In the Groundhog's Shadow

I think the groundhog in our neck of the woods saw his shadow last week. When I last wrote a couple of weeks ago I said we were expecting snow. Sure enough, we got it causing us to miss two days of school (the 26th and 27th) and at the same time using our last two snow days. Incredibly, it warmed up that weekend and we even saw 60° weather. This was short lived as arctic air once again edged into Middle Tennessee. We got another blast of snow yesterday which made us dismiss school early (some buses couldn't complete their routes) and cancel school today. We're expecting more snow tomorrow.

NATE'S BAPTISM. At the beginning of the year I reported that Nate had become a Christian. He was baptized a week ago Sunday (the 30th). This is something he had been looking forward to for weeks, and he talked about it all that weekend. He even had some details of the day planned as I found out when I grabbed a shirt out of his closet to iron for Sunday only to have him tell me he was wearing another shirt -- something he has never done before.

When Bro. Bill baptizes someone he usually has them face the audience for a moment after they stand back up. When Nate did this he paused there longer than most people which caused Bro. Bill to quip that he was a bit of a ham. Vicki and I feel he was simply soaking up the moment.

To commemorate Nate's baptism we game him a model sailboat which had Philippians 4:13 written on the main sail. When Nate saw it he said, "Hey, it's in cursitive!" This gift really pleased him and we should have had the camera handy to capture his grin.

THE WORTH OF A KID. So Vicki and the kids were watching Antiques Roadshow which made Vicki ask Nate, "So, how much do you think you'd be worth if we put you on the show?" Nate decided he's worth about "fourteen million, trillion, infinity."

So then Vicki asked Jenna if she would sell Nate. Jenna said, "No!"

Vicki then said, "Gosh Nate, your sister loves you … 'cause I'd sell you."

Nate looked at Vicki with disbelief and says, "But I like this family!"

Immediately Vicki called him to her so she could assure him she was kidding. As they hugged she told him that she loves him and that she "wouldn't sell him for nothing." This led Nate to say, "You'd give me away!"

HER LOVING HEART. I have to brag on my daughter because she makes me proud. A few months ago we had a ministry fair at church so our members could be fully aware of what opportunities there are to serve. Several new ministries were kicked off at this time and two of them caught Jenna's interest.

The first of these is called "Grace Notes", and the team of people participating in this ministry rotate through a list of people who could use a note through the mail as a form of encouragement. Jenna has been mailing out notes for several months now and I know from some compliments I've heard that her notes are a blessing to those who receive them.

The other ministry Jenna is participating in is called "Bake and Take." This ministry is more along the lines of offering hospitality to anyone who is new to the community, has been sick, etc. by taking some kind of homemade baked good to them. She has been busily baking cookies for this.

In my biased opinion Jenna is a fine young lady.

Joe