Baker Move In

I think there were about 11 that helped Saturday morning but total helpers were about 16 in number. I know some are going over this week to help. I remember when we moved to Corpus 29 years ago, Julie was 7 months pregnant. Several helped us. Parkway has been good for a long time.

This picture is of Daniel cooking hamburgers for us after we had everything moved in.

Build or Borrow

I bought an old Troy Bilt tiller at the scrap metal yard the other day. The engine was locked up but I only paid $50 for it. If I can get it running I can sell it for $500. Harbor Freight has Chinese engines modeled after Honda’s engines that can be purchased for around $100 and I considered buying one.

Instead, I decided to try to rebuild the old engine on my own. Buying a new one would be easier and quicker than rebuilding this old engine but sometimes easier and quicker is not the best way to go. You can buy a new engine for $100 but you can’t put a price on experience and what experience does for you.

Coming to know God’s word is like choosing either to buy or build an engine. There are a lot of short cuts to gaining Bible knowledge. You can read commentaries and periodicals or you can attend Bible classes and listen to preaching to get your Bible knowledge. Those things are easier and quicker than devoting yourself to in depth Bible study. The trouble with taking too many shortcuts is that we sometimes fail to develop our ability to think and analyze. We just borrow the opinions of others and make them our own.

We also ought to always restudy the doctrinal differences we have with denominations and restudy the issues that have divided churches of Christ and challenge our thinking.

I may end up buying that Chinese engine but I’m going to do my best to get this old Briggs and Stratton going first and whether I can or not… I’ll be better for it. Study your Bibles first and then read the opinions of men… you’ll be better for it.

Know Your Parkway Members - Glenn Madden

Glenn likes fishing offshore. He trolls in this little boat but can only go as fast as he can paddle. If you look in the background of the picture you can see some buildings way off. Shannon says they have plenty of insurance.

Interacting With Kids

On the subject of child rearing, adults (other than parents) can have a major impact on the development of children. It seems to me that a lot of adults treat kids as if they are either non-existent or minor irritants. Better to be ignored than interacted with.

I love kids, I like joking around with them, picking on them and throwing the football with them after church. It is no coincidence that kids like me. Some have said that “Rob is just a big kid”. OK I’ll take that.

I had a client in the other day who mentioned to me that her adult son commented that his time cleaning cages at Tejas with Walker were some of the most memorable that he had experienced. Interesting… I’m sure Walker doesn’t feel that way.

When Lauren was little I took her on a farm call and pulled a calf. The rancher named the calf, “Lauren”, she’s never forgotten that.

When clients bring their kids into the clinic I always shake their hands and introduce myself to them and ask them things like; What did you get for Christmas, are you ready for school, what are you going to be for Halloween, etc.

I ask them to help me lift their dog up on the table. There’s nothing funnier than a five year old kid trying to pick up an 80 pound dog. Before I vaccinate their dogs I give them a dog treat and tell them to reward their pet after I give the shots. I ask them if they want a shot or if they want their ears checked. If I have time I take them back to the kennel and let them see all the animals.

I give kids empty syringes so they can practice being Veterinarians at home.

Sometimes at church I’ll give things to the kids. I might buy a bunch of fossilized shark teeth on ebay and give them each a shark’s tooth.

Brandon, my 9 year old “little brother” in the Big Brother/Big Sister program spends a lot of his time during the summer hanging out at the clinic with me. I’ve taught him to introduce himself, walk up to a client, look them in the eye and shake their hands. Also, when they ask him how he’s doing to respond in kind. Brandon can give a dog a shot and do lots of things around here.

Create some memories; teach these kids a thing or two… they will grow up one day.

Virginia Lawler's Funeral Service