Church

Foam darts with elastic.  Put them together and you get projectiles.  They fly across a room, touch you but do not harm.

Now, imagine 15 or so people shooting at each other.  Yelling and screaming.  Dramatic hits and exciting misses.

That was tonight’s activity.  Fun part is you don’t have to move too much – just bend down and pick up shot darts.  Shoot them back.  Dodge another dart.  Repeat over again.

Our grade 5-7 group experienced this game!  I watched that I didn’t overextend myself (bad knees and all), yelled lots and had great fun.  Even a bit of sweat! 

It’s all good, as the saying goes.  Followed by a Bible devotional and cookies and juice.  What more could you ask??

I stopped at the reception desk at the hospital.  One lady had recently retired and new faces were shining forth.  I was introduced and look forward to working with these new staff.

For the last few months I’ve enquired about people being in hospital under the church care.  Until this past weekend no one has been in long enough to warrant a visit.  This weekend two people ended up in hospital.  Then the father of one of our elders passed away.  Christmas tensions surfaced in various family situations.

A year ago the same pattern developed.  Lots of funerals and situations.

Those who have served within the "care sector" of society know that the depths of winter tend to be heavier periods for care.  This winter looks to be no different.

May God sustain each one and give us courage for the day, sleep for the night and the love of loved ones to support us!

Some days are geared more towards an overabundance of "hands on" activity than others.  Yesterday and today were just such days.  As you come to the end of the day, its time to relax.

As I write this, I’m holding off on what can be done tomorrow!  The next sermon can see the light tomorrow, further committee meeting preparation can be finished in the morning, a phone call of confirmation is probably best placed during the day.

The whirlwind of the weekend included a quick visit from my daughter, her husband and our grandson.  At one point she was going through her baby pictures with her two year old son.  I was sitting there watching, knowing something else needed done.  And immediately I was reminded that I had slipped out other times when my daughter was younger.  So, I sat and watched the two of them point, and laugh and rehearse history.  Well worth the while!

And now, to rest and relax.  Tomorrow will arrive soon enough.  May God grant refreshment!

Thursday was one of those days.  Exhausted at the end, but having accomplished what you began.

In preparation for surgery, I went in for an "autologous" (Wikipedia – In biology, autologous refers to cells, tissues or even proteins that are reimplanted in the same individual as they come from.)  Basically I donated blood for myself!  I have another donation planned for January 14th, and then surgery on January 21.  Hopefully I won’t need the blood, but you never know.

On the same day, we hit a heart pacemaker clinic.  By wife’s battery is running down, probably within the next three months it will wear out and her pacemaker will quit functioning.  By that time, we would like to have replaced the battery.  Looks like the surgery will fall in February.  I expect to be hobbling around at that time.  We ought to make a great pair — two invalids in one house!!

Oh, at the same time I was looking for a Kodak camera battery.  Not an item most stores carry (in fact we hit well over a dozen before we found one!).  The price may not have been "rock bottom COSTCO" price, but sometimes when you’ve found the pearl, you pay the price.

Now, I’m recovering from blood loss and what feels like either a dry throat or a cold.  A touch of a headache, but I had a good sleep.  Life is good . . . if you can just get past the blood and the batteries!