June 7 - “Another Anniversary Day”

Another anniversary. I don’t mean that as if they are days of drudgery. On the contrary. I’m just ecstatic that we made to yet another one. 48 years as of yesterday. And the amazing thing is … she still seems to want me around. Doesn’t get any better than that. 

I gave her a portable suitcase weighing device. The idea was to also go on a trip, but our trips are kind of on hold right now, waiting to hear about radiation. 

Chris looked up the appropriate gift for 48 years of marriage. Her findings? Optical. I guess they figured after 48 years, you’re bound to be needing a new pair of glasses. Or maybe a cataract operation. She got creative, though. She gave me a four-pack of minecraft-looking sunglasses. They are awesome. Green, black, orange and pink. I wore the orange ones on our walk. I plan to rotate. She is also going to order me a new pair of sunglasses that fit over my regular glasses. The ones I have are slowly diminishing in effectiveness. 

Oh! And if that wasn’t enough, she also presented me with a brand new fillet knife for fishing. I promptly poked a hole in my thumb. Just a tiny one, but it bled a lot. It didn’t hurt though. There’s one reason to be thankful for neuropathy, I guess. Now I just need to go fishing again …

We went on our official date for lunch. We had some gift cards from Saltgrass Steakhouse, so splurge, we did. The food was good, as usual, but our server was one of the best we have ever had. Young girl named Gabby. I told her our names as well, and she called us by our names numerous times over the course of the meal. On top of that, she had a cute, braces-filled smile and a very pleasant demeanor. Hope we get her next time we go. 

We finished the day with some egg salad in our bellies and the Astros game on the TV. Here’s to 48 or so more …

Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭2‬-‭3 says, Honor your father and mother—which is the first commandment with a promise— so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.

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Father, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Hard to add beyond that when I’m talking about the greatest gift I could have imagined - my wife. Amen. 

June 6 - “Good news on one front”

We made our way into Texas for another doctor appointment yesterday. Chris had to get herself and her equipment checked out by the sleep apnea guy. All was well. He said he was putting in his notes that the C-pap was doing its job. So Chris was released to her own devices (and the continued use of the C-pap machine) for a year. 

After lunch Chris went to Walmart to take care of a return. I stayed home and checked out a Nanny McPhee movie. While she was gone, the bottom dropped out of the sky. We had an ark-load of rain during a really bad thunderstorm. Lasted several hours, too. Our grass was sure happy. 

The rest of the evening was pretty calm for us. We watched a movie. Then we switched over to the Astros early game against Toronto. Six run first inning, highlighted by a grand slam home run. Lots of fun to watch. 

Psalms‬ ‭51‬:‭10‬ says, Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

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Father, thank you for the good news on the C-pap front. One less thing to worry about. Amen. 

June 5 - “A Big Day in Waco”

Columbus Avenue Baptist Church honored Josh yesterday for the big achievement of completing his doctorate. They took some time at the end of the service to speak to his accomplishment and to their appreciation of his time at the church. Along with numerous cards of well-wishes, Josh was presented with a beautiful model of a sailing vessel built in 1847, the HMS Harvey. It sailed out of Baltimore, and made cargo runs between Galveston and the ancient Jewish port of Jaffa.

They read a beautiful statement that quoted a lot from one of his sermons from 2016 (Gotta watch what you say, Josh. Somebody might actually be listening) about his plans for “navigating” the next ten years. They also presented Christi with an envelope and the admonition to “go have a nice meal together on us.” 

After the service they had a reception, and I’m pretty sure most if not all of the 200 or so folks there came by to shake his and Christi’s hand and express appreciation in their own personal way. 

We did grandparent duty and got Luke and AnnaGrace from their Sunday School classes. But we were also congratulated by quite a few folks for the part we played in, well, “providing Josh to them.” Don’t guess we can deny that. We are slowly learning the names of some of the folks there. Speaking of which, “Hi, Janet! Thanks for watching the blog every day.”

And thanks to the community of faith at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church for welcoming Josh and Christi and their family, and for taking such good care of them. 

Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭says, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

‭‭Father, please bless the folks at Columbus for their expressions of love to Josh and Christi. As awkward as it feels at the time to the pastor, he really does desperately need such times of encouragement.  Amen. 

June 4 - “I’m bleeding, Mom”

We got out of town pretty early to head up for Josh’s reception in Waco. Well, not early early, but before 9 anyway. We made great time, so we decided to take a back way after our stop at Buc-ees. Lots of pretty country. Still tons of wildflowers. Those yellow ones, mainly. We hit Waco around 12:30. Not bad. 

We spent the afternoon in various stages of staying cool. Zak went to a movie with some friends. He assured me they were all guys. It was one of the guy’s birthday, so Zak presented him with a gift - at the theater. A fish. A live fish. One of those colorful betas. No aquarium, just the plastic bag. And the funny thing?  They were told that a fish was one of only four animals allowed in the theater. They didn’t reveal the other three. 

Meanwhile, back at the house, Luke and Caleb simply jumped into the swimming pool. Apparently that was a chilling experience for them. The pool is in the shade for most of the day. 

Oh, me?  I tried the whole sitting outside in the shade with Chris thing, but it was way too hot out there for me. I was satisfied to sit in the air conditioning with AnnaGrace and follow the progress of the Astros victory. 

We did have a bit of a crisis inside.  At one point Luke (who had by this time changed out of his wet clothes), came out of his room with a very serious look on his face. He spoke in a low-key, monotone voice, saying, “Mom. Mom. I’m bleeding, Mom. Mom. I don’t know how I did it. Mom. Mom. It’s really bleeding bad, Mom. Mom.”  

Needless to say, he caught my attention. When he rounded the corner, I could see that he wasn’t at all kidding. Blood was streaming down his arm. About that time Christi came out of the kitchen, so I stayed put and out of the way. She took care of the doctoring and got him cleaned up. Come to find out, he had an altercation with his pocket knife after he forgot to close it. The knife won. 

We all did our best to encourage him at supper. You know, things like, “Chicks dig scars,” and “Wear a huge bandage at church so you can get some attention.”  Well, the whole attention thing, combined with mention of church, called to mind a certain young lady who has apparently caught the eye of young Luke. When he lamented that she probably didn’t even like him, every wing man instinct in both mine and Josh’s fabric of being surged to the surface. Josh offered to email a teacher so Luke could be assigned more advantageous seating. I flat out offered to be Luke’s wing man. We were going to church anyway. I could just come out and ask her if she liked him. Hey. Wouldn’t it be better to know for sure? Luke wasn’t too keen on that idea for some reason. I am anxious to see this beautiful maid at church later, though …

Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

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Father, please heal up Luke’s cut so he be free to hold hands with “her” if the opportunity should arise. Amen. 

June 3 - “Not yet”

My turn again. Yesterday was my latest appointment with the neurosurgeon about the pain in my back. This would be the pain that results in tingling and numbness all around my waist to my belly button. Very weird. 

The end result of the trip was … (drumroll here) … no surgery yet. When they do surgery on MY back, because it is SO messed up, it will be a super major ordeal. So we should do everything possible to avoid it. Bottom line … back to the pain doc for another shot - this one farther up the spine in the area he is watching carefully to make sure it doesn’t impinge any further on the spinal column itself. I’m supposed to pay attention to leg or arm weakness or balance or falling. You know. All the “You’re almost 70 now” issues. 

As we were driving around good ol’ Houston, we received a text. A very-dear-to-us lady who also was my mom’s best friend was dying. Her daughter was letting us know and inviting us to come by. We took the nearest exit and headed south. 

Two of Mrs. Betty’s kids were there at the house, and we did some reminiscing of our time growing up in the same neighborhood. We prayed with the family before we left, and after that prayer Chris and I went over and prayed again with Mrs. Betty, just so she could hear. I’m pretty sure when I said Amen that an Amen of her own formed on her lips. Gotta love that special lady. 

Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ says, Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Father, please welcome Mrs. Betty into your arms at just the right time. And give her family peace in their grief. Amen. 

June 2 - “Alaska Travelers Home”

Well, the Alaska Travelers are officially back home. Lauren texted around 6:30 asking if I had heard from them. I shot a quick text to the LaMarque Vaughan’s to see where they were. “On the ground, driving on the way home” was the response from Jachin. I called up their phones on the Find a Friend app and followed them the rest of the way to their house. 

Meanwhile, Chris was texting with Christina, talking about who had been feeling sick when, and how Josiah was ready to come get Leia when all of a sudden Christina asked, “Are you awake?”  “Hmm,” Chris pondered to herself. “I’ve been texting you for ten minutes. Guess I am.”  Hard to believe she really does wake up that early sometimes … but she does. 

They apparently hit the hay when they got home. Exhausted, and all. Not sure when they all started stirring again, but we got word that the plan was for them to come over today after we get back from my neurosurgeon appointment. However, I guess they couldn’t wait to see me. OK. OK. I’m sure the dog and the bearded dragon and Nana ranked higher than me. But they decided to come last night. They didn’t stay long, though. But boy, did Ezra and Noa (and Mom and Dad) never stop talking. Micah and Josiah were happy to add their two cents worth as well. It was really good to know that they are home and safe. They are ready to go to Alaska again, too. Maybe we can hop onto the next venture up north. 

Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭1‬-‭2 says, The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,”

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Father, thanks for the chance to see with our own eyes that the team is back home safely. Amen. 

June 1 - “Mom’s Rules”

Luke was first out of bed to join me in the office. Around 7. He said that he actually woke up at 6:30, but Mom’s Rules are that he must stay in bed until 7 … even on Christmas morning. Yikes!

Speaking of “yummy,” Nani fixed pancakes and bacon for breakfast. That’s some good stuff. Sadly, it wasn’t long after that the Waco clan headed out the door on their way home … via the Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory in Brennan. Lucky dogs!

After they left we had some leftovers for lunch. Chris attacked our mound of dirty clothes. I took five huge garbage bags full of crushed coke cans (500 pounds) to the redemption center. They bought them for a resounding $34.10. All those years of saving cans. Was it really worth it?

Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭21‬ ‭says,  The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Father, thank you for the safe trip home for those Waco folks. They are pretty special to us. And be with the LaMarque crew on their last leg home from the airport. Amen.