Ned Erickson: UPDATE Week of December 18

JP had a birthday this week

ONE WEEK 'TIL CHRISTMAS!

I was sharing with our Life Group last Sunday during prayer requests that pretty much life was good with the Ericksons and to perhaps for the time being we should focus our prayer energy toward folks who need it more than us.

Ha! Then the wheels came off!

Monday: My key mysteriously disappeared somewhere on the campus of Winston-Salem State University. It is still there somewhere. Fortunately, Grace works about thirty seconds from campus and I was able to borrow her car to get the kids in time from school! Also, fortunately, I possess a spare key (I should say I used to possess a spare key. I now have one key.)

Still on Monday, our heater broke! Good times. Karl (aka the best electrician in the city) was on it. The only problem was that the nearest part - the one that we needed - was in Wilmington! Karl next day got it shipped to us and we were in business by Thursday!

What did we do in the meantime? Tuesday - we had a camp out by the wood burning stove. Wednesday - we had a sleepover with with Robinsons (thank you Ellen, Nic, Luke and Reece!)

I love this photo

Pure joy

Tell you the truth - it was one of my favorite weeks all year.

We are SO thankful for all of you who checked in with us to make sure we were OK.

MONDAY ROUND TABLE: We had our Second Fellows Christmas Party of the Three we are having at Tripp and Patricia Wilson's (this is the third time they have hosted Round Table. I think they like us!) Patricia has over 90 nativity scenes set up around her house. She should sell tickets!

Thank you guys!

We needed to get our teeth looked at after eating so many Christmas cookies

WEDNESDAY LEADER LUNCH was hosted by Dr. Nathan Hatch at Wake Forest University

Thank you Wake Forest for being so hospitable to us

Dr. Hatch fielded questions of all types: from Early American Christianity, to the intersection of Faith and Politics, to Faith in a Pluralistic Institution, to Strategic Planning, to Leadership Development, to Cultivating Character, to the Journey of Finding Ones Vocation, to the Art of Building Good Teams.

He shared several funny anecdotes that I'm not sure I can share with you all.

All in all - a wonderful time was had. We are privileged to have such a person here in Winston-Salem.

THIS IS COOL

River Oaks Community Church produced a Christmas video for their advent season, and Grace Mezzy is the star of it!

Every week we get to see this!

Watch the video here!

Grace's portion begins at 2:27.

(Abbey Sams reads Scripture at 1:17!)

http://www.riveroakschurch.org/resources/sermons/media-item/242/worship-flows-from-faith

HIGHLANDS ABILITY BATTERY

One of the major value adds that we offer the Fellows is the Highlands Ability Battery. It really is the Cadillac of Assessments. And I am SO GLAD to be able to administer it. The challenge is that it takes two hours to review - per person!

I did ten this week! Two more to go!

IN OTHER NEWS

This week was my college administration week. On Tuesday, I met with Chancellor Elwood Robinson at Winston-Salem State. I also had lunch that day with Dean Susan Calovini from Salem College. I already told you about lunch with Dr. Nathan Hatch. Oh! And we went to our next door neighbors Christmas Party - Penny Rue! She's the VP of Campus Life at Wake! Ha!

Time to celebrate Educators! Thank you all! Take a break!