Happy 20th Birthday, Jake!
Okay, he was stuck in classes and only got
to see Stephanie for a few hours while they had dinner together and also
studied all evening; but I’ll guess they made up for that on the weekend since
there was a distinct lack of detail to Stephanie’s last email report for what
they’d been doing from Friday night to Sunday night.
We didn’t have a birthday party for him
here, but I was at Michael’s house for dinner; and the meal was definitely
party-worthy! There was also a wedding
planning meeting after dinner; which is why Stephanie’s parents were invited to
dinner – and why we waited until after the stores closed to have that
meal. That extra time between the end of
classes and dinner allowed Michael and I to get our homework done and have a
little outdoor play time too so that we could enjoy the nice weather. We did both of those things with Rowen and
Tim; and also did our homework outdoors on the back porch at Michael’s
house. The play time included some
biking. We rode around the new section
of town; went to the park and around the trail there.
Tim wanted to bike the trail because the
word is now out around town about the full plan for the park and new trails,
and while the work on the trails hasn’t started; he wanted to take a look at
where the new section of park is going to be while talking about how cool the
new trails were going to be for biking and hiking. He isn’t as enthusiastic about the new
playground; but I assured him that he can get away with playing there thanks to
Ethan and Ehlana without taking a hit to his reputation. We also rode past the med center and back
again; but the outdoor work going on there now wasn’t all that exciting for the
guys; so we pretty much just rode past and back again. I’d love to take an indoor tour of the place;
but that’ll have to wait a while longer.
I’m sure that we will get to see the place as soon as it’s far enough
along that Uncle Adam, Uncle Mark, and Aunt Deborah can start setting up their
new clinic.
Moving along, Rowen and Tim both left for
his house when Michael and I needed to be back for dinner; and that meal was
great both for the food and getting to spend time with his family and Stephanie’s
parents. Thanks to everything I’ve had
on the go up to now since Jake and Stephanie got engaged, I haven’t been
involved in any of the wedding plans or work; but Rebecca and I are both going
to be more involved from now on. A lot
of the work and appointments need to wait until Stephanie and Violet are home
from school for the summer; but there are other jobs to do – like handle the
incoming replies from the wedding invitations that have already been sent out.
The planning meeting tonight was mostly
about setting up those appointments we’ll need starting in May; planning the
accommodations for family and friends that will be here for the wedding; and a
whole lot of the little details that go into fairly big weddings. In a small town, when you have kids from two
of the best-known families getting married; it’s definitely a big deal. While the reception will be limited by the
amount of space at the Inn; I’ll guess that the sanctuary at the church will be
packed for the ceremony. Everyone here
loves Jacob, Miranda, Stuart, and Samantha; and will be there to help celebrate
Jake and Stephanie’s big day with them.
Speaking of the happy couple, they were
involved in the meeting for a while too, thanks to a little video link with
them; but that was fairly short and sweet and just a summary recap once we were
nearly finished just to make sure they were good with the plans. Okay, that was all about Stephanie’s
approval, since Jake is indifferent to the details. As long as he’s the groom and Stephanie’s the
bride; he’s good with whatever else is set up for the rest of the day. There were some happy birthday best wishes
for Jake too while we were having that chat, but they were both bogged down
with work to get done; so we didn’t keep them any longer than needed before
letting them get back to their studies.
That was okay with me too, since I had a
lot of work to get to at home too. It
was still after ten by the time I went home; though that was partly because
Michael and I did a quick music practice to run through our band and praise
team music for our practices tomorrow afternoon and evening. I’m sure that’s why Stuart and Samantha
stayed and visited with Jacob and Miranda; and they headed for home when I did –
after a long round of goodbye hugs and kisses.
I’ve completely skipped the morning and
school day action, but there wasn’t really all that much of anything newsworthy
to report anyway. Tai Chi and breakfast
were both quiet and normal; and other than getting to spend some bonus time
outdoors at lunchtime; there wasn’t much going on at school worth writing
about. My Magi lesson with Mom was
entertaining, since we used Ethan and Ehlana as my test subjects in a fairly
advanced telekinesis lesson that was more play than work. That was a fun way for the twins to end their
day too – especially when my lesson ended once I had them changed, in bed, and
tucked in – all done without physical contact.
Mom and I did do the hugs and kisses
without Magi power assistance, though; and then I came up to my room to get
started on my studies and family business work.
That was more than three and a half hours
ago, and I’ve been working in high gear most of that time. I’m pretty much back in the groove again for
my language studies, and that’s going very well again; but the family business
work tonight was more challenge than fun.
We’re all doing very well with our business interests, but being
successful is often tough work even for a Magi Master; and that was definitely
true with what I was doing tonight. I
won’t bore you with the details, but I was dealing with interests we have in
Eastern Europe; and there are some very tough issues to worth through in many
of those countries right now.
I should also remind future readers of this
journal that our definition of ‘success’ isn’t counted in currency or
assets. The money is important, since it
allows us to do our charity work; but the two are often tied together; and that’s
especially true in the countries facing the most difficult human and social
challenges.
Getting back to my work tonight, it’s tough
to deal with bad situations and do the best we can for the people that either
do work for one of our business interests or potentially could in the future –
especially when our decisions sometimes need to be made due to issues that are
out of their control – and ours. I wish
that wasn’t the case, but if we ever get to a day when all is well in every
country; then there won’t be any need for our charities or help anyway.
No, I don’t expect that’s happened in my
lifetime – and probably not in yours either – unless you’re reading this in the
very distant future from my now. It
would be nice, though; and just imagine what we might all be able to accomplish
if we weren’t wasting so much effort on useless and destructive pursuits.
That’s enough of a minor rant for today,
and I mostly just want to get started on my nap now instead of discussing the
idiocies of the world as we know it today.
I haven’t really even thought about it being a short work and school
week with the Easter weekend ahead of us, but it is; and we have a lot to fit
into the three days we have left before the holiday weekend. Somewhere in all of the usual busy, I’ll also
need to find time to help Mom and Dad with the holiday weekend chores too, and
while we aren’t going to have company at our house all weekend; we will likely
have some cousins doing a sleepover or two; since Jaimie, Kaitlyn, and Jayden
will be here for the weekend with their parents; and Aunt Deborah’s side of the
Johnson family will be here too.
Everyone else will be away this year; though we expect that for the
members of our family with college students that won’t be able to be here
either. The Memorial Day weekend will
likely be bigger for homecoming visits for at least the next five or ten years
than Easter will be; but we’ll see how that goes.
That really is all of the news I have for
today, though; so, until next time...
...May the Magi Force be with you!
