November 7 - “Off like a broken record”

We got off to our usual start yesterday morning. Well, by unusual I mean somewhere around 9:30. We loaded up the car and took off for Waco. Sounds like a broken record, doesn’t it? Well, don’t break anything just yet. We’ll be back in the same road again next week as well. 

This time the purpose was a couple of football games starring Luke, and the 125th anniversary celebration of Columbus Avenue Baptist Church. 

We arrived in Waco around 2:30. First stop was the church. Christi and the kids were at their homeschool co-op. Josh said we could just hang out there and wait or take his garage door opener and go to the house. We chose the latter. Well, after a brief detour. We stopped at HEB to get some gas. 

After unloading the car back at the house we hung out until Josh got there. Then we went with him to basketball practice. It was fun watching Josh and his assistant coach do their best to teach a press that shouldn’t have been as difficult as the boys made it out to be. They’ll get there. 

Last night we got to sit in on a movie date that Luke and Caleb had set up. Ant Man and the Wasp. Christi and AnnaGrace were at a junior high drama production. Sounded fun. 

Today’s plan is for the boys to walk in the Baylor football homecoming parade. Then tonight Luke plays football in his end of season bowl game. Let’s go! 

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ says, Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable — if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy — dwell on these things.

Father, please take care of the youngsters marching on the parade and playing in the game later. Amen. 

November 6 - “Kinda strange”

Well, I guess you can’t beat starting the day off with that good 40-minute block of exercise. We hit our two miles once again. Didn’t have a reason to stop at all until right at the end. Our friend and neighbor Yolanda was walking in the opposite direction, and we crossed right in front of our house. She shared a quick little two-minute update on her life, then she was off. Gotta love this neighborhood. 

We spent the afternoon splitting time between cleaning house for home group and emailing with our travel agent. Belinda tracked down what appears to be the best deal available with AmaWaterways for a river cruise. Problem is, they are sold out for next December. So, being the awesome agent that she is, she put a hold on a cruise in 2028. We’re still waiting to see if Viking can top their deal or if they have one still open in 2027. Spending that inheritance.

It felt kinda strange to be back at home group again. It’s been a long time between actual Thursday Night Bible Studies. 

Oh! I did have one outing in the afternoon. No big deal. Just got gas in the car so we wouldn’t have to get it this morning. We’re heading to Waco for the weekend. Luke has a big end-of-season football tournament. Then the church up there is having its 125th anniversary celebration. Here we go. 

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬ says, Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.

Father, please ride with us to Waco. Amen. 

November 5 - “A sweeping experience”

Well, we had a bit of a crisis around the kitchen yesterday around lunch time. Actually, I was the crisis. I was getting Chris a bowl for her soup. As I turned to set it down on the counter, my arthritis-infested thumb gave out. The bowl slipped away. It flew through the air, fluttering down, down, down. It seemed to gain speed faster and faster … until, CRASH! 

Yep. That bowl literally exploded upon contact with the tile floor. Tiny pieces flew all over kitchen, front hall, dining room, and back hall. I even found a few under my recliner in the den. Quite the “sweeping” experience. 

We finally did get to eat. In fact it was lunch over a Hallmark movie set in Denmark, of all places. Kind of inspired more research into our potential European Christmas market cruise next year. Kaylynn is hard at it as well. We even got our travel agent involved for some specifics. Maybe this is happening. 

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭24‬ says, Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Father, help our ladies to get this next journey together. Amen. 

November 4 - “That counts”

Once again, we started out our day with a walk. This time, however, Chris was feeling a little more feisty than usual. We extended it to 30 minutes. That equates to a mile and a half on the Gulf Village track course scale. 

Honestly, the rest of the afternoon we lolled around, watching TV. Well, I take that back. Chris couldn’t stand it. She got the laundry pile going into the washing machine. I did help a little. I helped fold the sheets. That counts, doesn’t it?

Last night we braved the rainy weather and headed into Texas. Ezra had his first flag football scrimmage of the season. It didn’t rain any more, but it was humid and actually chilly. The good guys won the first half 19-6, then held off a furious rally in the fourth quarter to hang on for the win, 25-22. 

And then … unbeknownst to us … a second game began. Yep. On a school night a second game began at 9. Fortunately that game was a little less stressful. Final score was 35-18, good guys. 

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭11‬ says, I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.

Father, thanks for the day of calm. Be with Doug as he walks through dealing with his son’s death. Amen. 

November 3 - “A library??”

Just remembered another Halloween visitor’s comment. A teenager glanced through our front window into my home office, and with awe in his voice he said, “I really like your house, man. It looks like a library.” That it does, my young friend. That it does. 

We made an attempt to get back into walking. Made it for one mile. We are concerned that Chris needs to keep her face scar out of the sun for a while longer. She dutifully wore a wide-brimmed hat, though. She’ll get there. 

A trip to Walmart added a few extra steps to our count. We had to get … bananas. All set. For a few days, anyway. 

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬ says, For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Father, help us as we work to get back into walking. And protect Chris outside. Amen. 

November 2 - “Feliz Navidad!”

Here’s a few more of the significant connections from Halloween:

I can’t count the number of times youngsters were excited to get the Bible, often showing it to their parents and announcing, “I got a book!”  Or “Look! It’s a Bible!” Quite a number of parents expressed appreciation for the Bible, and several added a warm, “God bless you!”  

Several little guys approached me with wide eyes (for the Santa persona, of course) and threw their arms open wide with big ol’ hugs from Santa. 

We had visits from kids of all ages, from literal tiny newborns all the way to one old grandma who made her way down the driveway with the assistance of a walker. Yep. A walker. 

But my favorite of the night happened when a little girl in a fairy costume spotted me from the end of the driveway. She stopped dead in her tracks, looked back at her parents, pointed my direction, excitedly exclaimed, “Mira! Mira! Feliz Navidad!” I answered with a hearty, “Feliz Navidad!” of my own. 

Yesterday afternoon we had some more guests. Kel and most of his family came over to help us eat the rest of the Halloween pizza. We showed them a quick overview of our Northern Lights pictures. 20 or so minutes versus the two or three hours worth of footage we have. I think it at least gave them a taste of it. 

‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬ ‭says, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Father, bless those little youngsters who came by for an unexpected hug the other night. Amen. 

November 1 - “Checkin’ in”

We had a really special phone call yesterday. FaceTime, actually. It was great to chat with Micah over in Virginia. He’s doing really well with school. And he was getting ready to head to the Liberty homecoming football game. 

And speaking of grandchildren, we also heard that Cailyn was accepted into the college of her choice. Oh. Which one, you might ask? How about Texas A&M in College Station! Gig ‘em, Aggies! Congrats, Cailyn. Proud of you. 

And then there was Caleb’s last home football game of his senior year. He got to lead the team onto the field one last time. And AnnaGrace got to cheer with the varsity girls at the game. And Luke scored an exciting diving touchdown in his junior high game. Oh, by the way. Good guys won both games … of course. 

Last night we once again hosted our annual Halloween party. Pizza all around. Lots of candy given out. Two cases of Biker New Testaments gone. As were a hundred tracts on how to get saved. Quite the night.

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ says, All Scripture is inspired by God , and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Father, thanks for once again bringing “the world” to our neighborhood so we could share your word. Amen.