Tag Archives: sunburn

Swimming with sharks

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I’ve noted before that I have a “thing” about sharks. This story from the Chicago Tribune a week ago was quite interesting. In a way I’d love to do what this author wrote about, to go diving with great white sharks, but in another sense, I’d be so terrified that I wouldn’t be able to move a muscle, let alone jump overboard into the shark cage.

The closest I’ve been to swimming with sharks was about 14 years ago during a stay in Fiji. A friend and I stayed in a bure (Fijian for “hut”) on the Coral Coast of the main island, Viti Levu. I went snorkelling every chance I could and I can still remember the experience as if it were an exotic dream. The colors, the variety, the dazzling beauty of the coral reef, are all things I will never forget. ‘Course I also remember getting the worst ever sunburn of my life ;-) Those who know me know that I never tan, only burn. Imagine me snorkelling for hours with my back and legs exposed to the tropical sun. Sharks weren’t able to get through the reef where we spent the most time, except for one place where there was a sort of break or passage in the reef and the water was much deeper there. I decided to be really brave and go snorkelling there. The water was darker and more menacing and at any minute I expected to see some huge, shadowy form loom up and scare the bejeebers out of me. I think if something had shown up I would have literally walked on water!

How things are going

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This weekend went fairly well for us. Michele’s dad arrived Saturday morning and he stayed outside with the kids most of the day while Michele’s mom helped with many other things. Over the last several days she kept things going around the house (dishes, cleaning, meals, etc.), or helped with the kids so that Michele could do things. Saturday I was able to make inroads into the laundry backlog. I was also able to clean our bedroom and do a few other things. The weather was beautiful: sunny, warm, and breezy. All of the kids developed sunburn but they thoroughly enjoyed playing outside. Keegan’s big thing right now is basketball, and since his Grandma bought him a new basketball, he’s been shooting hoops as much as possible. (He’s developed into a true blue Hoosier ;-) )

Everyone was pretty sad when Michele’s parents had to leave yesterday. They provided much-needed help at a critical time for us, sacrificing a lot to help us recover from a very difficult situation. We are so thankful for them and all they do for us.

My mother is planning to arrive this afternoon and we are looking forward to her being with us.

Michele is not doing well, still. We are waiting to hear the results of the MRI. I don’t expect an answer for another day or two, but maybe it’ll come sooner than that.

Yesterday I went to church by myself (again). The main focus was on the baptism of one of the attendees, and the whole ceremony/celebration was great. There was a potluck lunch after the service but I opted not to stay for that.

Garage sale

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Yesterday was an incredibly busy day, as Michele helped to manage a garage sale at our house while I attended commencement as part of Taylor’s faculty in the a.m. and did some work in the garden in the p.m. The garage sale proceeds all go to MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers). Michele is on the leadership team for the local group. The sale netted about $365, which was really good. Fortunately Taylor’s commencement was held outside in the stadium, rather than in the unairconditioned gym. It was a beautiful, although windy, day. I got a good sunburn on my face, sitting there for hours. Taylor graduated more people (over 400) this year than any other year in its 157 year history. The keynote speaker was Ravi Zacharias, one of my favorite Christian apologists. His son, Nathan, was graduating this year from Taylor. I was really pleased to get many things planted in the vegetable garden, including bush beans, two different kinds of tomato (Goliath and Beefeater), red and yellow pepper plants, and jalapeno and habanero peppers. I have cucumber plants to put in today or tomorrow, plus I hope to put in some corn and some other things. I also planted some nice hollyhocks on the side of the garden shed that faces the house. They should be really pretty when in bloom later this summer. Unfortunately, Brinley got pretty sick last night after being outside all day yesterday. We think she may have the croup, although we hope it isn’t something worse. Michele hardly got any sleep last night because she was listening to Brinley’s breathing, which was labored at times. We heard yesterday that my sister-in-law, Linda, was able to go home from the hospital, which is good news. She is very weak and is still experiencing some bleeding but otherwise is better. One other piece of good news is that someone who stopped at our garage sale took one of the four remaining kittens.

Outdoor work

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Yesterday afternoon and evening, we had our first thunderstorm in a long time. It was refreshing, but probably not enough rain fell to make it worthwhile. Now I have to get out and mow the lawn again soon! Keegan stayed over night at a friend’s house, so it was kind of a strange evening with just Michele, Tristan and I at home. I thought it was funny to open my Bible up today and read a passage in Proverbs 24:27, which reads: “Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.” That kind of sums up what I’ve been doing for the past couple of weeks! While I’ve enjoyed the time spent cleaning up the yard, planting in the garden, etc., I unfortunately got a bad sunburn and am suffering the consequences. Itching and pain! Would that I didn’t burn so easily! A few days ago I was reading one of my all-time favorite devotionals, Streams in the Desert by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman. Part of what she wrote that caught my attention was this: “We look at our burdens and heavy loads, and shrink from them; but as we lift them and bind them about our hearts, they become wings, and on them we rise and soar toward God.” (The full text of that day’s entry may be found at http://www.backtothebible.org/devotions/classics/streams/189.)