If you know anything about my stuff, you will know that I have a monstrous Kustom amp that I bought several years ago and the former owner swears it was owned by Credence Clearwater Revival and has since called and asked for me to sell it back. Our agreement was that IF I were to ever sell it, I would call Cliff up and give him first rights. It's not going anywhere anytime soon. Perhaps because of my liking for its signature sound and versatility, maybe my sentimental attachment, or possibly the fact that it weighs almost as much as I do - which is why it is on casters (swivelling wheels). On our way to the chapel from the van, a set of those casters came off, making it even more awkward. I carried it into another room for practice because the chapel was being used by a very large seminary class this week. Practice went well once we were set up and had lugged everything in. Faith was singing with me, so Aslynn and Judah had joined us and the band we had assembled.
When it came time to lead, we had to transfer the keyboard, amps, guitars, stands, etc. into the chapel while people pushed by us in and out of the room (talk about dangerous for instruments and children). Judah and Aslynn were given specific instructions not to get up and not to talk. Two rules. Two kids. We know their vices well. Once we started talking, playing, and singing, they did exactly as we had asked them not to. They both got into trouble later. Judah had wandered across the room and Aslynn came to talk to us in the middle of the set. Loudly.
After disciplining them, we came back and listened to snippets of a great message and then tried to get lunch into the kids. I managed to get some food into me by the end, but Faith only got a snack later at home because she was trying desperately to get Aslynn and Judah to eat quickly before the immunization clinic began at 12:30. She got Aslynn there in time and was given number 6 (her place in line). She then waited for half an hour listening to the same informational video with a 4-year-old while the high school students with far higher numbers were called in ahead of her "so they could get back to school". This tomfoolery ended when Faith left to get Aslynn to her preschool because she was late!
After Aslynn was dropped off, Judah was in bed, and we had calmed down sufficiently, I went over to give the people who had organized the clinic a piece of my mind since Faith hadn't in her rush and frustration. After making several lame excuses (because they claimed it was lack of manpower) they apologized and said that they would get us through right away when we returned later. I then started preparing the rest of worship for the evening for youth group and read for my last class that starts on Monday. I finished just in time to pick the kids up from school, dropped Micah off at home, rushed back to get Aslynn, and zoomed over to the clinic where we sat and waited. There was no-one ahead of us, so I kindly introduced myself to the nurses and informed them that my wife was well-versed in the video presentation on the H1N1 vaccine, so they let us in and did the deed. They put the needle in and had pulled it out before the nurse could even count to four, and Aslynn - like the big girl she is - said "Ow" and that was all. Tough kid sometimes, fragile as porcelain others.
We got to the clinic by 3:50 and were gone by 4:20 (after having to wait 15 minutes to ensure she didn't have an allergic reaction). This was good because Faith had to be over at the arena by 4:30 to run the concession for Minor Hockey since she has her food safety certificate. She had supper on the go and I just had to avoid not botching it. I called up a few people before I found a babysitter for a portion of the evening and fed the kids at 5:30. Jonathan Klein said he would watch our kids in exchange for borrowing my hockey equipment (to which I had no complaints - he used his own Jock after all). I loaded a third guitar into my already full vehicle. Jon arrived by 6:30 at which time I rushed Micah over to hockey practice - he was almost fully dressed by then. While I was there, I had a moment to drop by the concession and give Faith the scoop as to what was going on along with a kiss.
I arrived in Moose Jaw by 7:00 and had to set everything up for worship. Our drummer didn't show. The one speaker stopped working. The other guys there just fooled around instead of giving me a hand to set up. The soundman arrived when we were supposed to be starting, quickly balanced us and tried to work out the bugs, and left as quickly as he had arrived. All I can say is, "Thank you Lord". He works things out and brings order to chaos. Everything all day worked together even when all indications pointed to disaster. Faith arrived back home by 8:00 when I started leading the youth worship, Micah got home by 8:15 by the generosity of a friend, and after cleaning up and preparing somewhat for the next worship time in 3 weeks, I called it a night and was home shortly after 9:00. I was so dead all I could do was sit and veg.
This morning was Parent-Teacher Interviews which we almost forgot about and which they have renamed "Student-led Conferences". Enough with the nonsense. I am now late for lunch. This is still overly nuts for us. We aren't yet back in peak condition and used to the insanity that has often been our life. Perhaps we don't want to go back to that. It's probably unhealthy...
- Mark
Post-Script: Can you believe that I got a nail through my bike tire on my way home after writing this?
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