Vacation Bible School and the Power of Children

Our church just completed its Bible School session yesterday. We generally have it with the Boones Mill Church of the Brethren because we don't have enough young children in our church to have it by ourselves - plus we enjoy the fellowship of other churches!

Every year for probably the last six or seven years, I have taught music to the children. At first, I had a very good pianist working with me, but as technology has evolved, I now use CD's to accompany our singing as you just can't replicate the arrangements on the CD's on a piano.

"Get to the point, already!" I can hear you saying. Well, the point is this: every year, I say "no more, I'm going to let someone else do it next year." But every year, I go back - with a sort of "oh gee, I really don't want to do this", but yet excitement because of the music and wondering what we'll end up singing. This year was no different - except that for the first time, my daughter and her friends would not be in a class and so would not be coming to me for music. While I knew they were happy about being "too old" for a Bible School class, I was a little sad because I enjoyed teaching them and hearing them sing. I was also sad because I knew Carrie wouldn't be there for the last session due to her beach trip.

This is where the power of children comes in...(yes, there is a point)...even though things were different this year (as above), the children that DID come to me, although not my own, were happy, enthusiastic, well-mannered, and ready to rock! I let them pick out the class-specific song they wanted to sing, we did movements to the words, and each class did something special that no other class did. For example, the pre-K class made their own "shakers" (margarine tubs with beads in them) for the theme song "Shake It Up" and quickly learned when exactly to shake their tubs. Another group memorized their words and had two soloists, and the third group chose a rather difficult song but performed it very well.

The power was this - even though I was feeling down on Saturday and didn't really want to go to VBS at all, I knew I had to - and thanks to the kids, I was so glad I did! The smiles on their faces and their desire to perform their song to the best of their ability was so heartwarming and lifted me up out of my "poor me" depression. You can't be depressed around young children - they won't allow it!! Without even knowing it, they made me feel better and glad I was there.

Thanks to all of you, VBS kids!!

My every-day, hum-drum life

Catchy title, isn't it?? But there are some people in this household who will not leave me alone unless I post something and it's not her father...that narrows it down...

My husband has a blog on which he posts what happens on an almost daily basis. He's a busy guy around the farm and has a great sense of humor, so his blogs are generally enjoyable and interesting. I, on the other hand, don't normally post unless I have something significant to say - a point I cannot get across to my dear daughter! However, I will endeavor to make this blog somewhat interesting...

OK, today (and the last couple of days) has been super hot and humid. Since we have no AC in the house (yes, you heard me - no AC in the house), we survive with fans....most of the time. Today was one of those days when even a fan didn't really do it! Thankfully, this afternoon has been less humid - WHEW!

Today was designated "trash day" by me, so this morning Gill and I loaded up the truck (and we moved to Beverly...no, not quite!) with stuff that I've been wanting to get rid of for months. We didn't get rid of everything, but the majority is gone! YAHOO! There always seems to be something that needs doing around here, which I am sure is a common complaint for most people who own or rent houses.

Let's see, what else...Vacation Bible School starts tomorrow night and goes through Saturday. I have been working to learn the songs I will be teaching - not an easy thing as they all come with movements. The movements make the song more interesting, but also more complex, since you have to remember the music, words, AND movements! However, the children seem to like doing it this way and the movements seem to help them remember the words better - or at least, I hope they do!

Another project I have been working on at home is going through my dresser. Those who know me best know that I have a hard time throwing things away...I still have Christmas cards from the 70's, for example! I have found several interesting items which will be shared with my boys when they come to see me, along with stuff I didn't even remember having, much less saving! For example, I forgot that for a while, I saved every Dave Barry column that was in the Sunday paper in Richmond...yep, I did! Maybe I can get a spot on "Hoarders" or one of those awful reality shows!

Well, my imagination is running low and it's about supper time. You'll hear from me next time only when I have something to say that's worth reading!!!

OK, OK!! I'm writing another post already!!

Well, since my children have fussed at me for not writing a blog since sometime in April, I decided to try again. What they don't understand is that I generally don't write something unless I have something to SAY. Of course, the fact that I apparently haven't had anything to say since April is rather pathetic, I suppose...so here goes...

Life since my last post has been busy to say the least! My daughter has gotten braces (just on the top teeth for now) AND turned 13 (yikes), my oldest son made A's in both of this VCU courses and is taking another course this summer that I'm sure he will ace, and my youngest son continues to work and support himself in a job he likes. My husband continues to be an A #1 farmer and even better cook and artist, and I have found what I want to do when I grow up - be a teacher (or at least, at this time, a teacher assistant - or "paraprofessional" as we are called)!

Those of you who have known me for a long time are probably saying: "well, isn't that what you went to school for?" and "so what took you so long to find out what's best for you?" The answer to the first question is "yes" and the answer to the second not so easy. It's true that when I got out of college all full of vim and vigor and ready to conquer the world, I tried to be a teacher. I was living in Richmond at the time and applied, applied, applied...and got nowhere. I know now that I probably couldn't have handled it, but I was blessedly unaware of that fact then. When that didn't pan out, I went in other directions and ended up in insurance. Let the record show that the 17 years I spent in the insurance industry in Richmond were GREAT years! I loved the people I worked with and grew to like what I did as well. I pushed the thought of being a teacher out of my mind completely.

When we moved here in 2000, my only thought was to continue in the profession with which I was familiar. DUMB, but understandable. It was hard enough to make the move here without completely changing my life! After almost 8 more years in insurance, I was unceremoniously "downsized", a new experience for me! However, even in the last several years of my working life, I had begun to experience a restlessness, the desire to do something better that would have a positive impact on mankind, rather than just pandering to doctors and lawyers all day. That's when I decided to try to enter the teaching profession. Of course, I was 54 at the time and that's not a great age to switch jobs, but I was willing to give it a try. After almost two years of substitute teaching, I was hooked! I was lucky to get a teacher assistant position this past year and hope to be back there again. I did recently apply for an elementary music position and didn't make it. I will continue to try and hope for better luck next time.

I hope this satisfies my loyal readers who have been clamoring for a post from yours truly!