Transitory Psychosis

I’ve been on vacation at Grand Lake (in Oklahoma) with my wife’s side of the family and our daughter, son-in-law, and two of our grandsons this week. Andrew is 3 and loves to ride on the golf cart we use to get around the resort. One day, he and I were driving the golf cart to his Great Grandma’s house when a squirrel hopped out of a tree and into the road in front of us. Instead of dashing on across the road, he stopped.

As we drew closer, I slowed a bit and then playfully said, “Get out of the way you little dummy!” As the squirrel bounded away, Andrew repeated, “Get out of the way, little dummy!” When the incident was relayed to other family members, Papa was chastised for teaching Andrew a bad habit.

Later, my wife (Andrew’s “Granny”) was driving the cart with Andrew aboard when a squirrel bounded out on the road. “Look at that squirrel, Drew,” she said. He replied, “That’s not a squirrel, it’s a little dummy–Papa said!” For the rest of the week, Drew has referred to the squirrels as “little dummies.” And he’s always suggesting we look for them as we drive the cart!

Once again, Papa has relearned a lesson I learned many years ago when Drew’s Mommy and brother were little. Kids have listening ears and will repeat what they hear. Thankfully, identifying squirrels as “little dummies” is nothing terrible. I want to make sure what he hears me say is something I want him to repeat.

After nearly two weeks of silence in this space, some may be wondering if I am still around. As you can see, I’m still here.

It’s been an exciting time for our family. Dianna and I spent a week in Oklahoma welcoming the arrival of our third grandson, Landon James Horath. He was six weeks early and small (4 lbs 2 oz 16.75 inches) but healthy. After a few days in the Neonatal ICU, he went home last Saturday (April 18). As you can see in the photo, Papa’s quite proud! Cassie, his mom, is doing well too.

The blessings keep coming, too. Our daughter-in-law, Amy, is due to deliver her first this Friday (April 24). Of course, that depends upon Baby Yandell’s timing. He or she (they have chosen to be surprised) may have other ideas. Anyway, in less than two weeks, we’ll be in California to say hello.

Then, last night I received a letter from a friend. Enclosed was a check he felt prompted by the Lord to send to me, not knowing whether I had any particular need for it. As the Lord would have it, I incurred an unexpected expense for almost the same amount earlier in the day! God was preparing several days ago to meet a need I didn’t even know we had.

Needless to say, I’m feeling blessed today . . . hope you are too.

There’s a lot of excitement in my world of late. At the top of the list are two impending births. Our son, Joe, and his wife, Amy, recently announced they are expecting! The new little one is slated to come into the outside world in April. A few days later, we received a phone call from our daughter, Cassie, and her husband, Nate, that they too are preparing to welcome a new one–in May!

Needless to say, we grandparents are overjoyed and a little overwhelmed. Sounds like a busy next Spring, don’t you think? Especially since one couple lives in the Midwest and the other is on the West Coast. I’m just getting used to being a Papa to the two we already have and now we’re doubling the number of grandchildren . . . and birthday presents, Christmas presents, because-I-want-to presents, photos (we’ve GOT to buy more frames), fishing rods (eventually), visits, plane tickets, etc.! It’s going to be a blast!

But those aren’t the only births I’m concerned about these days. More about that tomorrow . . .