October 18 - “A New Possibility”

Chris was up early enough to get in a morning walk before her doc appointment. It was my day off to recharge, so I stayed behind.

Not long after she got back, she took off again, this time for her PCP appointment about the weird rash. I stayed home this time and worked on the newest jigsaw puzzle. 

We have a new possibility on the rash. The PCP seems to think it could actually be bruising along the scar line as a result of being over-aggressive with her stretching. Sounds strange to me since she’s been doing the stretches for weeks now, but what do I know?  She goes back in a week to have it rechecked. Once again … we’ll see. 

Last night we drove up to LaMarque to hang out with Noa and Ezra while Kel and Christina went to the Galveston Baptist Association meeting. Their older brothers were going to karate, Micah works there and Josiah to just go work out. Jachin, of course is at college.  We stopped at Little Caesar’s on the way to pick up some pizza for supper. Gotta give ‘em a little grandparently treat, you know? It was quite well received. 

The kids played in the backyard for a long time before Chris called them in for baths and bedtime. They taught us both a dice game called “Left, Center, Right,” then they played a game of “Clue” with Nana. Nana doesn’t do well with Clue. The kids pretty much smoked her. We ended the evening with a Family Worship Time and a few minutes of book reading. Then it was off to bed. 

2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭8‬ says, And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Father, thanks for the chance to focus on just two of our brood of ten. Amen. 

October 17 - “But then …”

Our next crisis has arisen. Chris has a rash that popped up under her arm over the site of her cancer surgery. It has been spreading rapidly over the past two days, so she called the cancer doc. His office said she should call her PCP and get it evaluated. In a flash of good luck (aka - answer to prayer), her PCP, who has just started back seeing patients after having a baby and is only working half days a few times a week, “just happened” to have an opening this morning at 10:30. She jumped on it. Now we’ll see how this one plays out. 

 But then … 

The cancer doc’s nurse called back. Seems the doc wanted her to be seen within the next 24 hours. Chris told them she had an appointment for today. That was OK, but then he asked that she upload a picture of the rash to her MyChart. We got that done, then started the waiting game again. 

Meanwhile, Chris did her usual intensive research. And everything she could find was not particularly good news. Needless to say, we both did some internal pacing during the Astros game. Didn’t help that they lost that game. Still waiting to hear back from the cancer doc, but for now, Chris will head to the PCP appointment and see what she says. 

Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ says, Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Father, be with Chris at the doc today. Help them to find some solid answers very soon. Amen. 

October 16 - “Great X 7+”

Great day at church yesterday. Great to hear about God’s great gift to us. Also, it’s always a great day when we have another baptism. This young lady was quite articulate about her great salvation that happened at camp. She was really excited about getting baptized in the Gulf as well. And before the day was over, we had two more who want to be baptized next Sunday. Great God is definitely doing a great work. 

We also had a great crowd that stuck around after the baptism for dinner on the grounds. And then we had a baby shower. Great to celebrate new life in several different ways. 

Isaiah‬ ‭55‬:‭11‬ ‭says, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Father, thank you for moving in some really great ways at church. You are … great! Amen. 

October 15 - “Hug your checker”

I cranked up the old wheels and hit the walking trail with Chris again. It was really tough on my back, but I did the whole two miles. I just don’t understand how I could handle all the hiking we did, but now have so much trouble on these neighborhood walks. Of course back there we did stop every so often to let Chris’ heart catch up with her respiratory functions. Maybe that was just enough to let my back issues reset. Who knows. Nine days to Shot Day. 

Yesterday afternoon we made a Walmart run. We needed bananas above all. We also had to get a gift for a baby shower taking place at church today. And Chris picked up a baked chicken to make something tasty for dinner on the grounds at church. 

We made it a point to choose which checkout counter to go to. Why? So we could see our newest friend, Pedrameh. It was her first day after transferring from her store up north. I told her in Galveston it had been determined that it was officially OK to hug your checker. She said to be careful. If we did that she would anticipate it every time we came in. Deal. 

Psalms‬ ‭19‬:‭1 says, The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

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Father, please help Pedrameh as she gets into the swing of things at her new work location. Amen. 

October 14 - “Missing piece”

Chris took off without me on her morning walk that without me slowing her down turns into just a shade short of a jog. I tried a second night without taking a super-Tylenol, this time after a 2-mile walk, and it was … restless. I kept waking up with the back pain. For the most part I was able to doze back off, but the interruptions didn’t make for a very restful night. Ah, well. One more week … steroids are on the horizon. 

So, while Chris walked, I worked on birthday and anniversary cards for next week. It felt weird getting back into the swing of things after being gone for so long.

Chris went back to her sewing project for the afternoon. I spent a lot of that time working on the jigsaw puzzle. Got it down to the six or so pieces that Chris could finish. Also found out that there was a piece missing. That’s two puzzles in a row with a missing piece. Hope these new ones we got on vacation are all present and accounted for. 

Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭11‬ ‭says, No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Father, again, please give me patience with my back to last until next Monday. Amen. 

October 13 - “Sheared”

I joined Chris for her 2-mile walk yesterday. I figured if I could make it through some of hikes we’ve been taking, I should be able to handle a flat surface for 20 or 30 minutes. My back did complain, but I made it all the way. I just keep telling myself that I’m a week or so away from another mega-dose of steroids back there. 

After lunch I made my way to a visit to Suzann. Yep. That’s my hair stylist. Barber. Sheep shearer. Whichever is necessary at the time. And since it’s been since August that I was last in, I think the latter was pretty appropriate. I was admittedly shaggy. She worked her magic though. I now have a nice, cool head. 

We had a great resumption of home group last night. Even Dennis and Pedrameh showed up. It was good for the group to get to meet Dennis’ new wife. 

Isaiah‬ ‭60‬:‭3 says, Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Father, thank you for the great relationships we have among our home group. Amen. 

October 12 - “Rain”

Rain. 

That’s good news. 

Our grass loved it. 

Our car needed it. 

We enjoyed it. 

As a result of the dampness, we just stayed inside. We watched some TV. I worked on the jigsaw puzzle. Chris had some sewing going on, as well as her usual book in hand. And we closed out the day watching the Astros clinch a trip to the American League Championship game against the Rangers. Pretty nice day all around. 

Mark‬ ‭8‬:‭35 says, For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.

Father, thank you so much for the rain. And for a really calm day to go with it. Amen.