February 11 – “Sunday Specifics”

We had another pretty good crowd yesterday at church.  Fifty-one people.  The Leadership Team is already talking about ways to create more space.  Work has already begun on cleaning out a storeroom to be used for Bible Studies.  Adjusting the seating arrangement will allow us to set up some more chairs and increase our ability to hold around 100 or so people.  That’s about twice what we have now.  Exciting stuff.

The children’s sermon was a lot of fun, as usual.  One of the youth in the church brought up her little dog that she adopted.  The little guys had a chance to ask questions, and we determined that McKenna had to pay the price and promise to take care of the puppy.  Great lead in to the main teaching on being adopted into the family of God.  A family in the church donated a trove of trinkets to be used as gifts for the kids.  Of course they went over well.  Who doesn’t like a gift? 

The Leadership Team is looking at doing some creative ministry on Friday nights.  Last Friday there were twelve students at a movie night at the Bell’s house.  The Stone Family is heading up a team to develop some events that could end up being oriented for the whole family.  Meanwhile some of the Leadership Team requested some specific training in evangelism.  After some discussion they decided to put a little pressure on each other.  Those who want to will share their personal testimony and how someone would go about becoming a Christian. 

I got a lot of feedback from the new folks who have started coming about the Ash Wednesday service this week.  They were all very interested in hearing an actual explanation of why people walk around all day with a dirty forehead.  And with all the excitement surrounded the last two weekends in Galveston, they were also excited about the explanation of the history of Mardi Gras. 

I also had a great talk with one of the kids whose family has been coming for a few weeks.  He is a teenager who loves fishing, so needless to say, we hit it off right away.  I’m going to try to give him a call as soon as the weather clears off some, and we’ll do some fishing in the canal near his house. 

It has been exciting, but honestly it loses some of its zip for me because Chris can’t be a part of it.  Some of the folks have been really nice.  One couple sent home a plant with me yesterday.  Another gifted me with a great looking Hawaiian shirt.  Others send their love and tell me to give Chris and Mom hugs from them.  It is hard to communicate just how much that means to us. 

Psalms 65:11 says, “You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance.”

Father, thank you for showing us some of how you are at work around Seaside.  Please give us your eyes and your wisdom so we can see outside of the box and be true extensions of you.  Amen.

February 10 – “Flashback”

I thought we entered a time warp for a while yesterday.  I was working at my desk as usual when I heard sounds of strange music wafting from the television in the other room.  I knew it was on to give Mom some stimulation and try to keep her awake so she wouldn’t roam around as much at night.  But the music was … old.  And vaguely, frighteningly familiar.  I did my best to continue working, but it kept going on and on.  What was that sound and why did it seem so eerily familiar to me?  Finally I could bear the struggle no more.  I rose form my seat and cautiously inched my way into the den.  Not out of fear, but simply trying to give my weary brain time to figure out the mystery on its own.  But alas, it was to no avail.  I turned the corner, fully expecting to see some garbled, black and white view of … of … and there it was.  Not in black and white, mind you, but in full color.  And what color.  Bright blue suits and saxophones, trombones and brightly colored flowers.  An array of old people, smiling ear to ear, in what could only possibly be a studio audience of some kind.  And ever the music.  Not the kind you hear every day on KSBJ.  Not country.  Not rock and roll.  Very little drum beat.  Very little bass sound of any kind.  It was just so … happy.  Was this an episode of the Twilight Zone?  Perhaps.  Outer Limits?  Maybe.  Some nasty-mouthed youngster whisked back it time to be assaulted by the sounds of his grandparents to teach him a much-needed lesson in respect for his elders?  Nah.  That would never sell.  I was perplexed, to be sure.  I glanced over at Mom.  She was awake, and she seemed to be enjoying the noise.  And at that moment I had a flashback.  Not to some previous experimentation with drugs (I was always too chicken to even attempt something like that).  And not to a previous battlefield experience (I never served in the military.  The Vietnam War ended just as I graduated from high school).  No, this flashback was to a time in my own house, well, the one I grew up in just across the street.  Maybe even farther back than that, to our original house on 36^th and Avenue L.  To a time when all television pictures were in black and white.  To a time when Davy Crockett was the most exciting action hero on television.  To a time when my grandmother and my mother relaxed on the couch to watch their own favorite show that came on just before old Davy Crockett and Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color (Which, by the way, always confused me, since we had a black and white television).  Wait.  Their favorite show … that’s it.  I remembered.  Just as the guy in the shiny suit turned to face the camera.  Just as the off camera voice announced a move to commercial.  Just as I heard, “We’ll return in just a moment to … The Lawrence Welk Show.” 

Psalms 65:9 says, “You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly.  The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it.”

Father, to quote another of those old guys, thanks for the memories.  Amen.

February 9 – “Forty Steps”

We are trying to figure something out.  Problem is, it originated in the mind of a two-year-old, so the truth may never be discovered.  We have a new name for the vacant lot next door.  Ready for this?  Forty Steps.  Josiah came up with it, and has been consistent in his use of it to refer to the lot.  I suppose it could be somehow related to his internal Texan, and he is thinking in terms of the proverbial “Back forty.”  It is a vast space from his perspective.  And he does enjoy wearing his cowboy boots.  Or maybe he is drawing from his Daddy’s profession and it has something to do with Jesus being in the wilderness for forty days.  It has much sand like a desert, and he has been repeatedly warned about the dangers of entering the field in his bare feet.  Sounds like a barren, rugged wilderness to me.  I don’t think he is personally acquainted with anyone in a 12 step program for addiction, so I have kind of ruled that one out.  Forty Steps.  It does have a ring to it, I guess.

Josiah and his brothers were here around lunchtime yesterday, so we did what any self-respecting grandparent would do in a similar situation.  Three boys.  Active boys.  Hungry boys.  We ordered a pizza.  Problem was, before it arrived Josiah decided that he was indeed quite hungry.  He duly informed the master of the kitchen, Nana, “I weady for some wunch.”  Kind of a Tweety Bird stuck in the W’s instead of the T’s statement.  Chris was doing her best to stall him and distract him.  There was no way to get his mind off of food, though, and I totally understand that.  So she talked about food.  Here’s a bit of their interchange:

Nana: “Josiah, what do you want on your pizza?”

Josiah: “I want green beans and candy on my pizza.” 
Nana: “Ew.  Green beans and candy?”
Now at that I had to join in.  So I added an “Ew” of my own.
DadDad: “Ew is right.  You don’t want green beans and candy on your pizza really, do you?”
Josiah (by now sensing he has the undivided attention of both grandparental units, and reveling in his successful endeavor to gain just that) begins chuckling: “Yes, I do want pizza and candy on my pizza.  And …”
DadDad: “There’s more?  What else could you put on pizza besides green beans and candy?”
Josiah: “I want green beans and candy on my pizza.  And I’m gonna put it in my pocket.”  (Now squealing with laughter).

Of course we joined him.  He could have said anything and followed it with that laugh and we would have done the same.  There’s nothing quite like the unrestricted laughter of a two-year-old.

Psalms 65:8 says, “Those living far away fear your wonders; where morning dawns and evening fades you call forth songs of joy.”

Father, restore to me the unrestricted joy of a two-year-old in total command of his grandparents’ attention.  Amen.

February 8 – “A truly celebration-worthy anniversary”

A word of shocking import from grandson Micah: “If I was as tall as my mommy, I’d be a really short man.”

An announcement of dire necessity from granddaughter Cailyn: “I only have 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9 … 9 toys.  So I really, really need another one.”

Yesterday was the first anniversary of the day April got out of the hospital after a serious battle with some as yet unknown malady in which she lost her spleen and was near death at least twice.  We were called upon to perform key babysitting duties so Nathan and April could go out and celebrate.  Now that’s an anniversary to mark.  April has done fantastically since then, and is on track to graduate from nursing school in May.  Woo Hoo.

I saw an interesting sight the other day when we were hanging out with Cailyn in the front yard.  Some of the children who live down the street were playing near the newly established playground next door to us.  That would be the unofficially established playground in the recently created vacant lot.  One of the little boys hand his arm in a sling.  “He fell down in the kitchen and fractured his arm” was the explanation given by the older boy with him.  Not an unusual occurrence by any means for an active young boy.  But he was the one that got my attention.  It was the older answer-man.  He was walking down the street on stilts.  Now these were not just any stilts.  They were not like the stilts my Dad made for Nathan that we still have in the garage and that most recently Jachin has taken a liking to.  Those were solidly made (like everything my Dad ever did), and painted red (believe it or not, also like many things my Dad owned.  He painted the things he made, the things he bought, even his tools were painted red.  That eccentric quality proved to be foresight on his part, by the way, when the tools were swamped in Hurricane Ike.  Very few of his tools were affected by rust).  This boy, however was not walking on Dad-like stilts.  He had made the most of the tools he had on hand.  This boy was walking on upside-down crutches.  His feet were balanced on the hand bars, and the part that goes under your arm had become the feet of the stilts.  It looked a little awkward, but it was obvious he had been at it a while.  He was really good.

Psalms 65:5-7 says, “You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength, who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations.”

Father, it was good to remember my Dad.  It was good to thank you again for saving April.  And it is always good to be in the presence of such young, but wise creations.  Amen.

February 7 – “Dancing”

We had some outside time the other day when Cailyn was here.  The weather was acting like Spring, so it was not at all hot and just a little cool.  Actually perfect for taking a leisurely stroll, or relaxing in the front porch rocking chair, watching children play and waving at cars as they pass by.  Not that we did any of those things.  I did mention Cailyn was here, didn’t I?  Cailyn is not one to “stroll” anywhere.  And although she doesn’t mind time in the rocking chair, it is usually limited to about a minute and a half before something more exciting comes to mind.  Now when the boys are over, the rocking chair almost instantly becomes something else.  A pirate ship.  A precarious perch over a river of hot lava.  The cockpit of a rocket ship.  And every now and then that cousin influence will leak through to Cailyn.  But she doesn’t like to be confined anywhere.

So after returning from one of her obligatory dashes to the end of the street, daring – no, taunting – someone to follow her, her brown eyes lit up.  Here it comes.  Cailyn has another idea, and I was in her sights.  What would it be this time?  Scale the heights of Mount Pick-up Truck?  Investigate the mysteries of the Great Sahara Vacant Lot?  No, not this time.  This time she flickered her lashes at me and asked, ever-so sweetly, “DadDad, will you dance with me?”  I know you can hear the sound of my heart melting, can’t you?  No hesitation here.  Besides, we have to practice for my dance with her at her wedding. 

I took both of her hands in mine in the classic fairy tale ballroom dance style, and we began to spin in a circle, around and around.  And around.  And around.  Didn’t take long and I was getting dizzy.  So I did what any self-respecting grandfather would have done in my shoes.  I fell down.  And if I must say so myself, it was a grand fall, with all the pomp and bluster I could muster to fit the regal occasion.  She loved it.  A bit too much, I’m afraid.  Oh, she joined me all right.  And then she was up.  “Let’s do it again, DadDad.”  Of course.  So we joined hands.  Now this time I decided to add a little flair to the occasion.  I did some jumping and high stepping as we spun, to the delight of several passing motorists.  Her giggles turned to laughter as she struggled to keep up with the outrageous moves of the master.  I finally managed between gasps to ask, “Are we dancing or frolicking?”  Without missing a beat she breathlessly replied, “We are dancing and frogglelicking, DadDad.”  And with that we collapsed once again to the ground.  I’m so glad we have soft grass.  Now I need to get started on that Dictionary of Cailynese.

Psalms 65:4 says, “Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts!

We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.”

Father, thank you for the good things of your house that you allow us to experience as a sneak preview here.  Amen.

February 6 – “Now you can see”

We had a day with Cailyn again yesterday.  Actually it was just a few hours, but she always makes a day of any experience with her.  This one included some tense moments, though.  She was here when I returned from a doctor’s appointment in Houston (just a recheck with the neurologist.  He prescribed my medication in a different form so it wouldn’t cost as much.  Always a plus).  And she most assuredly had an agenda for the day all planned out.  At least for me.  Now she did allow me to finish the work I had to get done, so kudos to her for that.  But every so often I heard appeals like, “Come on, DadDad be a girl” and “I wish you were a girl, DadDad.”  Of course I indicated that I was not too happy about that thought.  My responses ranged from “I’m happy being a boy” to “Why would I want to be a girl?”  Never should have put that in the form of a question.  She had a ready reply.  “Because then I could put fingernail polish on you, DadDad.  Let me put fingernail polish on you.  I’m ready to do it now …”  Chris quickly informed me that it was real fingernail polish, not the washable kind she had last time she was here.  She even made a big deal out of showing me the job Cailyn had done on her fingernails.  And then, bless her heart, Chris ran point for me so I could finish up the work I was doing, but then I was on my own. 

Ever diligent, Cailyn knew right away that I had come to a stopping point.  She sidled up to me at my desk.  As I mentioned, I had just completed a portion of work on my computer, so I was leaning back in my chair and rubbing my tired old eyes.  She tried one more time, “Are you done yet, DadDad?  I’m ready to put fingernail polish on you.”  Filled with a renewed sense of self-preservation, I replied in my best grandfatherly tone, “I’m not going to let you put anything on my nails until I see with my own eyes the acetone that will be there to remove it when I decide not to be a girl anymore.”  See my technique there?  “Acetone.”  Use one big word that there is no way she will understand.  Just enough to confuse her and buy me some more time.  And did it work?  Well, not so much.  She quickly scoped out each of the articles on my desk until her eyes lit on the one she was searching for.  Those eyes lit up and she broke into a huge grin.  And she handed me … my glasses.  When I do work on the computer I don’t wear my glasses.  “Here, DadDad.  Now you can see.” 

The rest of the story?  Fortunately Chris called out for her to join her outside.  The allure of the outdoors was too much to resist, so we adjourned to the front yard for all new types of fun (fodder for another day’s journal) until her Mom arrived.  She didn’t forget, though.  I can still hear her words as we left together to join Nani in the front yard.  “It’s OK, DadDad.  We can do your nails tomorrow.”

John 9:25 says, “He replied, ‘Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!’”

Father, thank you for opening my eyes to what counts.  Relationship is way better than acetone.  Amen.

February 5 – “Which way is it?”

I went through my regular Monday routine of work yesterday.  Write an article for the church website.  Enter events and another article on the church FaceBook page.  Send birthday cards for the week.  Make sure bills are paid.  Write summaries for any weekend meetings and send them out to team members.  Catch up on emails.  Make phone calls.  Begin work on the specifics of next Sunday’s sermon.  Usually makes for quite a full day.  That routine was invaded by something yesterday, though, that was simple, pleasant, amazing, and was the highlight of the whole day.  I went for a walk. 

I know, doesn’t sound like much, and as far as walks go it wasn’t much.  I only went to the corner of the street and back.  That’s just one house away on a small block.  But this one was special.  See, I had a companion.  My Mom.  That’s right.  I went on a walk with my Mom.  I was at my desk when she arrived at the front door with her walker.  Instead of stopping there and surveying the goings on across the street as is her usual custom, she opened it right up and headed outside.  I jumped up to make sure she didn’t get tangled up and trip in the process.  I asked where she was going, but she didn’t respond.  Her face was pretty resolute, though, so I decided to join her and see what her plans were.  By this time Chris has come out to see what was wrong.  I told her we were apparently going for a walk, so she kind of grinned and left us to it.  Mom took a deep breath and started her journey.  I walked by her side in the grass to make sure she kept her balance and kept on track on the sidewalk.  She didn’t say anything until we reached the street.  At that point she took a long glance first one way, then the other.  I wondered if she would want to cross the street, but instead she very quietly asked, “Which way is it?”  I’m not sure what “it” was in her mind, but I stepped in and suggested that it was back the other way.  She nodded in agreement and we got her spun around and headed back toward our house.  When we reached our driveway she was looking a little bushed, so I directed her walker back toward the front door.  She was happy to oblige.  She made her way to the first chair she could find and collapsed into it.  It was the farthest she had walked at any one time in … well, in a long, long time. 

“Which way is it?”  Sometimes down to the corner and back is just the “right” way. 

John 14:6 says, “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”

Father, thank you for making “way” so much simpler to find.  And thanks for that little trek down the way with my Mom.  Amen.