Happy Birthday, Josiah

A week ago it suddenly occurred to me, what is stopping us from going to Los Angeles for Josiah's sixth birthday? And the answer came, nothing except a little gas money. So as I write this blog we are sitting in Jana and Korak's backyard watching Josiah and Lilly while mom and dad are having an evening out. We left Grants Pass early Thursday morning, made numerous stops and arrived here in the evening -- a 13 1/2 hour journey. Friday was Josiah's birthday. Grandpa got him a remote control truck which he has been having fun with. His mom and dad gave him a 10 foot diameter swimming pool and a huge water slide. We set these up Saturday and the kids had a blast playing with them. You'll notice pictures of all this throughout the blog. His BIG party is going to be next Saturday because of various scheduling conflicts. It will be a water party with various wet-type games and, of course, the swimming pool and slide. Alas, we will miss this because we are home this week in time to do Kids Klub Wednesday. A short trip, but worth it.

Today we worshipped at Marina Christian Fellowship. One of the associate pastors, Trisha Welstad preached on spiritual gifts. She was a Conference Ministerial Candidate in Oregon and one of the people the MEG Board interviewed and encouraged many years ago. Then she moved to California, was ordained, got married, and is now on staff at the church our kids attend. It is very satisfying to realize I had a small role (as a member of the MEG Board) in her growth and development and now she is helping lead my kids in their spiritual journey.

Back home the yard awaits further developments. We did make some progress. Monday I rototilled the area where we will put either rocks or plants or mulch. Now, that was work! Then I put together some used railroad ties for a raised bed garden. Joyce and I even got a small section prepared for bark dust. I realized then that this will be a backbreaking job. Even if we stayed home we probably wouldn't have gotten much more done. On Thursday the temperature in Grants Pass sored to 97 and was 101 on Friday. About the time we get home it is supposed to cool down. Yes, it is hot here in LA but only up into the 80s where the kids live. I think we got out of town just in time.

Tucked in here are some pictures of the yard before the rototilling, during the rototilling, after it was over, and a view of the new raspberry patch. The area beyond the black fence used to be "our" field with pheasants, birds, and even an occasional skunk. It was peaceful and relatively private. It now has a street running through it, is subdivided for lots, and two houses are being constructed in it. That is why we want a privacy screen of some sort -- like shrubbery. It will happen; it just takes time.

So next week it will be returning home and returning to work. I wonder, maybe there are other things we all need to return to. Like returning to commitments we made years ago and then let slide away. Or returning to a proper focus that has gotten a little blurry because of pressures around us. Or maybe even a return to some of the things that used to give us joy but the serious things of life have overshadowed those earlier joys and we've lost the fun and zest for life. Or something like that. Make your own sermon here. And enjoy doing it.