October 17 – “Skimming on the Wall”

I finally got a teaching ready for tomorrow.  Another one on David and his conquests.  This time it's more expository than story-telling.  Let's see if it's the one God wants to use. A bunch of the Seaside students came by.  I think there were ten or eleven of them.  They were doing a fundraiser.  A guy in the church was paying them to put business cards on people's doors.  One of the territories was our neighborhood.   Chris put me to work in the yellow bedroom.  We hung two shelves.  She wanted to display some of the memorabilia from our sons' careers.  She managed to get some pictures and trophies and other odds and ends up there.  Then she decided to hang up Nathan's old skimboard.  We had it on the wall of his bedroom back before the storm.  We looked at some old photos to see where to put the supports.  I had some trouble with the screws, though.  I pretended that I was three or four years old and slapped at it.  Sure enough, it skimmed right off the supports.  I had to replace screws three times, and each time I had to use a progressively larger one of those sheetrock hanger things that you hammer into the wall.  We were on a roll then.  We went ahead and hung up a picture in Mom's room as well.  It's a painting of her house across the street.  She seemed pretty excited to have it up.   I tried several time to do something outside, since the weather was so nice.  I painted a little, and cleaned up some back yard stuff, and even started to organize the garage.  Every time I went outside, though, I eventually got hit by allergies really bad and had to come inside.  I feel like I got hit by a train.   Mom was into football today.  We watched some of Texas vs. Oklahoma and Tech vs. Nebraska, and then we saw the last 40 seconds of the Miami vs. Arkansas game.    Kel called as we finished up supper.  Christina wanted to know if we had enough old newspapers to crumble up and fill up a garbage bag.  Chris' answer was, "What size garbage bag."  They are supposed to come over later and pick them up.   Isaiah 40:11 says, "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young."   Father, let me be one of those lambs.  Amen.

October 16 – “Spare Time Project”

Nothing very exciting happened at school today.  It was Friday – Subway Lunch Day – so the kids were glad for that.  The Bible and PE teacher both called in that they couldn't come.  The Bible teacher had a video for them to watch.  I had them help me clean up as PE, then let them leave early.  They didn't mind that, either..   Chris and I went to Home Depot this afternoon.  We picked up some boards so she could put up some shelves in one bedroom and over the TV.  One will be painter white and the other stained to match the hunk of furniture that the TV is sitting on.  Yet another "spare time project."  I'll never get to be a part of that one.   Jachin has another soccer game tonight, so we are planning to head over there after supper.  I don't know if they can beat the "cute factor" from last night.  I can't wait to find out.   We may go over to their house after the game.  Not to relax and enjoy the grandkids or anything.  Just to borrow the lawn mower, and maybe the gas weedeater they just had fixed.  Their neighbor fixed it for them.  He added gas.  I think I have some gas.  Maybe it'll work for me, too.   Nathan and April apparently spent some time over here today.  They used the computer this morning, then brought some stuff to store in our attic this afternoon.  I wasn't here either time, so I missed seeing Cailyn.  It's all a plot against me to keep me from learning how to most effectively spoil all the young female children related to me.  She needs me.   Matthew 6:8 says, "Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."   Father, you know I don't know what you want me to say Sunday morning.  Do I need to know?  Apparently not yet.  Help me to wait on you.  Amen.

October 15 – “Jachin’s Team Won”

The new newspaper ad for teachers and a headmaster at Seaside Christian Academy came out today.  I really had high hopes for it.  Well, we have only had two responses so far.  One was interested in a junior high position.  But the other was a man interested in the "principal" position.  They made us call it principal rather than headmaster because head MASTER is sexist.  I don't know anything about him yet, because he just requested an application.  But I can hope..   The PE teacher couldn't be there again today.  Her husband let me know when he got there to teach his Art class right before hers.  I told him I would take care of it.  When the time came I had them all dress out and meet me on the porch outside.  I told them they had a choice of activities today.  First choice was the list I had in my pocket.  I read it to them.  Run the perimeter of the property.  Run sprints in the parking lot.  Jog the perimeter of the property.  I don't remember what all else I had on there.  By the time I finished their mouths were hanging open and they were formulating their excuses.  Then I quickly added, "Or we can all walk down to the beach."  Guess what won?  The beach is a nice place when it's not too hot.   When I got home Chris was babysitting with Cailyn.  Nathan and April were moving into a little larger apartment.  It was sure good to see her.  Then Chris snuck off to take a shower.  It took Cailyn about three minutes to realize she was gone.  She puckered up, grabbed her Elmo doll, and started on a toddler's trek to find Nani.  She only got as far as the kitchen before she finally gave up and turned back.  Elmo kept sabotaging her attempts to walk.  But when she turned back, good old DadDad was right there.  Since Mom or Dad or Nani weren't anywhere to be found, she decided to settle for the old man.  She crawled into my arms – with Elmo, of course – and snuggled in for the count (that would be the countdown until one of the Big Three showed up again).  We walked around the house a few times.  She finally decided that she liked two of my old carvings – the elephant and one of the dogs.  They even beat out Elmo.  They weren't a powerful enough attraction for us to sit on the floor and play with, though.  Nope.  "We must stand, DadDad.  We might miss the Arrival of one of Them if we're way down there on the floor."  Hey, DadDad happily took all the hugs he could get.  And it was a good thing.  As soon as Nani walked in, it was all over.  Girls.    I went to Jachin's soccer game this afternoon.  The other team didn't have quite enough players when the game began, so Jachin flipped his shirt around and played for them.  He loved it, because he never had to sit out.  He is quite the little athlete, too.  I saw him score a goal (would that be for or against his team?).  I also saw him knock a kid down with a slide tackle from behind.  Not something to laugh about.  It's a highly illegal maneuver.  But I couldn't help laughing when Coach Daddy, who was the king of illegal slide tackles from behind when he played, had to tell him that what he did was wrong.  He said something like, "That was a really good move, Jachin.  But it was really illegal.  But it was a good move.  Just don't do it again."  Talk about conflicted.  I also laughed when the other team's last player finally arrived.  Jachin didn't want to rejoin his team.  So the two coaches said, "Why not?" and kept playing.  They don't keep very close track of the score at these games (also tough for Kel - Mr. Competitive), so I don't know who had the most points.  But what did it matter, anyway.  If the team Jachin played for scored more, then Jachin's team won.  But if his real team scored more, then Jachin's team won.  So … Jachin's team won.  That's my grandson.   John 1:1 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."   Father, I wanted to read something simple tonight.  There it is.  Simple. But very complex at the same time.  That's my God.  Amen.

October 14 – “You are excused. You may go.”

I didn't spend much time at school today.  I was called for jury duty and had to be at the courthouse by 1:30.  That was kind of unusual in itself.  Usually jury duty starts on Monday and ends on Friday.  Here it was Wednesday.  And the middle of the day at that.  I knew something strange was afoot.      That's why I asked our CSI Guy / Youth Pastor awhile back if he had any big cases coming up.  He immediately mentioned what became known as the "Baby Grace Case."  A mother and father were accused of killing their little girl and throwing her body in the bay.  It was found by some folks and the search for her identity began.  The mother's trial is already over.  She was convicted.  The trial Mike had worked on was the dad.  He didn't reveal any sordid details or anything, but he did let me know he had worked on the case.    Sure enough, I was in the first of three jury pools of two hundred or people in each.  And their purpose was strictly to choose jurors for the Baby Grace trial.  Now I have been called for jury duty many times, but I have never made it actually sitting on a jury.  And here was the biggest criminal case to hit Galveston in years.  And I couldn't serve because I knew someone who worked on the case.   After the two hundred or so of us crowded into a courtroom (I had to sit in one of the lawyer chairs).  The court clerks went through all the rules about serving.  Then the judge came in and excused those who were ineligible or who had a specific reason for opting out.  I was among the first to be called into the judge's actual courtroom.  The defendant was on one side with his lawyers.  He looked just like his photo in the paper.  The district attorney was on the other side.  We packed out that courtroom, too.   Finally, the same judge came in and introduced himself.  The principal players introduced themselves.  The judge explained the case.  He didn't try to hide anything.  He actually said, "This is the Baby Grace" case you have heard about in the paper."  He then asked us row by row to raise our hands if we felt that for any reason we didn't feel that we could be totally impartial.  As row after row were called, several hands went up each time.  And each time the judge very kindly said, simply, "You are excused.  You may go."  I double-checked on my way out to see if we were to call back each night as is the usual protocol.  The clerk said, "No.  You are excused.  You may go."    Romans 7:6 says, "But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code." Father, it felt strange to be released from my obligation to serve just because I knew somebody.  I guess it's like getting released from my obligation to die just because I know you.  Thank you.  Amen.

October 13 – “Tankless”

The plumbers came to take a look at how much it will be to put in a hot water heater at the church building.  One guy came the other day and said the on demand tankless heater was dead.  He said we should consider putting in a regular "tanked" one in the kitchen.  But he also said to call the contractor he recommended and see what he said.  That's who came today.  The plumber with him was a different guy.  Actually, he was the guy who did our house, so it was good to see him again.  He crawled up in the attic and under the sink, and his recommendation was to replace the tankless one up in the attic.  He said they have come a long way, and he gave us some info on one that has a thirteen year warranty.  Not bad.  He didn't think it would be all that hard to replace, so I checked out the website.  They cost under four hundred dollars.  That's a lot less  than I expected.  Looks like that's the way we'll probably go.  Have to have hot water.   I got a haircut this afternoon.  The glass front door of the place had been broken into a million tiny pieces.  Someone had tried to burglarize them for the second time this month.  All the people who worked there were buzzing about taking all their belongings home with them at night and wondering whether the police got the same fingerprints as last time.  Fear certainly brought out the talkativeness in that bunch.   Chris texted and said she wouldn't be home for a while, so Mom and I went on to Luby's.  Where else?  She said it was the only place we could go where she would eat.  And even so, she didn't eat all that much this time.  Hope she's all right.   I have a Seaside Christian Academy school board meeting tonight.  I'm not sure what time.  I emailed and texted the president, but haven't heard back yet.  Guess I'll just be there at 7 and wait.  I think the Peyton Place stuff has played itself all out, so the meeting should be fairly calm.  Fund raising and grant writing and playground building and maybe a minute or two for the INTERIM headmaster to make a report.  I'm wondering where the newspaper ad for headmaster and teachers has disappeared to. Anyway, I hope I get home at some reasonable hour.    Jury duty tomorrow.  I don't report until 1:30, though, so I still have to go to school and do the opening assembly.  I get to leave pretty soon after, though.   Colossians 4:2 says, "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful."   Father, I am thankful.  I'm not so good at watchful, though.  Help me.  Amen.

October 12 – “New girl on the block”

We had a new girl on the block at the school today.  She came over from the public high school after giving it a try for a few weeks.  She seems really motivated and excited about the chance to work ahead and maybe graduate sooner.  The other kids also seemed to welcome her.  She's really cute, so the guys, at least, were excited.  Now I need to get her a crate locker and some textbooks.  I also need to find three copies of Silas Marner.    Chris is heading back to Bay City tonight.  She was going to wait until tomorrow, but her mom's appointment was changed to an earlier time.  The cat scan results don't look all that great.  Looks like the lymph nodes are involved now.  That's about the last thing there is.  The chemo damaged her heart and the cancer has the rest.  She is still upbeat, though.  She talks about having surgery and getting strong enough to start chemo again.  Chris is doing her best to stay encouraging.   There is a school board meeting tomorrow night.  The lady we tried to hire as headmaster is supposed to be there to give us some pointers on grant writing.  I'm afraid some of our Peyton Place drama may be there as well.  I'm glad we worked so hard on the student handbook this summer.  That should help head off some of the issues.  All I want is someone else to get the headmaster job.  I have reached that not-really-sick-but-just –day-to-day-existing stage.  I don't feel like I can get anything substantial done because of all the operational and administrative stuff that has become "the next important thing."  Ah, alas.  Stricken once again by the "tyranny of the urgent" bug.  Maybe I can trade it off for some swine flu.    Or maybe jury duty.  But that's not until Wednesday afternoon.  A lifetime away. In the meantime, I guess I'll see Chris off and go crate hunting at WalMart.   Colossians 3:17 says, "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."   Father, take my "whatever you do" and make something good out of it.  Amen.

October 11 – “A Girl Party”

This afternoon I went from watching the Dallas Cowboys play an overtime pro football game to a six year old girl's birthday party.  Wow.  The football game came after we stopped at McAlister's Deli for lunch and were joined by some of the teenagers from church (and a Mom/driver).  After lunch the Mom had to rush to an appointment, so the kids all came to our house to watch the game.  One of the guys is a huge Cowboys fan, so it was kind of fun.  Especially when it looked like they were going to blow it.   When they left we had to hurry out of the house to get to the birthday party.  The little girl went to Seaside Christian Academy last year, and her parents are homeschooling her this year.  She doesn't have too many friends except from church, so we felt like we really needed to go.  Sure enough, there weren't many there.  It was at an outside pavilion and the weather was not very cooperative, so that had a lot to do with the small turnout, I'm sure.  But the girl was perfectly happy.   But this whole girl party thing was very weird.  Don't get me wrong.  Some parts of it were fine.  They had a Sponge Bob piñata that was filled with candy.  And candy is, after all, candy.  In fact they even had some body parts gummy candy – fingers, noses, ears, and even brains.  That was cool.  And the Dr. Peppers to drink were also great.    They had some of those small pumpkins for the kids to decorate.  Now that could have been fun.  You know, one-eyed pirates and creepy jack-o-lantern faces.  But this was a girl party.  They had glitter glue and feathers and beads.  The little girls all received a pink paper crown to wear.  The birthday girl's dad put one on, too.  That's when it really started to get noisy.  Not regular, run-of-the-mill, let's go nuts kind of party noisy.  This was a girl party.  They giggled.  And they squealed.    No actual birthday cake at this party.  See, the birthday girl helped make cupcakes for everyone.  But not just any cupcakes.  Red velvet cupcakes.  With green icing on top.  And cute little crowns.  I stuck with my Dr. Pepper.    Her presents were interesting, too.  Some of the things I had no idea what they were, other than they were obviously for girls.  She did get one battery powered toy.  Now how could a battery powered toy be all that bad?  This one was a plastic dog with floppy ears and swimming goggles.  It walked around in circles.  They said it can also swim.  Hence, the goggles.  OK.   They gave away a few trinkets to everyone.  One was a curly straw.  When the birthday girl handed me one, she said, "You can only drink water with it so it will last forever or else of you drink something else with it, it will clog up and get all sticky and you'll have to throw it away."  At least I think that's what she said.  I also received a necklace.  Hung around my neck by the birthday girl, herself.  Yep.  Purple beads hung about my neck for almost two hours this afternoon.    Chris made me some pancakes when we got home.  Now that's a great supper.  Maybe later I'll bite into a finger … or an ear. Colossians 3:16 says, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."   Father, thanks for giving me the chance to do a girl party today.  Now I won't be so horrified when we do stuff for Cailyn.  Amen.