Sunday School

The third Sunday in September has been the start of Sunday School for several years now. Before then it fluctuated a bit; sometimes it was the second week; other times, when we were renting space, it had to be put off a couple weeks so as not to interfere with special events the other church was having. For several years, now, it has been the third Sunday.

This past Sunday was the third Sunday in September and there was no Sunday School. The plan is to not have Sunday School until the third Sunday of next September.

The reasons are good: Renovations started on Monday, and we don't have access to the Sunday School rooms. They were all emptied out on Sunday, and the roof tiles were gone. If all goes according to plan, by next summer we should have a second floor, more Sunday School rooms, and enough room for all the children. Maybe we can have a junior high class again.

I knew this was coming. I agreed with the necessity. I was pleased with the break, especially over the summer which, for the first time in years, did not include planning for Sunday School. I like having a year off to prepare new curriculum, make sure policies are in place, and plan for new teachers, new classes, and proper teacher training.

I did not expect it to hit me so hard on Sunday. Not having Sunday School was hard. I love my kids and I love teaching them. I miss them.

It's only a year. It's a good thing to take a break. It will result in more space.

I am happy about the plan. I miss Sunday School.

What I'm Thankful For

Today I am thankful for:

• Flowers blooming in my garden.
• Getting to spend time cuddling, talking to, and loving on a baby this morning.
• History class starting next week.
• Good music to listen to.
• Good books to read.
• Being able to put off encumbrances and focus on the important things.
• Almost all of my families completing their program plans.
• Having friends over regularly this month, before things get too busy.
• Sound preaching every Sunday.
• Fairly good sleep lately.
• A new, and very good, blueberry muffin recipe.
• Blueberry season.
• God's faithfulness.
• Sunny days going into fall.
• Public libraries.

More Summer Reading

I am almost done the summer reading list! I have one more on hold at the library, and I just need to pick it up (it came in the day after I was at the library this week).

There aren't many to mention this time; I think I was close to finished last time I reported. 

I have read the first book in the DreamKeeper Saga: The Dragon and the Stone by Kathryn Butler. It was a good story, full of imagination, allusions to Christianity (I think it's intended to be an allegory, but not quite), and fun. I have just started the second book as well.

Not fiction, but I did look at two book in The Story of the Orchestra series: The Planets and Carnival of the Animals. They were fun, with buttons to push to hear parts of the symphony as you read a story (and I learned that if you stack the books and one is too heavy, it will also make the music play!). It's a good way to introduce classical music to kids and maybe adults as well.

Someone had recommended the Brave books, a whole series of picture books by different authors, including Kirk Cameron. I could only find a few at the library, but they're pretty good on the whole, although some of the stories are more engaging than others. They teach life lessons from a biblical viewpoint and include the Brave Challenge at the end of each book, with games and activities to reinforce the lessons. I'm considering them for the church library.

Not on my original list: 

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo. A friend read it to her boys, cried a lot, and insisted that I read it as well! I cried a lot too, and loved it! It's beautifully written and wonderfully engaging.

I stumbled upon The Library of Unruly Treasures by Jeanne Birdsall. I enjoyed her Penderwick series, and this one (a stand-alone) was also fun. It has a neglected girl, a wonderful uncle, a young neighbour, a library, and some tiny creatures that usually can't be seen by anyone over the age of 6. My only problem was that she and the librarian justified the theft of a portrait; I don't really want children thinking that crime can be justified so easily.

I also started reading more the the Dear Canada series, just for fun. There are several newer ones that I don't know.

It's been a fun summer of light reading.

August

August is gone, although the summer weather is still here. After all, it's still 3 weeks until autumn. My flowers are blooming and my tomatoes are ripening. We're hoping for a week or two without rain so the farmers can get the hay in.

August was a nice, sleepy month, just as it should be. It was nearer to the end of the month before I began thinking about fall and look at work-related stuff; until then, it was quiet days.

I spent some time with friends. I went out for dinner to one family's house and had another family over to visit and went for sushi with other friends. We had a baby shower for my newest granddaughter. Not much else happened. 

I read a lot in August, continuing my quest to read as many children's books as possible. I'm still waiting for one from the library; I'm next in line!

Really, it was quiet. I started looking at building curriculum for next year. I enrolled enough children to hold history class this fall. I began looking at program plans and answering emails. I ordered a couple books for my professional growth plan and put others on my "for later" list at the library, but I haven't started reading them yet.

It's September now, so it's time to get going. There is church history curriculum to review and prep, program plans to approve, meetings emails to set up, meetings to book, and all the things that come with fall.

Summer was good, and I feel better now. I've been spending more time in prayer and Bible reading/study, and I'm starting to memorize Scripture again. I'm very thankful for the rest, and I'm ready for the new year.

Almost Fall

Granted, it's still hot out most day (very hot sometimes), but fall is coming. The nights are nice and cool, as are mornings, which makes for nice morning walks. The creek is low and slow, with rocks starting to poke their heads up from the water. The trees are just starting to turn yellow, and the tomatoes are starting to ripen. 

I'm planning make some rhubarb jam and maybe do some canning once it cools off properly. I berries and other fruit half filling the freezer already; if I'm going to take advantage of the summer produce, I'll need to stop freezing and start canning. 

This has been a lovely summer. I've rested and taken my time with things. I'm feeling better and ready for life to start again. Of course, this fall will be different with some major things -- Sunday School and Women's Ministry -- not starting. Fall will be busy, but still restful, I think.

Work is starting now. History class starts soon enough. There are 3 Very Important Babies coming in the new year to crochet for. I'm starting to put together Sunday School curriculum for next year, content in the knowledge that I have time and I can work on it because I want to, not because it's urgent.

As things cool off outside, they start up inside. It's a nice flow to the year and I've enjoyed it.

Schedules

In my attempts to be more productive and to know and love God more (both goals work together, as even productivity is for God's glory), I have been making schedules. Then, because they're either too precise to work, or forget too many things, or there are too many interruptions, or normal seasonal changes, I have been scrapping schedules. 

This summer was a bit different. I tried starting with a schedule, but gave it up quickly. Much of the point of this summer has been rest and restoration. It's been the first real summer off in forever; even when I stopped working much all summer, I still had fall ministry prep to do. This year, I didn't have any of that. And, as I was reminded, it is okay, and even important, to use this time for refreshment. So, while there were bits of work here and there, I largely used the time to ignore schedules and relax. 

It's almost the end of August, and I'm feeling better than I did in June and July. I've just started working on putting together curriculum for The Pilgrim's Progress for Sunday School next year, not because I have to, but because I was ready to. I finished a baby blanket and started two more (because there will always be more babies and because one is easier to work on when I'm out and the other only at home). Also, work will start up slowly in September and then really get going in about 5 weeks.

This week, I decided to try a schedule again. I want to use my time well, I want time for prayer and Bible study and reading. I want to remember that leaving the house is a good thing, and turning off the computer is even better.

My schedule is simple. It has morning prayer time, mealtimes, walking times, and three specific break times: one before lunch for Bible reading, one in the afternoon for studying, and one in the evening to shut things down and go into evening routine. The rest of the time is empty and intended for doing whatever I want/need to do.

Morning times are set on paper, but flexible in my mind because I don't yet have a "get up" time. It's still summer and I can still sleep a little later. It's more a "do it in this order" schedule.

It will only last a few weeks; in October, there will be meetings and more meeting for about 9 weeks, and that will break any schedule most days. If it works, though, it will be my "day off" schedule and then my "winter break" schedule.

To help with the break times, I have alarms set on my phone; they're the 10-minutes, wrap things up, get ready to transition warnings. I think they will help.

I have been praying about my schedule and my desire to spend time with God. I think this will help me stay on track better without getting bogged down in details.

If I remember, I'll report back at the end of September.

A Verse for Today

I have this by my desk (among other Scriptures), so I remember:

On the glorious splendor of Your majesty

And on the words of Your wondrous deeds, I will muse.

Men shall speak of the strength of your fearsome acts,

And I will recount your greatness.

They shall pour forth the memory of Your abundant goodness

And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness.

Psalm 145:5-7 (NASB95)