Except by the Grace of God . . .

Sandy had an appointment with the doctor in San Antonio on Friday to see about her right knee, so she had worked in advanced planning and set up a weekend retreat with Ali and Abi and GG (the girl’s maternal Grandmother) at the house in Burnet. Soon she invite Courtney and Anna to join in the fun. They accepted as they are working in Big Springs, which is about 5 hours away. As a surprise for all of us, Chris drove in from Lawton, Oklahoma, which is also about a 5-hour drive. Sandy and I arrived at the house about 5 pm and Courtney and Anna arrived about 10 pm. Sarah, the girl’s Mom, had flown to Chicago for a business meeting over the weekend, so she was unable to join us.
As Sandy and I turned onto Corder Lane, a half block from the house, I spotted our pretty little great-niece, Justess, walking down the street. Justess is temporarily staying in DMC’s Burnet house (next door to our house) while taking classes at the local Jr. College. She was on her way to Storms—the famous old drive-in, to have a bite to eat. We offered her a ride, but also told her that we were only going to be at the house a few minutes—long enough to unload the car and allow me to change clothes to go to the pool at the YMCA, and then Sandy was off to the nail place for a manicure. We suggested that if she could wait to eat she could join Sandy for a pedicure and then have dinner with us. She said that sounded good and got in the car. The girls dropped me at the Y and went and had their nails done. After they picked me up, we went to a new place in town that advertises to be “home style cooking like mama’s,” and it was, indeed. Over dinner, we learned that the place where Justess works had rearranged the work schedules and she had the weekend off, so she was invited to join our family gathering. She accepted the invite and it was “game- on.”
Sandy had scheduled a massage for Saturday morning and the girls had hair appointments for a bit later, so I had the girls and GG all by myself for the first hour. What a sweet time. All of the girls returned in a bit and we had a nice lunch. I suggested that all of the big girls have an afternoon “out” and the little girls and I would have a little “tea party;” something the little girls enjoy. It is basically a time of the girls getting to do pretty much whatever they want to do without much restraint. We spent the time at their playground I had built for them. Soon their Dad arrived, surprising us all.

We made a decision that we would build a fire in the fire-pit after dark, when the big girls returned. We always enjoy doing that and sitting beside the fire-pit in our Cracker-Barrel rocking chairs (the little girls each have their very own rocker and that makes them feel special). Sandy, GG, and I sat on the covered back porch and watched as the others built the fire. As we sat there in the dim light, Ali came out with the Windex and paper towels to clean up the outdoor furniture. One item to be cleaned was the little girl’s table that sits between their rockers and upon which they sit their glasses of juice while they roast marshmallows. While Ali was cleaning the small table, a swarm of wasps came out from the nest they had built under that table. I would estimate that there were easily 75+ wasps angrily buzzing around. Ali and Abi were both right there and completely exposed, but not a single one of us were bitten! That was a miracle for certain.

Later it occurred to me that if one of those little girls had been bitten by that angry swarm and suffered multiple bites, it could have been a very serious situation. I love how the Lord watched over and protected us . . . but then again, He always does that, doesn’t He? The remainder of the evening and throughout the night, I continually thanked Him for His protection over my family.

GG and the little girls were able to spend Saturday night with all of us, and as they were getting ready to leave Sunday afternoon, Abi started crying and said she just wanted to spend the night with Nana and Pappy. GG said, “You spent last night with them.” Abi said, “No I didn’t, I slept in a bed!”

After a sweet time together on Sunday morning and a nice lunch, we all packed up, said our good byes, and the kids set out for home. Sandy and I hung around for a while and took Justess out for a look at the “Poor Farm,” which had long been our parents’ country place and so named by my Dad. Justess had grown up in the state of Indiana and had no clear memory of the old family home, but had heard of it all of her life, so she thoroughly enjoyed the walk-down-memory-lane as Sandy and I pointed out various landmarks and told old family stories. It always amazes and pleases me how much the younger kids always seem to enjoy learning about their family’s history.

Sandy and I arrived home a bit after 9 pm last night and received texts from the kids announcing their safe arrival at their respective homes. As I reflected on the sweet time we had experienced, I was again reminded how thankful I am for The Father’s watch-care and His kindness to us in all of our comings and goings. He is so faithful . . . and I am so thankful!

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