Wednesday 29 November 2017

Weekly Update

Yes, it's Wednesday and I'm 3 days late. My apologies to anyone who actually expects a Sunday post.

It's crazy busy right now. There's stuff going on at work, there's a Christmas concert to organize at work, I'm trying to be all social and hospitable, and last night I took my friend's son to the symphony. They were playing the music of Star Wars, so that was a lot of fun.

Right now I'm just tired and I've been fighting a cold. I think I'm winning, but it messed up my voice and I've decided that I'll never talk properly again. I just need to rest my vocal cords or something, but I spend a lot of time at work talking to parents and teaching students, so that won't happen for a while. On the other hand, I have an excuse for not talking to people at times because my voice needs a break, so that's nice. Laryngitis is an introvert's dream illness: you don't feel bad, but you have an excuse to avoid conversation without seeming rude!

Overall, life is good. I'm planning to have friends over for supper on Friday, and they have a baby, so I can spend a couple hours telling the baby how adorable he is. They insisted on bringing supper (since I tend to play hostess; it's easier on all of us if we meet at my house), so I don't have to worry about that (although, to be honest, I was planning to order pizza). I'll also have the bigger kids to play with, and the parents to talk with. It's going to be a good day.

And....it's almost Christmas!


Sunday 19 November 2017

Sunday Stuff

Today was a bit different in that while I was at church, I wasn't participating a lot. I've been fighting a cold, and I was coughing a lot this morning. I thought about staying home, but it was the first Christmas concert practice, so I figured I should be there. By the time I left (at about 9:00), I wasn't coughing very much.

Anyway, I was needed as a "helper" in a classroom today as there was a teacher off sick. Mostly I was just needed as an extra presence, so I wandered in and out, taking care of stuff. I did a pile of photocopying for the concert (songs and lines), and sat in the Sunday School room and organized it all. Then, when it was time for the service, I decided not to try sitting through the service. I didn't have the energy to stand for singing, and I couldn't sing anyway (my voice is rather rough) (as a side note, no one would care if I sat down during the singing; at the most, they would worry that I was unwell). I also didn't want to disturb everyone if I started coughing. Happily enough, the service is piped into one of the Sunday School rooms (so parents have a place to bring restless children), so I hung out in there.

Practice went about as well as the first one ever goes. I was with the grade 5-12 students, trying to get them to stop talking long enough for me to give out lines and explain things. There were questions (that would have been answered if they had listened); plenty of "helpful" advice; and an attempt to convince me to use a real baby for Jesus (no, no, no, no, no!). We did get through the readings, and I understand that the younger children at least heard the songs (and some of them even sang). It's a start!

I have a bit of a different Christmas song for you this week. Enjoy!


Sunday 12 November 2017

Sunday Stuff

I don't have a lot to say today, mostly because I'm tired and have a bit of a headache. I didn't sleep well last night, so today was a bit tough. It was a good day, though. We had a sandwich lunch at the church after the service. As always, there was an incredible array of sandwiches to choose from, and an incredible array of breads/buns used. As a single person, my responsibility is to bring a tray of veggies or fruit, which is the easiest thing. I generally eat with the young people, and it's a lot of laughter and fun; I love spending time with them.

We had a baptism service after the lunch, and 5 people were baptized. It's always a good thing, hearing how God has worked in people's lives. One of my former Sunday School students was among the newly baptized this time, which always makes me feel like there's one more child safely in the fold. Of course, every year there are more for me to watch over.

I know I'm not supposed to play Christmas music until December or something, but I'm going to post another Christmas song anyway. Enjoy!


Saturday 11 November 2017

Sunday 5 November 2017

Sunday Stuff

Today in Sunday School I learned that I'm not allowed to get drunk and start beating people up. I think, from context, that it's the people at church whom I'm not allowed to beat up, but I'll try to refrain from beating up anyone just to be on the safe side. Adult Sunday School rocks. I spend a lot of time wondering what I've been missing out on all those years of teaching instead of sitting in the adult class.

Today is the official start of Christmas Concert season. We had our meeting and got people signed up. As always, there are a lot of small children who will be part. One wee one kept asking if we were having the concert today, no matter how many times I said no; another one was concerned that they would have to guess at the words of the songs, but I put his mind to ease. This year is a bit different because I have a lot of older kids. I'm missing the chunk in the middle, aka, all the shepherds. I have angels and I have someone to play Mary, but most of the grade 5/6 kids aren't in it this year. I think I'll have to recruit shepherds from grades 7 and 8. And, as always, I need a Joseph. No one wants to be Joseph.

In honor of the start of the season, here is my favourite Christmas carol: