Sweet Summer Days

We continued to enjoy unseasonably cool weather most of last week, but now the thermometer is creeping back up to normal July temperatures. It was nice while it lasted. I can say the same thing about our summer vacation as it draws to a close.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL is behind us now and I believe it was the best we’ve ever had. I felt this way because it seemed like the air was electrified with excitement. All the kids looked like they were getting into what was going on. Vicki said our average attendance was 227.

We had two mission projects for VBS this year. One was to refill our Care and Share closet at church. We had the kids bring in all sorts of food items. When I looked in the closet Saturday all the shelves were full and stuff was stacked on the floor. Our other project was to raise money to purchase Bibles for Operation Worship (a ministry to put Bibles in the hands of those serving in our military). Our goal was to be able to purchase 60 Bibles (at $5.00 each). We exceeded this by 18 Bibles!

GROWING UP. School will be in session for us in a couple of weeks. This year Jenna will be going to the middle school -- and she’ll be part of the youth group at church. Ready or not, Dad, here it is.

Friday evening Jenna and I drove up to East Robertson High School (this school houses grades 6-12) for an open house for the incoming band members. Jenna has expressed some interest in being part of the band as well as trying out for the basketball team. While there she got to try several different instruments. Right now I think she’s sort of stuck between percussion and the clarinet, but that could change after the school year starts. I believe basketball tryouts will take place some time in August.

Sunday evening Jenna went to a pool party at the Plumlee’s house (Tal Plumlee is our Youth Minister). This party was only for incoming 6th graders. There were a dozen kids there. Looking ahead in the church calendar Jenna now has several things to look forward to over the coming months.

In thinking about growing up the boys are not to be left behind. The other day Ben raised his arm and asked if he had any armpit hair. At least I can say, “Dream on, boy,” a little while longer.

KID-ISMS. One day Nate was in the bathroom and exhaled on the mirror. Naturally this produced a foggy spot on the glass which slowly disappeared from the edges toward the center. Totally wowed by this Nate exclaimed, “It’s sinking!”

Another evening Jenna came in to the bathroom to find Nate looking for something. When she asked him what he was looking for he said, “The fossil.” (He meant dental floss.) Then he added, “Fossiling is just like tooth brushing.

Tonight Nate started running laps around the kitchen as we were cleaning up from supper. When I asked what he was doing he said, ”I like to run!“ It reminded me of a time when Jenna was two or three and she did the same thing. I remember asking her the same question and she simply said, ”Gotta go ‘round!“

DRIVING LESSONS. Jenna and I had to stop at Pauline’s for a moment on our way home from school Friday. Since we were driving across the yard she asked if she could drive home. I agreed and changed seats with her. Before starting the truck she lookd down at the pedals. Pointing to the left pedal first she said, “This is stop and this is not ... it’s the go get ‘er.” I have no idea where that came from, but it left me wondering if my insurance would cover this trip.

Joe

Cool Summer Days

We have enjoyed some of the coolest weather recently. As a matter of fact, I was mowing late Friday evening and around sunset I considered going in to change from shorts and jeans. The next morning the thermometer read 59°.

CENTRI-KID REPORT. Now that Vicki and Jenna have had some time to rest up I can pass along their report from camp. They had a lot of fun. The boys and I have heard a lot new songs and cheers. According to Vicki and Jenna every aspect of their camp experience was very good, including the food. I think they were busy from an early breakfast and worship rally through the entire day until a late night party. The kids also had track time where they went to some smaller classes in the afternoons. Jenna went to drama and a class called “No Boys Allowed” (which she won’t tell me about).

FAMILY REUNION. Sunday before last (the 12th) we all loaded in the van (with Pauline) and went to Camden for the Phifer reunion. I think this was one of the largest reunions we’ve been to. The boys really enjoy the hiking trail that runs behind the lodge where the reunion is held. I mentioned this trail last year and that you have to climb a steep 75 foot hill to reach the trail. I think the hill got taller this year. To add insult to injury the boys made me climb it twice this time. I really need one of those hills behind the house.

STILL STEAMING AFTER 40 YEARS! The Threshermen’s Show celebrated its 40th year this year. The show is synonomous with hot weather, but this year I actually heard people say they were cold at some of the evening events.

Our whole family went to the show Friday. The kids and I returned Saturday (and Mom came up for the parade and lunch). Jenna enjoyed hanging out with her cousin, Bonnie, while the boys and I took in all the sights and sounds together. The funniest thing to watch was the boys on the wild bull ride. Ben was thrown three times. Nate hung on for dear life and was ready to get off after about a minute. (The fellow operating the bull went a little easier on Nate.)

The steam engine and thresher ran well again this year. Jackie and Charlie took the engine to a show in Clarksville back in September. After that they took the engine to Charlie’s house where it was more convenient to do some maintenance and put on a new coat of paint. Charlie has begin to invlove his older son, Will, in working on the engine, and he seems to be taking to it well.

SONROCK KIDS CAMP. Our Vacation Bible School kicked off last night with a total attendance around 220. (I haven’t heard a figure for tonight.) This has occupied Vicki ever since she got back from camp, and things are reaching a fever pitch for her now. I am helping out this year as well, but in a different capacity--I am teaching the adult class. (David, my hat is off to you.)

Life will revolve around VBS for us this week. Thinking about that, it never ceases to amaze me each year the number of people at our church who donate a week of evenings to use their talents to put on Vacation Bible School. We may be bone tired by the end of Thursday’s activities, but a lot of good things will have happened between now and then.

Joe

Father-Son Time

We’ve had some really pleasant weather since getting home from vacation. I think this Fourth of July was the coolest one I remember.

INDEPENDENCE DAY. We started our day with the annual Kilgore Remembrance ceremony. This year’s program about the ongoing work to learn more about Thomas Kilgore, our town’s first settler (and one of my ancestors).

The Cross Plains Chamber of Commerce organized Second Annual Softball Tournament. Mt. Carmel brought the traveling trophy back home which allows Bro. Bill another year to do some trash talking when get is together with the other pastors in the area. They had also scheduled to have fireworks, but a line of thunderstorms moved through right at sunset making them postpone the show to Sunday evening.

VISITING OLD FRIENDS. I am always glad when I see any of the Freelands as they were my closest friends when I was growing up. I see Brent less frequently than Steve or Brian so it was a treat to spend a little time visiting with him as he, Sabrina, and their kids were in last weekend. We sat in his parents backyard and reminisced about a lot of things. Since we were sitting where they used to have their horseshoe game set up years ago the tales of my terrible aim and the time Brian ran over the horseshoe stake and punctured the back tire of the tractor were retold. I know James Henry’s leg healed long ago, but Brian was grounded for life and I’m not sure that has been lifted yet. (To explain, my aim was so bad I sent a wild horseshoe into James’ shin and took out a plug of skin clean to the bone. And when Mr. James Earl heard his son puncture the tire he threw down his cap and said, “Dag nab it Brian, you’re grounded for life!”) Brent also preached at church Sunday.

VOW RENEWAL. Sunday night we went to Ashland City. Kelly and Kathy Ragland renewed their wedding vows. The renewal was hosted at the home of some of their good friends. The ceremony was very touching (Vicki would say sweet). Kathy was a beautiful bride. Kelly looked...Kelly sang well. (Sorry buddy, you’re as ugly as the rest of us.) We had a nice time.

GROWING UP. I know I have written about my boys and their bears at least once in the past. Ben’s bear was actually a baby gift for Jenna but he latched on to it and it has been his close friend ever since. Monday I noticed Ben had not placed Bear on his bed and asked about it. He told me Bear now lives in the toy basket. A little while later Ben brought Bear to me and said, “I think I want you to put Bear in my keepsake box now.” Bear is awaiting his final washing, and I hope his threadbare skin holds up. Just another reminder that time relentlessly marches on. Of course, if this doesn’t remind me the fact that Ben asked me to check for armpit hair the other day should.

CENTRI-KID AND THE HOME FRONT. Vicki, Jenna, and 18 others from church went to Centri-Kid camp at Georgetown College near Lexington, Kentucky. They left Monday and got home today. Both had a great time and are very tired -- too tired to give a detailed report right now.

The boys and I were left holding down the fort here at home while the girls were gone. We didn’t have it too rough as Pauline cooked for us. I worked half days this week so as not to wear out my kid sitters. We spent some time working in the yard and trying to keep the house from becoming a disaster area, but we had fun too. Each day Ben would ask what we were doing for the fun part of the day. Monday night we went swimming. Tuesday we made popcorn and watched some Pink Panther cartoons. Wednesday we took our bikes up to Kilgore Park and rode around. By Thursday the grass had caught up with us so Ben and I mowed.

I think it’s interesting Ben called this the “fun part of the day.” It isn’t the pool or the cartoons or the bikes that makes the fun, it’s the time they spend with their dad. If I ever get too busy with life and forget this someone needs to take a 2x4 and beat the sense back into me. The opportunity will be gone all too soon.

ANOTHER OFFICE TRAGEDY. Deborah McFarland, one of my colleagues at work, lost her husband, Noel, in a traffic accident Monday. Noel was driving his motorcycle on I-65 in Nashville and found himself in the middle of a multi-car pileup. We all went to his funeral yesterday. Please keep Deborah in your prayers. They had been married about five years.

Joe