Still Hitched

This afternoon I asked Jasper if he knew what happened twenty-seven years ago today.  “I forgot,” he said.  So I told him that was the day Daddy and I got married.  “I don’t remember that,” he said, puzzled.  “That’s because you weren’t born yet,” I had to explain.  He often thinks he was around a hundred years ago!

We celebrated by doing jobs around the house, taking a bunch of stuff to Goodwill, and having spaghetti for dinner.  We sure do know how to party!  Then everyone except Jasper and me went to work.  I got some more sorting and tossing done after he went to bed.

And I got a “happy anniversary” call from my Uncle Ron.

Why I (Almost) Always Carry My Big Handbag

Well, my Esteemed Spouse and I had planned to go out for dinner tonight, because tomorrow is our anniversary and he and the kids will have to be working.  Walter actually had a gift certificate to Texas Roadhouse, so we thought we’d go there.  There was no question of going early to beat the crowd, because Walter got home from work very late.

As I was getting ready to leave the house, I picked up my big heavy handbag and just rebelled at the thought of it to the restaurant.  I normally carry it with me everywhere, but it just seemed silly when Walter would be driving and we were just going out to eat.  So I took a tiny clutch instead, with just pen and paper (you never know when inspiration will strike!) and some tissues (it’s still allergy season).

I was feeling very smug and unencumbered until we arrived at the restaurant and saw that it was full to overflowing.  Every parking space was filled.  The line reached well out the door.  So we turned around and went to Wal-Mart for a while, just browsing around.  After 45 minutes we returned to Texas Roadhouse to find it just as crowded as before.

Now if I had had my big handbag with my wallet and I.D. and checkbook, we could have done some shopping which we actually need to do.  Instead, we went to the mall and browsed some more, noting with surprise that things have changed a lot since the last time we were there.  (We make it to the mall a maximum of once a year.)

After the mall excursion we headed back to the restaurant.  The line was still out the door.  It was after 8:00.  The Roadhouse lost a couple of customers, for tonight at least.  We couldn’t afford to eat anywhere fancy without a gift card, so we drove down the road and went to Long John Silver’s.

Now here’s an interesting thing.  I hadn’t been to Long John Silvers in years.  I had a vague idea that it was run-down and dirty.  It is an old building—but it was clean, uncrowded, and quiet.  Our food was freshly cooked and perfectly acceptable.  We could actually carry on a conversation without screaming at each other.  So to be honest, I think we had a better time than we would have at the Roadhouse!

When I arrived home I found a very encouraging e-mail awaiting me from one of my teen manuscript readers.  I am chomping at the bit to go back in and do the “final” edit, but am still waiting for the last little bit of feedback.  And I find that no matter how much I try not to, I keep on thinking of plots for possible sequels . . .

Note to my local readers:  try to avoid being in Target at 11:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., or 7:00 p.m.  My operative inside Target has told me of a new policy.  At the aforementioned hours, Target employees are supposed to accost “guests” and ask if they can help them find anything.  Then (and here’s the part I object to) they are to stay with the customer until the customer has actually put something in his/her cart, and keep track of the value of the items the customer ends up getting. !!!  The idea is for the employees to compete with each other to see who can pressure a “guest” into spending the most money!  I abominate pressure of any kind in retail establishments and you may be sure I will not darken the doors of Target during these planned ambushes!

Most of you will be reading this on Friday, so I ask you to continue praying for the Entwistle family as they have a memorial service in Kenya.  (The funeral will be in North Carolina on July 26.) Here is a letter Dan sent out yesterday:

Dear Friends,

Today is Wednesday, and I am home now with my family here in Kijabe, Kenya, and OH has it been good to be reunited again!  It hardly seems possible that 6 days ago we knew nothing of the storm that was looming and sweeping down on us.  Yet it has blown by, wreaking havoc in our hearts, and here we are...and as always God is faithful.  We have each sensed His presence and moments of calm, then moments of intense grief. 

Yesterday morning I took off with Ben in the Netscape jet for Johannesburg, and all seemed so controlled.  So quickly it changed.  The commencement address at Jesse's graduation last Saturday seemed like it was scripted for us in these days.  Dr. Harry Kraus, a surgeon and great friend, made 2 points.  Number one:  We are very small.  How small I felt as I worked alongside the doctor doing CPR on Ben as the nurse frantically drew up medications to try and reverse what the CPR monitor was telling us!  We had all the equipment imaginable, but we were very, very small.  And of course our desperate efforts for about 20-25 minutes did nothing.  Alone in the plane with Ben once we were on the ground, holding him and sobbing, I felt so very, very small again...and yet an indescribable love for God at the same time.  He gives, and He takes away.  And He knows exactly what He is about!

That was point number two:  Jesus is very, very, very big.  This did not take Him by surprise in the least.  I know it was planned and orchestrated according to His unfathomable design for good in our lives and in the lives of those touched by Ben's 20 years on earth and ultimately for the kingdom of the King.  How great to KNOW the truth of that!  We cannot imagine going through this without a firm faith in God's absolute sovereignty.  And we are finding as we lean on Him, He is sustaining us.

But there are moments my faith fails too.  I look back and just ache, thinking what if I had only borrowed a stethoscope and listened to his heart a few days earlier.  And then I have to be reminded that there are no what if's.  We cannot go back, and of course God is more than strong enough to cover any failings on our part.  But I suspect it is something I will have to work through for some time to come...

Anyway, dear friends, thank you thank you for your prayers for Ben and for us during the storm.  They mean more than you can possibly know.  We are undergirded big time, and in the midst of the pain full of great joy for our Ben-man who at this moment is indescribably ecstatic, as REAL life has really just begun for that great "son of our right hand"!!

With great joy in our GREAT God!!   

Dan for Lynda, Ben (you'll never not be a part of us, buddy!), Jesse, Lucy, Seth, and Michael

Ladies Who Lunch

My friend Joan 2 thought it would be a good idea for all the moms in our church to get together for prayer/fellowship/lunch today.  We had 100% participation.  Yep.  All four of us were there. (There may be only four of us, but among us we have 24 children!)  

So anyway, we had a nice visit and a prayer time before we had lunch there at Joan 2’s house.  I have not had that kind of fellowship for a long time and it was a welcome respite.  Lucy came with me because each of the other moms has a daughter close in age to her so the four girls had a great time together too.  I got a lot of knitting done while yakking—this is the week for me to work on my sadly neglected ballband afghan, and it is already showing noticeable progress.

Meanwhile, Spencer got to have another conversation with our friendly neighborhood police officer.  He was playing at a neighbor’s house and another neighbor boy came and reported that he had seen a kid riding off on Daniel’s bike.  The police were called and Spencer and the other boys were questioned in detail.  Daniel seemed less upset than the other guys about the theft of his bike—but I’m guessing he was trying to appear tough.  Spencer, on the other hand, spent the entire rest of the day fretting over the fact that if he had just left to go play a few minutes later, he might have caught the thief in the act and been able to stop him.  It really, really upset him!

Quote of the Day:

Flynn:  “If they ever amputate my leg, I want to keep the bone.  Be sure and tell them that.”

A Down Day

Don’t feel much like blogging tonight.  All day I’ve been grieving with Enty (Dan) and his family and his parents, Roy and Judy.  I especially have been praying for Enty’s second son, Jesse, who won’t ever be able to think of his high school graduation without also remembering the tragic loss of his big brother.

At lunchtime today Jasper turned down a homemade chocolate chip cookie.  This is a very suspicious sign, so I said, “I thought you liked chocolate chip cookies.”

“I do,” he said, “it’s just that my stomach doesn’t feel too good.”

Words every parent dreads!  I took his temperature after lunch and it was 101˚.  So he spent the afternoon and evening resting, after taking something for the fever.  He ate a plain piece of bread for supper and had no interest in anything else.  By bedtime his fever had returned so I dosed him again before he went to bed.  I hope he will feel better tomorrow!

Spencer and Lucy spent the afternoon and evening at a birthday dinner for their friend Camila.  I was a little nervous about sending the two of them together.  They have been driving each other nuts lately!  But I’m happy to report they were able to put aside their differences and have a good time celebrating Camila’s birthday.  They returned home happy and not arguing.

Sad News

Ben Entwistle did not survive the flight to South Africa.  Please lift his family up in your prayers.

Here is what Ben's grandparents (retired missionaries) had to say:

We just had a call from Dan in South Africa.  He reported that Ben did really well for the first 3 1/2 hours of the flight.  Then, his heart developed problems.  The team on the plane did everything possible to revive Ben, but the pulse stopped and nothing could be done.  The plane had been on the ground about 20 minutes when Dan called.  He was still at the plane and trying to determine what to do. He really has no one in South Africa to turn to for help.  He needs immediate prayer for wisdom and he desperately needs God's presence and strength.  Judy found this wonderful verse in Psalm 54:4.  "Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one that sustains me."  We are praying this for Dan and Lynda and for the dear children.  We are also claiming it for our entire family.

At times like this it is so wonderful to have Jesus, whose eye is on the sparrow.  We know He is greiving with us.  He has not failed.  Once again life has triumphed over death.  We have total confidence that Ben is 100% well and we will see him again.  God is good all the time and even Ben's passing comes through His loving hand.

If any reading this message do not know the Lord or has wandered from Him, we plead with you to come to Him.  At such times in life, there is nothing like knowing that one's sins are forgiven and that Jesus is able to present us faultless before the Throne of Grace.  That is what He has done for Ben.  He has done it because He loves Ben, not because Ben deserved it.  Oh what comfort we have despite the tears.

Our family wants to thank all of you who have prayed us through this time of pain.  Your messages have brought solace and encouragement.  We have felt the love of literally thousands and have thanked God over and over again that we are part of the family of God. 

To God be the glory!

Much love to all,

Roy and Judy on behalf of our family