"One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived." - Niccolo Machiavelli

Two years and two days later son #2 was born at the hospital in Salinas, about 15 miles from where we lived in Prunedale. I don't remember much about the day and time, just the doctor who delivered him. Pam was in hard labor for 18 hours with Steve - it was brutal - but when he came out at 10 lbs, 5 oz. and 24" long we understood why.
Josh only took about 6 hours but any reasonable doctor would have done a C section. His birth weight was 11 lbs. 5 oz. and the effects of the natural delivery were...bad. Throughout the ordeal the doctor was talking with the two nurses about a TV show that had the country mesmerized at the time. (Remember the sit-com "Soap"?)
Our experience with that church was the polar opposite of the place where Steve was born. In many ways that was our favorite place and we're still very close to many of the people there, several of whom were also starting their families.
In December of last year, a month before his older brother opened his own appraisal business, Josh started his own hand clinic. He's a CHT - Certified Hand Therapist - a relatively rare specialty. His business, too, is flourishing beyond all expectations. Mostly it's hand surgeons who send post-op patients to him for therapy but he also does some amazing stuff for people with congenital hand issues or arthritis issues.
Plus, he's starting up a continuing ed program for other CHT's that will include technical videos on You Tube, a set of courses that will be accepted by the national CHT association.

I've got two seriously talented and hard working sons. I'm proud of 'em!

I stopped by Joe's Automotive and Spencer told me he looked at the two fenders and they're too rusted to be of any use. Oh well.

A bunch of rain tonight and more tomorrow, but dry and partly sunny the rest of the week. I'm going to be busy after work and the gym knocking out projects put on hold through months of bad weather.

Read this.

My class is reading Isaiah and today's section included "For unto us a child is given...."
I cannot read that without singing it in my head.

Every three months or so I take Buddy in for grooming and today was the day. The groomer found a major hole just below the opening into his ear canal made by a tic. So this afternoon he went to the vet to have it removed. It was so deep the groomer said it might not come out in one piece of we did it at home (we do that with Bear) and that would lead to a potentially serious infection.
Phooey.
But he's such a great dog it's easier to accept than if it was Bear.
Tonight Buddy is exhausted from all the excitement.

We're off to small group. It's going to be a bit challenging because Brett's sermon yesterday doesn't lend itself readily to discussion questions. But the food and conversation are always fun and that counts for something.