After our Maundy Thursday service at church, Carmi still wasn’t home yet from work so I took the kids to eat at a Chinese buffet.

Zane came back to the table with a loaded plate… mainly rice.

“Wait a minute dad.”, he said. “I want to get something else.”

Off he went and returned with a second loaded plate.

He’ll be filling out sure enough if he keeps eating like this.

Ahhh…

Spring…

Ahhh…

Christmas?

Yep. The Christmas lights are still up in our crape myrtles.

The way I figure it… I’d rather take them down when it’s 70 outside than when it’s 30.

Or I could just leave them there.

After all, the Christmas season is only 8 months away.

1. Eliana received an invitation to a classmate’s birthday party which was yesterday (Saturday) afternoon at the bowling alley. Carmi took her.

2. When did it become the norm for the one having a birthday party to give gifts to those coming to the birthday party???

3. There was a drop-in reception yesterday evening for our church’s prospective interim pastor.

4. We were one of the last few in attendance so we pigged out on the finger foods which was our dinner.

5. The prospective interim pastor has been going on mission trips to China since 1998.

6. He preached at both services this morning. The church voted to extend the call to him. Yippee!

7. I sing tenor in the church choir. One of the songs we sang had such a high tenor part that my throat was still sore after lunch.

8. Carmi and the 3 children went to the Chinese church service this afternoon.

9. I didn’t get to go because my Gospel trio had a concert this evening.

10. I’m enjoying a wonderful bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream which is ideal for soothing tired vocal chords.

Either we caught the elusive kitty fairy on camera or Eliana has been messing in the dress-up box again.

That’s some mischief just waitin’ to happen.

Looky what I got!

“But Doug… you’ve been married for 23 years. That’s nothing new.”

Well… no it’s NOT new but it’s LIKE new.

Four days after Memorial Day in 2008, I contracted a strep infection in my left elbow and was in the hospital for 2 weeks.

When I was first admitted into the hospital, a nurse cut the wedding ring off my finger. My hand was also swelling and remained swollen for a couple of months after coming home.

Physical therapy helped me to regain much of the use of my left hand but every single joint is still stiff to this day.

I’ve been a little nervous about putting the ring back on. But after almost 2 years, I was ready.

Today I received my shiny, like-new, one-size-bigger wedding ring.

What a great belated birthday present.