I hope everyone has had a great first week of vacation. I’m sure my students have been having a ball! It’s always strange the first week school is out. You miss everyone, but you still like to sleep in and just do whatever comes your way. Boredom has not yet had time to set in to your routine.

The word boredom brings to mind the change in the First Baptist VBS schedule. It has been changed to June 29th through July 2nd. Time for this great event is 6:00pm until 8:00pm. I hope everyone brings their kids for a few hours of fun and frolic. They will be presented the Gospel in a fascinating and entertaining way.

I had a call from Rhonda Wyatt last week. She was preparing for the Elm Grove Volunteer Fire Department 1st Annual Fish Fry and Bake Sale. Elm Grove VFD often backs up other local fire fighting departments in the area. They send trucks to help Richland Springs, Locker, Hall and other nearby towns. It takes a cooperative effort from all of our little communities to fight larger fires. It’s heartwarming to see the dedicated service given by our volunteer fire departments. I’m sure many of you were called to donate a cake, if you weren’t, why not contribute one to help the cause. I hope everyone turns out for this annual event; it will be Saturday, June 14th, starting at 5:00pm. Why not treat Dad to a good old fish fry, and support this worthy cause at the same time. See you all there!

I had two calls this week about last week’s column. One lady thanked me for writing such a wonderful column, and the other one called me down for writing bad things about the graduation. I appreciate both calls, although one much more than the other. I hope no one else thought I was putting the ceremony down. I went back and reread the article, and I thought it portrayed how I felt, which was that the ceremony was very personal and nostalgic. I forgive the lady for wishing my son was back in Iraq, and hope she will understand that my purpose was to tell everyone I enjoyed the ceremony. I will understand if she does not call back. I have to admit, I was not very polite about the Iraq thing, but looking back, I think she really didn’t mean it as badly as it came out. Life goes on and so does the newspaper.

We had a welcome home party for that same son, and everyone in the family listened avidly to his tales. It was wonderful to see him,relaxed and comfortable amongst his family. My youngest son is thinking of going to Iraq as well, so, out comes that old prayer rug again! Naomi Smith’s grandson should be headed back shortly, so our prayers will join with hers,for his safe return. I know, from speaking with many of you, that you are also worried about family members in harms way. My heart and prayers go out to you until your loved ones come home.

The heat and wind are wringing the life out of the soil in this area. It is heartbreaking to see the land so thirsty for rain. I guess we need to get together and pray for rain again. I can see the trauma the trees and plants are feeling. Those lovely full tanks of May are running on low and empty. Our green landscape is already brown and dusty! I truly hope that our prayers will be heard, and we can get a refreshing “toad strangler: of a rain!

Summer school starts next week for those who did not successfully complete the TAKS. Fortunately, there are not too many this year. I wish all those students the very best. Study hard I know you can do it! You can call me in the evenings if you need extra help. Unfortunately, I will be in conferences for the next two weeks, so I can’t help during the day.

Next Sunday is Father’s Day. I hope you take time to say thanks to your Dad for all the many things he does for you. I suspect none of you has a perfect Dad but I can tell you he loves you. You don’t have to go out and spend money, make his favorite dessert or mow the yard without being asked. Whatever you do, just say thanks Dad.

I hope everyone has a great week. The July celebration will be here shortly. I’ll call the mayor and see what he has up his sleeve for the big day. Don’t forget to pray for our nation, our President, those never ending elections, and our heroic soldiers. God bless you all.