A Campfire and James' Letter cont'd

On Saturday evening after devouring six pizzas, a pot of tea and a whole cake (in reverse order!), the young'uns decided to have a campfire. I gave them matches, showed them the paper re-cycling and the wood pile, and let them get on with it. I reckoned the ground around the fire-pit was still so damp they couldn't do any damage, and though they mightn't succeed in getting a fire going they would enjoy the trying. Well they did, and spent the next hour and a half enjoying it and star-gazing. Honestly that lot could talk for Ireland, I don't think they stopped all day!
Yesterday morning was so sunny that the stained glass windows in Church were a blaze of colour. I tried to take some photos but they don't really capture the beauty of them.

The Rector preached on James Ch3 v1:'Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.'

He made three points regarding this verse: firstly in order to teach it is necessary to be dedicated, and even to have a vocation for it, that the most effective teachers don't stumble into it by chance. Secondly that an effective teacher needs training and, possibly, experience of what they are teaching- we can't teach unless first taught. And thirdly that in order for teachers to prevail in their work they need to practise what is in their hearts, communicating through their living.

I remember studying this passage when I was at College doing my teacher training and wondering how I could possibly live up to all that God requires, as well as the human responsibility of being a teacher. It seemed such an enormous undertaking, with so many years of life before me to get it terribly wrong! Well, there are less years before me now, but I still have to trust that God knows what He's doing sending me into classrooms, because the whole 'thing' of teaching still overwhelms me, and that's just on one day a week!!!

Its another beautiful day today, so after the school run I went outside and took some garden photos. Sos begins College today, and is very excited. B forgot her games kit in the car and came dashing back as I was pulling out into the traffic, and I noticed the student in the car behind did exactly the same thing! Traffic block! The borrowed car from the garage is fine, and I managed not to crunch anything in the traffic this morning!

I think I'm waffling just to put off getting on with the Monday chores...

A puff of smoke!

Let's begin with yesterday.
Church was grand, apart from one stop on the Organ which works intermittently and yesterday decided to take out the whole 'Swell Manual' (upper keyboard!). Luckily I had time to jiggle the link stops and get it working before the next hymn, that is, it didn't happen mid verse, which is my usual luck! Our Rector was called away suddenly so we had a retired reverend who is in out congregation to take the Service. I hadn't realised, but apparantly he's turned eighty! He is always interesting, but yesterday's Sermon made a big impression on everyone. He read James Ch5 v13-16. His message was this: how many people in times of sickness call on God as a last resort, whereas He should be our first call? So true! In the Porch everyone was discussing it!

After Church we went to the folks' to collect Sos, and to greet my sister, who was down from Dublin for the weekend, and ended up staying to lunch! Mum had done a Moroccan Lamb dish and it was wonderful. She had to buy the correct spices in England, so its a 'special occasion' dish, but it was dish-licious!

During lunch I'd had a text from Dilly to say she was on the 4o'c train, so we collected her on the way home, which was a lovely surprise for us! How is it that one extra person can increases the noise level by about ten times its normal volume? Or is it just Dilly?

Today I couldn't get out of bed until nearly mid-day I was so exhausted, but since then its been ok. Sos and I did a huge grocery shop, then she disappeared to meet friends, Dilly had spent the day in town with a friend from Enniskillen, and B walked down town from school as she had some text books to buy. Most unsuccessful though as everywhere was sold out and waiting for deliveries. After tea at the folks', because Dilly hadn't seen them yesterday, and collecting Sos, we headed home with a laden car........and guess what? BROKE DOWN!
Not just broke down, but broke down on the stretch of road where there is no mobile signal! Very funny the girls found it I can tell you! I took Sos's umbrella and hiked back about ten minutes to where I could get signal (trust them to know almost within the yard of where that was!) and rang the Hub.
BUT- wait for this...why did I break down? Because when I thought the Hub had put water in my radiator he'd forgotton. I've been driving for weeks without agequate water, I'm lucky the engine wasn't destroyed. Anyhow he took the girls home, filled the milk-churn with water, and returned to get the car going, and follow me home. I got to the gate and the car stalled again!

Terribly exciting hey?

So much for sewing all day. Tomorrow I have to get on with sorting out all my Music lessons until end of October, doing the school Assenbly list, writing the Nativity, and deciding on junior school songs for the Carol Service. Some baking for packed lunches would also be appreciated, no doubt, and B hasn't ironed any of her school shirts this weekend. Sewing? Hmmmm....

Sunday...oh my! Tuesday!

I've just opened the Utility room door to discover wall to wall re-cycling...I guess Ben and Bertie had a disagreement earlier.

Well we sure got the spare room finished in the nick of time, it's been occupated since Saturday by a stream of teenagers, with more on the floors upstairs. Which is fine and fun and a lot else, except that the Hub, in his wisedom, moved the computer to the spare room and I haven't had access for days...rethink?

Sunday's Sermon concerned the beginning of our reading of the book of James. I wish you could have heard it for yourself because our Rector transported us to the Holy Land in the first century though a search to authenticate James the brother of Jesus as the Book's author.
(photo from http://www.kandle.ie/)

In 1 Corinthians 15 Jesus appears after His Ressurrection to James, as well as the Apostles; Paul calls James 'the pillar of the Church' and seeks him out; received tradition has James as the first Bishop of the Church in Jerusalem; when Peter is arrested and put in prison, he tells his friends to tell James, which would indicate his opinion of James' importance. In Acts 15 James was among the leaders signing his name to a letter, and in AD 62 James was stoned to death by the authorities, which came as a shock after such a vivid recital of his life and credentials.
Apparantly opinion is divided concerning the Book of James as to why exactly it was written. Our Rector thinks it was written as a sermon and an eccouragement to be sent out to his own parishioners after the dispersal of the Jerusalem Christians; a letter from home, so's to speak, from their rector. If I was far from home, starting again in a foreign place and trying to live a Godly life, I would welcome such a letter. I guess those people must have too, or it wouldn't have been kept long enough to make it into the New Testament. Our Rector pointed out that since neither the world nor God changes, a letter written today could have strong similarities.

Its the season of wasps here, which is a bit odd considering how wintry the weather is. The Hub managed to cut the grass yesterday which is a vast improvement on our surroundings! Since Sos has swarmed off with the gang who was in residence here I can't try her dress on her, but I think it is almost finished, and I only re-did the zip five times...Now she wants a huge bow for bum, and a matching clutch bag, and her escort has been promised a matching tie...
B goes back to school tomorrow, and I have the first Assembly of the term in the primary school. Am I prepared? Not! Is B prepared? Well, she has her new textbooks and stationary, but I need to make over one of her sister's old skirts for her uniform and , due to the Debs' horror, I haven't done it yet...Its a pain being the youngest...

If you like sea-poems and care to visit, I just got a bit carried away next door! ( http://heartwarmingtreasures.blogspot.com/2009/09/sea-fever.html )