Jake, Ernie

Our morning was occupied with going to get Jake - once the normal routine feedings were done. Since he flew into Love Field, Mama and I left about an hour and a half early but we still got there as he was landing. We did not have time go through security to meet him at the gate but the way Love Field is set up we could look all the way to the area where he was deplaning and watch him all the way through until he came through the exit to the secure area. It was pretty easy to spot him in his lime green shorts, a hoodie and flip flops. He looked like a true Jersey Boy. He has gotten a lot taller and his voice is starting to change but he is still Mama Kim’s Jake.

Once Jake was with us Mama asked if he had called his mom to tell her he was safely in our care. He told us he had texted his mom, his dad, both grandmothers, his brother and I for got who else was on the list. As it turned out his mom either did not get the text  or deemed it insufficient because she texted Mama in a little of a panic. Mama got that straightened out pretty quickly. Melissa’s only instructions for Mama for the next few days is to have him brush his teeth daily. Pretty funny when the first thing Jake told us is that he was a little upset with his mom because she didn’t say she loved him as she was saying goodbye. All she said was, “Make sure you brush your teeth.” Moms!

Jake was most excited about seeing the goats. What was driving the interest was the opportunity to scare them enough to see them faint. I am not sure our goats will survive the visit without some trauma - especially since he was able to succeed in getting two of the little ones to faint and fall over in the first attempt. We had to put some stipulations on how often he is allowed to terrorize them over the next ten days. All six of the goats and I will need therapy after this is over.

One thing we will have to work out pretty quickly is proper foot ware. He came with only the sandal/flip-flops that he wore on the flight here and a good pair of tennis shoes for church. He has no idea what size of shoe he wears but we have several pars of unworn or rarely worn shoes and boots available. Mama will have to supply the socks. I can only hope we get him to try a pair on that is inhabited by a toad or something similar. If not, I may have to engineer the experience for him.

We are looking at everything we can find to do with him over the next week to keep him busy…without spending any money - or not much money. The Echeveria children are coming over tomorrow so the day will be full. Jake thoroughly enjoys having the children here and he pretty well remembered their names and several other nuances about them. That should be interesting for Luke. Luke loves to have another boy to play with. I thought Luke might remember Jake and at church this evening that proved to be true. For now, they are both excited about a play day tomorrow.

We took Jake with us to an ordination at church tonight. Ernie Flores was ordained. He is heading the the mission filed working specifically in Xalapa, Mexico. Ernie, his wife and their son Noah will be leaving for the field next Monday. It is a wonderful thing for our church but we will really miss him and his family.

Jake is looking froward to any and all church.