Woohoo VBS picnic

What a church day for us!
Joint worship (three churches total),
140 people for worship (we average 70ish)
VBS kids sang and danced ( Flash halfway participated, yay!)
and a great church cookout in the parking lot
with some games for the kids, music and lunch.
Flash got a Groucho Marx disguise as his beanbag toss prize. Loves it!
Hubby's sermon was very good, all about being God's children.

All in all, fantastic!
then a nap for me
and playing with the neighbor kids after supper,
a nice walk, bath, bed for Flash and a little blogging for me.
Hope your Sunday was lovely.

Friday5: Summer Reading

This week, then, a Summer Reading Friday Five.

1) Do you think of summer as a particularly good season for reading? Why or why not?
Yes and no. How's that for a definitive answer?
I love to curl up under a blanket with a good book during the winter.
But its nice to have a relaxing book for the beach or vacation time.
I read quite a bit all year round but several of my authors tend to publish
before the summer rush. There are generally two big publishing seasons:
Spring...preparing for summer and Fall... preparing for Christmas rush.

2) Have you ever fallen asleep reading on the beach?
No. I don't really sleep on the beach.
Too much reading, collecting, swimming, castlebuilding and kid-chasing to do.
And I hate to get sand in a book.

3) Can you recall a favorite childhood book read in the summertime?
Hmmm. Well the Harry Potter books were mostly released in the summer.
Oh, my childhood? Can't remember.
I read all sorts of things as a kid and worked at the library throughout middle and high school, college, um grad school and now I'm a librarian so I guess "it took".

4) Do you have a favorite genre for light or relaxing reading?
Chicklit. No really...light romantic comedies,
perhaps with a mystery thrown in for good measure.
Also spy thrillers and some sci-fi.
I'm really picky about my sci-fi and fantasy these days.
Occasionally a biography, but not of anyone literary or political.

5) What is the next book on your reading list?
Well, I finished Stone Cold by Baldacci and Fearless Fourteen by Evanovich
and I have the Ezekiel Option out from the library.
Our whole county is reading Animal Vegetable Miracle by Kingsolver this year so I plan on that. I intend to read something by Amy Tan and a book of short stories
for the Adult Summer Reading Program at my library.
If you look back 2 posts you'll see how they do it there.

Happy Reading!
If you have a suggestion of something you think I should read,
leave a comment about it!

a VBS lesson

We are doing joint VBS with two other small churches this year
and tonight a pastor from one of the other churches taught the lesson.
The lesson was a about fear, worry and God's peace.

We have an older group (mostly 10-11) and a younger group (mostly 4-5).
When asked about their fears the older group said :
missing the bus, homework, things like that.
The little kid bunch said : Monsters.
So he had to spend some time talking about how monsters aren't real.

Book Binge

Its Summer Reading time and this week I must tell you I have over-indulged.
Sigh.
I read the new one from Janet Evanovich Fearless Fourteen in two days.
I've been listening to Stone Cold by David Baldacci on audiobook.
And The Ezekiel Option by Joel Rosenberg.
Still waiting for the Rick Riordan's new Percy Jackson and the Olympians book.
And of course lots of books with Flash.

Our library has an Adult Summer Reading Program called Summer Feast.
We are to read 6 books:
1. Appetizer: short stories
2. Soup: something multi-cultural
3. Bread: spiritual
4. Main Course: The Ezekiel Option
5. Fruit and Cheese: Personal craving...
6. Dessert: Something light, decadent or sweet!

Isn't that cool!
And...if I finish...I am invited to a 6 course dinner at the library with other readers.
I may be on my way.

VBS

Vacation Bible School is entering its second day and I love it!
Mainly because:
a. I am not in charge
b. Both Hubby and Flash are busy with it.
c. I am helping with crafts on Wed. and Thurs.
d. Flash is having a great time and comes home and falls asleep!

We are doing a County Fair type theme
which is great for this area and because our county fair is in 2 weeks.
There were about 22 kids (fantastic for our um...senior-filled church)
about half are 4-5 year olds and the other half 4th graders, with a few others.
Hooray!

Dog Oddities

Simba is 9.
Max is 7.
This is my third pregnancy.
and we've gotten to the point in the pregnancy
where I have acquired my Dog Honor Guard.

They say dogs can tell when a woman is pregnant.
Perhaps she smells differently.
At any rate, Simba especially has started to guard me a little bit more when I am in the house.
He sits by me, he is a furry bathmat for me while I take my shower
and generally is following me around even when its not time for food.
Max is also paying more attention to me.
Its just noticeable this week, and if history holds,
they'll be more and more attentive as time goes on.
My Dog Honor Guard.

Wordy Friday5

This post is loosely based on previous "wordy" Friday Fives from Reverend Mother and Songbird. Theirs were based on words from a lectionary text. Mine comes from the Lovin' Spoonful song, "Summer in the City."

Below you will find five words or phrases. Tell us the first thing you think of on reading each one. Your response might be simply another word, or it might be a sentence, a poem, a memory, a recipe, or a story. You get the idea:

1. rooftop
Santa Claus...You know Up on the ummm housetop...hmmm.

2. gritty
Tang, the beverage of astronauts and also a good dishwasher cleaner.

3. hot town (yeah, I know, it's two words)
Hotlanta! No wait Death Valley! Thats also two words.
Not my town because it hasn't been too hot and we don't exactly have nightlife here .

4. night
sleep...why am I still awake? YAWN

5. dance
the night away! Boogie-oogie-oogie til you just can't boogie no moe!
I'm a huge fan of the So You think You can Dance show.
Even Flash watches sometimes...when his mom lets him stay up late.

PNC cookout

We're having the PNC out to our place tomorrow night for a cookout!
To celebrate the completion of their mission, to thank and congratulate them.
We used to have cookouts all the time at seminary. No big deal.
I feel a little uneasy about tomorrow's because of hmmmm...
the to-do list and judgement and other mind gremlins.
Need to clean, weed, coook.
But, it will be fine in the end...
just some cold feet.

Science Camp for grown-ups

I am taking a grad school class to get some credits to complete my license.
If You have to take classes, might as well take something fun, right?
So I'm taking a science class for teachers, a the Children's Museum.
Three days
Such a great class!
How I'm going to use this stuff as a school librarian? No idea.
Although, I need to figure that out
because in order to get the two graduate credits,
I need to write up a unit plan or something about how I'll use this information. Hmmm.

Yesterday I learned about displacement and mass
and that Diet Coke in a can floats!
Regular Coke sinks.

Today we spent the day at a summer camp to learn about nature and wildlife.
And we caught things in the creek.
I brought home a crayfish (or crawfish, or crawdad, or mudbug)
Flas is calling him Silly.

Fathers Day

We had Fathers Day on Saturday because Sundays are so crazy for us.
I hadn't planned much,
Just a great card for Hubby which had a picture of Superman
and plays the Superman song.
Flash loved it and I had a hard time convincing him that he and Daddy could share it.
We let Daddy sleep in and made him some paper airplanes out of tin foil.
Flash also collected some pebbles for him, and we had oatmeal for breakfast.

The next town over had a town festival
with a 10K, a 2K funrun and a Kid's Run of about 500 meters.
Flash was so excited to run in a race,
with a number on his back and about 40 other kids.
And a ribbon when he crossed the finish line.

Then our final t-ball game of the season,
and our town had a Transportation festival.
There were new and old firetrucks, new and old schoolbuses
and some truly amazing vehicles from the Quarry.

hmmm

This is a busy week.
Visit with the former librarian tomorrow
Three day class in a city an hour away.
Need to be studying for a test that I haven't scheduled to take.
I'm very worried about the test.
Taking care of Flash, of course.
Having the PNC for a cookout on Friday
Its week 15 and I'm sure the baby is on my left side.
Oh and my site meter has passed 5000. I just noticed.
Cool.

Beachy Friday5

So in honor of summer, please share your own beachy memories, plans, and dreams with a "Beach Trip" Friday Five.

1. Ocean rocks, lake limps? Vice versa? Or "it's all beautiful in its own way"?
So long as the beach is sandy its alright by me, although I do like to be able to hear a conversation so calmer seas for me.

2. Year round beach living: Heaven...or the Other Place?
Sounds like heaven to me, but I've never tried it. I think lake-front might be more my speed though.

3. Any beach plans for this summer?
Does "Indiana Beach" count? It looks like we may get to visit my folks in Cape Cod for a few days and my Dad, overnight, on the Chesapeake (no beach, but water!)

4. Best beach memory ever?
I have so many nice beach memories. Hubby and I honeymooned at the GA coast in January, SC beach with my Dad and sister, MD beaches with Auntie Peg, Wildwood NJ with my high school Girl Scout pals, Brigantine NJ with Mom and sister and Mom's friend Elaine.
It was nice to be less than 3 hours from the beach...and many other things too, growing up near Philly.

5. Fantasy beach trip?
I have a friend whose been to the Greek Islands and says they're just magnificent. But I'd love to go back to Bald head Island NC for about three weeks...for free. With family members and friends dropping in all the time.

Bonus: Share a piece of music/poetry/film/book that expresses something about what the beach means to you.
Point Break with Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves...
No wait...
Jaws
no...
Beach Blanket Bingo.
uh huh.

Alterations

I've had this sun dress for a few years.
Its a pretty blue with blue flowers and I got it for almost nothing.
But it dips too far down in the front, if you know what I mean.
I've worn it from time to time with a tank or camisole underneath, for modesty's sake.

But it looked like the perfect thing to wear
for my cousin's wedding this July (sort of a casual garden wedding).
So I decided to see if it could be altered, just take in an inch or two in the shoulders.
So, I took it today to this place the next town over and they'll do it.
Next week.
7 dollars.

7 dollars!
I had no idea it would be so cheap or easy
and I've had the dress for maybe 5 years!
Should have done it years ago.

Just an Update

My second interview went very well...I start August 8!
Flash went to "camp" daycare today where they don't require naps.
So at naptime he slept in their play boat.
And thats where he was when I cane to get him early because of Church pictures.
Needless to say he was not charming for the pictures.
Last t-ball practice today and I forgot sunscreen.
Sigh, we'll all pay for that mistake.
Hubby has 3 night meetings this week, which is hard.
Signed Flash up for soccer in the fall! All the fun of t-ball, and less sitting time.
And the pregnancy is going well. Here we are smack in week 14!

Church Envy

Don't get me wrong, I really like our church and Lord I konw that church's aren't perfect...
But I'm having a little church envy.
We went to another church's festival in our town
and had a ball!
Christian rock band
games
moonbounce
food
all free to whoever wanted to come.
Loads of kids and families and teens.
Sigh.

We're tiny
older
OK much older
and will NEVER do anything half as cool as today's festival.
And if I was someone different
I'd go to their church.

So, how do you reconcile it?
I can't change our church and I can't go somewhere else.
Its only in last few years that I've really come to enjoy church,
and want to be a part of it
and now I'm becoming frustrated.

Thirsty...

So its been raining here almost every night for a while.
T-ball was rained out. I'm not watering my plants, for fear of drowning them.
Horrible floods in the southern part of the state...not so bad here, thank goodness.

And you know how pregnancy gives you cravings?
I am thirsty this pregnancy.
Strong preferences for milk and lemonade, also iced coffee.
Going through them at a fair clip around here.
and oranges too.
Although they are not beverages, obviously.

So my world is one of liquids this week. Strange, huh?

Friday5: Taking in the View

We need to take time out to take in the view.
It occurs to me that we need to do that more in life....

With that in mind here is the revgal Friday Five:

1. How important is the "big picture" to you, do you need a glimpse of the possibilities or are you a details person?
Details are for other people. Lets look at the BIG picture people. This is not to say that I won't do the details, ut some folks get so bogged down by details that they forget the larger purpose. Church does this a lot!

2. If the big picture is important to you how do you hold onto it in the nitty gritty details of life?

Um, don't sweat the small stuff? I try to keep the larger picture in view.

3. Name a book, poem, psalm, piece of music that transports to to another dimension
Can't think of something at the moment...

4.Thinking of physical views, is there somewhere that inspires you, somewhere that you breathe more easily?
The beach! The sound of the waves drowns out so much else and you always feel small in the face of the water and the horizon.

5. A picture opportunity... post one if you can ( or a link to one!)
Hmmmm. later, OK?

Summer meme

Mompriest has tagged me to play a meme. So, Here we go!

1.) What first tells you that Summer is here?
Heat? Crickets and frogs? I tend to run out of cocoa powder around May...
No, its probably the daylight.
We are at the western edge of the eastern time zone,
which means that we stay light really late here.
Soon it will be almost 10 when the sunsets.

2.) Name five of your favorite distinctively Summer habits or customs.
Breakout the cookouts! The sandals!

3.) What is your favorite smell of Summer?
Corn!
and sunscreen reminds me of the beach.
Flash said it a few weeks ago " I smell like Cape Cod!"

4.) What is your favorite taste of Summer?
Iced coffee, sweet enough to be melted coffee ice cream.
Corn
Tomatoes
Watermelon
Hot dogs...such a challenge now that I'm pregnant during another summer hot dog season. Pregnant women aren't supposed to eat hot dogs because of Nitrates. Sigh.

5.) Favorite Summer memory?....pick two:
Childhood trip to Tennesee with family.
Camp. I hope Flash will get to go to camp.
Oh and the Olympics!

6.) Extreme heat or extreme cold? Which would you choose and why?
Um neither. Hubby is hot natured and makes it too cold but I am not built for heat either.

7.) What books do you plan to read for the season?
My county is reading Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver this summer.
Also the new Janet Evanovitch and the new Rick Riordan "New Olympians" novel.
Otherwise I think I'll be reading to get up to date for the new job.

8.) How does the Summer affect your faith? Is it a hindrance or an ally?
Um, I don't think it has any affect really.
I love the relaxed atmosphere of summer church.
But I haven't really experienced summer church here yet.

At our church in New Jersey,
we were asked to submit our favorite hymns to be sung during the summer.
They'd try to find it and we'd sing it. Loved that.
I've tried to get Hubby to do that here, but he says this isn't the summer for it.
Too much change at once and all that...

So...If you read all this, tell me, what one hymn would you submit?
I often pick I Danced in the Morning, Earth and All Stars or I sing a Song of the Saints of God.

Decision made!

I said yes, and I told the principal I'm pregnant.
Seemed right and he was OK with it.
Said" You know, Kids are what we're all about"

This will be an interesting year, huh?
Ultimately, this is the kind of job I've been waiting for.
And its not quite full time, three full days and two half days.
And it seems like a good place to start,
small school, big school system with training opportunities.

Those drawbacks are still there...distance and a new baby.
But right now, I'm kinda excited.
Thanks for the prayers everyone!

Decision time

Here it is, the night before and I don't know what I'm going to say.
Yes or No.
Pregnant or "Mums the word"

My plan tomorrow is to visit the local principal and talk with him about my situation.
Because I've got a few issues:
1. the commute
2. the pregnancy
3. the local job.
Theres a big rumor that the elementary school librarian will retire next year.

Is it better for me, hoping to get that job, to take the "job-in-the-hand",
OR
Is it better to sub or aide or something in the local school next year
and then hopefully have the school librarian job the following year.

So conflicted. Ideally we'd be wealthy
and I'd sub a bit this year and have the baby and then worry about next year, next year.
But um, thats a dream.

Speaking of dreams...its late, time for bed.
You'll all know tomorrow!