Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Snap!

I teach Sunday school throughout the school year, but get a break from the classroom in the summer. I'm always so excited when summer comes because I tell myself that I can now go to worship service and hear the sermon and find out what's going on in the church. In reality, when Sunday rolls around, more often than not, I decide to sleep in. I know, I know, save the lectures. Honestly, this is a big reason why I teach Sunday school during the school year - so I'll get my butt to church! Otherwise sleeping in would be far too tempting week after week. What can I say? I love sleep and I get far too little of it these days.

Anyway, last week on Sunday, the kids and I slept in like lazy heathens. Joe went to church by himself. On the way home, he called me, "Hey, I'm on my way home and I have a surprise for the kids!"

A surprise for the kids? I'm thinking that he picked up donuts. Cool! I don't have to make breakfast!

I was wrong. This is the surprise he brought home...





Yep, that's right - a big ole snapping turtle.

"Surprise!"

"Umm, does this mean there are no donuts?"

This guy was out in the road as Joe drove home from church so instead of picking him up and plunking him back in the water, Joe opted to bring him home for a little show and tell before loading up the kids and the smelly turtle and returning him to his watery home. I think I've figured out where Clay gets his curiosity about critters.

20 comments:

Lynn Kellan said...

Why couldn't he bring home a cuddly, non-snapping puppy?

Robin said...

I'm impressed that Joe went to church by himself. If I'm not the one holding the cattle prod to get everyone dressed and there on time (which rarely happens) then it doesn't happen at all.

Lori said...

That's really cool! At least the part about the turtle. Believe me, I know exactly what you mean when you don't have to teach. I don't think its about not wanting to go, its just about needing a break. I go through that all the time myself. Seems like your break turned into some great family fun, and I believe God thinks that is important too! Now, if only there were donuts involved...

Jessica Samantha said...

Hey Dawn, that's a cool turtle! Did the kids even BUG you about keeping it or did they just really want to return it?

Tamara said...

Thanks so much for changing the feed settings so that I can get the whole article in my Google Reader. :)

Candi said...

How neat! This side of Joe reminds me of my dad. You never knew what object lesson you'd get next, but they were usually fun and real "different." Thing is, even though I've passed the milestone into true elderly status, I still remember most of them vividly! I can't remember what I planned for dinner tonight, but I can remember the baby sea turtles my dad took us to see hatching and making their way into the Gulf when I was four years old. Thanks for adding a spark to my life today! God Bless.

Anonymous said...

Our church has far too many people to fit them all in one service. So we have two Saturday night services. It's a beautiful, beautiful thing.

I think it's the reason we started attending there in the first place.

MaranathaMom said...

I am always looking for an excuse to stay home & sleep in! But I feel sooo bad when DH gets that sad & disappointed look on his face. I'm on worship team as my main motivator, but it's only once a month, so not totally effective. I'm so terrible--I sneak back to the nursery to "check on Leighton" and stay in there talking to my friends who are on shift that week!

April said...

WHOA! Y'alls yankee turtles look A LOT different from our confederate turtles. First off, ours don't have a giant tail and all that extra skin around the feets. Also, our turtles have much prettier shells.

Is it just me or does anyone else think about "Over the Hedge" and how the turtle in that movie gets out of its shell. I know I'm 31 years old and that movie just came out a few years ago, but YES, i did ponder whether or not turtles could actually abandon their shells. I laughed by butt off imagining a whole bunch of naked turles running around in the woods.

So I've been a follower of your blog for YEARS now and this is the first time I've ever posted a comment. I can't believe I chose a post about a turtle to comment on rather than one of our snazzy contests!

Anyway, REALLY enjoy the blog and your entertaining stories of motherhood. Also really enjoyed your book :)

Mississippi Mommy said...

Gross! At least you got some alone time while they went to release the turtle. And that is a pretty cool thing for a dad to do. But again, gross.

Veggiemomof2 said...

Thanks for altering the feed so I can get the whole post in Google Reader :)

Anonymous said...

Yay, Joe! Do your kids realize what wonderful parents they have??? SURE they do, right? ;)

Donna in PA :)

Anonymous said...

Cute! My husband's a kid at heart, too. At least Joe wasn't planning on keeping it for a pet. Donuts would have been a nice touch.

Jacqui M said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!!!! I think it's awesome that he did this, I love it when my hubby does weird but interesting stuff like this!

Ruthie said...

Hilarious! This so sounds like my life ...

Michelle said...

On the plus side, at least after the first bite no one asks to keep the pet Daddy brought home ;) And nature lesson isn't so bad... although donuts would have been far better!

MaNiC MoMMy™ said...

He's not very sugary, is he?

Jennifer said...

That's awesome! We had to stop to let a duck and her babies walk across the street yesterday ... your story is much better!

Robyn said...

Ewww..I live in Georgia and that's exactly what ours looks like! No matter which way you slice it, they are Oogly!

Shellie said...

Didn't he know turtles eat doughnuts?

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