with Robert Prater

Our heartfelt congratulations goes out to our high school graduates, Nathan Kelly and Chris Nipper and to their families! This is a wonderful time of life, with so many opportunities and promises ahead. We pray that God's hand will guide them and protect them in the coming days and years. May they always seek Him and hold to Him and keep Him ever close. Remember the words of the writer of Ecclesiastes, "Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, I have no pleasure in them." (Ecclesiastes 12:1)

This week I am reminded of an article that said: "The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18, and the figure came up to $160,140." But, $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. That's $8,896.66 a year, or $741.30 a month, or $171.09 a week. That's a mere $24.37 a day. Or just over a dollar an hour…..What do you get for your $160,140? Naming rights. Glimpses of God every day. Giggles under the covers every night. More love than your heart can hold. You get to finger paint, carve pumpkins, play hide-and-seek, and catch lightning bugs. You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under the refrigerator magnets and to collect spray-painted noodle wreaths for Christmas. For $160,140 there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to coach a baseball team. You get a front row seat to history to witness the first step, first word, first date, and first time behind the wheel. You get an education in nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match. In the eyes of children, you have the power to heal a boo-boo, patch a broken heart, ground them forever, and love them without limits so that one day, they, like you, love without counting the cost."

--Robert--(robprater@sbcglobal.net)

SYMPATHY

We offer our love and sympathy to the family of Argil Wiggins who passed from this life on Wednesday of last week in Phoenix,
Arizona. Funeral arrangements are pending the recovery of a granddaughter injured in an auto accident in Florida. Argil and Irene were members at East Main and Central for a number of years before moving to Arizona.

We also extend our sympathy to Robert Perry in the loss of his uncle, Alvin Eugene McGee this past Saturday. Graveside services were conducted on Monday in Kerrville, Texas.

OUR GRADUATING SENIORS

Nathan Kelly is the son of Steve and Mary Kelly and the grandson of Joyce Kelly and Virgie Wallace. Nathan has been a member of Central Church of Christ since 1999 and has attended here all of his life. He has been very active with the youth group at Central, attended LTC in Tulsa for the last several years, and is now leading singing. He has been a member of the Shawnee High School Band, Marching Band, and Jazz Band. He was drum major in his junior year and head drum major his senior year, vice-president of band his senior year, a member of Who's Who Among American High School Students, National Honor Society, and President's Club. His plans are to attend Oklahoma Christian majoring in liberal studies, with an emphasis on photography and minors in business and Bible

Christopher Brian Nipper is the son of Brian and Dena Nipper, older brother of Tanner Nipper and the grandson of Betty and Dave Emery, Jean and Richard Hulsey and Carl and Mary (Lopez) Robbins. Chris is a 2006 Tecumseh High School graduate with a 4.12 GPA. He has been active in the Tecumseh FFA Chapter for four years and has held the office of vice-president and secretary. Chris has been awarded numerous awards which include: Star Chapter Farmer, Oklahoma Honor Society, National Honor Society, Who's Who of America, Matt Brown Award, State FFA Degree, Outstanding Academic Excellence, President's Education Award, Award of Educational Achievement, Certificate of Distinction, Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance, Agricultural Proficiency Award in Placement, National Pork Board, Wildlife Management, Ford Scholarship, Chapter FFA Creed Speaking Award, State Tractor Driving, Top Ten Percent of class and 3 years perfect attendance. He has also been a leader in Relay for Life, Project Safe-Domestic Violence Shelter, State and National Convention, Farm Safety Days, Advance Leadership Development, Central District COLT Conference, FFA Alumni Camp, District FFA Shooting, Livestock Showing, Greenhand Days, Children's Barnyard, Local Food Drives, Angle Tree, Door Decorating for Nursing Homes, Citizen of Pottawatomi Nation Gathering of Nations and many more local and state projects. Chris plans to attend Seminole State College for his basics and hopes to graduate with an Engineering Degree from Oklahoma State University. Chris' hobbies are 4-wheelers, lake activities, shooting sports and welding.

Braden Parmer son of Dennis and Donna Parmer and the grandson of Warren & Margie Stone, is graduating from Tecumseh High School on May 24, 2006. Braden will graduate as Valedictorian of his senior class. He will attend East Central University in Ada to achieve a pre-optometry degree. Braden attends the Highland Church in Tecumseh and will participate in their senior reception on May 21.

THANK YOU

I want to thank each and every one of my brothers and sisters at Central for all the love and thoughtfulness that they showed for me during my recent surgery and hospital stay. Thank you for your visits, calls, cards, and concern that you showed toward me. I love and respect each and every one of you. It's wonderful that we have such a warm, loving, and caring Christian family surrounding us. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart. In Christian love,

Snuffy [Gerald Smith]

Rosie Brightwell is doing well after knee replacement surgery at Unity Health Center on Wednesday of last week. She returned home on Monday.

Vivian Cross did well during her surgery at Mercy Health Center on Monday and was expecting to return home the next day.

Doris Phillips did well with outpatient knee surgery on Monday at McBride Orthopedic Hospital.

Margaret Olmstead, sister of Doris Phillips and Paula Harris did well during major eye surgery in Oklahoma City on Monday

Jearline Bates, Chad Beard, Virgil Beasley, Betty Bernard, Melba Boston, Bettie Boswell, Harold Carothers, James Childers, Ray Davis (Paul Harris' dad) Harold & Clydean Decker, Clovie Dossey, Ethel Fast, Bill Fleming, Mary Gaines, John & Sue Hamilton (Sarah Smith's sister & brother-in-law), Roe Honaker, Anna Jarvis, Earnest Johnson (Yuavonda Sperry's uncle), Carol Mahnke, Mary Martin, Don Allen McNutt, Harvey Moore, Ed O'Neal, Niki Peltier, Polly Reece, Alice Rice, Millie Riley, Sarah Smith, Mary Sorensen, Chub & Dorothy Strickland, Floy Turner, Alvie Vanlandingham, Cody Veteto (friend of Bob & Janet Stephens), Emma Wilson, Carl Worley, and Viola Yates All these members and friends have continuing health concerns or other special circumstances. They appreciate your interest and prayers