Day 1420. My alarm was set for 7 am, but Sammy was the first one up at 6:45 already. We went downstairs to have breakfast, then dressed them and left the house at 8:15 to drive to church. It was raining a little bit and had rained all night. It was a 20-minute drive to church, where we were allowed to park in the handicapped section and were welcomed by the new missions director I'd already communicated with online. We walked into the church building, where he showed us the table we could use to set up our stuff on. Before we did so, he showed us where the children's ministry rooms were. I noticed a few differences since we were last here 4.5 years ago, including where those rooms were. We took the elevator up and were greeted by the staff there. I had to fill out a form, then the kids got stickers with their names on on their backs. Then the lady showed us to the room, where their age group was. The facilities were really nice, and the teacher welcoming there was as well. Because of Sammy, Randy stayed with the kids, while I left to go set up our information table. By then the service had already started, and I was glad to have a pretty good seat.
For many years I've been saying that this is my favorite church in the whole world, and it still is. I've been coming here for about 15 years and have had many wonderful encounters with God in this place. It did not take long for the tears to flow while in this wonderful atmosphere of worship in His presence, and they kept flowing. I haven't been in a place like that in such a long time! Then the service moved on, and they mentioned that we were here and had me stand up so people could see who I was. Well, not one person came to our table as a result. The main pastor then preached who is also the person who married Randy and me. I'd said hello to him during worship, and it was so great to see him again.
Just before the service was over at 10:30, I went upstairs to pick up the kids and Randy from children's ministry, then we walked to our table together. People were coming out of the service, and new people were arriving for the second service, but no one stopped to check us out. Only our friends came to say hello. Then Tammy pulled on the leg of the table and made it tilt. I was able to keep it from falling over, but much of our stuff was on the floor. I was angry at first, but she had not done it on purpose. She was crying, and so I told her that it was okay, that things like that happen, and she had not meant to do it. We put everything back up, and life went on. Later Emmy nearly made it fall, and that's why he is crying on that one picture.
When the second service started, it was time to take the kids back upstairs. They were curious about the music in the sanctuary and wanted to see it, but it was so extremely loud that they quickly turned around. Then we all went upstairs to the children's ministry, where they got stickers again, and this time I stayed with them, while Randy got to go enjoy the service.
The room was really nice, and the kids all started playing. Sammy was really having fun. Then they sat down at the tables and got a healthy snack and water. Then they played a video with a teaching on their level, including songs they danced to, which took quite some time. Kids started going off and playing with toys, but nobody said anything. I told Emmy to come back and watch; Tammy stayed most of the time anyway. After the video, the teacher did a little interactive follow-up teaching that our kids participated in well. Then there was more play time, before we all went to another room where there were more physical activities, like the climbing construct Tammy is on in the picture. Sammy was really excited about the balls that were there, and I was playing ball with him. When it was time to leave to return to our table, he was very upset that I pulled him away from the ball and tried to scratch me. I got him into his chair, and off we went back downstairs. The service was not over yet, and the kids were bored and asking for Daddy. I finally went inside to get him, while somebody kept an eye on the kids.
Once again nobody came to our table, but then Emmy started handing our brochures to people walking by, and then Tammy wanted to join in the fun. They were doing such a great job, and most people took the brochures from them. Some refused, which Emmy didn't seem to understand why they would. They handed out all of the ones we had with us except for a few I held back just in case. But the only person talking to us was the young man who had let us into our accommodations and explained everything there.
When most people were gone, we packed up. We used to always go to Applebee's with our friends after church, but my friend suggested pizza at her place, and that was the better option for the kids. Sammy was already very tired and cranky, as it was already after 1 pm and nap time. We strapped the kids into the car for the 15 minute drive, and moments later Sammy was asleep. I asked the other two kids whether they were tired, and they both said no. Another minute later I looked back, and Emmy was asleep as well.
By 1:30 we were at our friend's house, everyone hungry and tired. The kids were the most interested in the little aquarium she had, and then our friend got out some toys for them. We still had to wait for our other friend who then arrived with two big pizzas. The kids were excited, and we sat down to eat. They were all so hungry that they ate well. Given the advanced hour, we left after we were done eating, just after 2:30 pm, to make the short drive back to our accommodations, which was less than 10 minutes away. I kept Sammy from falling asleep that time. Emmy was upset about something I can't remember, when Randy saw the church sign we were passing and told Emmy that he had his own church - "Emmanuel" church. Emmy was so excited about it, he forgot that he was upset and talked about "his" church instead, and who was allowed to go there.
Once at the house, I put them straight down for their nap, and once they were asleep, I lay down myself. It was already 3:30 by then.
Just after 4:45 the kids woke up, all three of them, and woke me up as well. They had not wanted to leave our friend's house after lunch, and now they were eager to go back there. Just after 5 pm we were ready to get back into the car for the short ride.
By 5:15 we were back at her house, and the kids were eager to blow the bubbles she had shown them. She suggested we go to a nearby playground, so we did not stay in the house, but started walking in the heat. It was quite a long walk, about as much as they were ready to walk, but once they saw the playground, they ran to it. Sammy was really happy about the swing, as usual, while the other kids started climbing right away. They also climbed around the carriage quite a bit, especially Emmy, and then I sat in it with Sammy, and we were playing together. He played that we were in a boat, car, subway, and was having fun. Emmy and Tammy also joined us in the game at some point, playing being rescuers from different things. And of course they were eager to finally blow those bubbles our friend had bought for them. We stayed in the park for over one hour before starting the long walk back to the house.
By 7 pm we were back at the house. Our friend had left early to make a grocery store run and buy some food for us to have dinner together and arrived at the same time as us. The kids were hungry, and they enjoyed their food, as my friend had asked what to buy. They ate salami and watermelon primarily. I held Sammy and watched him eat and eat and eat, which was great to see. But soon they'd all had enough and got up to go play. We finished eating, then our friend suggested we'd go out for icecream. The kids were really excited, when they heard that. Except for Sammy, who was really tired.
And so we got in the car just before 8 pm and drove the few minutes to the icecream shop. They had a special for regular icecream, so we all got that. Tammy chose strawberry, and Emmy vanilla. Sammy was just cranky, because he was so tired, but wanted to be with Terri who got him to smile and had fun with him. The restaurant had paper and crayons for the kids, which the other two enjoyed. Then our icecream finally came, and we all enjoyed it. It was getting really late, and so we left after we were done with it. It was 9 pm.
Thankfully it did not take us long to get back to our accommodations, where we arrived just after 9 pm. We then got them ready for bed as quickly as possible. Sammy was extremely tired, but still needed a few minutes to fall asleep. The other two needed a few more minutes before also falling asleep. Then I walked away to turn my computer on and start working. And as I got distracted by travel planing, it is now after 2:30, as I finish and finally get to go to bed.
