SENSATIONAL SATURDAY

[DeeClutter]

At least in this little corner of the world, the weather this weekend is spectacular!

Cowinkie had posted inadvertently in Wednesday's PWYC last night. I'll re-post it here so it doesn't get missed, Cowinkie.

We've been up for over an hour. DH is out doing his thing. At least he's now reached a point that he knows he has to slow down some. He's going to direct traffic this morning while the fire dept. burns down a barn. Shouldn't be gone long and then he wants to paint the rest of the deck.

Hoping to hear something from dIndiana today or at least about her.

Think I'll call dniece (db's daughter) later this morning and tell her about other dniece. Then she can tell db/dsil. DB and dsis have not been close for many years though I know he'll be saddened by this news. There's just not anything any of us can do. Depending on when dniece's burial is (if dh isn't in the midst of all his dr appointments) I may go down for that and stay overnight at my daunt's. Love being with her anyway. We're 21 days apart.

[DeeClutter]

Cowinkie's post from last night (under Wednesday)

Zipping throughout tonight....
Okay, if LO does having a hearing problem he could qualify for a special preschool for students with hearing and language disabilities. Language being the ability to understand what is being said to him and his verbal responses. It also includes articulation which is how he pronouces his words. School is directed at each student's needs with goals and benchmarks designed especially for that student. LO would then have an IEP which is and Individual Educational Program that would follow him through school for as long as needed.

Testing for students is much like Lucylee described. I agree with her thoughts

Not long ago I was pulled into the principals office. I was told that "everyone in the school knew I could teach any student how to write" but needed to focus more on reading and less on writing. When I commented that most of my student could write very well, her comment to me was "they can't do math either, but writing is not on the test"

That's the night I came home to Sweetie and said "I'm DONE!!!"
Hence my retirement Peru today. Many thanks for the well wishes.

[helia]

Should be a gorgeous weekend here, highs in the 80s. Maybe a bit hot for us.

Today's helia family schedule as she now knows it:
10-11 volunteer at city wide outdoor band concert + games event (ds went early to help set up)
11:15 - 12:00 ds' band performs
11:00 dd16 to pick up P-PSAT scores; dh will take care of this
2:00 - 3:00 take dd16 to dfriend's house in neighboring village for a sleepover
2-5-ish, soup kitchen; dh is doing this
Around 6:00, take photos of ds and prom date and see them off.
6:00 - 9:30-ish small group

In between these scheduled events, I'd like to work on the yard and help dh move our bed back into the bedroom. Though it is not completely finished, we can move the bed back in. I also need to get together something to bring to the small group meal, probably fruit. I'm also working on the Hebrew of Genesis 1 since our church has a SS on that topic.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

I'm awake.

I was up until 12:45, finishing my travelog writing. It had to be done or I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep well.

Told myself I could sleep in until noon but woke at 7:45 and then 8:45. Got up then and am moving very slowly. Having tea and chocolate (a ritual I had to give up last week) right now.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

To make the reading easier, I've tried to keep each day in one post.

By Wednesday, I knew I needed less stimulation so skipped the 8:45 worship and went out to Ebenezer Baptist Church for a bit a quiet before a day of worship and lecture there.

First, I spent some time at the original Ebenezer, where MLKjr, Sr and his grandfather preached.

Then some time in the park.

Then into the sanctuary of the new Ebenezer Baptist Church, where I enjoyed the organ music. What I found out later is that the liturgy and music was thrown together in a few minutes after the organizers arrived at Ebenezer and found that a number of events had conspired to leave no organist, no office support (to produce an order of worship.) This is where having a hymn book with responsive readings (plus a clear head) helps greatly and Anthony Bailey and Kwasi Kena at the organ pulled things together so well that I had no sense of the last minute scramble and thoroughly enjoyed hearing, in all its majesty, Doxology from the wonderful organ among other familiar tunes Kwasi played as the opening music.

The new Ebenezer Baptist Church isn't as modest as the old Ebenezer. One thing of note: neither it, nor Peachtree United Methodist, both built recently, have any screen, so projecting images or words to hymns can't happen. Interesting that both churches chose to leave that technology out of their sanctuaries.

The sermon was given by the preacher at Ebenezer and was excellent, concluding with a passionate description of Jesus from A – Z.

The following lecture was one that I didn't enjoy (except, I note that I have 3 pages of notes from it, so it was certainly noteworthy.)

By lunch, the headache the minister had been fighting all day was winning, despite my drug kit, so the church members found her a quiet place to lie down and I sat with her for our hour break to make sure she was fine. That gave me the blessing of more quiet time, so while I didn't do much while at the MLK Center, I got to experience the hospitality and caring of the people at the church.

The afternoon worship featured preaching by Walter Brueggemann. Born in 1933, he is a respected 'elder' and was wonderful. I'm so pleased I've heard him live. He's a prolific writer, but now when I read his work, his voice and cadence will be echoing in my head as I read. Aside from delivery, the message added to the things that I'll be meditating on in the next few weeks.

The final lecture of the day was by Barbara Lundblad and I loved her comment that the Roman roads weren't built by the disciples, just like we haven't built the communication network of these times but there's nothing to stop us from using it as effectively as the disciples used the Roman roads.

That sentiment was echoed the following the day in the internet communications lecture I attended by the religion editor at the Huffington Post.

We had another bit of quiet after we returned to the hotel, then dinner and back to Peachtree United Methodist for worship and another concert.

The highlight of the worship was singing Halle, Halle, Halle with a thousand other voices. BTW: it really doesn't work on a pipe organ. The liturgist quickly moved the organist to the grand piano, where it worked much better. Oh, and the clapping along didn't go any better than it goes at Trinity, St. James or Zion.

This was the first feminist theology and most political sermon I've ever heard. And the liturgy was quite Pentecostal. Enough so, that I followed the liturgist to the Buckhead Theater the next day for another of his services.

The day ended with a concert by Grace Kelly. (And American Idol, back in our hotel room!)

[DeeClutter]

...I don't recommend old age.

It sure isn't "golden" is it, Harmony? And definitely not for "wimps".

Time to do my PODA and get moving. Haven't put things back in place yet because dh has to put the long living room slide back in so he can paint that portion of the deck later this morning. Think once that's done it can stay out for the rest of the season.

RV repairman is coming today to fix our freezer door and our 2 ceiling fans. The chains on both work very hard (or hardly at all). Parts are in and he said he'd be here around noon. Should get my dishes done before then. Think I'll work on tidying the other end of our deck this afternoon -unless it's too hot. Had the furnace on for a bit this a.m. and now will probably need A.C. this p.m.

Going to let this 'sit' for a while since I can't think of a SHEM.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Our final day at the conference was Thursday since our flights were too early on Friday to attend the last of the conference.

I spent Thursday, bouncing back and forth between Buckhead and Peachtree, emerging and stuck-in-the-mud, modern and traditional, liberation and liberal theology. I started the day singing When Peace Like a River to a single guitar in a theater, and ended it with organ, orchestra, and a huge choir, in a sanctuary with 1500 other people, moved me to tears by Beethoven's Hallelujah Chorus.

First lecture was back at Peachtree; John Bell lectured on the unsung, unpreached Jesus and finally connected the dots for me on theology in lyrics of hymns. Took me long enough. Bell's delivery is hilarious and made my 'duh' moment at least really fun!

Back at Buckhead, I attended Anthony Bailey's lecture on preaching through the lens of one's sabbatical despite the obvious ironies; first: I haven't worked yet so can't possibly be ready for sabbatical and, secondly, I traveled to Atlanta to listen to Anthony even though he's from Ottawa. But his talk shone a light on some of the communities that are out there. More for me to meditate on. Don't know if I'm identifying with the emergent scene so much because I'm just emerging myself but I really felt at home in the Buckhead venue even if I do look like a parent from the suburbs. If I could just get over my love of organs....

Thursday was Ascension Day and I learned something new. There is such a thing as High Methodist. I honestly had no clue. But I got to attend a High Methodist worship service that evenly with all the pomp and ceremony that I would have expected from Westminster Abbey.

I excused myself early from the Crazy Christian Cannuck dinner in order to get my preferred seat – front and centre of the balcony. Bonus, the gallery organ was used for the music before the service so I was close to the action.

The sign on the side of the organ, facing you as you enter the balcony.

Then the pomp started. And I was taken back a century (or more) in the liturgy. Which seemed really weird since most of the worship leaders were female. What I disliked the most about the service was the Gospel Procession, with the bible being carried in, elevated, handled only with gloves. I thought there was a revolution in the Church to get the word of God into the people's hands.

On the other hand, I'm such a sucker for organ music..... So I had a great time. But to me, it was a pageant, not worship.

There are two people with long poles (just higher than the edge of the balcony railing) waving streamers. When the streamers first appeared in front of me, it felt like I could reach out and touch them.

The choir was heavenly. The preaching, by Lillian Daniels, was fully of this century and felt out of place in the service but I fully enjoyed it. I have heard her preach before so knew what to expect.

Communion was interesting. It was done at the rail and 1500 of us were done very quickly (well guided by ushers.) I didn't go downstairs but stayed up at the station for the balcony. People were streaming through so quickly that I wanted to video it but I have personal rules about filming sacraments so didn't.

I did record some of the music and the recession because I couldn't resist.

All in all, it was a fantastic (in more than one sense of the word) final worship service for the week.

[DeeClutter]

Got the bathroom spiffed, did the dishes, cleaned the microwave and the kitchen counters. Also bagged a lot of dog biscuits to put out in the cart on the deck. Now I can get those boxes out. We don't have a dog, but dh is friends with every pet in the park. In fact the guy who's taking over for him was getting barked at the other day because he DIDN'T have treats for 1 dog. At least I can get that stumbling block (literally) out of the kitchen.

Think next up is to work on the deck -straightening for a little bit. Probably not long as I'm sure it's getting warm out there. It's supposed to be 80's here this weekend too, Helia.

I can't figure out how some of you manage a longer post -like Kathryn's (or do you do it in another program first?). When mine get to a certain point the page just starts jumping beyond belief until I can't stand it, and simply post what I have. Perhaps it's only because I have this little notebook I'm working on. Have about decided to buy a new large laptop this fall. Think dh can then enjoy some TV programming on it as well.

[OKay]

Good Morning!

Cowinkle - thank you for the information. I am still in the "information collecting phase" and appreciate all help. I visited with Speech Language pathologist and she advised us to enroll LO into public school preschool just to get the state provided special services with Speech Therapy. She suggested we plan on him repeating preschool next year since he would be one of the youngest ones in the class this year (his birthday is 25 days before the cut-off). She said by doing that, it would give him 2 years of speech therapy before starting kindergarden as a 6 year old. She didn't think the government funded speech service is available to those who don't attend public school, but she wasn't absolutely sure of that statement. She did know the available slots are quickly taken and there is always a waiting list. My next step will be seeking a source that is absolutely sure that LO would be excluded. I know there is the Tim Tebow movement to allow all children to participate in sports regardless of where/how they are schooled.....I find myself wondering if that only limited to sports. Regardless of the school issue, we move forward this summer and take LO for hearing test, evaluation and do what is best for him.

I recently attended a workshop class that has me curious if the information I thought I heard is true. Maybe I misunderstood. I thought I heard that our state has been given waiver for the No Child Left Behind, but now we are under something called PA20 (????not sure about that acronym). This means that each child in the public school system will now be tracked in a database from preschool to age 20. Every single piece of information the school has about the child would be kept in that database (birthday, immunization, attendance, grades, etc) until age 20. This information is available to the public upon request. SURELY i MISUNDERSTOOD!!

[Sadie]

Good Morning Dear Ladies,

Bit overcast here so I don't know what's in store for us today.

I'll be at WM anyway through most of the day so won't matter much to me.

DH was in a happy mood last night. They finished working on vehicle#2 and they were successful with it. He kept stressing about it because as the job kept going there were more and more things needing to be done. And he didn't have any work for several days. But turned out after doing the work themselves and returning the used parts to reduce the cost of new parts, the savings was well over a thousand dollars. So he was glad that he had the time to do without the stress of work those days. That down time came at just the right time.

I'm still saving for our trip. I estimated the amounts of everything needed and then split the money into the categories. I've saved enough for everything except for our motel stay, which I'm working on. Please pray that things go well so I can have all the money needed.

I'm in some sort of down mood myself, I don't know why maybe it is riding the rollercoaster with DH so much. Actually I don't ride it with him, I try to be the calm one that always re-assures him it will be ok. But I feel that drains me.

Hoping our DIndiana is home soon!

Harriet, I used to add just a tiny bit of sugar to some of Dmom's food and it helped her eat. I think our taste buds wear out or maybe the older body needs the sugar for some quick energy, but she did eat more of the better foods if I snuck the sugar in with them.

Have a wonderful day all!