A Grand (child) Weekend

A “Flabbergasted” Judgement Day prognosticator, Harold Camping, finally popped his head out the door of his Alameda, California house Monday morning to say he wouldn’t be giving any interviews until he’s had a chance to contemplate what went wrong with his calculations that there was going to be a heavenly house cleaning on Saturday.

No dead ancestors raised up from their graves and there were no devastating earthquakes or other wrath of God stuff to mark the end of the world.  The tragedy of this whole doom’s day business is that it has given more fodder for those who already consider Christianity to be pure folly.

It certainly must have seemed like the Apocalypse had come to Joplin, Missouri Sunday as a huge tornado descended from the dark clouds and ripped much of the town to shreds.

The last death toll I heard was 90 and counting.  I just ache for those on our planet who have lost so much due to natural disasters recently.

On the brighter side of the weekend, Linda and I spent most of it on the graduation trail. It began Saturday as we checked in to say hi and wish congratulations to Washington High grad, Beau Hanish, grandson of our good friends, the Graves. From there we headed over to 93^rd street and popped in on the baby shower for my cousin’s daughter, Carrie Hawkins, who looks great after undergoing successful cancer surgery earlier this spring. Her baby made it okay too and is due to make a world debut in July.  From there, it was off to Hartford where our Grandson, Tucker Smith, along with his West Central classmates, proudly marched toward the front of the new high school gym to the familiar refrain of Pomp and Circumstance where they received their high school diplomas.

 I caught myself swallowing hard several times remembering Tucker’s fight for survival last winter when blood clots were discovered in his system and had to be removed in a series of operations that were successful but meant he’d be on a lifelong regimen of drugs and he could never play football again.  From Hartford, it was  back to Sioux Falls for his reception.

Sunday, grandson, Michael Hout was on center stage. We joined lots of family and friends for his reception which was followed that evening by Washington High’s graduation ceremony at the Arena.  I think Washington more than any other Sioux Falls high school represents the real cultural diversity our town has experienced over the last decade. I was mighty impressed by the two school administrators who read every graduate’s name perfectly and without hesitation. We’re not just Johnsons, Petersens, Hoffmans and O’Flannerys these days. 

 One of the best graduation gifts Michael received was on Friday when, in his final at bat for the Warriors baseball team, he blasted a 3 run homer. Michael absolutely loves the game and is eying a couple of colleges that have excellent baseball programs. Those schools have also been eying  HIM. Can’t wait to see who wins.

With graduations now over, Linda and I have time to concentrate on other grandchild milestones..like Ella losing her first tooth.

 

Also, Granddaghter Allison’s solo journey to Trondheim, Norway where she was able to see the land of her ancestors and be warmly welcomed by the family of her great great grandfather.

 

We also learned that grandson, Taylor has already had a taste of battle in Afghanistan. I pray that God (The one who doesn’t share time schedules with old California radio prophets) will watch over him and his fellow Marines as they fight to rid the world of those who would have us live in terror.