Sunday, May 14, 2006

All In One Sunday, No. 5

Today, while I was teaching my sixth grade Sunday School class, one of my students asked me why it is that there is so much evil in the world. I responded that to a large degree it was because we all want what we want and all too often none of us are willing to compromise or defer to the other people's desires. To which one of my students responded that he had never quite thought about it like that before.

After church and Sunday School, I was invited to spend the rest of the day with the family of one of my brothers. Two of my nieces rode with me; the youngest one busily entertained me with her storytelling. For dinner, my brother made delicious cheeseburgers on his outdoor grill and in the evening his wife made yummy blueberry pancakes.


After dinner, we played croquet on their front lawn. It's amazing sometimes what people like us will find interesting. Here my oldest niece holding up with a stick what I believe to be some kind of old, dried tree blossoms clumped on the end of the stick.


Here's a picture from when we were playing Rummykub - a numbers game.


After playing Rummykub, we played Parcheesi till the sun came out.


When the sun came out, we went for a walk. Here we are hiking underneath an old bridge.


It's near bedtime and my youngest niece is busy telling a story from this book page by page. It's cute how she makes up the story as she goes along.

Just before I leave, my nieces get their bedtime Bible story book. And I read them a story. Their dad then gathers the two oldest around the piano to sing a hymn or two while he plays the piano.

14 comments:

San Nakji said...

I can really see how proud you are of your family. It is a great thing.

I like the bridge photo, not a lot of room under there!

sage said...

You have such nice and pleasant Sunday experiences... Good for you for being such a good uncle. I was an uncle long before a father and of good memories of playing with my nephew and niece--which wasn't often since I lived so far away.

Nunzia said...

sounds like a really wonderful day!

Bobby said...

Yeah, sounds like a great one. I actually feel more peaceful after reading that.

Cergie said...

It was a nice day.
May I ask you what do you teach ?

Ginnie Hart said...

We had those family times as well, Tim, which is why I think all 8 of us kids are still close. "The family that prays together...." So glad you now have those times with the generation beneath you!

Tim Rice said...

Hi, san nakji. I have a great extended family and the great part of it is that we all like each other. And you're right about there being little clearance underneath the bridge.

Thanks, sage. My extended family adds so much to my life and I try to add to theirs. And children are just so fun.

Hi, nunzia. It was a great day. Thanks for stopping by.

Hi, bobby. I think we all enjoyed the day. And I think it's neat that my retelling my day gave you a sense of peacefulness. Thanks for telling me that.

Hi, cergie. I was teaching from a Sunday School curriculum prepared by the Mennonite church on the life of Jesus. This particular lesson covered Jesus calming the sea when the disciples came to him about the raging storm. It also covered Jesus' healing of a man possessed by demons who called themselves Legion.

Tim Rice said...

Thanks, ginnie. There is much value in a family praying together. And our nephews and nieces need us, too. And it's not a one way street.

Asma said...

i know how wonderful u feel being with ur family ..i also have niece and nephew ,its really fun being with them.....well glad u have a pleasant time.

TAKE CARE

Tim Rice said...

Thanks, asma, for stopping by. Always glad to hear from all my visitors. And family and being family is oh so valuable.

Minka said...

So idyllic it is just tearing me up. You have a reasont o be proud of such a family. This post makes me wann ago home to Germany and play with my nieces. Although i have never played Parcheesi!

Tim Rice said...

Hi, minka, and thanks. My extended family is precious to me. If I moved so that I couldn't have much contact with them now, it would hurt. Parcheesi is a game we used to play as kids in my family. But I really don't know other people who play it.

Sandy Hatcher-Wallace said...

That's wonderful that you can spend time with your brother & his family. You sound very close.

Tim Rice said...

Hi, abandoned in pasadena. My brother and his children do enjoy spending time together. What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon or evening than with family and friends.