March 17 – “Uncle Josh panicked”

Today was a full day.  I got the last of the numbers I needed from Hutch to send in the two grant applications for Seaside Christian Academy.  One of them has to go throw the Galveston Baptist Association for verification before being sent on to its final destination.  The other we can send right to the source.  Then all we can do is wait and see.   This morning we took Cindy and McKenna to Intercontinental Airport.  They are flying to Tennessee to pick up husband and Daddy Mike and drive back with him.  He has been there at a school for CSI guys, so he should be well-trained when he gets home.  Now we won't have to call Las Vegas.  Or Miami.  Or New York.  We have one of our own.   On the way home we met Josh and Christi and their boys (and her Mom) and Christina and her boys.  We went to the Fat Stock Show so our little city boys could see some of what it's like down on the farm.   The first escapade came at the petting zoo.  Zakary didn't even want to go in, but I told him his Dad would hold him, so he agreed.  That meant good old DadDad had to stay out of the pens and watch the strollers.  Tough sacrifice, especially since Josh had been bragging to the guy behind him in line about volunteering to stay out.  I couldn't resist offering Zak the alternative.  Once they got inside it appeared Zak's fears were well-founded.  He never left his Dad's arms.  Caleb wanted to pet everything.  Micah was having the time of his life – until a renegade Bambi started trying to eat his shirt.  That made Jachin cry out in a big-brotherly protest.  About that time the Moms decided it would be a good idea to visit the milk stand and watch a cow get milked.    As educationally enlightening as it was to watch a cow get milked by a cow milking machine, the kids really wanted to ride some rides at the carnival outside.  So after lunch, we plowed in.  That's what it felt like.  Plowing through the horde of people.  The little guys had a great time on the carrousel, but Jachin wanted to ride a ride modeled after the Wright Brothers method of flying – you had to lay on your stomach and be whooshed around and around and up and down in a circle.  Christina with her pregnant belly couldn't lay on her stomach so big brave Uncle Josh volunteered to ride with him.  As the ride began, Josh began screaming, perhaps for Jachin's benefit.  Perhaps.  But when Jachin asked him if he ws really scared, he replied with another scream.  The ride ended.  Uncle and nephew bonded forever in conquering the dreaded flying machine.  When Jachin told his Mom about it, his final words were, "Uncle Josh panicked."   1 John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."   Father, thank you for the love that makes uncles fly and nephews trust.  Amen.