FredMcKinnon.Com

Hi Everyone -

I’ve missed blogging … Joy left this past Thursday at 6:30 AM on a flight to Richmond, VA … she went to surprise a girlfriend for her 40th birthday.  That means I’ve had the kids (yep, all 4 of’em) since Thursday AM.  Joy came home late yesterday afternoon, and it was a great arrival!  Everytime she leaves for an extended time, it reminds me what her life consists of every single day – and I think that even on the craziest, longest, most stressful days in ministry or business, her job is far tougher.

Anyway, it’s Memorial Day here in the US.  I explained to the kids what that meant today, and Jon Michael just came and asked me “Dad, to celebrate our soldiers who lost their lives, can we have a sugary snack”? … ’nuff said.

We’ve had the day off from the church today – it’s been pretty nice, although my plan to have at least one hour of “adult time” by the pool at the gym didn’t work out … Joy and I were gonna put the kids in the nursery and have one hour just to lay out and relax, but Andrew broke out with some bumps a few days ago (of course, while she was gone) .. they were little red mosquito bite looking bumps which turned into blisters, and would eventually pop and start to scab (yuck).  I wasn’t too freaked out by it – although he just got over another really bad rash.  But today, a nurse was checking her kids in and said that she thought it may be a mild case of chicken pox, as he just got his vaccinations earlier last week.  Well, they didn’t look ANYTHING like chicken pox bumps, and I thought everyone knew that once chicken pox bumps were scabbing up and the fever was gone (which he never had), you weren’t contagious anymore.  Well, the nursery worker sided with the nurse and promptly gave Andrew back to me … so instead of having a couple of relaxing hours at the pool, we held (or tried to hold) Andrew the whole time and finally gave up, got the rest of the kids, and put them all in the pool.

Joy usually rewards my return from out of town trips with a kiss at the front door followed by a “I’m outta here” and run out the door.  We love kids, we love parenting, but we also love a little “alone time”.  So, after I’ve been on a trip for several days, leaving her with all the kids – she likes to take off and go shopping or something when I return.  Since she returned, I’ve not had the “I’m outta here” opportunity yet – was gonna come BACK to the pool this afternoon, but it wasn’t very sunny, and she needed to go to the grocery store.  Maybe later.  Tomorrow starts the busiest work day of the week for me – Tuesday – due to staff meeting and preparation for Tuesday Night Practice.

Oh well, just felt like checking in and saying “hi” to everyone.  Have a great holiday.

Fred