Rain and Suns

Nope. There was no precipitation in Phoenix today. However, there was Rain.


This Beatles tribute band came to Chandler for the evening and Kyle, Lyndsay, Alison, Kathie and I attended. I have written before about seeing a different band, Beatlemania, but this was our first time for Rain.

Playlist: All My Lovin', I Want to Hold Your Hand, This Boy, I Saw Her Standing There, Hard Day's Night, I'm So Happy Just to Dance With You, Yesterday, I Feel Fine, Daytripper, Twist and Shout, Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, A Little Help From My Friends, Strawberry Fields, When I'm 64, Sgt Pepper Reprise, A Day in the Life, Hello Goodbye, I Am the Walrus, Girl, Mother Nature's Son, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Come Together, Get Back, Revolution, Give Peace a Chance, and Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End. Encore songs were Imagine, Let It Be, and Hey Jude. It lasted right at 2 hours of music, with a 15 min break in the middle, between the Sgt Pepper era and Flower Power.

I queried the family. Kathie, Kyle and Lyndsay preferred the show and cast of Beatlemania. I prefer Beatlemania for the show and John's character, and Rain for Paul's character. Alison said Rain was a better concert and Beatlemania was a better show. This show included a lot of multimedia with pictures of the cast mimicking famous Beatle's photos and a lot of 60's photos. Between some sets, they also showed some 60's TV commercials, including one with Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble praising Winston cigarettes (this is on YouTube). Another difference: kids can attend this one, whereas they cannot go into the casino where Beatlemania performs.

You can see a little about them at rainthebeatlesexperience.com.


This is a good time to remind you of this photo. We even made Kyle go barefoot like Paul.

Also, the Suns won today. I fear this may be too little, too late.

BSing Again

That's right. We are BabySitting again while Kyle, Lyndsay and Alison go to a movie. No, I don't know which one. Kathie and Bella are outside and I am rocking Kendall. Actually, I am manually pushing a swing whose mechanical propulsion system has malfunctioned. With no job, and unknown prospects on when we'll have a third grandchild, I am not sure we want to purchase another one. So, I push it.

Tomorrow night, we go to see Rain, a Beatle's Tribute Band. That should be fun. I think you can find some of their stuff on YouTube.

Here's another little video reminder of grandkids (well, for some of you it is still kids).

When Will I Grow Up?

Tonight, at chorale, a lady reached up and held my head still so she could see around me during practice. We are practicing in a different place than normal, and the director is not on a podium. I decided to move so I would not block her view. Not bad in itself, but I said "Let me just get completely out of your way." I got upset for no reason. Then, I left before she could talk to me. OK, I did not feel good due to allergies, but that was childish. I'll contact her before our Friday concert and apologize.

A friend at Univ of Phoenix is circulating my resume. The job situation is certainly weighing on me. Still....

Jesus, What a Savior, a song by Shannon Wexelberg says what I wish I could live out.

You are my strength when all my strength has ended,
and You are my hope when all my hope is gone.
You are my joy when my world is full of sorrow,
You are the peace in my tomorrow,
for I know that You'll be there.
You are my song when my melody has ended,
A light in the storm when I can't find my way.
You are the One who gives my life a reason,
Someone to believe in
You help me carry on.
Jesus, what a Savior You are
You are my Rock when I need a place of refuge,
A hand reaching out when I stumble and I fall.
You are my all in every time and season,
You are all I've ever needed every time I call.
Jesus, what a Savior You are.
You heard my cry, You answered my plea,
Gave up your life, gave me everything.
Now, forevermore, I'm devoted to You
And that's why I sing my praise to You.
Jesus, what a Savior You are.

Hit and Miss Family

About the time we can make the ends meet, somebody moves the ends."
--Herbert Hoover, thirty-first U.S. president

Ain't it the truth? Anyway, take a look at these shocking findings as to when the WEBNET family members last updated:
Alison - 19 Apr
GrandMom - 17 Apr
Brenda - 15 Apr
Lauri - 12 Apr
Lindsay - 11 Apr
Kara - 7 Apr
Caleb - 23 Mar
Stumpy - 13 Mar
Lyndsay - 10 Mar
Zachary - 1 Mar
Justin M - 29 Jan
Katie - 23 Nov 2007
Denise - 10 Oct 2007
Carey - 15 Mar 2007
Leigh - 16 May 2007

I suspect some of you comment more than post, but I am not going to take them time to research that. Be that as it may, it does not give the rest of us any hint as to how each of you is doing. Come on. Get with the program.

It looks like we know someone who starred in the movie Hairspray. Lyndsay's brother, Casey. Well, that's what Bella believes. Have a listen.

Thank You, Come Again

Kathie and I just got back from a baby shower for Mihir and Hetal, two friends of ours from India (well, Indian descent anyway). We had a good time and I saw many friends from my US Airways days. They already know it's going to be a boy.

OK, some photos.


Kendall ate her first cereal this weekend. She seemed to enjoy it once she figured out to mush it around a bit and then swallow. Kyle is still learning how to do that, so we thought she did great.


Here she is enjoying her Bumbo seat. She likes sitting up, so it was fun for her until she got tired. So did I, so we both took a nap after that.


Who's there?

God or the Devil

So, you hear about people saying that God led them to their mate or their job or their new home. All sorts of things. Do you believe it? I do. I've felt that leadership before.

Today, though, I found a job that the Devil calls people to. Working an elementary PE job, outside, in the heat of Phoenix in the summer. OK, it's not summer yet, but it was already too stinking hot. Two of my Kindergarten kids even threw up. Why would I think it was from the Devil. Come on. Think about it.


Hmm, what does a two-year-old have going on that requires such a pensive expression? This was a few weeks ago over at Faith and Grace's house. Bella likes to get duded up for playing with chalk.

How can you laugh when you know I'm down?

Nothing like a Beatles reference, huh? Anyway, I'm getting thanks but no thanks letters from my last few job applications. All I can do is keep going in the direction I feel God is leading me.

OK, some photos.

Hey, Preacher Bro (circled for your viewing pleasure)! When we said that the photo would be easier to capture using a tripod, we envisioned that you would place the camera on it, not your whole body.


While we were hiking, we came across the rare wild Wiener Dog wandering across the rocks with their petroglyphs. No, I don't think this dog was reading them, just protecting her family.


They (who is "they" anyway?) told me that, if I wanted to be "green" here in the desert, I needed to let my back yard go natural. Wow! Look at it now. You cannot even see the neighboring houses.

Did Jesus Do That?

OK, so we had communion yesterday morning at church. They passed out both the wafers and the juice before we started. Not too unusual, huh? Then, the preacher read the scripture about breaking the bread. We prayed. Then, he held up his wafer (one of those round styrofoamy things) and snapped it between his fingers so it made a breaking sound. All the congregation did the same. Wow! I did not know that the breaking was so literal. Now, I was afraid that we would actually pour out the juice when we came to that part of the ceremony. No, we just drank it. The ushers came through immediately afterward to gather the cups. They came around with little baskets for us to drop the cups in. I could not say if there were 12 baskets afterward or not. Maybe there has been a big theft problem on the little plastic cups? Probably, since they also patted us down on the way out. Not really.


Bella came by today while Kyle took Kendall to the doctor. (No, it was a normal checkup and everything is fine.) Anyway, here you can see her stalking Chino. He is just chilling, having no suspicion that a two-year-old is about to yell his name at the same decibel level as a 747 taking off.


I forgot to post this picture earlier. Here is a shot of Preacher Bro opening a geocache we had hidden just for him to find. It had cards and well-wishes for his 50th birthday. We caught him completely off-guard. He must not have prayed for his eyes to be opened that morning. Charlie, the dog in the backseat, didn't really care, since she is not Keith's favorite. And they wouldn't even let Kim get in the car. You can see her hanging on the the mirror. I don't know why she had to walk. Maybe she's not Dad's favorite. Anyway, why didn't I take a video of it? I don't know. I didn't think of it until right now when I posted this. I'll be ready next time he turns 50 and we hide a cache for him.

Pics Worth Their Thousand Words

Awww. Kathie and Lyndsay need to enjoy these quiet moments while they can. Feeding, laying her down in her crib. Soon, she'll be running around like her sister.


Speaking of which, here is Bella enjoying her new backyard. It took like five shots to catch her.


After running, she had to go cool off in her own crib.

All shots taken last weekend at Kyle and Lyndsay's crib.

Finally, A Test

Of course, I am talking about a test in my Java class. I feel I am being tested all the time right now, but that is a different story.

This was our third test. I missed 3 points, but I contested one and he agreed he was wrong. Oh yeah.

I have already finished this week's homework. Maybe I am understanding some of it, or maybe this one was just easier.


Kyle and Lyndsay have put in a new backyard. Bella already loves it. Check it out.


This is in the outside corner of their new yard. GrandDad sat there enough that Bella is already calling it GrandDad's chair.

I Need To Rejoice In All Things

Last night at Chorale, the director read this verse. I guess Someone is trying to make sure I am listening.

Habakkuk 3:17-18 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

OK, Lord. I believe. Help Thou my unbelief.

Now, off to teach first graders.

I Think I'm Drinking Decaf

Man alive! I am really struggling with this week's assignment in Java class. We are supposed to write a paint program. The new concepts are to use mouse events that tell you when someone clicks or drags or whatever. OK, fine. I got that working. I have a central drawing space. I've added the ability to choose new colors and 3 different brush sizes. I cannot get the clear button to work, nor can I figure out how to add buttons to create shapes on the canvas. I've searched through public code on the WWW, but haven't gotten there yet. The button choices only show up if the window is resized. Puzzling.

I hope we have the stinking test this week.

I added a widget to display Java jobs in my area to My Yahoo. That can either serve to motivate me or disappoint me. We'll see.

My verse of the day says "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." This definitely shows that His ways are not my ways, and His timing is not mine. How much perseverance do I need? I guess a little more, huh? Still, Craig, thanks for reminding me that we are certainly blessed in so many ways. Much worse things could be going on in our lives than just the loss of a job. We still have health, a Christian family, beautiful granddaughters. I appreciate all your prayers.

No photos right now. I've got to get back to my coffee program. I thought it was decaf, but thinking about how to solve it kept me up last night. Ha ha.

More Grandkid Stuff

Let's start with a new-fangled moving picture of Kendall smiling at Mommy.



We decided to test if Kendall was going to like Mickey Mouse as much as her sister. Check out this smile when Mickey's Clubhouse came on the TV. I see another Disney-maniac in the offing.



Here is Kyle, Lyndsay, Bella and Kendall on the swing. Aww.

Nothing going on with the job search. I am still taking Java class and substitute teaching when they call. I had a training session with a friend the other day for her Mac. That was fun.

Bummer

Alas, it did not work out. Scottsdale Insurance has decided to "go another direction." How am I feeling?

I thought OK. However, I did find that I stayed in bed extra long today. In fact, I might not even be up yet except that the school called for an afternoon substitute position. I also woke up (more than once) remembering weird dreams, but both were related. In the first, Preacher Bro was younger and he and I were at the edge of a pool. Something funny was said and he leaned over backwards such that he was still on the edge, but his head and torso were underwater. I could not get him up in time and then I woke up. Following that, I was bathing an infant and the baby slipped underwater in the tub. Same thing. I could not get the baby up in time. I will let you smart people interpret them, but it does seem to imply I am a little depressed. Good thing I must teach this afternoon, huh? Fourth grade.

Stinkin' teacher. Again, we did not have the test in Java. This is the second week in a row. And yet, we continue on in chapters. In one more week, we should even be planning the next test. He assured me we would have a test next week. For this week's programming assignment, I must write a paint program with the ability to choose from at least 3 brush sizes and 3 colors. That sounds interesting.

The bottom line is that I would appreciate prayers. I know I have a tendency to try and resolve this myself without truly seeking His will. And that bums me out even more. I am in a vicious cycle, and yet I know the way out! Why can't I stay focused on the spiritual relationship I could be building? Doesn't Luke say "And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well." That's what I want.

We're going to party like it's 1999 tomorrow at Bella's and Kendall's. I should end up with some photos. I might even take some. Yup, right off of their walls. We'll see.

Lemon Tree, Very Pretty

Finally, I got the last video uploaded.


Bella and Nana picking lemons.

We just got through with Preacher Bro's 50th birthday. We had hidden a geocache for him out past Casa Grande. Everyone, including his family, was in on it. Yup, he was some surprised.

It was Sister's birthday last week, too. Happy b-day to both.

Hey, I have a prayer request. I am waiting on a call for an interview with an insurance company here. I don't want to get too excited, and I certainly want God's will. So, pray for His will to be done, whatever that is.