when April needs to be at work.  Guess they will figure that out.  Oops.  There is a random weird sound.  I think it may be an alarm.  Wake up call.  “Git up.  Git outa da bed.  Don’t be a grunt, you big ol’ head.”

 

Acts 3:19 says, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”

 

Father, thank you for this chance to hang out with Cailyn and Marley and Tillie and Abby for a sleepover.  Be with Cailyn at school and her parents at work.  Amen.

 

 

March 1 – “Reflections on those stringy thingies”

OK.  Have you ever eaten a mandarin orange?  Not the kind that come in a can.  I mean the kind in a bag with eleven or twenty-three of its closest friends.  The kind you have to peel before you eat.  The kind that is, admittedly, considerably easier to peel than a traditional orange.  Here’s my question.  What’s with all those little stringy thingies?  I know they are edible and all, but do you spend time pulling them off, one by one?  You know, there is a strange sense of satisfaction and accomplishment that comes from doing that.  Someone ought to create a meme for social media using it.  I’m sure it could be a great help to someone’s self-image.  On the other hand, it could be a source of great ire, or at least infuriating aggravation for someone with a bit of a patience problem.  Well, I just wondered where you stood on that earth-shattering issue.  I for one can go either way.  But those strings do tend to get caught between your teeth …

 

Yesterday morning we got a kind of crisis call from Kel.  Everything was OK with Christina and the kids.  It’s just that he had just been notified that voting booths were being delivered to the church, and they needed someone to meet them.  Strange.  We already had voting booths at the church.  We have been hosting early voting for several weeks.  The only thing we could figure was that they were wanting more for the actual voting day (which is today, by the way).  Kel was helping a neighbor move, so he couldn’t get there, and there was no one else available, so we drove out to the church for the meet and greet.  It was the same delivery guys as the last time they came, and they recognized me as the old, retired guy.  Done and done in about ten minutes. 

 

I spent some time working on a wedding service for this Saturday.  I also worked on the Thursday night Bible study.  It’s a strange one this week.  Called by scholars, “The Sewer of Scripture.”  It’s near the end of the Book of Judges.  Read ahead … if you dare.

 

Last night after a quick supper of tuna sandwiches, we headed up to Pasadena (Texas, not California) to watch Jachin play a baseball game.  We were pleasantly surprised to find that he was the starting pitcher for the evening’s contest.  And he did an amazing job, too.  In his stint in the game, he gave up no runs and only one hit.  His big accomplishment, though, was that he struck out five.  And two of them came after the count was 3-0.  That’s my boy.  Very nice game game, Jachin.  Oh, and did I mention that his team won?  Yep.  15-0.  We joined the team for an after-victory celebration at a nearby Whataburger.  Did you know Whataburger has hot cinnamon rolls?  Really good late-night snack. 

 

Psalms 42:2 says, “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.  When can I go and meet with God?”

 

Father, please be with those delivery drivers I met yesterday.  I bet they see all kinds of people.  Help them have a cheery heart.  Amen.