Grandma-ing With the Big Girls

It is Wednesday and the world is white once again. Very little accumulation, but everything looks so clean and fresh. It began to snow just as I was leaving rehearsal for the Christmas concert last night. We have one more rehearsal just with the choir, then rehearsal with the orchestra, then dress rehearsal - then the real thing next week-end, 4 performances. It has been a lot of work, but I have been so blessed as I sing the wonderful songs of the season.

Now I really MUST get motivated to make it look like Christmas around here! I can't seem to get in the mood. I wish I could just sing, go to other concerts, go caroling, and forget shopping!

Thanksgiving was enjoyable - a really small crowd for a change, just 11 of us. My dad is 83, and has always enjoyed feeding large crowds (as opposed to cooking for the family!) So he wanted to do the turkey and dressing again this year - I was happy to give up that task for this year - and have the meal at their house.

The day before Thanksgiving was Grandparents' Day at Care Bear and Feisty's school. I am so thankful to be able to participate in these special days. First thing in the morning I went to the kindergarten room. Feisty has a wonderful brand new teacher who absolutely adores her students. I watch her hug the kids every morning as they come and every afternoon as they leave and am so thankful that she doesn't worry about being accused of anything inappropriate - which is such a sad thing that has happened to kids and their relationship with their teachers. She was born to teach little kiddoes.

One of the little girls in Feisty's class is a friend she made in preschool last year. She came right up to me and told me her grandparents couldn't come. I told her I'd be glad to be her grandma for the day. She and Feisty had fun working together on their pine cone turkeys.






At the end of the school day, I headed back to Care Bear's classroom. This is the first year she has had a "seasoned" teacher. I used to work with this teacher back in the "olden days" when I was the school lunch lady at a different school. Care Bear loves her teacher - she says she likes her because she's older and she's funny.




Care Bear made me a card for the occasion. The front was a turkey whose feathers tell the many things she is thankful for. The inside was a letter to me. It just made my day - well, maybe it made my year!






The church across the street from the school has a passion for reaching out to the neighborhood. Every semester they have what they call "Club 182" - the name based on Psalm 18:2. They invite the kids from the school to come over every Wednesday after school (early release day). They have a variety of classes the kids can sign up for - just for fun.

Feisty signed up for "Wacky Science Projects." On the last day of the classes for this semester, they hosted an open house. Feisty showed us some of their fun experiments - here she is standing on rows of paper cups, proving something about distribution of weight - one cup can't support your weight, but distributed over many, they can. I think I see a spiritual application - we can't bear the weight of this world's burdens all alone, but with the support of many others, it is doable!

She also showed us a project that sent pepper scattering to the edge of a bowl of water when you put a tiny bit of soap on your finger tip and touch the center of the water.




This semester Care Bear chose "Autumn Crafts." They made some really cute things.







The adorable scarecrows they made (upper left of the table) were used for centerpieces for the dinner they provided for all the kids and their families on the last Wednesday of this semester's session.

I have so much admiration for all the people of this church who have given of themselves so selflessly to reach out to the kids in this part of town and provide them with a safe, fun place to be on early release day.

This coming Sunday afternoon, the same renovated theater where the concerts will be next week-end will be the site of a community carol sing. I'm hoping Kristen and the girls can all join us there for a fun time of celebration.

I told you in my post about my visit with Louise that I would show you what I was able to order from her family's Christian book store. I had a lovely conversation with one of the employees as I ordered this new addition to my nativity collection. I must get down to the basement today to get the other pieces so that it can join them. Thank you again, Louise!!




Have a wonderful Advent Season!