Indiana — What do a dental check-up, a school bus, and lots of teasing have in common? Well, in this situation, more than you would ever believe! For over 12 years, I have been cleaning Larry's teeth. Larry is a big tease, and it is impossible to know when to take him seriously! I have found the best way to enjoy Larry is to tease right back.

For over two years, Larry had been telling me about the new school bus he was planning to buy. Larry is a full-time farmer, but he also drives a bus for the Pendleton school system. They require that buses be replaced every 10 years, and it was almost time for his well-kept bus to be replaced.

Every time he came for a check-up, he would brag about the "new" bus he was going to buy, and I kept telling him that he should give his old bus to me! I reminded him that Cross Street Christian School (where my children were attending) would really love to have his old bus! We kidded back and forth every check-up, but he would always end up telling me that he had to have the money from the trade-in for his downpayment on the "new" bus.

About a year ago, Larry returned to have his teeth cleaned, and he brought in a picture of his "new" bus. When he finished bragging about it, I again told him how glad I was that he was going to give me his old bus! We teased back and forth, and after about 45 minutes he was out the door.

That evening I was fixing supper when the phone rang. It was Larry. He just wanted to let me know that he had decided to give me his bus! Today that bus is repainted in compliance with Indiana law, thanks to a student's father, and Cross Street Christian School is the proud owner! We have taken the bus on Adventurer field trips, school trips to Timber Ridge, and this August it will be taking the Anderson Pathfinders to Oshkosh, Wis. Never, never underestimate what God can do!

Vickie Widing, Anderson (Ind.) correspondent