title picture of family at fun night

Friday November 17, 2006 down in Hospitality Hall I was just scooting around looking for leftover tidbits of food, when suddenly I hear the clatter of tiny feet, big feet, many feet, sounds like eighty feet. I guess that is forty men, women and children. Oh, super fun is arriving as I see many children. Ah yes, I know this group, it is those folks from the SJA Adoption Ministry. They have parties for all who have adopted. Their parties always are fun and exciting.

The room suddenly erupts with lots of noise, giggles, squeals and chitchat. Ah yes, people are carrying food, lots of food. This is going to be my lucky night. A large buffet table has been set up, so everyone moved to put out their special dishes. Wow. As I scoot along, I see many different kinds of dishes, do they not know I like plain ole American food? Ah yes, there is Macaroni and Cheese and a Wild Rice hot dish among all these strange dishes. I will make out fine! I will be a happy mouse!

The crowds have left the buffet table and all is quiet while they eat, so now it is my turn to check it all out. Mmmmm, this is sooooo good! I cannot believe there is so much to eat. Wow!

Andy Edgar, a master juggler, has come to entertain the group with juggling sticks. He shows the crowd all the things you can do with sticks. Anyone who wants to participate can grab a pack of the three sticks. Wow, those sticks are flying everywhere. This is a scary place. Three year olds on up to old people are trying the sticks, almost everyone. The few that are not brave enough are cheering on the others. Giggles punctuated with ooohs an aaahs fill the room. Have they gone mad?

I am going to hide, as this is a dangerous place. Cannot believe how some kids/people are quiet as they try their luck with the sticks, others are whooping as they make them work, and others just keep trying repeatedly. No one seems frustrated, so it must be fun. Those sticks are just too big for someone as small as I am. I am going to hide! I scoot by some little girls who are under the table; they are in fear of the sticks, not of me. They ask if I want to join their picnic, but they have that strange looking food, so I pass and move into hiding.

From my vantage spot, I see that it is an exciting interactive evening. As it ends, those who are interested in furthering their career in juggling are able to purchase sticks. Good, the sticks are going home. Joy and laughter fill Hospitality Hall; an evening to remember. This mouse filled her belly to the brim with food, had lots of fun playing with children and was grateful to be present at this function. Next time, I hope they do not bring sticks; it is nerve racking to be so small and the sticks so big. Everyone else thought the sticks were magic!

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Nancy Lynch says, "Joy is being a wife, Mom of fourteen, eight with varying disabilities and living at home, Grandma of thirteen, and Great Grandma of three. Serenity is listening and watching the ocean, alone, at our home on Maui. Passion is friends, photography, reading, swimming and children." Nancy can be reached at nalynch@aol.com.


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