The reason we were forced to upgrade is that some people(Clark, Milly, etc.) starting seeing our posts in reverse chronological order. This was due to a mySQL bug that our old version of WP was tripping over. This should take care of the problem. And really, I should have upgraded before now and this provided the right impetus.

Everything looks pretty decent although I notice some of links on the sidebar are a bit scrambled and I’m seeing a few more smilies than I would have expected. Hopefully those are minor things that I can get squared away fairly quickly.

I also mentioned in my last post that we’d be traveling North to visit Jenn’s extended family. That did happen and we got back this past Wednesday evening - just in time to empty the car before it started raining. It was a lot of driving but I think everyone enjoyed themselves. We saw family we haven’t seen in years and the kids got to play with their second cousins. We also visited a few places - like the Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth where we learned how to make pretzels(see pic to the left). What else… ate some fresh(but greasy) perch and walleye and managed to fit in some putt-putt and seeing Wall-E.

There’s still laundry to do but I think we’re settling back in. And maybe, just maybe, it’ll be sooner than a week before another post shows up.

But I can give a quick update on our fairly normal household. At least I think it’s normal. You can judge for yourself :

• The kids are enjoying their summer break and spending a good bit of time outside. This is helping.
• One of the problems of having a 50 year old house is, well, 50 year old plumbing. The most recent water leak through the ceiling means we get to decide whether to simply (ha!) fix the problem or remodel the vintage green tile bathroom.
• The church debate still goes on. We will stay or will we go? Odds are looking better that we’ll go. When and where are still up for grabs.
• We go North in a week to visit Jenn’s extended family. Should be mostly fun. Lynn, Ilona - we’ll wave as we come through.
• And what’s the deal with getting braces so soon now? A8 is going down that path but when I was in school most people didn’t get them until jr. high.

I’m sure there are other things that I could bore you with but that’s enough for now. I have a couple of posts on the will of God that are brewing and should get done soon. Really. I promise. Come back and see for yourself.

And if you benefit from you hear, consider making a donation to the Humanitas Project and the work they are doing. (note : I receive nothing for my shameless plug)

My cardboard testimony would say “Proud Liar & People Pleaser/Humbled by God’s Grace.”

How would yours read?

-A.W. Tozer, Knowledge of the Holy, p.52-53

After we heard from Daddy that all was well, Mom piled the three kiddos into the van to head to Sonic for dinner. On the way there, from out of nowhere, three deer ran across the street in front of me. Thankful for my new tires, I braked as hard as I could brake safely on the wet road, but I managed to hit the third one in his back thigh as he attempted to jump over the hood. I think the deer will be bruised, but okay. He didn’t seem to have any trouble continuing into the field! A quick inspection of the hood and front of the van when we arrived at Sonic showed no damage to the van, but it did raise a few eyebrows from the lady next to me!

After all of this, I’m hopeful that I won’t need to create a “Near Miss” category! Again, I find myself thankful for the many ways that God holds us in the palm of His hand - some seen, most unseen. I just happen to be fortunate enough to be able to see more clearly for the last couple of days. Maybe one day such clarity will come without all the near misses!

Near miss #2: While I was watering the flowers last night, Brian heard a different sort of sound coming from basement. When it didn’t go away, he took a moment to investigate. He found water spraying into the basement, which is unfinished, but is used as the kid’s play area and for storage purposes. For some yet-to-be-diagnosed reason the pipe that brings water to the outside spigot had sprung a leak. I had only been watering for around 15 minutes, so even though it took a couple of hours to clean up it could have been so much worse. I think we acted fast enough to save the rugs. They are currently airing out in the garage. The only real casualty might be the Christmas tree. When it dries out completely, we’ll have to plug it in to see if the lights still work.

Near miss #3: While in the middle of the clean-up process, Brian walked outside to check on the kids, who were remarkably helpful, btw. They had been staying out of the way by playing outside. Brian steps outside and sees that they have resourcefully tied a jump rope between the two Power Wheels vehicles. He watches as one vehicle circles around the other, effectively making a noose around A8’s neck. Thankfully, no one was injured because of Dad’s quick reaction time. Needless to say, the jump rope has been banned from all future usage with Power Wheels vehicles!

Today, we are taking it easy and counting our blessings. We certainly have a lot to be thankful for!

:big grin:

-Timothy Keller, Paul’s Letter to the Galatians: Living in Line with the Truth of the Gospel (Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2003), 2.

HT: Of First Importance