Tuesday, November 15, 2022
Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Stories from the kid front
I, John, saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who sat on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals.
Kids say the darndest things. Jasper spilled some water on his pants, and his underwear got a little wet. But he didn’t pee, no he didn’t.
“My underwear is wet, Grandpa. I’ve been sweating a lot!”
A few minutes later he looked at Grandma. He wanted her to read a book to him. “Will you read a book to me, Honeybunch?” Of course I call Margaret that all the time, so I guess Jasper decided it sounded pretty good to him.
Sometimes Jasper whispers his way into the morning. Like he takes his time coming out into the open. “I want you to read a book,” he might say. But we have to put our ear to his mouth to hear him. “Take my shoes off?” “Can we look at your stash, Grandpa?” That’s a collection of cookies, chips and candy in my bedroom closet. He drags a stepstool out of the laundry room and pulls it into place in the closet, and climbs up. Last week we made a treasure box from the stash, which we haven’t yet accessed.
I saw a mighty angel who proclaimed in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able.
Today Jasper was whispering. Then Margaret said, “Maybe we can make a smoothie today.” His eyes popped, and he shouted “YES! We will make a smoothie.” Which we did. With pears and pineapple and peaches and apples and bananas and Greek yogurt, and two kinds of juice and kale and cucumber. Oh, and strawberries.
The smoothie looked gray, so we added fifteen raspberries, which were on sale this week. And two more whole raspberries in each smoothie once it was poured. Much better color.
Since we had a bunch of bananas, we made a banana split for dessert after lunch with George. We also needed to use up some Luxardo maraschino cherries, which are not the kind you buy at Aldi. These are from Spain, sold in jars full of fancy syrup, and they cost TOO much. Bananas and Blue Bell strawberry ice cream and whipped cream and those Spanish cherries, nestled into our cool banana boat. We don’t need no stinkin’ protein!
(Although we had plenty of that, too, and broccoli.)
Miles played his second chess club chess game yesterday, this time with a kindergarten classmate named Tennessee. Miles was shivering when we started, in spite of the birthday crown he was wearing on his head. The temps in Austin are twenty degrees below normal. I rubbed him warm, and then he got into the game. No more heat needed.
The days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides.
Those two played themselves hoarse, so to speak, hollering and climbing on the table a couple of times when they got exceptionally excited. They captured everything in sight, they each got a second queen, and ended up with nothing on the board but both their kings. Wow, I’ve never seen a game quite like that! The kids on the other end of the table were watching, laughing, as Miles and Tennessee continuously encircled each other’s pieces.
What did the Tacitus say about the Romans?
They made a desert and called it peace.
Nobody can win if there are only two kings, so the game was a draw. The boys shook hands. And Miles’ record is 1-0-1.
(Revelation 3, Psalm 15, 1 John 4, Luke 19)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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