Serving with Attitude!

Nick has to complete a minimum of 16 service hours each year for Bible class and for the Honor Society. (He can use the same hours for each.) After serving three times in our local Soup Kitchen, making Easter Baskets for children from low-income families, and helping tear down and load equipment for She Speaks, he was still two hours short. His Bible teacher volunteers at a local "on the street" ministry each Sunday and said that she would give credit hours to students who bake cookies for this ministry.

Of course we waited until the last possible week to bake these cookies and... of course I was sick! But, there wasn't any other way for Nick to earn his last two hours before his deadline so I trudged to the grocery store and got the necessary ingredients and then watched as my 15-year-old tentatively discovered THE OVEN!

On more than one occasion, I actually heard the words, "Mommy... It's hot... I'm afraid!" in his best little boy voice. Now how often does a 15-year-old boy say the word "Mommy?"

Nick can be very helpful... or so I've been told. He never actually helps me with anything unless I bribe or threaten him. However, others have told me that he is quick to help when they ask. They even say he's smiled on occasion so there's a chance they are talking about another kid!

While he can be helpful, Nick will only do the bare minimum. And... he'll usually give you attitude. You know... "When are we going to be done?!" "How much longer is it going to take?" "There must be another way of doing this?!" Get the picture?

Nick needed two hours of community service so, as I suspected, the moment he noticed that two hours had passed, he was ready to stop. It didn't matter that there was still cookie dough in the bowl. He had made about 80 cookies and he still had to package them in Ziplock bags which would take a while. As far as he was concerned - cooking baking was done!

Then he did what any honor-role but not a lick of sense boy would do... he created a cookie about the size of his head with the remaining cookie dough. He wanted the job to be done. He had his two hours. And... he wanted to eat the giant cookie for dessert that night.

I managed to take a couple of photos to document the occasion. You never know when I might need evidence that he actually knows how to use the oven!

Here he is trying to hide from the camera:


And here he is trying to keep from smiling:


Sweet Cookie Blessings,
LeAnn