Child Play 2017

Recently I spoke with a teacher colleague. I'll call her Ann. She hasn't yet retired from our urban school system. Although I retired some years ago, I still keep up with many of the students and their siblings. Ann and I live in the community near our elementary school and our children. We and many other teachers from our era use the term our children because that's the way we relate to them. We show them that we care for them like they're our own. This allows us to reach them so we can teach them.
 After a few minutes, our conversation turned to the latest popular game the 5 year-old male children play during outdoor recess.
"Sylvia, you'd be shocked at the aggression the male children show in this one game."
"Really? Is it as bad as when they'd  throw the dodge ball so hard it would knock down the children inside the circle and they'd laugh when children fell to the ground?"
"Worse, and I believe it's because of what they see in their neighborhoods and on television and video games. They try to play this game when they think I'm not looking because I've told them not to play like this. They call the game The Po Po Gone Lock You Up."
"What? How do they play this game, Ann?"
"They chase each other around the school yard. The first one who gets caught becomes the bad guy. The one who catches the bad guy becomes the police (Po Po) and slams him up against the wall of the school building. When he falls, the police rolls him on his stomach, cuffs him with make-believe cuffs, and drags this bad guy off to the make-believe jail under the school building's overhang. After a minute, he's released from jail and the game starts again."
What's the first thought that comes to your mind?
 Lord God, please help us help our babies.
Sylvia
www.sylviabrownroberts.com

Dr.M.L. King Day 2017

On this Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2017:

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." Matthew 5:9 (New International Version)

"... Love your neighbor as yourself...  Mark 12:31 (New International Version)

Best wishes,
Sylvia
www.sylviabrownroberts.com

Porch Pirates

"Porch Pirates" is a new term in our society.
"Porch Pirates" are people who steal your delivered packages off your porch. When we order from a catalog or online, we are encouraged to find out the date of delivery so we can watch for our package. That way, a Porch Pirate won't get to your package before you do. There's also a digital doorbell viewer service which allows you to use your cell phone to see who's on your porch. You can speak to that person from wherever you are. They don't know where you are.
Wow! The times we live in.
Keep the faith,
Sylvia
www.sylviabrownroberts.com

A Happy Cake Memory

October is an appropriate month for this memory picture from 2013. A cake in celebration of my 33rd and final radiation treatment in my fight against breast cancer. I've had 3 great annual  mammograms since then. I continue to praise God and encourage women to get their mammograms.

Traveling Grace

Yesterday I was reminded of how God watches over us through dangers seen and unseen.
I picked up my mother to drive to the church building for a meeting followed by Wednesday Night Bible Class. We were about halfway there when another car zoomed down a cross street on my right. He was supposed to stop, but I could see out of the corner of my eye that he might not. I braked and veered left. Then he saw me. Our eyes met and all I could do was whisper, "Thank you, Lord."
I waited as he drove through the intersection. Forget about my right of way. I wanted him safely away from us. His car could have collided with my passenger side, where my precious mother sat!
I'm sure you can also recall a time when God protected you from danger.
I give praise and thanks to Him.
Sylvia
www.sylviabrownroberts.com

Learning Curve

A note to myself: don't try to get acquainted with both a new cell phone and a more sophisticated computer at the same time. My Baby Boomer brain is almost fried from reading directions and attempting tasks by trial and error.
I still haven't figured out how to copy pictures to my new pictures file. I had to redo my phone contacts because they didn't transfer, although some other features did. Next I plan to get back to my Instagram because I don't want to start a new one. I actually have some followers! A major task is to master the Word program because I use it to write my novels.
I'm not going to give up. It may take me longer than it would take a 20, 30, or 40  year-old, but I plan to learn this new stuff.
Smiles,
 Sylvia
www.sylviabrownroberts.com

No Substitutes

I have discovered that when it comes to certain products, for me there are no substitutes.
Take aluminum foil, for example. My favorite is Reynolds Wrap Heavy Duty. It's thick enough, strong enough, and tears off the roll well. You don't have to use an excessive amount to wrap your sandwiches, meats or to cover something.
Nevertheless, I recently purchased a cheaper brand of foil. I don't know what I was thinking. Not a good idea. I don't want to say how many times I've fussed at myself. I've wasted cheap foil and my energy trying to use this thin stuff. Never again.
Is there a product brand you use consistently?
Smiles,
Sylvia
www.sylviabrownroberts.com