The quickest way to make someone ignore you is to begin a sentence with, "You should...."

If I did not believe God is sovereign and in control of all things I would suspect a cosmic conspiracy on days like today.
There's a pretty violent flu bug making the rounds here and it took its toll at Pathway this morning. Matt, who normally leads our singing, was home taking care of his sick wife and infant son. So the preacher was pressed into duty, leading songs that were only four keys out of his range.
Ruby and her husband Brian were scheduled to be interviewed this morning but she was home sick.
The sound system got all uppity and gave us grief. The sermon didn't get recorded. (That may be graphic evidence of God's grace.)
And something at lunch did not sit well in my stomach. Which had me thinking I was next in line for the porcelain prom. That would be very bad timing, indeed.

I leave on a 7:30 flight to Seattle tomorrow morning. Scott, my older bro., will pick me up at the airport on his way in from Spokane and we'll head to my folks' house where we'll meet our younger bro., Mark - and my parents. By the time I return Saturday we'll have them settled in their new home at the Ida Culver House, a graduated care facility on the north end. I'll be making some repairs to their house so it's in tip-top shape for the next owners, whoever they may be. We'll also be loading 35 years worth of accumulated miscellany not suitable for the estate sale into the 20-yard dumpster that gets delivered Tuesday morning. All the things that do go into the estate sale will be moved to the first (ground) floor. We'll also meet with the gals who are going to stage the house.

Life's transitions. Some are exciting, like the arrival of a tiny new member to the family, or a new job with all its challenges and opportunities. Some are difficult, like watching your teen leave for college and all the unknowns that come with that step of independence. Some are sad.

I'm sorry my parents have to leave the home they built and love. I'm sorry they leave behind an incredible view of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains in the distance. Mostly I'm sad that their bodies can no longer deal with the stairs, the upkeep, all cleaning and the things that go with living in their own very large and very beautiful home.
I shall do my very best as a grateful son to make this transition as easy as possible for them.