Jacob Take the Wheel

By  Jackie J. Copper

A few years ago Carrie Underwood had a hit with the song “Jesus Take the Wheel.” The lyrics concerned people who were at a crossroads in their lives and just felt out of control. They surrendered to a higher power and found a sense of peace.

Recently I heard a story that I call “Jacob Take the Wheel” and it too describes the power of God in our lives. The cast of characters in this event are a nine year old boy named Jacob and his mother named Anna. One day they were driving down Interstate 75 in the family truck from Macon to Perry. Jacob was in the front seat since they were in a truck and he was safely seat belted into the cab. His mother was driving and all seemed fine.

Out of the blue his mother had a seizure. Her body went rigid with her hands on the wheel and her foot on the gas pedal. She was completely out of it, something Jacob realized right away. He grabbed the wheel with his left hand and with his right hand picked up his mother’s cell phone.

He punched in “911” and when he got an answer he began to tell them what was happening. The operator tried to get a fix on where Jacob was so she asked him if he could see any mile markers. He told her what he saw. He also said he saw a highway patrolman on the side of the road and the operator told him to blow the horn, which he did. Either the highway patrolman was busy or didn’t take this as a sound of distress.

Now remember the whole time this is going on he has the cell phone in one hand and is steering with the other. His mother is unresponsive to his calls for her to wake up so he is virtually alone in the cab of this truck.  Alone, but not really alone.

Jacob steered the truck for fifteen miles down the interstate. He stayed on the phone with the 911 operator and did everything she suggested. After fifteen miles his mother stirred, woke up and stopped the truck. She had no recollection of anything that had gone on. She didn’t know that Jacob had taken the wheel until she was told.

Later people asked Jacob how he had known what to do in steering the truck. His answer was he steered it just like he did his go cart. He didn’t think he had done anything all that special. Jacob took the wheel and he did what he had to do. He was a hero in everyone’s mind as well he should have been.

In this case Anna did not scream out for Jacob to take the wheel. She wasn’t even aware when he did. But God knew and He was in that truck with Jacob as they sped down Interstate 75.

Maybe somehow Carrie Underwood will read this story, and maybe she will write a song about this heroic nine year old boy. I doubt she would title it “Jacob Take the Wheel” since that phrase has already been used. Still whatever she calls it, it will have to be a song that celebrates the glory of a son’s love for his mother and his desire to keep the truck heading in the right direction until she came back to him.

Jackie K Copper is an author, columnist and book and movie critic in central Georgia.  He writes for The Huffington Post.  www.jackiekcopper.com

Jacob is the son of my first cousin, Annalee.  The Lord is so good to protect His children.  Our family is  thankful that this situation did not end in tragedy.  Jacob was awarded the Georgia Young Heroes Award by the Governor of Georgia.  The following link shows the news coverage for this award:   http://budurl.com/jf46

“Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it.”  Proverbs 22:6.  This verse is a reminder of the commission the Lord gives parents to train children.  As a mother of four children, three of whom are boys, I have found etiquette to be a challenging component of the parenting process.  My wonderful young men are often not interested in “table manners”.  This verse encourages  me because it highlights the result of consistent teaching… “when he is old he will not turn from it”.  Hopefully, by the time my children enter the dating years, my efforts will produce fruit.

Recently, I incorporated a lesson in table etiquette into a reading lesson for my second graders.  I utilized a simple place setting and demonstrated the proper way to set a table.  It was interesting to see the diversity within my class.  Several students were very familiar with the process and commented that setting the table was a part of their household responsibility.  Others were familiar with the process, but did not know how to set the table themselves.  Interestingly, I had a few students who had never eaten dinner in their home with the table set in preparation for the meal.

In the age of quick meals and busy family schedules, I am the first one to admit that etiquette often goes by the wayside.  In our family, it would be very challenging to have china and fine linens at every meal.  Etiquette has to change with the times.  Even if you are serving your favorite take-out meal, take the time to add a little pizzazz to the evening.  The principles of etiquette can easily be taught with festive dinnerware and acrylic glasses at the dinner table or as an outdoor dining experience.  The simplicity of a set table also sends a message to your family members that they are valued and indicates that you are preparing to listen to their news during the meal.  Family fellowship over the dinner table is one part of my heritage that I cherish.  It is my desire that my children will look back over their childhood with fond memories of our family dinners.

Etiquette may be a part of your child’s career in the future.  Take the time to train in the formative years so that you will not put a “stumbling block” in the future.

            Years ago, I read the story Caleb’s Colt and I found it to be a wonderful Easter story.  As an elementary teacher, I read a number of children’s books.  I always remembered the title, but I couldn’t remember the author.  Several years ago, I took the time to research the title and discovered that one of my favorite Christian authors wrote the book….Jill Briscoe!  I then discovered that the book was no longer in print.  My sweet sister went to great lengths to get a copy of this book for my birthday. 

            Caleb’s Colt is a heartwarming adventure of hope and change.  Children’s literature is the perfect venue to make the powerful, life-changing story of Jesus come alive for your children.  Jill Briscoe summarizes this book…“Caleb struggles to tame his hard-headed donkey.  But when Christ borrows the animal for His triumphant entry, amazing things begin to happen – to the colt as well as Caleb!”

            Copies of this amazing book (Did I mention that the illustrations are stunning?) can be purchased on Amazon and Ebay.  Happy Easter!

Our church is conducting a city-wide blitz to invite everyone in our community to church for our Easter services. Our minister has a passion for lost souls. He wants everyone in our area to hear the gospel so that through faith in Jesus Christ, we will spend our eternity in heaven. His sermon Sunday discussed the book of the life where the names of all believers will be recorded. ( Luke 10: 20; Rev. 20: 14b, 15)

Names…..What am I doing to share the gospel with my neighbors? with my co-workers? with the strangers I meet in the check-out line at the grocery store? I know that I have neighbors that don’t attend a church….What am I doing? I feel the Holy Spirit convicting me to share the gospel with others….to get out of my own routine and intentionally share the Good News!

Last year, my children and I had a blast assembling and distributing small, cellophane bags of jelly beans with a “Jelly Bean” prayer attached.

The Jelly Bean Prayer

RED is for the blood Christ gave.

GREEN is for the hill above his grave.

YELLOW and ORANGE are for the sun,

That ceased to shine ‘till all was done.

BLACK is for his crucifixion,

WHITE is for his resurrection.

PURPLE is for his hours of sorrow.

PINK is for our new tomorrow.

A bag full of jelly beans, colorful and sweet,

Is a prayer, is a promise, is everyone’s treat.

Easter is the perfect time to share Jesus with others….The Jelly Bean prayer is a ministry opportunity that can involve your entire family, regardless of age. It is a non-threatening way to share the plan of salvation. As an added bonus, jelly beans are inexpensive. I challenge you to purchase your supplies this week and schedule a “Jelly Bean Blitz” this weekend. You never know, your jelly beans may lead someone to the sweetness of eternal salvation!

“the love of God”, he added, “and His fear increased in me more and more, and the faith grew in me and the spirit was roused, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers , and in the night nearly the same, so that whilst in the woods and on the mountain, even before the dawn, I was roused to prayer and felt no hurt from it, whether there was snow or ice or rain; nor was there any slothfulness in me, such as I see now, because the spirit was then fervent within me.”

After escaping to Britain, Patrick reported that he experienced a second revelation-an angel in a dream tells him to return to Ireland as a missionary. He returned where he devoted his life to teaching the Irish people about Christianity. He is credited with beginning over 300 churches and schools. Clearly, Patrick is a Joseph-like example of a man sold into slavery who later impacted the world.

St. Patrick’s Day Ideas

• Shamrocks – Use a 3 leaf shamrock to describe the Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
• Irish Floats – Make “Irish Floats” for your family. Scoop lime sherbet into parfait glasses. Top with Sprite or your favorite lemon-lime soda.
• Key Lime Cake – The green layers in this cake are great for celebrating the Green!

Key Lime Cake

1 ½ c. Sugar

1 (3 oz.) Lime Jello

5 Eggs

1 ½ c. Oil

½ t. Vanilla

1 t. Lemon Extract

2 c. All-Purpose Flour

½ t. Salt

½ t. Baking Soda

1 t. Baking Powder

¾ c. Orange Juice

Sift flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder together. Mix the oil and sugar and lime jello together. Add eggs, beating well after each. Add vanilla and lemon extract. Alternate adding flour mixture and orange juice, mixing well after each. Cut three wax paper inserts to fit three round cake pans. Grease the pans with Baker’s Joy then insert wax paper liner. Pour batter into the pans then bake at 350 degrees for 30 – 40 minutes.

Glaze

After baking layers, mix:

½ c. Lime Juice

1/3 c Confectioners Sugar

Leave layers in the pans. Prick warm cake with a fork then pour glaze over each layer. Allow layers to cool completely.

Frosting

1 (8 oz.) Cream Cheese

1 stick Margarine

4 c. Confectioners Sugar

1 t. Vanilla

1 c. Chopped Pecans

Mix all ingredients. Remove wax paper from cake layers. Frost between layers then the sides then the top.

Meet the Johnson’s!  This picture captured the personality of each of my children so if a picture is worth a thousand words……I need not say more!

Ivy Johnson, the “Ivy League Mom” is:
Anchored in Tradition, Striving for Excellence, Passionate about Jesus! 

Anchored in Tradition:  My heritage is becoming increasingly more precious to me.  Family traditions, southern recipes and the art of “homemaking” have been passed from generation to generation.

Striving for Excellence:  I am finding that the pursuit of excellence is vital, regardless of your circumstances.  The joys and trials that have entered my life, have been sifted through God’s hands.  Proverbs 21:21 inspires me…“He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.”

Passionate about Jesus!:  “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:4 says it all…..

“Everybody get up! We’ve overslept!!” Our family looked like the family on the movie Home Alone where everyone overslept before a family trip. In our case, we had alarm clock issues before going to school. We made it to school in record time (without being late), largely because of some techniques that our family has developed in handling “morning madness”.

We pack lunchboxes almost every day. For our family, this solution is not only economical, but is also a healthier meal option. As a working mom (and one who is not considered a “morning” person), I have developed strategies to make lunchbox assembly a snap in the morning.

• Purchase a variety of snack options. Fill a large, decorative tin or basket with snacks. Store this container in your pantry or on a kitchen counter for easy access.
• Utilize a large, plastic container in the refrigerator to store luncheon meat, cheese, cheese sticks, fruit cups, etc.
• Assemble all sandwiches and other items requiring preparation the evening prior to school. Store lunch items in ziplock bags then refrigerate.
• Lunchboxes should be lined up on the kitchen counter assembly-line style in the evening. Pack all non-perishable items in each lunchbox. Occasionally, include a special note or personalized napkin for a festive touch.
• Train your children to pack their own lunchbox each morning with the perishable items, ice pack and drinks. This one step is an important training tool. It will help your children to become responsible and will promote family unity as you work together.

“Morning madness” happens to all of us occasionally. Try these lunchbox ideas to assist you in managing your family and to make your mornings less stressful.

“What’s up?” often appears on my cell phone screen. Two words that have become cherished as a communication link in our family. My oldest sons have been deemed “old enough” to have a cell phone. They actually taught me to text several months ago and I love it. I find that this link allows me to keep up with their day….the outcome of a hard test, the news at school (during break of course), etc. Texting is also helpful in organizing our family plans after school as we coordinate extracurricular activities.

The most surprising result of entering the “texting world” has been the communication within our extended family. I might pause at this time to tell you that my children have 4 grandparents, 11 aunts and uncles plus 13 cousins. I have found that my children are texting their aunts and cousins on a regular basis. This communication tool has become a “glue” that bonds the generations within our family. I am thrilled to have updates regarding my niece’s and nephew’s upcoming activities and the opportunity to maintain a connection with them. It has also been interesting as well as, thrilling to see my children communicate with my siblings.

Texting reminds me of teaching a teenager to drive. Parents have to be actively involved in training their child to text responsibly. In this era, technology is at the fingertips of all children. Parents have the responsibility to become educated about the potential pitfalls of texting. In researching texting, late night texting seems to be the pitfall when teenagers encounter inappropriate texting. In an attempt, to protect my children, I require all cell phones to be docked in my bedroom at night. I am also an accountability partner for my children. I periodically check all texts to make sure that the texts are appropriate. This also allows me to monitor the friendships that my children are encouraging. As my children prove themselves to make responsible texting decisions, I will give them more responsibility…..just like a parent entrusting a vehicle to a teenager.

Clearly, texting is the wave of the future. In our family, texting is a generational glue that opens the door for our family to stay connected. “What’s up?”……makes me smile every time.

I have found that Chicken Wild Rice Casserole is my favorite “to go” recipe. I usually keep the ingredients on hand so that my prep time does not include a trip to the grocery store. This recipe also lends itself to doubling the ingredients…..You might as well feed your family also! If you really want to be prepared, make two casseroles and freeze them. “Bonus meals” in your freezer will bless your family and impress your friends.

Chicken Wild Rice Casserole

6 – 8 Chicken Breasts ½ c. Margarine

Water 1 (8oz.) package sliced Mushrooms

1 c. White Cooking Wine ½ c. Celery, chopped

½ t. Salt 1 (8oz.) Sour Cream

½ t. Curry 1 can Cream of Mushroom soup

2 boxes of Uncle Ben’s Wild Rice Shredded cheddar cheese

Boil chicken in water, white wine, salt and curry. Cook rice according to package directions except use half each stock and water. Chop chicken. Cook celery and mushrooms in margarine. Mix all ingredients. Top with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 – 50 minutes.

Tip: As you mix the casserole, make sure that it has a moist consistency. Extra water may be added to achieve the desired result. Casserole freezes well.

Speed Tip: If time does not permit cooking the chicken, omit the first step. Buy a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store and chop. When cooking the rice, use one can of chicken broth as a portion of the water to give added flavor to the casserole.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as you minister to others!

There are even more recipes and time saving tips in the 2010 Family Organizer. It’s not just a calendar!

Every new year begins a flurry of activity in my kitchen….not delightful new recipes cooking on the stove, but project boards, photographs and experiment materials. As an educator, I should be thrilled to have the projects covering our home, but I haven’t quite been able to get there…..Should science projects be illegal? I am a proponent of the educational process, but I don’t like projects being sent home that require intense parental guidance. If a student is assigned a project, then the student should be able to fulfill the requirements with a reasonable amount of additional assistance.

Regardless, I don’t think my view will be the new trend in education. I’d like to dig in my educational toolbox and share sources that may be helpful as you help your own children complete their projects. I have also made a resolution that we will tackle the 2011 projects this summer so that we can enjoy the scientific process without the distraction of other homework assignments and extracurricular activities that keep us busy during the winter months.

Home Supplies

Cardstock supply – white and various colors

Sharpie Markers, assorted colored pencils, tape, glue sticks

Craft scissors – Keep a variety pack of specialty scissors to give projects a professional appearance

Photography supplies if you print photographs from home

Die-cut letters – Pre-packaged letters can be purchased from craft and school supply stores.

Copying Machine – If your budget will permit, this is a wonderful tool for all school projects.

Science Fair Project Ideas

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas.shtml

http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/categoryO.htmle

http://www.all-science-fair-projects.com/

http://www.super-science-fair-projects.com/elementary-science-fair-projects.html

The Automatic Bibliography & Citation Maker

http://easybib.com/

Create a Graph

http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createAgraph/default.aspx?ID=cbd4fe19f042467ab9b69a6983b41fde

Science Fair Project Board Examples

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_display_board.shtml

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/sciencefaircentral/Science-Fair-Presentations/How-to-Create-a-Winning-Science-Fair-Display-Board.html

What are your thoughts? E-mail me at Familiesforhim@gmail.com