Finishing most of the Lenten season

The highlight of Thursday was the Gideon picnic.  It was supposed to be a sort of thank you to the winter Texans who come south and join in the work of our camp.  I have done a few things but not many because I usually work on sermons.  Once each year I have a speaker come to our service and I go to the Christmas party and the Pastor’s Appreciation Banquet in February.  Several WT go to these events but they have returned north for the most part, leaving very few to enjoy this picnic/potluck.  We met at the Alamo Country Club where a few of the brother Gideons live.  We had a good time and enjoyed the beautiful evening. 

Friday we worked what will likely be our last afternoon for this season.  We had a very slow day but enjoyed talking with the people we work with.  We checked out at 5, came home, rested and dressed to go to dinner with Joe and Bonny.  They picked us up at 6:30 and took us to Lansky’s and brats.  We ate on their sun room.  It was fine because it was late afternoon.  We were again blessed to use our reduction coupon for each couple despite being at the same table.  We shared a panko breaded shrimp meal and a huge baked potato.  I am not fascinated by shrimp, but Evelyn loves it.  I am happy to share it with her.  We learned something we had mildly wondered about: we found what brats is.  I happened to see the word on a door and found a small, smoky bar room with several people there drinking and talking.  This was the 4th time we had been there without knowing what the last part of Lansky’s and brats was.  We visited a long time and were home late for us and went directly to bed by 10:30.

Saturday was the Hildalgo County Relay for Life.  We were at the RGV Stock Show grounds for a “breakfast”.  It was doughnuts and coffee.  We did find a banana to eat.  A golf cart drove us around to look at the many themes of the teams that were planning to walk in the Relay.  A friend told us there were 139 teams of walkers that were to walk for 12 hours.  The earlier relays lasted 24 hours, but that was obviously too much of an imposition.  It is just a blessing to see communities come together for cancer survivors. Survivors and caregivers are the first to walk a lap, and everyone in the crowd stands and cheers for the walkers.  I walk too but am almost embarrassed to receive the cheers when it is the survivors who deserve the adulations.  We went to have the provided lunch of a barbecue sandwich and chips.  We returned home after going to the grocery to get some supplies for our popcorn party evening.  I also came home to invite some people to worship with us tomorrow morning.  During the evening we drove to the adjoining park to talk with a couple who has expressed a interest in our home but have a 2006, 40 foot diesel motor home with 4 slides they want to get rid of first.  They want to move here full time.  I don’t think we can afford to invest the difference thy might want to make a trade.  I then practiced the service for tomorrow.

I had called Blanca, our choir partner to sing for us during the service, and she came at 8 to rehearse with Sharon, the accompanist for the day who plays the accordion.  They couldn’t work it together so she sang acapella.  It was also a blessing that 3 who work with us at the hospital and another couple from the neighboring park came to worship with us.  I was blessed by the message and hope everyone was.  We left very blessed with the season we were given by the Lord and the faithful people who support us.  We took Blanca and went to Immanuel to sing in the choir there.  Since I discovered the hearing devices available, I have been able to hear Pastor Edge’s sermons.  The one today was one of his best.  After worship Joe and I went to get the pizza he had ordered.  It was to be ready at 12:15 but had not even been started until then,  We went back to a small classroom to eat it before we rehearsed for the Holy Week worship services.  It happened that a Presbyterian church rents the social hall at noon and uses the same classroom for the children’s Sunday School  that we chose to eat our lunch in. We tried to reward the children by giving them a cookie.  They seemed to be attentive even while surrounded by pizza, etc. We went to the choir loft to rehearse for an hour.  We came home, rested and then entertained 2 couples for popcorn and drinks.  They were Ray and Mary Burchill and Pat and Peg Vaughn.  They are both from Minnesota.  We had a very nice get acquainted visit, although we have learned to accept the fact that we will not likely develop any type of lasting relationship.  We had a good time anyway.

Monday was make medicine for the week, and I had to get some medicine to fill out this week and our travel week.  I had to take my vials to the pharmacist.  We went to Silver Sneakers and then to WalMart to get some black bias tape to add to Evelyn’s Easter dress.  She had to spend most of the day sewing it onto the dress.  We also got 50 pounds of onions to take to NC.  This time we got some medium size onions instead of the large beautiful ones we usually get.  The smaller ones are easier to slice.  We returned home and had lunch before Evelyn began her sewing project.  The day was in the high 80s until about 2 when a windy cold front came through dropping the temperature 20 degrees.  I thought we would get some much needed rain but none has fallen as of this writing: 9:00.  I can’t reconcile my mind to the fact that we have most of our things packed into the suitcases but not in the trailer.  We have over a week to finish.  We enjoyed Dancing with the Stars as usual on Monday nights.  Many of our favorites keep winning.  We even have our medicine ready for the duration.  Evelyn also wants to take our bating suits, even though we spend all winter next to a swimming pool that we never use.  This winter was unusually cool, but we wouldn’t use it even if it were hot.  One of the highlights of the day was a call from Noah, our grandson, telling us he has asked his girl friend to marry him.  He hopes they can get married this year sometime.