Day 1833. No rest in the morning this weekend. The kids were up early, as usual, and I enjoyed being able to stay in bed. Randy even took them downstairs after breakfast. As our time to leave was approaching, they came back upstairs, and everybody got dressed for church.
We left the house after 10 am and took two subway lines, then had a long walk to this new church we were going to visit for the first time. It was another very hot and sunny day. We got to their new meeting place a few minutes before the service was to start, after having walked through a big park and by a huge and impressive playground. There were no greeters at the door, when we walked in. We just kept walking and went inside the sanctuary. Tammy immediately started asking people about the kids' program, where it was, which was too funny and really cute. She's the one who started talking to people, rather than someone addressing us. We soon got talking to people and also got to talk to the pastor briefly. It was definitely the smallest of all the churches we had visited.
At 11 am the service started with a time of worship. All the kids were staying in the service for that. Tammy started dancing and really impressed me. She must have learned some of those new moves at her dance camp. She danced the whole time and never stopped. She's never done that before. Emmy was also dancing for some of the time, and dancing with me, and so was Sammy. I ended up going to the back with Tammy, and Sammy followed us, so that Tammy had more room and was not disturbing anyone.
After half an hour worship ended, and all the kids were leaving the room, so we joined them. We already knew that the kids' program was taking place downstairs, so that's where we went. Randy stayed in the sanctuary, while I carried Sammy down the stairs. There was a small classroom there that we went into. All the kids sat down by the tables, and then there was a couple that were the teachers. Since our three kids were new and about a third of the group, the teachers suggested everyone introduced themselves and said their favorite animal. One girl older than our kids would not say even one word. Our kids have no issues talking in front of new people and did so freely. Then the teachers started talking about animals in the Bible, and speficially the eagle. Again, Tammy and Emmy participated and said what they had to say. Tammy was eager to do crafts, and then it was the time for it. They were given paper and pens to draw. Sammy wanted to draw as well. And Sammy was already asking for Daddy. It was a good time to make the switch, so I left.
I went to the sanctuary, where someone was translating for Randy while sitting next to him. Randy then left to join the kids, while I sat down on our seat to listen to the pastor preach. By noon he was already done, but the service wasn't over yet. They started playing worship music for people to reflect on the preaching, then two ladies came forward to talk, as they had just been baptized. They did the offering, then they called all the kids up front. The teachers had brought all the kids back to the sanctuary for that. They lined up up front, then everyone prayed for them as school is starting again tomorrow after a 9-week summer break. The kids said they had to go back downstairs to finish up what they were doing, so I let them go. But the service was actually over. I got to talk some more to the pastor and other people, while Randy went to get the kids. After we were done talking, we said our good-byes and left.
The kids had had some snacks and wanted to go to the impressive playground right there. We had to walk a bit to get to the entrance, then we went inside. They went from one thing to another, trying it all out, and had lots of fun.
After they had done pretty much everything, we started making our way back to the entrance, where we saw some more stuff to try out. Then we left and walked the long walk back to the subway. The sun was burning down on us. I was not only tired, but also hot and hungry. We finally reached the subway, took two subways and got off early to go to the McDonald's on the way home that we often go to. We had a good time eating, but I was still very hot. I think I haven't been this hot all summer. I just wanted to get home and get some rest.
Just before 3 pm we were back home. I wanted to lie down, but I was so hot that I needed a cold shower. The boys were eager to join me, and so we had fun, all cooling off, which was much needed. I was finally ready to lie down without being to hot and able to get some rest. Everybody else was on their devices. By 3:30 pm I finally closed my eyes. Tammy once came in and woke me up, but I fell back asleep. Eventually Randy took them downstairs. At 5 pm I woke up again and continued taking it easy. They all were back upstairs by 6 pm, and I went to the kitchen to start making their dinner, even though they weren't very hungry yet. And so it was a little later than usual tonight, when they ate and went into the bathtub and went to bed. Emmy always wants me to sing the "prince song" to him now, for the past few weeks. I just make up a song about prince Emmy, and it's always different. Tonight Tammy wanted me to sing her a song as well. Then I got myself something to eat. After having eaten, I started working on the pictures. Now it's after 1 am and I still have to take care of the kitchen before going to bed.
