Getting Back to Normal

 Ever day is a new day and with each new day comes a little more normalcy in our lives.  Today was the First Day of Sunday School again.  Of all the things that I missed the most during Covid was my Church family, especially the children.  

Tammy, bff and co-teacher and I are blessed with a great group of children.  They are smart, even when I think they aren't paying attention, they are.  They are funny, they do and say the funniest things, I am always laughing with the.  They are our future leaders and I don't mind leaving the world to them.

The most popular spot in our room is the hot chocolate corner and of course, the marshmallows.  We had all kinds of marshmallows.  Big ones, small ones, flavored ones and the kind that are in marshmallow cereals.  I seen them wear marshmallows on their head, spear them with coffee stirrers and finally put them in their hot chocolate.  

I learn, as I teach them and I have been learning for over 30 years.  All the children that have come through have blessed me in some way.  When I see some of the ones that I had years ago now married with children I realize how old I am.  But you know what, the new ones keep me young.  They give me energy that I usually don't have and let me tell you, covid  had sucked a lot of my energy away.  Even though I worked every day, nighttime was mundane.  Come home, eat and sleep - repeat.  

When I cleaned the room last week I found a lot of spider webs, one daddy longlegger, which Linus tells me is the most poisonous spider but is unable to bite humans with its fangs, and the world's most hardest  marshmallows that ever existed.  Along with out dated snacks, candy that was 2 years old and some other outdated items.  

Today is was only Linus and I.  We did the lesson about Deborah and Barak, talked about what we can do for others in the church.  Talked about the food bank, the church carillons and daddy longleggers.  Being it was only the two of us, we were done early so we threw yarn balls around and then did some origami, unsuccessfully.   But I was never happier.  

Yes, maybe we are taking baby steps to becoming normal and some things may be never normal again, but for today is was at Salem UCC Sunday School, and that's another day in Catasauqua.

Just me...complaining

I have decided to whine, complain and just get it off my chest.  Social media, while I love it as a way to keep in touch with my family and friends; and as a way to know what is happening locally and in the world, it can really be a pain sometimes.

There is an old wise saying that goes don't talk about religion and politics.  And while I don't see many fights or maybe avoid them on Facebook, I am tired of Obama bashing.  Really people - he has a little over 500 days left in office, aren't you over the fact yet that he was elected President - get over it.   We should be praying for our leaders and our government that has been elected by the us, the people.  So you didn't vote for him - ok - but he is President - respect him.

As far as I know, President Obama is not muslim, not the anti-christ, has not changed the Presidential Seal, does not want to re-write the National Anthem, his wedding right does not say "There is no other God but allah"  and everything else that I have read over the past few years on Facebook.  

Yesterday though, I was a upset by a persons post on the fact that they captured the 21 year old white man who was charged with the murder of nine people at a historic black South Carolina church,  and their response.  People screaming death penalty, and a few other dark things.    But, when I watch the news later that night I saw people coming together, white and black, holding hands and praying.

My first instinct was to pray for the families of those who died, and for the survivors, but we must also pray for the young man.  My first thought is always, I wonder if he went to Sunday School (That's the Sunday school teacher in me).  Mr. Roof listened to the dark voices in his head.   It's times like these that I see the Devil's influence, we can scream mental illness, racism or a dozen other reasons he did this.  But when it comes down to it, it is just pure evil and the only way to fight that is with good.   And God is so good.

The devil rejoiced at the shooting, but then was defeated - this time the masses did not riot, instead they joined hands and prayed.  And God knows, the devil hates that.  (Take note though - there is less media coverage of the prayer vigils that there was of the rioting in Baltimore and Ferguson)

So the next time you post on social media, think first.  Is it really want you want to say.  Is this how you want to identify yourself.

There are currently 16 persons running for President - instead of bashing them let's look at their politics and weigh sensibly who we will vote for.    You never know what people will believe - they might not vote for someone because they read on Facebook that they were born on another planet, and thus, are not eligible to be president of the United States.

Okay - I will let you bash one presidential hopeful - Donald Trump, LOL (you know....the devil made me say that) and with that I get off my soap box... and go back to Facebook to watch funny animal videos, to see what's up with my family and friends.....and that's another day in Catasauqua.

Church in the Park

I am tired. But blissfully tired from a morning of Worship in the Park with Salem UCC, Catasauqua.  God blessed us with great weather two years in a row.  Today was again warm and breezy. Attendance was good the children sang like angels!  All year long we would try to get them to sing and on the Sundays that we were schedule to sing no one showed up or perhaps 2 did.  So today we had a great group and they sang a medley of their greatest hits.  You know, like Jesus Loves Me, This Little Light of Mine and The B I B L E.  Yes it was great to see and hear the children.

The nest with the birdie

I love Pastor Mike's Sermon in the Park. At church I usually just look at him during the sermon but today, I watched birds, and a few squirrels and marveled at the evergreen trees that were to my left.  I still listened to the sermon but there is something about the wind blowing, the sun shining and just seeing the nature around me that makes me feel so close to God.   There was a bird in a nest just to the left of where Pastor Mike was standing and when it popped up it made me smile.  One of God's creatures also taking in the sermon.

I think the birds sang twice as loud when everyone sang, I think they wanted to sing along.

A shout out to everyone who made it possible - bff, Tammy organizes the event but so many hands helped in the setting up and taking down that it went so smoothly.

It's hours later and I am beat - my legs just about want to give up.  But I am still smiling about singing Blessed Assurance, praying and listening to Worship in the Park today.  I hope more people will join us next year.

Oh - and let's not forget the FOOD - omg - really - hot dogs, barbeque, tons of salads, snack and DESSERTS.  Yes Megan I had your delicious peanut butter dessert and it was a little slice of peanut butter heaven.  As we said there is no such thing as too much peanut butter.

And then there was BINGO.  I called Bingo and bff, Cathy played a card for me.  I won a crossword puzzle book.  But you know what, I never got to call the number B4 - I know this because I wanted to say, if God B4 me - who could be against.

and that's .....another day in Catasauqua