This was some week. Lisa is now all better. She was sick starting Saturday night, all day Sunday and Sunday night. I offered to bring her to the emergency room several times, but she did not want to go. She felt much better Monday morning, and thinking all was well decided not to go see her doctor. Monday night she was suffering again. She felt better Tuesday, but went to the doctor anyway. We found out she had a kidney stone. She passed the stone and has been back to her normal self since Tuesday.

Lisa felt so bad that she let me buy a new washer and dryer without her input. That is sick for her!

Wednesday, I took my grandfather (Pawpaw) and cousin fishing at my sisters pond. My mom, dad, brother and sister all joined us. It was practically a family reunion. We caught a fair amount of fish. I cleaned them all and Pawpaw took them home with him.

When I took Pawpaw home; we did the obligatory tour of his garden and fruit trees, which is always a wonderful time for me. I love spending time with this 83 year old Cajun who is much more comfortable speaking French than he is English.

Tonight I am back at work on my regular shift. We have a storm approaching and the weather station is predicting severe lightning, wind and possibly hail. It should be here in about fifteen to twenty minutes, so let me get ready. Refineries don’t like these kind of storms.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

Monday was not a great day here. Lisa is still sick and seems to have gotten worse. She slept all day Sunday. She did not sleep well last night after midnight. She has had fever, chills, and body aches since Saturday night. She did get some medicine today will see her doctor tomorrow.

Mike came over last night and we had a few glasses of wine (Chilean) and discussed the usual items (history, theology and current events). After about an hour of discussion we went for our walk-a-bout and had a good time of prayer.

Today I went to the funeral of an old Cajun gentleman. My neighbour, Mr Moreau, had struggled with cancer for a number of years. He had a wonderful old Cajun accent and always had gentle and kind manner about him. That old Cajun accent, like Mr Moreau’s was so common here in Lake Charles when I was growing up, but today it is becoming very rare and will soon disappear. Lisa could not attend the funeral because she was so sick.

The funeral mass was held at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church. It had been some time since I had attended a mass. It was a beautiful service and was conducted by Father Charles McMillin. I had the chance to speak with Rev. McMillin after. He seems to be a very affable man. It would be a pleasure to speak about our commonality and our differences in the faith with such an apparently good man.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

I started Saturday by a trip to the local Jewish Temple for a book sale. I spent $26 and purchased about thirty books. They're mostly history and biography works, but I did get some poetry and philosophy, several classics and some children books. I left there with a box full of books and very pleased.

After returning from the book excursion. I loaded up the little boys and we headed for Longville. I had promised them a fishing trip, but we drove north to Longville in a downpour, so we had to cancel fishing for a while.

The boys and I went to mom and dad’s. I brought along a couple of DVD’s, because I had watched the weather before leaving the house. Dad, Terry (my youngest brother), and I watched The Count of Monte Cristo. Dad hadn’t seen it before. After watching it he was, like Terry and me, impressed with the movie.

While watching the movie, I glanced out of the storm doors into the woods behind Dad’s house and saw what I thought was a hawk land on a branch in a near by tree. Terry got out a pair of binoculars and informed us that we were looking at and owl and not a hawk. I got the binoculars and saw that it was an owl. While I was watching the owl a small branch fell from above and struck the owl. He then flew off.

The rain stopped about the same time as the movie and Terry the boys and I loaded into the truck and headed for the pond to fish. When we got to the pond we found Brian (our bro-in-law) already fishing. The perch were bighting and we caught a mess of hybrid bluegill and a few nice bass as well. The boys have a great time catching fish. I kept a mess of fish and cleaned them when we got home. We will have them for supper one night this week.

Worship services were nice. The sermon was good. I love our liturgy and we are now (for a trial period) celebrating the Lord’s Supper ever Sunday. I think that is great. It makes sense that Reformed Christians would do this weekly. We believe that the Eucharist is a means of grace. John Calvin wanted to celebrate the supper every Lord’s Day, but was prevented from doing so by the powers that be in Geneva.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

Today was my last day of straight days. I start back on shift next week. I am taking off Monday, which is the day my shift works off, which means I am off until next Friday night. I hope to bring the little boys fishing again tomorrow, if the weather holds out.

This evening I went to a crawfish boil. There are view things in this world better than the combination of hot boiled crawfish, cold beer and good friends. That’s pretty close to Cajun heaven.

Lisa and the little boys are asleep. Morgan and Christian are at their cousins house watching a movie. So I alone am awake at home. I am writing this blog spot drinking a glass of merlot and taking it easy. When I finish this blog I’m going to pick up a good book and read a while before going to sleep.

I am reading a novel right now, which is not something I do very often. It came highly recommended and seems to be pretty well know, though I had never heard of it. Of course I know very little about current fiction. I am more a non-fiction and classics person.

Speaking of books; I hope to go to a book sale in the morning at Temple Sinai in the morning. My friends who worship there tell me that there are loads of books for sale and they will be cheap!!!

Hold on–What is that? Oh- I gotta go I here my book calling me.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

I went to see the (company assigned) doctor about my ribs Monday, they took x-rays and have finally given me a clean bill of health, so I can return to full duty next week. I’ll be happy to get back on my regular shift again.

Lisa has finished the medicine for her stomach that she had to take for two weeks. The medicine was hard on her stomach, but now that she has finished it she is back to normal and feeling good.

MK and I got together Sunday evening. He brought over a bottle of Chilean wine . This was our first experience with wine from Chile. It was really good and the price (wow!) was low. The world can use more good, inexpensive wine and it looks like Chile (followed by Australia) may be able to fill this important need. We discussed some controversial aspects from that morning’s Sunday school lesson. I was not there, but Mike filled me in on it from his vantage point. I am going to get the tape, so I can hear the lesson for myself.

That same evening one of Morgan’s guy friends came over to visit with her and watch a movie. She introduced Mk to the young man ( I had meet him earlier). She later explained to him the routine Mike and I have of conversing over a couple of glasses of wine and then going for our walk-a-bout prayer time. She said he thought that was “cool.”

The young man seems very nice, and makes a good first impression. I think he is a member of Sales Street Baptist Church. I believe they meet in art class. I have not had a chance to discuss much with him, but he did seem interested in theological matters.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

The boys (including Christian) and I went to Longville today. Both the little boys caught a couple of nice bass each, and a hand full of small perch. I was hoping to take a mess of fish home, but we didn't catch enough eating size perch to make a meal and we can’t keep any bass under five pounds. We did catch five nice bass, all were between 2 and 3 bounds, but we had to release them.

My dad’s gardens (2-3 acres worth) are coming along. The corn, peas, okra, and melons have all sprouted and the deer have not yet invaded the garden to eat all the pea sprouts, which they are sure to do soon.

Tomorrow is the Lord’s day, so I am off to bed.

Dominus vobiscum,
Kenith

This morning as I walked through the parking lot at work I could hear the calls of male Great Tailed Grackles . They are very pretty birds, though they can be pests as well. I love to watch the males this time of year. They strut around and try to out do one another to get the attention and affection of the more plain looking females.

This evening after a spaghetti supper the little boys and I went for a walk around the neighbourhood. We listened to the birds as they sang this evening. We heard a Blue Jay, a Robin, a couple of Mocking Birds (my favourite bird), others I could not identify, and then two Killdeer after sunset.

It was a wonderful evening for a stroll; the air was cool and the sky was mostly clear with only a few small cumulus and cirrus clouds. There were cows out in the pasture just south of us and some flowers are still in bloom I walked at a leisurely pace as the boys ran on ahead. One of them was on foot, and the other was pushing along on a scooter.

We walked and watched the sun sink and then set in the west. It was beautiful to see the blues, purples and pinks in the west as the sun settled below the horizon. We were able to wish on the first star to shine in this evenings sky and we talked about nonsensical stuff that 6 and 7 year old boys find interesting. It was great fun.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

We got good news from MK today. Lisa hasn’t been feeling well and had a few tests run. Mike, though he isn’t her regular doctor, took a look at the results and he said things looked ok. MK said that her doctor may want to run another test but we were happy with the news he gave us.

I’m working 10 hour days this week, and next, filling in for Patrick L. at the plant. Patrick is in Houston for two weeks working on plans for a new unit we are going to build soon. Patrick’s knowledge and experience far exceeds my own, so I know I’ll not be able to do his job nearly as well has he does it, but it’s a good change of pace for me, and I might even learn a few things while doing it.

I have started listening to a knew set of tapes from Books on Tape . The title of this set is Nicholas and Alexandra and it is by Robert K. Massie (as was the biography of Peter the Great). I own this book and was planning to read it soon but I found the book on tape at the library and have decided to listen to it instead. This volume is read by Wolfram Kandinsky who also read for Peter the great.

I took Russian History in high school and I’ve always found it interesting. I get on “kicks” at times and concentrate in my reading and study on particular subjects. I guess I’m on a bit of a Russian kick for now. I’ve not read much by Russian authors. The only Russian author have been able to read for any period of time has been Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. I read his Nobel Prize winning work The Gulag Archipelago while aboard ship in the Navy. I’ve been a fan of Solzhenitsyn since that time. Some years ago I also read One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich , which is another great work by Solzhenitsyn.

I’ve tried to read other Russian writer, but not with much luck. I attempted to read Leo Tolstoy’s The Cossacks, but I didn’t get very far. I have read some short stories by Dostoyevsky, though not many. I did notice that the public library has his The Brothers Karamazov on tape, which I have wanted to attempt to read for some time. I think I will try it on tape first.

I've listened to far more lectures on theology, history and economics, etc. than I’ve listened to recorded books, but I am enjoying this change to books. I’m sure I will switch back to the other stuff soon enough.

I have to get up and go to work in the morning so its time for me to go to bed.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

We had a wet storm Resurrection Day in SW Louisiana, but we still were still able to Worship our triune God assembled with brothers and sisters in Christ. We worshipped at First Baptist Church in Longville instead of our on PCA church. Pastor Stuart had a good sermon. Of course I disagreed with him on a few points because I hold to Calvinism and Covenant Theology and Bro. Stuart holds to Arminian/baptistic views. But these are not reasons to avoid worshipping with these precious Christian brethren.

We went to my mom and dad’s house after church and feasted on Red beans and rice along with smoked pork chops. Then it was time to sit around a visit over cups of good, dark roasted coffee (Community Coffee of course). My siblings Sandy and Terry were there. Sandy’s husband Brian and my brother Gerry’s widow (Becky) was also there. Two of Gerry’s children were there and Sandy’s daughter (Recie) was also there. The kids were able to have an Easter egg hunt with their cousins when the rain slacked off. They all got a little wet, but they had a great time and that was the most important thing.

Dad and I walked around and looked at his garden and fruit trees during a break in the weather. It was a good visit. This is something I enjoy to do with my dad and my grandfather.

This evening I caught an interesting discussion on C-Span put on by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. They were discussing a book by Thomas Reed titled At the Abyss: An Insider’s History of the Cold War. It was a fascinating discussion on the cold war. There is so much more that we can learn about that era now that the Soviet Union is no more.

I may have to purchase this book. (NOTE: I'm listening to an interview with the former Queen of Iran (on C-Span) as write this). I know most people find this kind of stuff as dull, but I love hearing new ideas, history and different views on things.

I have not been able to post on my other blogs because of circumstances, I hope I can do so in the near future. But for now it is getting late and I need to go to bed. I have to work tomorrow.

Dominus Vobiscum,
Kenith

I’m off today and have a three day weekend. I’m still on “restricted duty” but next week I will be filling in for Patrick, who has to go to Houston for a couple of weeks. This is good for me, because I will be working 10 hour days. This will help with the bills. There's built in overtime on my regular shift and we have been missing the extra income.

Today is Good Friday, the day we remember the crucifixion (Passion) of our Lord Jesus Christ. Without the passion of our lord there would be no hope of salvation for anyone. All people would be without hope of forgiveness and redemption from the sins of which we all stand guilty of before God (YHWH).

Because of the Resurrection of our Lord, which we will celebrate on Sunday, those who are in Christ have hope of resurrection and eternal life in the presence of the triune God.

I will be home for much of the evening with just the little boys. Lisa is going to a birthday party for one of her lady friends, Morgan is working and Christian has gone to visit his girl friend. So I have grilled some hotdogs for the boys and a steak for me.

I’m reading several books right now and they're all progressing slowly. My time to read is much reduced because I am not working shift work right now. I have much more time to read when I am working nights. I am also reading lots of news, theology, history, etc.. on the web.

I have read the classic biography of Nathan Bedford Forrest titled That Devil Forrest - by John Wyeth. It is a great read. I also recently listened to an unabridged version of Robert K. Massie’s Peter the Great: His Life and World. This too is a great work. Massie is a fine historian and he is a fluid writer. This 48 hour series is worth every minute that it took to listen to it.

Currently I’m listening to Americans at War - by historian Stephen Ambrose. This is only a 12 hour series. The late Stephen Ambrose was, perhaps, the greatest historian of WWII during his lifetime. I should finish this series within a day or so.

I decided to try out a novel on tape, so I checked out Mr. Majestic - by Elmore Leonard. I decided on this book because I saw the movie, which was made from the book in the early 70's. The movie staring Charles Bronson. The book was ok, but the language much more colourful than I like. I may try more fiction in the future, but for now I will stick with the nonfiction stuff I love.

This coming Lord’s day we plan to worship in Longville at the First Baptist Church, where my dad is a deacon. After worship service we plan to go to my parent’s house for Easter dinner and fun. The pastor there, Stuart Graves, is a very good preacher and I have found his sermons to be pretty good. I have to confess that I prefer a more liturgical style of worship than what you find in Baptist churches.

The folks at my own church (Bethel Presbyterian Church) must think I have quit because it’s been so long since I have attended there. Lately I have attended either Covenant Presbyterian Church in Sulphur or First Baptist in Longville for various reasons.

I gotta go,
Kenith

I am back on line here at the house. My old computer is fried, and I have purchased a new Dell Computer. I am hoping to bring my old computer back to life, but that is going to cost me a couple of bucks that I don’t now have.

Lisa is on her way home with the little boys. She is going to pick up supper on the way. She’s picking up boudin (pronounced: boo-dan [you have cut the ‘n’ short]) for all and some beer for me. Boudin is a kind of rice dressing in non-smoked sausage casing. It is an old Cajun favourite.

I am still on light duty at work (because of two broken ribs) and will be for most of this month, but I feel good and I am ready to get back to my regular job. My own doctor (MK) says he thinks it is ok, but the refinery is relying on the doctor they sent me to when I fell and broke the ribs.

I have lots to do tonight, but I hope to blog more later or tomorrow.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

This morning is beautiful. The air is crisp and cool and flowers are in bloom. Azaleas have been in bloom for a while here, but now the flowers have started to fall. I hate to see the azaleas flowers fall, because they are so beautiful and the bush, without them, is rather plain looking. In our front yard we have a number of azalea bushes and some wisteria. When these are all in bloom at the same time the yard is so alive with colour. Its wonderful.

Yesterday the little boys and I went for a walk in the neighbourhood. While we were walking I asked them who made the flowers. Of course they said God. I then asked why did God make them. They know the answer I wanted to hear which is “For his own glory” and they readily repeated it. Then I asked them “How do the flowers give glory to God?”

At this question they were not so sure how to answer and took some guesses, which were pretty good for a 6 & 7 year old. After there several suggestions I told them that the flowers give glory to God because of their beauty and they show us that God is good and likes beautiful things. And added that for such good gifts we should praise the Lord all the more.

MK came over last night, after the little boys and Lisa had gone to bed. At the time he arrived Morgan and Christian were engrossed in a new DVD, so he and I sat at the bar and opened the Bottle of wine he brought with him.

Mike brought over a Rosemount Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 1998. This was (imho) the best wine I have ever tasted. It was truly wonderful. MK, too, was awed by what he had brought. We discussed theology and the Bahnsen tapes he’s listening to, but in the midst of our dialogue, after each sip, we would each comment on the fabulous taste of this wine.

After the wine and conversation, we then went outside to walk and to pray. We prayed for about two miles. This was a good time spent in mostly all prayer time. Mike mentioned how long we have done this together. It has surely been for more than 15 years now. (He said “twenty” but I think it is somewhere between 15 and 20, probably about 18 years.)

MK is a good friend. Outside of my own family (dad and brothers) he is my oldest and dearest male friend. And one of the the times I like best is when we walk-a-bout and pray. These are times of spiritual renewal and encouragement for me.

I am sure the neighbours, if they’ve noticed (because our walks never start before 9:30 at night) must think the walks a bit odd. Here are to middle aged men (though we were young when we started this routine) walking around the block and praying out loud for an extended period of time. (Not a common site in most neighbourhoods.)

Well I must get to work.
Coram Deo,
Kenith