My Son the Cookie Baker

Last night Andrew announced that he wanted to make sugar cookies. Since I had a boatload of things to cook for today, between having a nice breakfast and taking things to Thanksgiving dinner today, I was glad to let him help. Now we have a nice batch of cookies to take along.

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He wanted to make sugar cookies - a long-standing tradition in our family that has been continued by Aunt Rhoda. Now, that's not an easy recipe to make - two kinds of sugar, both oil and margarine/butter, dough chilled, rolled, flattened and sugared for each cookie. He did NOT want any help. And, I hate to say it, Aunt Rhoda, but. . .he's going to give you a run for your money with his cookie baking skills!

Picking Up the Threads of History

This marker was erected in 1982, but it commemorates the life of John Harper, a man ordained by John Wesley, who was an itinerant preacher in Newberry County. That's where Mike lived for ten years and still goes to hunt. The first time Mike saw this, he was hunting and just happened across the small graveyard where it is located. The next time he took a camera and took pictures. I think it is a fascinating reminder of the history that goes before us wherever we may go, and also of the preaching of the gospel that took place in previous generations.

Ladies' Retreat

I just got back from a very nice ladies' retreat. My friend Deanna really knows how to plan something nice, and she did her usual good job. She had something planned for everyone - a teacher for the young girls, a couple of young women who had sessions for the teen girls about "what not to wear" and things they need to know that they would take well from someone close to their age, and two different teachers for the women - one for busy young mothers, and one for everyone else.

Best of all - it was very, very low key. Last night was a "pajama party" in the living area of the hotel. We had a devotional but no formal session. There were two sessions (optional) this morning. There was no pressure to be anywhere at all; therefore, it was relaxed. I don't usually even enjoy ladies' retreats because they always fill up the one relaxation time of the week that I have - Friday evenings and Saturdays - so the lack of pressure was very nice.

We've discovered a place in north Georgia - the Georgia Baptist Conference Center - that is a wonderful place to hold something like this. It's where we took our students for a one-day retreat last fall. There were a number of groups there this weekend, each holding their own program. It's got wonderful facilities and is located on a lovely lake. Oh, and the food is unbelievably good.

Some Misc.

--Last night at GREAT EXPECTATIONS, in the preview video, the director made mention of the themes of the play, of which one of the main ones is that Pip discovers that wealth does not satisfy. More and more I see that it is so true that a great work of literature has a theme that is based on that which is "written on men's hearts" - the truths that all men know down deep, even if they are not Christians and do not even acknowledge moral truths outwardly, yet know intrinsically. It's true of writers and it's true in life.

--Supper tonight with a dear friend. One of the most uplifting things in the world is to spend an hour with a friend who encourages your heart and always has!

--Saw my son on stage and didn't get to see my daughter last night. Somehow my email, reminding them both that I would be at their college, didn't go through. I texted my daughter and asked if she was close by - she responded "Close by to where? I'm eating supper." Then we had to go into the play, so I didn't get to see her. My son played his second role of an old man who has to use an ear horn to hear (the first was early in high school). He'd better watch out - he's going to get typecast!

--Had a forward today from a good teaching buddy from BJJH (he was also in the play last night) - some of my students from years ago are teaching their own children at home with some of the same verbal memory aids we used in life science in the '80s, and they wrote about it on Facebook. Brings back wonderful memories!

Church Nursery

For the past six months I've been helping out in the church nursery during the Sunday school hour each week. I love it. The Toddler-I children come to that room when they are good walkers (usually). Sometimes individual children are moved in and out depending on their own time frames rather than the usual guidelines. One boy who's not walking at all, but can crawl like a pro -- on his knees no less! -- has been moved on up to Toddler I because he's much happier in there. (To say that he's been unhappy in the infant room is an understatement.)

Anyway, I've had much opportunity to observe these little ones - both regulars and guests - and it is always interesting to watch their behavior. Little boys automatically go for the trucks and anything that rides or makes noise. Little girls go straight for the dolls. One little girl - barely walking, only a little over a year old at the time - spent fifteen minutes lovingly wrapping and unwrapping a doll in a flannel blanket. The gender differences are huge even at that young age.

A couple of Wednesday nights ago one of these little girls, not yet two years old, was walking with her father when she caught sight of me and waved. I like being in a role that causes even little ones to feel comfortable at church and to know that someone there cares about them.

Seniors & Their Director

Some of these young people (the girl in the purple and the boy in the vest on her left) have been in all four of the plays that I directed. It's been quite a ride.

A Magnificent Evening

The kids never performed better. They picked up nuances as it went along that we had never even practiced. It was far more than remembering their lines - they really acted. I sat in the middle of the front row with mouth open, just stunned at the sight on stage. I never dreamed it would come together this well. I was SO proud of them all.

Don't really have a good picture of me with the cast - will post that when someone emails me a copy.

Note to self: In the future, if we use a live cat, make sure that the "handler" does not attach a bow with a rubber band and then feed it lots of cat treats. Teach cast what to do when cat projectile throws up on the stage. We had foreseen several possible difficulties - that was not one of them. :-)

My Wonderful Cast and Crew

Tomorrow night at this time they will be taking their bows and the play will be OVER - and they will not have to hear their director saying "Louder!" and "Slow down!" any more. We're ready to break a leg!

Andrew Gets to Sing

Andrew went out with this quartet to Virginia this weekend, subbing for their first tenor who couldn't go. They sang five times - several times for an hour - and Andrew absolutely loved it. It was a great experience for him! "Mom, I hit a high B!"