Made some changes to the interface and behind the scenes portion of the blog.

As a result all my previous settings and other such tweaks must be tweaked.

I mention that because I don’t remember all the links contained in my blogroll.

So, if you still blog and want to be included in ye ol’ blogroll please let me know.

Our girl was able to return to school today – we remain cautiously optimistic.

She faces a mountain of missed work.

Her junior year schedule is not something I would have wanted my junior year of college.

3 AP classes plus chemistry and three other classes including PE and listen we all know how hard it is for teenage girls to take PE their junior year – that’s so freshman / sophomore year!

She’s competitive not just in her softball but in her pursuit of academics and the volume of work she has missed presents a significant obstacle.

For the first time in her life a C appeared on her report card – sure it’s just a progress report but that has an effect on her.

I remember the first time a C appeared on my high school report card . . . if I could only describe the celebration that ensued

Still watching, waiting and praying for the girl to bounce back stronger.

I’m not going to blame my infrequent blogging on the events of the last few days.  If anything, I should have been blogging to keep everyone updated and in the loop.

Our girl has been sick and in the hospital for 10 days or so.  She’s back home, feeling better (getting stronger) and is planning on returning to school tomorrow.

We still don’t have definitive answers which leaves that helpless feeling but we press on to find hope and be examples of hope.

We appreciate so much the prayers, meals, visits and gifts that brightened her spirit.  We are cautiously optimistic and grateful for your support.

I had this car way back when that had a plethora of problems involving the radiator and other engine cooling components.

It seemed like every time something needed repairing on that car it was going to be some radiator, water pump, or other such related item.

I have this house that has a plethora of plumbing problems.

Since the sewer pipe escapade the kids shower is not draining and the toilet cracked in the guest bathroom.

It is now way past time for a plumberous exorcism.

For the life of me I cannot figure out how we’ve able to flush any toilet or have any water drain from any sink or bathtub in this house.

From what we found underground it makes me believe in the power of the supernatural – or should I say sewernatural?

Forget water to wine and the miracles of the loaves and fishes, I have dug up and repaired 5 sections of our sewer line and removed 3 major complete obstructions.

I’ve extracted complete rootsierolls from the pipes like this one:

Everywhere there has been a seam, joint or other connection in the pipe there has been an invasion of roots.

We’ve even had to tear up two different sections of the beloved deck.

With four successful digs which included removal of blockage and replacement of the old transite pipe with ABS I thought for sure I had the sewer line problem solved.

That’s what I thought . . .

First day of school for the kids and this makes it official.

We now have two high schoolers.

This photo says it all . . .

The foul demons of plumbing managed a two for one.

Of course the plumbing project here at the church is going to take more time than originally estimated and . . . wait for it . . . more money than originally estimated.

I’m sure that comes as no surprise.

But that’s not the two for one – well I guess it could be since it is two things in one.

Hmm . . . okay the trifecta occurred at Casa Wray were once again the sewer line backed up and I had reached my limit.

Armed with a shovel, a pick axe and a very good friend we dug up the line at the trouble spot and found a tremendous surprise.

The work has begun to repair the church kitchen plumbing issues.

As I reported from yesterday the decision was made to go around my office rather than go under.

It was a great decision.

The soothing sounds of concrete being cut outside my window along with the gentle hum and vibrations that extend through the floor to my desk have a trance like effect.

Now If I can only find one of Greg’s old recorded sermons I’m well on my way to morning of relaxing slumber.

Who said proactivity is a good thing?

Faced with the daunting challenge of moving all the stuff out of my office I purchased boxes and pressed the young man into service.

I believe my exact words were “they won’t have to wait on me to tackle this project.”

Two hours later and two book cases down we got the call that the plumbers could go around the outside of the building and not through the office.

The boy gave me one of those looks and began bringing all the boxes back to restock the shelves.

I’m starting to believe that my thorn in the flesh might be plumbing issues.

For a change of pace, however, this time the plumbing issues are at church.

In a strange twist of plumbing karma the issues require the displacement of my office.

The drain line between the kitchen and the grease trap runs right underneath my office.

It is underneath my office floor that the line has disintegrated and collapsed.

This means they will have to cut through my office floor to repair 35 feet of pipe.

Shall we pray . . .