My Hiatus

It seems that people often like to choose different - sometimes 'fancy' words when they are going to be absent from their normal lives for a period of time... They use words like SABBATICAL or HIATUS... I remember in college often hearing that a professor would not be teaching this semester because they were on "SABBATICAL" - most of the time doing research for something or other... I believe that word comes from the Jewish "Sabbath", though - but that's a different blog in and of itself... I however like the other word, though... HIATUS... Go ahead and say it with me, "HIATUS"... It's one of those tasty words that just 'rolls off the tongue'... Hiatus by definition means, "a break or interruption in the continuity of a work, series, action, etc." (Dictionary.com)

Well that's what I feel like I have been on for the month of September... My last post was on September 1 - and that has mainly to do with my son... It was nothing he 'meant' to do, but the little guy has certainly taken his mother and me on a 'roller coaster'... And not one of the fun one's where you get off and immediately say, "Let's go again!" No, no, no... It is one where you are in the middle of the ride screaming like a little girl, "GET ME OFF THIS THING!!!" He got sick... At first we didn't think anything was wrong with him - then 'here we go'... 18 days straight... 2 different hospitals... 3 different rooms... And a partridge in a pear tree... We saw countless doctors and nurses - some were fantastic, others could spend a little more time in the books then watching 'House' or 'ER'... 

My wife and I were determined to not leave our son in this dark time - so we spent every night in different circumstances so we could be with him... Some were spent in a single hospital bed - together!!! Some were spent on a hard, but roomy couch-thing... Other nights found us on floors, chairs, and in lobbies... We had a few times of comfortable showers, but not many... Fortunately for us, though - the cafeteria food was good... So that softened the constant blows... 

But - happy to say - we are home... I am at my computer 'semi' regularly - and hopefully will be able to join the ranks of 'Blogging', yet again... And I actually have some pretty good material for the next several installments... God sure teaches you a lot in the cruddy times of life... Good thing He's always there...

"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." (Deuteronomy 31:8)

Fall Is In the Air

It's beginning to feel like fall already... Days are pleasant... Nights are refreshingly cool... School buses flood the streets in the early morning... and the lights are brightly lit every Friday night... This is the start of my favorite time of year... I'm a huge fan of 'fall'... I like the weather (days where shorts are appropriate, but jeans and long sleeves fit the bill some days) - I like the smells (still cut grass, but add the hint of bonfires and leaves) - I like the colors (the trees begin to whither away, but in their demise they show their true beauty)... It may have something to do with the fact that I was born in late October, as well... But whatever the reason - I like it...

I have many memories in my life that have taken place during the 'Augtober' months... What? Like you can't figure out what I'm trying to say... Anyways - I digress... I remember raking leaves in the yard with my family - weenie roasts in the back yard - hay rides at church... A little bit later was pick-up games of football and harvesting crops with my dad... In college and teaching fall always meant marching band... Almost every weekday and weekend was spent playing, marching, or teaching other people to play or march... All good memories...

Now - my fall's are a little different... I'm not sure exactly what my memories are/will be of fall for this season of my life... I don't rake very often - I don't get to harvest at the family farm anymore - and I don't plan on seeing the sideline of a football field to blow a horn or teach drill... And I may still play the occasional pick-up football game, but life is changing... I hope I never grow tired of seeing the beauty that God puts in our lives - not just in fall - but in every day...

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." (Romans 1:20)