progress??
The sprinkler guys left yesterday afternoon. Most of the system is in, but we are waiting on some of the pool work now, and a little electrical, before they can test the sprinklers. I feel a little decadent.
I started on the dog pens yesterday at 8:30 am, and worked throughout the day. Dog tired at 9:15 pm, friend Gary and I completed Crockett's new home, and moved him in. He was delighted.
Okay - I am going to venture out there and make a political comment. I have to agree with the Militant Moderate and our Governor on their assessments of our most recent legislative session. There was too much "politics" played during this last legislative session.
By the way - I have a simple way to define politics. You break the word down into its parts - poly, meaning many - ticks - meaning blood sucking creatures - and there you have it - many blood sucking creatures. Actually, it kinda works as a working definition.
I have spent a little time in our State Senate. Two years ago, I was invited to share "Pastor of the Week" duties. I was privileged to be able to say the prayer, and to offer a "mini-sermon" on Thursday of that week. It was all a kick. Anyway, I used the Micah passage as the focal point of the sermon. It reads "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?(NAS) - Micah 6:88 " I personally think that anyone who enters the political field should have to have this passage tattooed backwards on their forehead so they can read it in the mirror each morning as they prepare to do "the people's work."
the best laid plans . . .
turned into mud this morning. I was starting on the dog pens, laying things out, etc., and it started sprinkling. Sprinkling turned into a shower, which turned into 5 hours and 2 inches of rain. Finally the sun came out this afternoon, around 4, and maybe things will work out for tomorrow.
So I wrote today. The sermon is complete - finis.
Amy doesn't like the leash. In fact, she gets this kinda wild eyed look in her eye as she spins when she hits the end of it, and then waits for me to drag her to get started again. Patience, patience.
Not much else. Going home a little early tonight.
I really should post more than once a week . . .
Ya look up, and it's been a week . . .
Close on the heels of Travis' surgery, and the resulting convaelescence (for both son and parents), the weekend happened, and then the first of the week.
I said in the sermon Sunday that everything I own is broken. Thursday I tried to go fishing, only to putter around in the cove in which I launched because the throttle assembly went kaput. So, now the score is: boat in the shop, pool broken, fence broken, dog pens need replacing, sprinkler system being installed, garden non-existent (except for the weeds), and mowing twice a week. UGH!!
Speaking of - the sprinkler guys showed up Wednesday morning, and they got a good start yesterday. But we got a little rain last night, and there is more in the forecast for today and tonight, so they are holding off until at least tomorrow.
Amy is doing great. She has transitioned from Bandit leaving to go back home, and has decided that the most fun a girl puppy can have is torturing Crockett when he is eating dinner. I have a feeling she's in for a rude awakening when the snarls turn into a snip.
We got the youth off to camp yesterday. Pray for them this week.
Happy Blogging Anniversary to Me . . .
This is my blogging anniversary. I began this blog one year ago as opportunity to express my thoughts - most especially about the passing of my father. Just a few statistics. This is my 170th post. That means that I have posted, on average, every 2.14 days. You know it has been more sporadic than that. Since I installed the Site meter, 7221 people have visited the blog (okay, to be honest, about 500 of those visits are mine). People have visited from every state in the union, from 50 different countries, and from every continent, except Antarctica (those people must be really busy). Currently I am recieving 18 hits a day.Those are the tangibles. The intangibles - I have found more of my writing voice. I have discovered friends from many corners of the globe, and the depth of some of my friends is astounding. I have found this to be a wonderful tool, and at the same time I have been able to use this tool without becoming addicted.I want to thank you for stopping in and sharing my thoughts. Thank you for being my friends, and thank you for praying for me, my family, and my church.I hope to expand my work through this medium in the coming year. I may venture out into some political discussions, and I definitely want to increase my theological observations.Do me a favor - I would hope that each person who reads this blog today would take the time to post a comment. That would be great. Thanks.
This day could have been much worse . . .
The people who care for Travis called us this morning around 9:30 to let us know that he had been taken to the hospital. We immediately jumped in the car to make our way to OKC. By 12:30, they had made the decision to take him to surgery to repair his shunt (call, I'll be glad to give you details).
He came through the surgery just great, has eaten, and settled in for the night. Lynn will stay with him tonight, and then he shall return to Enid to convalesce.
These things, with Travis, are always an emergency. Even at 26, we still go through the same roller-coaster emotions with him that any parent does. God was good this day. Good surgeon, great nurses, staff at his home that got him to the hospital and then stayed around all day. And the friends at the hospital - my, oh my.
This day could have ended a lot worse.
Amy is becoming official
I sent in the registration papers on Amy earlier this week. Field Dog Stud Book will register the dog, and for a nominal fee, send pedigree on a beautiful chart. I did this with Crockett, and have never regretted it. I asked for the registered name of "Doc's Maggie Fitzgerald." I know - then why am I calling her Amy. When you see her, you'll see why. Anyway, the Maggie Fitzgerald comes out of the 2004 Academy Award Winning movie "Million Dollar Baby." The lead character was a boxer, but she was the "runt" of her family as well. Watch the movie.
Took her to the vet yesterday morning, and she checked out just fine. She weighs in at 5.6. Eating just isn't all that important to her, although she's getting better. She found the "demand" feeder the other day, and frankly prefers Crockett's Dog Chow to Puppy Chow.
Sermon today. Church Garage Sale tomorrow. Oh boy!!!!
I need to go fishing.
Happy Birthday to #2 brother.
Amy lives here . . .
Picked up the pup this morning. Gary bought one as well. And we transported a third dog to Enid for another friend. Let it suffice to say that my truck smelled like puppy inside.Amy has taken to the family well thus far. She eats and plays and poops just fine, thank you. She comes out of a pretty high-powered line of pointers, and she has, shall we say, style. She seems to be a very smart little dog - watched Crockett play in the yard (he is ever so slightly jealous) and she mimicked much of his behavior (pointing, fetch, etc.) This will be fun . . .I'm not terribly happy with the sermon - I hope it preaches better than it reads. I'll post it tomorrow.Find someplace to worship tomorrow.
50th Anniversary
My parents were married 50 years ago today. Dad passed away just a little over a year ago, and so this day is somewhat bittersweet.Thomas Jesse Dunn, Jr. wed Hermenia Ella Meyer at Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, June 1, 1956. They lived in Fort Worth, then in Richmond, Virginia, then in Huntsville, Alabama, and then moved to Pasadena, Texas, where their four children went all the way through grade school, High School and University. After retirement, they moved to Granbury, Texas, and lived in a wonderful neighborhood for 13 years until he passed last year. Mother still resides there, is in good health, and I am happy to report, is doing well one year after Dad's passing.Happy Anniversary, Mom (and Dad).
my life . . .
just a snapshot of my life this week . . .Rain - Lynn is trying to finish painting the pool, and we are getting rain. I am mowing every fourth day. I awoke at 4:15 this morning, turned on the Weather Channel, saw that there was a line of showers lined up west of town, and then crawled back in bed. I can fish tomorrow . . .which means, of course, that I need to write the sermon this afternoon. Pentecost. Baptists, perpetually afraid of the Holy Spirit, have great difficulty with this Sunday. In planning the worship service yesterday, I noticed the dirth of great hymns of the faith regarding the Spirit. Such a travesty . . .We had a wonderful first session of our children's Summer DAZE - this is our version of Vacation Bible School. We meet every other Tuesday, and it's more like a summer day camp - we do have bible lessons, then there is some kind of mission action project, we have some kind of "crafty" activity, and there is something fun for the kids to do. This year our theme is "Children of the Bible: Fishing Poles Optional." Tuesday we took a look at Miriam (O.T.) and Timothy (N.T. - yeah, I know Timothy was a stretch as a "children," but we did it anyway). Then we went to the local Soup Kitchen to serve a meal to the homeless and generationally poor of Enid. Back to the church to meet with our CBFO Coordinator, "T" Thomas (real live missionary), and then we wrote pen pal letters to children at the Ruth School in Romania. All in all a good day. This way of doing Bible School is, in my opinion, the perfect prototype for small churches.Beyond all this, and the occasional fishing trip, life consists of home and church maintenance issues. The trees have been trimmed, the shrubs still need it. The back fence needs mending, and the garden is a shambles (I'm not planting this year - just killing weeds for the entire summer). And I must do something about my dog pens before Saturday, because . . .
I'm going to pick up . . . . . . . . . Amy.
BTW - something about Blogger will still not let me post pictures. I may have to have a friend do so - I suspect it's something in my computer blocking access. I'll let you know.
time to focus on the sermon - "When the Advocate comes . . . "
