My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do...
Good afternoon from 3rd floor, 762 St Nicholas Ave! I'm home alone, had a good nap and waiting for Ron to get back home! Papa and the 4 boys went to the hospital to sing by themselves today! I just didn't feel like hospital material and really shouldn't go, where sick people are trying to recover. I caught a sick bug, and have felt some nasty with congestion....
Last Wednesday evening was Bible study, Jordan chose a lesson on Christian Armor. Eric, Alistair and Tony were our attendees. We had a good discussion.... lots of varied thoughts.... like one thought was that Christians aren't suppose to be nice, good yes, but not nice!! Another attendee asks, so we are not suppose to be nice? Obviously he either has a different version of nice!! Or was thinking down some bunny trail, where we weren't going!! Sing out and then supper for the 8 of us back in our apartment. Lasagna, Texas toast and Caesar salad. Brownies for dessert.
Thursday morning was our scheduled shopping trip to BTM. We walked because the van was parked over there in the garage. Didn't have long lists, so didn't take long. Stirred up dough for cinnamon rolls in the afternoon and made fried chicken and mashed potatoes with chicken gravy for supper....so felt like the kitchen and I had some quality time together! It was just the 5 of us for supper, as Jordan's family flew into La Guardia. They ate at Jackson's hole for supper and then came over here and met us all! There is Charles, Lori, Justin, Corey, Jesse and Lydia. Nice family and we were very glad to meet them! They all left then, as they wanted to ride the Staten Island ferry. I think they stopped for gelato also! Our 3 guys also left, walked the Brooklyn Bridge for 1 thing. And our guys stopped at Raising Canes for chicken, after all the chicken I made for supper!!!! 🐓 Charles, Lori and family came back home late and we sat up and visited awhile yet. It was somewhere in the 1 am region, when we seen the bed!
Friday morning, the boys and us all got around early, like leaving for Lincoln at 7:00 am!! We were asked to come join them ( as some of the hospital high ups ) for a breakfast and then a 8:00 zoom meeting with 2 ladies, the one being from New Orleans and I didn't catch where the other one was from. ( Ron and I walked to Lincoln, a very pleasant morning! ) The breakfast was omelette, some kind of hash brown casserole with veggies in it and French toast with syrup. Basically, what amounted too, is it appeared as if these ladies were federal inspectors of sorts, not coming in person, but virtual. The " inspection" centered around palliative care. So all the managers etc of palliative care were there in the meeting. Why they had us there, because we do some singing for those on palliative care and recently bereaved family members. Like yesterday, I wasn't there, but Ron said they were asked to step to a bedside of a patient, where they had pulled the life support and sing for 2 family members. They wanted us to sing 1 song on this zoom meeting, to these ladies. So we gathered together, we had earlier introduced ourselves, but Ron gave a little info about Sugar Hill mission. Then we sang Amazing Grace. The ladies listening got emotional and the listeners in the conference room really seemed to appreciate it also! After a bit, they were given a short break and we were dismissed.
( Something about Thursday, I wanted to comment on...I had my hands dirty with cinnamon roll dough, when I heard this terrific crash outside! I didn't run to the window just then, should have, but did go as soon as I could. The crash involved a white delivery truck and a Uber van driver, with clients. Kind of sliced open the right hand passenger side.... some glass involved with windows breaking...but most amazing was HOW LONG it took for NYPD to respond!! They drive and drive around all the time, sirens and lights or no....but then something real does take place, and it appears no NYPD in the area at all!!!!)
Back to Friday morning, we got home as Jordan's parents and siblings were in the waking up/ shower/ eat some breakfast process. The Ensz family left after awhile for a full day out in the city. We had laundry and house cleaning, cooking, although Ron did smash burgers out on the Blackstone. Home in the evening, several boys did their chores and Papa had done Jordan's chores....
Saturday morning, made breakfast for 12!! Coffee cake, scrambled eggs and fruit smoothies! Ensz's left for Liberty and Ellis Islands. Our guys left too, after getting the work done...they were on Governor's Island for one thing.... Hudson Yards, walked the High line. Ron and I stayed home most of the day and relaxed! I was starting in on this nasty cold business and didn't feel top notch! I did make a double recipe of BBQ sauce and rub for the meat. We did all meet for supper, Ensz family, guys and us at Julianna's for supper. We parted ways after supper, and Ron and I somehow got to Penn station and on over to Anita's Gelato....🍨
Ok, I'm back..... it's Thursday afternoon and I started this already on Tuesday afternoon! I will just say that life is busy and the distractions are many and real!!
I'm ready for Sunday, our alarm went off at 5:45....Ron went outdoors to the back yard and grilled country style ribs and some spare ribs. I went to the kitchen and made a chocolate cake with frosting, baked oatmeal for 12 and we also had cinnamon rolls and cheese. The Ensz family all gathered on time for 8:30, it was our boys that were a little slow on the draw! Church appeared to be of smaller crowd size, which isn't all bad. Clay and Dana took Tony and Shelly to Fleetwood for the weekend. Laurence's chose to worship at Poughkeepsie....our boys, Kendon's, Charles, Lori and Justin sang the 15 minutes before church started. Kendon had the SS opening. I taught Jesse, Lydia and Olivia their SS lesson on The Creation of God.... Junior, primary and preschool all rolled into one!!! We also had visitors! In walked Richard and Betty Nichols!!! They were long ago tract workers in New Jersey, although not in Piscataway. they had a house in Edison New Jersey. Sermon thoughts were brought by Charles, his theme being: How big is your God? Richard and Ron both added yet. Sonja wanted to sing the children's song, My God is so big , so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do.... actions too, she said! Only copy was found on Sonja s phone... Charles led it. After we were done with that, Ellen sure thought we could sing a song out of CH yet, but that somehow got lost in the muddle of a Sugar Hill service!!!!! 😂 We were 25 for lunch, ribs, Elsie roasted potatoes and made brown bread. Kaitlyn brought a green salad and I put on the cake and ice cream. Betty Nichols also brought a red velvet layer cake from a bakery. Had a fun afternoon, after dishes and changing of the garments...we all were out in the back yard....Well the Ensz family had left already....so Rogers and Jamie left, he wanted to walk the high bridge and so Rogers went with Jamie! Our 3 boys, Kendon's, Richards and us took off for Central Park. We walked up the mall, through the Bethsaida terrace, watched the row boats, observed a yellow python strung around a young guys neck, this was from a safe distance away! All the while visiting with Richard and Betty and getting to know them! ( He is a brother to Ward's Margaret and she is a sister to Mrs Carl Dyck and Sherry, Mrs Clayton Yost. We also all went to Bellivedere Castle in the park....from there walked to a coffee shop....Black Press, I think was the name of it. I got a iced matcha with orange blossom syrup in it! Quite tasty! From there we caught a train to Brooklyn and that is where things got a little amazing! We were headed to Moe's Pastrami and Burger.... waiting at a street corner, for the light to change, when a car honks, which isn't unusual for here in the city, but here it was Clay and Dana and Tony and Shelly!!!! They were coming to Moe's for supper also and also found out that Shelly lives just right close by in a apartment! So the men commenced to order food and us women went with Shelly to her apartment to use the bathroom! Which can be hard to find restrooms in this city, sometimes when you really need them!! Once we all had our food, we walked over to Prospect Park and got 2 picnic tables together and all sat down to eat supper! It was so much fun....we watched a rat under the evergreens scamper out for the food when tossed....some threw frisbee, Kendon's took their children to a little park. Later, Kendon's, Richards and us caught the subway for home! Richards got off a stop early, to catch a train into New Jersey.
Breakfast this morning.... treat for me! Charles and Lori made pancakes, syrup and fried up sausage! Lovely to feel like a guest in your own house!! I did laundry, guys went to work and Charles packed suitcases and cleaned..... good times always come to a close......we bid them our goodbyes, glad to meet you and hope to meet again....and watched as they loaded up in their black Uber and head back to LaGuardia!!!! After lunch, we settled in for naps, and of course the door bell rang!! It was Larry, needing food and cash!! So Ron and I packaged up some leftovers and he was grateful! Fridge clean out for supper and home in the evening.... still had laundry going and we practiced songs.
Tuesday morning, Roger and Ron went through the books, Ron needed some papers to change over at Chase Bank. Later I joined them for "staff meeting"! We talked over details for Papa Isaac's retirement party. Ron went alone to Lincoln as previously mentioned. In the evening was Bowery service....men's service. It is always quite delightful to go there, they are enthused and engaged...on the here and now. ( Most of them anyway!) We sang, guys took along a Bible study lesson on Thankfulness and we discussed that and they had lots of good thoughts! Finished up the evening with more singing. For supper, we caught a train and then walked to Francus Tavern for supper! 3 of the guys hadn't been there yet and loved it!! Rogers and us left before they all did!!
Yesterday was laundry, cooking, a little cleaning and over to the grocery store! Alex wrote the Bible study lesson on The Word of God! He did well! :) Clay and Dana didn't make it, out on a anniversary trip.... we were surprised to see Laurence and Bernice walk in!! How fun! They missed last Sunday and will miss next Sunday, headed to good ole Kansas! A small part of me wants to tag along!! Eric was the other attendee. Sing out and supper.... Rogers joined us, as I had fixed food for Clay's, not knowing they wouldn't be back! BBQ meatballs, cornflake potatoes, banana bread and marshmallow fluff. Ice cream bars....we listened to and talked about a Dad and his daughter who lost their lives on a mountain in Maine and their bodies were rescued and found by a team of searchers. Rogers son, Eric being one of them. They apparently got lost......?
This morning was the usual shopping, although it took longer than sometimes! First we walk to BTM, a brisk 20-25 minute walk....never dull, got to mind all your P & Q's and dog piles!!!! We seen 2 carts on our way in, good we grabbed them, because shortage of carts again. So we knew we couldn't get it all in one load, with express pay, so divided it up ..18 items the first time. When Ron wanted to pay and close, couldn't process our order....so he removed all items from cart and re- scanned them. Still no luck...so to register we go.... out to unload and answer half a dozen times or more...no we still need our cart, you can't have it!! Back for 2 nd load and meanwhile it processed the order and we paid twice!!! So out to get ticket and up to service desk....she couldn't figure it out either, but refunded the one order. Said not to use express pay, today anymore. Still had Target to shop after all that....as usual, got our clerk we usually have and what a sweet heart!
I need to run next door and get a cabbage head....Ron got the tenderloins ready to smoke and grill.
Till next time, love you all, Mama Carol