Next Wood Baby...

My wife is due September 19th.
She went in for an ultrasound and doctor visit today. Our son is already like 6 and 1/2 pounds!!!
The doctor told my wife he thinks we will be spending some time in the NICU. Her blood sugars have been high (gestational diabetes) which means her body does not break down sugars very well, and so she has been sharing a high sugar blood concoction with our son. That must be why he is so huge!
Because of this, he will probably be born and then tank as far as blood sugars are concerned. Until his body straightens itself out. Doctor also says we will probably need to have him early. So instead of September 19th, it will probably be in between September 5th and 12th.

Great.
I've had enough of NICU. I hate it. Especially when I'm watching my own kids in there.
I told my wife we're done. I know she would love to have a baby girl. I would too!
I just don't know if my heart can take another tough pregnancy and possibly another baby in NICU.

Famine Results!!

Alright, so I know you're all on pins and needles wondering about my challenge to the youth group in raising money for hungry kids around the world. Since I blew them all away last year, I told them that if one of them could raise more than me, I would commit to running a 5K race. Well, the results are in...

I'm running a 5K race.

Tehia Goben raised $850 to my $745. She worked very hard for it, too! Many phone calls were made, and she thought outside of the box, asking friends, relatives, church members, and even her dad's clients.

But here's the great news:

We raised $3,320 this year, which is about $1,000 more than last year! Guess how many kids that feeds, clothes, educates and provides medical care for?

NINE KIDS for ONE YEAR!!!

I pulled nine children up on stage to help us visualize this accomplishment. All we did was fast for 30 hours and make a few phone calls. I hope the teens realized on Sunday that they CAN make a difference in this world! Is fasting for 30 hours and asking for money worth it in order to save ONE LIFE? YOU BET!!

If you're ever down on yourself; if you ever believe that you cannot make a difference; if you think the problem is so big that you do nothing...just realize that Jesus asks us for SOMETHING. One meal, one kind word, one cup of water.

I don't have to change the world. God can do a GREAT job at that without my help. But I can help change the trajectory of one life. And I believe God smiles when His children start to believe that.

If you want to learn what 30 Hour Famine is all about, check out their website at:

www.30hourfamine.org

VBS: Second Night

VBS just gets better and better! Here are some observations and highlights...

• The kids and volunteers know where to go on the second day...WAAAAAY less confusion!
• Twelve more kids tonight!!
• Scott Moore looks great in a turban.
• I love how the kids have now become familiar with you and so they will give little waves as they pass by.
• The same girl that hugged Troy last night came down the aisle to hug me in the middle of singing a song at the closing tonight! That'll melt your heart!
• Some folks from Narcotics Anonymous use our building once a week. Tonight they walked into a room full of vines, animals, and assorted VBS crafts!! I ran back in and apologized profusely, but they were very accomodating. "As long as we have a coffee pot," they said, "we're just happy we can use your building. And it looks like you guys are having lots of fun!"
• Met more great folks from Omaha Church of Christ. Our members are building great relationships with them. Unity ran high.
• Kids were hugged and God was praised...can it get much better than that?

VBS: First Night

Sorry it's been so long...I guess life has been busy, but boring (can those words go together?)

Vacation Bible School was great tonight! Here are some highlights...

• Troy Thornton soaking up a hug from a little girl after he sang about what she was most thankful for.
• Two churches uniting to do something in the name of Christ (Omaha Church of Christ joined us this evening, and they are GREAT folks!!!)
• Tootsie Rolls (the fat ones, not the little skinny ones!)
• Getting hugs and high fives at the end.
• One of Southwest's little boys came up after our "Bring a Friend Challenge" and declared, "Tomorrow morning, I am going to wake up, pass out flyers all morning, and then collect food for the homeless. And if anyone is scared, I will give them my stuffed animals."
• 50+ kids getting extra love and attention from God-loving adults.
• Jesus smiling as He was adored by young hearts.

30 Hour Fast

Dear Loved Ones,
This is just Franklin! I hope your year is going well and that you are following through on those New Year’s resolutions!
Next month (Feb. 23-24) I will be fasting (NO food for Franklin!) to raise money for children who are dying of starvation.
Did you know that 29,000 people per day STILL die of hunger and hunger-related diseases?
When I think of our technology and how far we have come in the last 100 years, that boggles my mind! When I look at my home, my car and other ways I am blessed, I struggle to think that there are hundreds of thousands that do NOT have those blessings.

Would you help me provide food for kids who are still starving?

As I said, I will be fasting for 30 hours. This number is significant because $30 will feed, clothe, and provide medical care for a child for an entire month. Any amount will help, but please consider sponsoring one or two children (or more) for several months!
If you can help, please make a check out to “World Vision” and send it to me at my home address by February 16^th:

Franklin Wood
19023 Grant St.
Elkhorn, NE 68022

The next week (Feb. 23-24) I will go without food from Friday after lunch until 6:00 PM on Saturday. By the way, I am doing this with our teenagers from church as well (a lock-in with teenagers on TOP of starving myself? What am I thinking?)

Feel free to e-mail or call if you have questions. I love you all!

Standing Up for Starving Kids,

Franklin Wood