I know... this really ought to be a serious post about how we all put on masks and pretend to be something we aren't... then I make some really deep spiritual point.
Well, the truth is... we were masquerading tonight - and it was a blast! Had dinner with a soon-to-be-married couple and they had these masks. We couldn't stop. It was so fun. Here are a few pictures of the evening... I will save some others for opportune times.
The weather is changing and it is so nice!
We woke up yesterday, Leslie and Katherine and I went to Starbucks and then to the usual spot for biscuits. Then Leslie went to a brunch and Katherine and I caught up on Sesame Street and morning naps. Spent some time reading in the afternoon, then the kids (Jay and Maggie) came home and we all hung out until the babysitter came.
Leslie and I went to a dinner for a couple getting married in two weeks. It was fun and fancy. After the dinner we went and sat at Starbucks and enjoyed the evening. All in all, Friday was very restful and refreshing.
Today (Saturday), Leslie was up before 7am to go stand in line for a flu shot. I hate flu shots. I hate them worse than the flu. In fact, the last time I got the flu was the year I got a flu shot. I have a "needle" issue. Always have and it prevents me from physically being able to drive to a place and willing let someone impale me with that thin, cold, sharp, hollow cylinder. I will not do it. (NOW... I know, I have totally set myself up for the flu this year and probably a couple of post whining about how bad it is - blah, blah, blah)
After Leslie got home we all loaded up and went to Jay's flag football game. It was fun. Chris and Mark Legg came out and cheered for Jay. He loved it. Mark Legg played on the same field immediately after Jay and we got to stay a little while and cheer him on. He had a great run around the end that brought the sidelines to their feet.
From the football game we went to eat hamburgers and then out to the Moore Family Pumpkin Patch. It was so fun. We all got a pumpkin, a hay-ride and lots of pictures. Leslie even shot some incredible footage that will be posted soon. She was remarkably creative today!
After the pumpkin patch we took advantage of the happy hour at Sonic (Cherry slushes and Cranberry Limeades). Maggie went to a middle school cooking party and the boys watched football. Currently Texas is killing Missouri, and it is almost hard to watch.
The drama of the day is the discovery of a rat that lives in our garage. He has survived the poison so far, we will see if he survives the night with Piper in the garage! Leslie is passionate about her hatred for rats. Actually... a depth of hatred that I have never witnessed. Just glad I am not a rat.
I'll probably watch the opening of Saturday Night Live and then be off to bed. It has been a great weekend and feel refreshed and excited about tomorrow. I love Sundays at Bethel.
How was your Friday (and Saturday?)
Leslie and I have a pretty firm value about not having "matching" anything. We don't even like to wear the same color shirt on the same day. But, today we made an exception.
you can find out more about the ESV Study Bible here...
The last couple of weeks we have been looking at the topic of marriage at Bethel.
This last week I talked specifically about having a strategy of investment for your marriage. We have strategies for so many of the temporal things in our life: money, education, career, retirement, fantasy football... etc. Very few people that I talk to have a strategy for their marriage. Most of the time couples are on auto-pilot until a crisis comes. Attention gets poured into marriages during crisis, but very little weekly, monthly and yearly investment is strategically made.
If you are looking for a strategy, let me offer the following for your consideration:
30-3-3
1. 30 minutes a week: have a conference one a week as a couple. When you come together ask each other these three questions. It is important that when the question is asked, the asking spouse remain completely silent - just listening. (Thanks to Chip Ingrim for these questions)
a. What are things you are concerned about?
b. What are the things you wish for?
c. What are you willing to do about it?
13 years ago today I married my beautiful wife. I cannot believe the roads we have traveled on this journey: graduate school, Maggie, YL staff, Sand Springs, Kirk on the Hill, private practice, seminary, Jay, paper routes, pool cleaning, Living Life, JDM, Richland Bible Fellowship, counseling (for us!), graduation, Wichita, Katherine, the cul-de-sac, Bethel, Tyler, middle school...
No one will know what every one of those things are, some of you will know some of them. Leslie - you know them all... and more. I love you.
As this goes to post, Leslie and I are in the air traveling to N.C. for a marriage retreat at the Cove with Howard Hendricks and Chip Ingram and their wives. We are looking forward to a great week.
Happy Anniversary - it is only the beginning!
My Friday started out as usual. We got Maggie and Jay off to school and then Leslie, Katherine and I went on a breakfast date. I also had gotten a call yesterday from my brother Elliot who said he might come over today for lunch.
Elliot showed up about 10am and then we headed over to Jay's school with an A&W Rootbeer in hand to each lunch with him. Now - I know what you are thinking, "10am and you are going up there for lunch?" Well, officially it is at 10:25am, but yes. Can you believe that? I was explaining to Elliot that Jay has a bowl of cereal before he leaves home, most mornings also takes advantage of the free breakfast that Andy Woods Elementary serves every morning, and then turns around at 10:25 and has lunch. He is living the life of a Hobbit! (Sorry for the digression!)
From brunch at Andy Woods, Elliot and I went to El Lugar for what I believe to be Tyler's finest Friday lunch destination. He was impressed. After lunch we came back to the house and played with Katherine outside for about two hours. It was her perfect day. We rode bikes, jumped on the trampoline and learned to dribble a basketball. Elliot left about 2pm, and then I took about a 45 minute nap.
Jay came home about 3 and Maggie about 4. Maggie blew in the door, grabbed her packed bag and sleeping bag and then headed back out the door to meet the Youth Group up at Bethel for her first "Work Crew Weekend" at Pine Cove. She was very excited and for the second weekend in a row I am confronted with the fact that my baby girl is growing up. (I text Mark and Marla and asked them to tell her I missed her... as long as it wouldn't be embarrassing.)
After everyone got settled, we ate dinner with the Wrights and then headed over to their house and the children played. That is a fun family and even learned a couple of things tonight.
1. If you complain about the price of the children's portion of Macaroni, the manager will come and personally hear your complaint. Now, this is a valid complaint, I was just surprised to see such boldness coming from Kristen in the moment. $3.99 for what amounts to about 1/4 of a Kraft Macaroni and Cheese box that you can buy for under $2 and feed all your children.
2. If you complain, and then are really nice to the manager, he will bring you a free chocolate dessert.
After dinner and a free dessert, Todd and I went to go see Eagle Eye. It was a fun movie. It was impossible and at the same time entertaining. But, I would have to say the best part of the evening was seeing a small group from Bethel at the movie theater. They were all there to see Fireproof. Actually, the whole community of Tyler was there to see Fireproof. It was sold out all day on two screens (big deal here in East Texas).
Well, Todd and I stopped by the group as they are standing in line to get into the show and some of the girls asked where our wives were. I explained that we left them at home and were just out to see a late movie. A guy night. Well, they looked very puzzled and even a little concerned. They asked a couple more times thinking I was kidding when it dawned on me that they thought Todd and I were there to see the Romantic, Christian Drama together. Actually, that would have been pretty funny. That would not be a guys night out, that would be a "date with a dude." -- That's not the way I roll.
Got home about 12:15. Finished getting stuff together for the CF Walk at Bergfeld Park and headed to bed. It was a great day!
OK... lots of digressions today, sorry about that. But, that's My Friday.
.ross Retro will continue to post on Tuesday and it will be a glimpse into something from my past... sometimes more personal than others. It will give you an insight into things that are seared into my memory. This is one of those events!
_______
Bathroom Babies
Growing up with three sisters, I saw my fair share of quarrels. Many of them were ugly (the quarrels, not the sisters). They were close enough in age that they would fight about almost anything: clothes, boys, hair care products, telephone, and the television to name of a few. But, as I remember, the fiercest battles were fought over the bathroom. Time in that small, four walled sanctuary was coveted as much as the air they breathed. I don’t remember the mirror being all that big, but they managed to fill the entire reflective space with their image.
I remember one particular afternoon when my mom was at work and my two oldest sisters were both in their early teens. There must have been some special event that evening because both of them wanted to take a bath. The conversation started out as usual, both of them making their claim that it was their turn to go first.
I don’t know who initially turned the water on, but before long the bathtub was filling and my sisters were shouting. They each had the special gift of being able to say just the right thing to really upset the other. The very next sound I heard was two doors slamming shut at opposite ends of the hall. They had gotten so mad with one another that they both had retreated to their rooms. There was only one problem… the water was still running.
My mom usually came home from work about 5:00 in the evening and this day was no different. Her ritual was to walk through the front door and hang up her coat and drop her purse. Well, the moment her purse hit the ground she knew something was terribly wrong. By this time there was over an inch of water on the south end of the house.
Each of my sisters had gone to their own rooms. One ended up falling asleep on the bed and the other got lost in a book with her headphones on. Neither of them had remembered the water was running.
All in all the water ran for almost 3 hours that afternoon. The damage was severe. All of the carpet had to be replaced, as well as the floor in the bathroom. My sisters felt terrible. Neither one could remember who actually turned the water on, but it didn’t really matter anyway. The inconvenience of them having to use the “boys bathroom” for several weeks was punishment enough. Actually, we were all punished. And although my sisters still continued to fight over the years, it was never quite as intense.
I don’t they ever forgot the incident of the bathroom babies... I know I haven't.
OK... what happens when your 11 yr. old big sister turns on her iPod, grabs a video recorder and tells you to sing your heart out? Glad you asked...
As of this moment, there is no official “Katherine Strader fan club...”
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