In stark contrast to the last few weeks I can tell you it is cold here in Tennessee. We woke up to 24° F this morning. The weatherman reported last night that this will be the second year in a row where Easter will be colder than the preceding Christmas.
EASTER ACTIVITIES. This being Holy Week on the church calendar, our church activities have continued. Thursday evening I went to the community Maunday Thursday service at Cross Plains Methodist Church. Communion is one of the main focuses of this service. This was the first time Mom had received the Lord’s Supper by eating a piece of bread dipped in grape juice and the second time for me. What was a new experience for both of us was that the service closed with a stripping of the church ceremony (where all the decorations are removed before the congregation is dismissed). We were also to leave in silence which was hard for Mom to do. Yesterday we had a noontime community Good Friday service at our church. Afterward we went to Cracker Barrel for a late lunch. Of course, we went to church for our Easter service this morning. With no church activities this evening we had an Easter dinner at Pauline’s.
APRIL FOOL UPDATE. Lori emailed me after reading the last edition regarding the April Fools joke played on Kenny. Sorry Kenny, but the people deserve to know the truth. Lori writes: “Just one update -- when I found him he was out in the front yard looking up at the roof. She REALLY got him good if she got him out of his nap chair on a Sunday afternoon. God Bless Aunt Mar for doing what I've never been able to do.”
A MOMENTARY LAPSE OF GOOD JUDGEMENT. So Jenna is chewing bubble gum as she is taking a shower last night. Thirsty, she decided to get a drink of water. This is where I lose her. Not wanting to swallow her gum she took it out, and in a lapse judgement, parked it in her hair behind her left ear. It was when she wanted to put her gum back in her mouth that she discovered she was in trouble. I ran to the bathroom is response to her shrill cries for help.
Now I’ve had a lot of principals tell me that peanut butter is just the thing to get gum out of hair. We tried that. It worked to some degree but I think her hair being wet was a problem. I wound up having to cut the gum out. At least it doesn’t show. She will sheepishly confess this to her immediate family, but has sworn us to secrecy. I guess I’ve blown that confidence now (I think she knows this incident is being written up).
NATE AND HIS GRANDMOTHERS. Nate spent Friday night with Mom and Aunt Mar. Yesterday morning I called to warn them that I was coming to get him so he could pack and clean up his toys. Mom sent him to clean up while she washed dishes. A few minutes later he called to her saying, “G’Anne, I need your to help. They’re YOUR toys.”
This evening after supper the kids had an Easter egg hunt in Pauline’s house (too cold for outdoor hunting). While looking for hidden eggs under the couch Jenna found an uncooked lasagna noodle. Holding it up Pauline saw it and was glad she wasn’t losing her mind. The other day she was cooking lasagna while she was keeping Nate. She knew she had counted out nine noodles, but when she went to add them to the pot there was only eight. She never suspected a grandson with sticky fingers.
UPCOMING SURGERY. My mom is scheduled to have some abdominal surgery Thursday. It is scheduled to happen pretty late in the day. If all goes well she will spend only one night in the hospital. This will be a repeat of previous work and we are hoping she will be on track with the predicted two week recovery time. Please keep us in your prayers toward the end of this week.
ADOPTION UPDATE. A few weeks ago I asked everyone to pray about our friends Brent and Cindy regarding their adopted son, Tyler. I haven’t mentioned them again because there has been nothing new to tell. We received this email from Brent a few days ago.
We finally have an update in regards to Ty's birth father. Here's what we know:
- The birth parent counselor at [the adoption agency] has a meeting scheduled with the birthfather for next Thursday.
- The birth father wants to have a DNA test done.
- The birth father wants to see Ty. We don't think this would be next week but at a separate meeting time.
Please pray that this young man will have the wisdom to choose what is best for Ty. We believe that is for him to remain with us and are asking
God to choose to intervene and make it so.
Also, I don't have everyone's e-mail here in my home address book, so please forward this to anyone you know would like to receive an update and to know how to pray for us. We cannot thank you enough for supporting us in this way.
This has been a rough waiting game for them.
We hope everyone has had a wonderful Easter.
Joe
Prayer Request Updates
Saturday, April 14, 2007
I ended Tuesday’s newsletter informing you of Mom’s upcoming surgery and giving you an adoption update. Here is the latest news on that...
MOM’S SURGERY went well. Her doctor seemed pleased with how the procedure went when he met with me. She spent Thursday night in the hospital and I brought her home yesterday afternoon. Her biggest complaint to me is of soreness. We are expecting the first day or two at home to be a bit rough but once she moves past that we hope she’ll be feeling a lot better. Thanks for your prayers on her behalf.
MORE ADOPTION NEWS. I have permission to forward Brent’s email on to you so I’ll let him speak to their situation.
To bring you up to date,
The birth father has met with [the adoption agency] and wanted to get all the facts straight as to his options, etc. He is tall and handsome and well-mannered, according to the social worker. He was concerned as to how his decision would reflect on his character either way. He also realizes that we have already bonded with Ty. He is still trying to process all of this, it seems. Anyway, he wants to meet with us (Brent, Cindy and Ty) next Thursday at noon. In the meantime, Bethany is sending him a copy of our adoption profile. Cindy and I are cautiously optimistic and of course we are still praying that he will see that Ty will certainly be loved and cared for in the Roycroft household and he can still be involved in his life if he wants to be.
Thank you for your love, interest and prayers. Keep sending them up!
And thanks again for all your prayers.
Joe
