First Steps, a Dead Battery, and More Roadkill

What a week! Three ear infections and one stomach virus. Only Vicki has made it through the last seven days unscathed. I wish I could have had an ear infection. (Now that I am over my bug I can try to get back into my routine.)

BABY'S FIRST STEPS! That's right! Nate has let go and taken a few steps. He performed this little trick for Pauline the other day as he was cruising around her couch. At one point he let go of the couch, took two steps, grabbed the couch, and let go again for one more step. He has since demonstrated his new skill for Vicki but I have yet to see it.

DOCTORS AND MEDICINES. About our ear infections. Nate's was the first to be diagnosed. They discovered it during his one year checkup. While Vicki was with Nate at the doctor's office (and not available) Jenna's school nurse calls me and tells me she suspects Jenna's ear is infected. So, I take her to see the doctor. After waiting about three hours to see the doctor Jenna says, "Daddy, you're not as much fun to wait with as Mommy is." Ben's ear infection was discovered a day or two later which made him very happy. He was the only one not getting the pink, bubble gum flavored medicine.

A NEW BOOK. The other day I was halfway listening to Jenna as she was in another room working on some little project. I could tell she was really into her work but I didn't pay it a whole lot of attention. Some time later she comes in to show Vicki and me her book. It was a little 5 page deal complete with pictures, text about her family, and page numbers. As she read it to us we could pick up on what her text meant (e.g. "br" for brother, "fmle" for family, "str" for sister).

IT'S DEAD, JIM. That was not what I wanted to discover about the van even once this weekend. Especially when my truck is in the shop having a new flywheel put on. However, Ben didn't close the door on the van properly. With 8 interior lights it doesn't take very long to drain the battery.

Then there was this morning. We are all ready for church and buckled in the van. When I turn the key...nothing. Vicki had left the interior lights on after unloading from a shopping trip yesterday evening. A call to the church brought a good Samaritan our way.

(Incidentally, Dr. McCoy of Star Trek, who is famous for saying, "He's dead, Jim," never said that line to Captain Kirk.)

HOLD YOUR NOSE. When I came out of the house one morning this week I spotted some roadkill right in front of the mailbox. I was happy to discover a dead groundhog laying there.

We are counting our blessings about our skunk problems though. One lady we go to church with really has it rough. The best her son can figure is that a skunk was walking by her HVAC unit at the moment her thermostat turned the heat on. This must have startled the animal and caused it to spray down the unit. Now the odor has permeated her house and everything in it.

Joe

Standing, Shooting, and Answering the Phone

We have had a taste of spring this week. On Thursday the temperature broke 60°F and it was really pretty. I can sympathize with Steve Freeland, a neighbor, who confessed to me today that he is getting spring fever. I'm ready to do some things outside myself.

ON TWO FEET. Early this week Nate was starting to let go and stand for a few seconds on his own. By today he was doing it more frequently and for longer times. I got a good laugh at his expense once as he was standing there when something happened over to his side. When he turned his head to look the motion threw his balance a little bit and he windmilled his arms for a moment before landing on his bottom. He had that same look Wyle E. Coyote has in the cartoon when he is hanging there in the air and realizes he has run off the edge of a cliff.

THE SEASON IS OVER. And Jenna's basketball team ended it with a 22-14 win. Jenna made several attempts but didn't score any points though she did rebound the ball a few times. After the game they gave out trophies to all the kids for participating. Jenna grabbed her trophy and ran back to Vicki with the biggest smile and a bright twinkle in her eye saying, "Look Momma, I'm going to take this for show and tell at school."

PHONE MANNERS. Ben really made me laugh the other day. He was over at Pauline's house the other day when I called over there. He answered the phone and said, "Hewwo. This is Ben-ton Swann. I over her at Maw-Maw Jones' house."

Tonight my mom called our house and Ben answered. "Hewwo. This is Ben-ton.... Hi G'Anne.... I had hamburger for supper but I didn't eat it." Click. Hearing this I said, "Ben, you hung up on G'Anne." He replied, "I know it. I done talking to her." Well, he had a good beginning anyway.

MANY PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED. You may remember my mentioning some soldiers in our church who were stationed in Iraq and came home for a week of leave back in the fall. With the Army rotating the 3rd Infantry and 101st Airborne back home all of our guys from church are either home or will be soon. My heart did a flip when I drove in to work on Tuesday and saw a big banner that read, "Welcome Home Mac, Ben & Jake Roberts" on the fence in front of their parents' home.

Joe

Valentine's Day, Birthday, and Normal Days

To start with we'd like to wish everyone a happy Valentine's Day. All of you are very special to us and we value the relationships we have with you.

TORMENTING BUGS. The other night Vicki was trying to round Ben up for bed. She found him in the living room playing with a ladybug. When she called him to come he batted the bug one last time before coming to her. In doing so the bug was flipped over on its back adding to the general excitement of Ben's mood. He came over to Vicki talking faster than she could understand, obviously telling about the ladybug, and flopped down on the floor and waved his arms and legs as a demonstration. Vicki laughed so hard he is now too embarrassed to repeat the performance.

LIFE IS NOT ALWAYS A BED OF ROSES. I think of this newsletter like I think of taking pictures. One doesn't normally get the camera out unless its something they want to remember later. However, Vicki and I really felt sorry for Jenna yesterday. Her class played a game during the Valentine's Day party they had at school. She was never picked to do anything during the game and spent the whole time sitting in her seat hoping to be picked. She was close to tears when she told Vicki about it on the way home. (Vicki was at the party.) It's really hard to watch your five year old have to learn that life isn't always fair through personal experience.

ANOTHER VICTORY. Jenna's team squeaked by with another win today. The score was 16-14. She got plenty of game time but never got the ball much and missed both attempts at the basket. Their last game is next weekend.

A BIG DAY. It is about 10:15 pm as I write these words and about one year ago from this very moment the nurses were informing Vicki that she would not be getting her epidural. Nate was born just a few minutes later. It's hard to believe that we celebrated his first birthday this evening. Nate had a small party at Pauline's house. We enjoyed a chili dinner and Nate did justice to his serving of cake.

Nate is in the early stages of standing and walking now. To walk he needs a toy that rolls or slides well. With this in hand he can walk until he pushes his toy into something. Then he'll proceed to repeatedly bang into the offending object until someone guides him in a new direction or he gets tired.

Joe

Surprising Words, Good Behavior, and a Dirty Job

Well, it's been cold. And we've had plenty of precipitation. But we just can't get the two coordinated to have a good snow. We did miss one day of school due to black ice on the roads.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT SHE'LL SAY. On a trip to the Shaker Village near Lexington, Kentucky, years ago Vicki and I bought a tape of Shaker hymns. Naturally, the fellow that recorded the music is pictured on the front cover in full Shaker dress. We ran across the tape last weekend and I put it in the truck to listen to it. Jenna saw it on the way to school one morning and asked about it. After studying the picture she said, "He looks really good! ... I think he took a shower."

I'VE GOTTA BRAG. Ben has just been a really good boy lately. When we ask him to clean his room or Nate's room he has been doing it without complaint and doing a great job for a three year old. He has also begun to be thoughtful in new ways. We are noticing that he is more sensitive to people's feelings and will come and apologize for things all on his own. He has made us really proud over the last few weeks.

UNDER THE WEATHER. Poor Nate has been all stopped up and fighting a cold. We've been keeping him home as much as possible this week. On the brighter side, he has been showing signs of standing on his own soon.

CRAZY EIGHTS. That is a new socializing thing we have started at church. We had about 23 couples sign up for it. Five couples are host families. Each month three couples are invited to a host family's home for a pot luck meal. The next month everyone is scrambled so we all meet with new people. We are acquainted with all the couples on the list but we know some better than others. We had our first meal last night. It was a lot of fun.

Bro. Bill and Cindy (our pastor and his wife) were at our meal last night. One story he recounted in the after dinner conversation had to do with Jenna. One day last year Bro. Bill called our house. Jenna answered the phone. After a brief chat he asked to speak with me. After handing the phone to me Jenna ran to Vicki and said in hushed tones said, "Momma, that is Bro. Bill. He's a very important man. He's the son of God!" Vicki corrected her saying, "No Jenna, Jesus is the Son of God. Bro. Bill is a child of God though." Jenna had to think on that one a while.

THE SPORTS SECTION. Jenna's team came in with another victory today at 20-16. Two of those points came from Jenna! To be fair in my reporting, the coach's son is a great shot, usually nothing but net. He and another little boy have a real handle on the game and are the reason why the team is doing so well.

I did enjoy one little boy on the other team who made a goal. When the ball went in he turned to tell his mom. The happiness on his face was precious.

WHY ME LORD?

What have I ever done (You should be hearing Kris Kristofferson in your head now),

To deserve even one,

Dead skunk in front of my house?

Tell me Lord.

What did I ever do,

To deserve number two

In front of my house?

Oh, help me Jesus.

I don’t want this chore!

Help be Jesus.

Come take them away!

Why’d they have to die there?

Two skunks in the road there.

Help me Jesus.

Now I smell so bad.

(If anyone knows where I can get a deal on skunk crossing signs for the highway....)

Joe