Random Thoughts

I spent about two hours today digging up a 2 foot by 3 foot plot of flower bed that had twenty years worth of ivy roots tangled together deep into the ground. I figure it was twenty years worth because the previous owners of our house have a son in his twenties, and I was finding little boy's toys in the roots (a green and yellow rubber knife and some spent cap gun ammo). As I began I thought I'd spend the time praying, but pretty soon I was just sweating, digging and pulling out roots. I did say "Lord, have mercy" several times, though. I've still got at least ten foot by two foot to go to finish the rest of the flower bed. I hope to have it done by Mother's Day - 2009.

The other night I was talking to Melody about how pleased I was that I've broken the old TV addiction. I said I just was losing all interest in watching TV. I used to watch many, many hours of TV each week and had several favorite shows. Now, I said, I hardly watch an hour a day. I was feeling pretty good about myself until she told me that I've just switched from TV addiction to computer obsession. And, yes, I probably do spend a couple of hours - sometimes much more - staring at the computer screen each day. At least it's a little more interactive than the TV, sometimes with even a creative component. But I guess I need to cut back some. I wonder what's on TV tonight?

The picture above is in honor of my Dad, who loves to golf. He's doing much better. He's still in the hospital, but he may be able to come home in the next day or so. He's getting much more strength back in his leg. I hope he can get back on the golf course in a couple of months or so. If we were to go out golfing tomorrow, as weak as he is, he'd still beat me. He's really good. And I'm pretty bad. My Dad frequently reminds me of the time we went golfing and I was writing poetry as I walked from the tees to the greens - didn't much have my mind on the game.

Speaking of sports, I made an amazing catch once about ten years ago playing softball. I jumped up in the air and caught the ball between my legs. Everyone cheered. So I decided then and there never to play again. I wanted to go out at the top of my game. A couple of weeks ago I was asked to play on our church softball team. I remembered my amazing catch and said no.

I've been off of caffeine for over five months! I've been addicted to caffiene (in soft drinks) for about thirty years. For nearly thirty years or so I had a caffeine soft drink every day. For the past twenty years I started every day with a caffiene soft drink. I broke that habit and I'm fasting it for a year, at least, to prop up special prayers for my wife's health. Her mother and sister were both diagnosed with breast cancer last year. So I'm pouring on the prayer for my darlin' person, that she would stay healthy.

Through all the years that I prayed for God to give us children, no one ever told me how exhausting parenthood would be. My grandmother once said, "when you have your first child, you've had your last good night's sleep". I think she was right. I was up twice with each of my children last night - that's four times. The other night I woke up in my son's room in a rocking chair and had no idea how I got there. A couple of weeks ago I fell down the stairs in the middle of the night going to get my son a bottle of milk. My son always knows the exact moment I fall asleep in my bed, and chooses that moment to start crying. My daughter gets scared in the middle of the night frequently and comes to wake me up. A couple of nights ago she said she heard an angel walking around. Of course, it's 11:20 pm and I'm writing here instead of sleeping, so my poor sleep is my own fault, too. I'd better go on to bed.

Good night.