My Giant Eagle staycation continued Sunday with a guest appearance at one of my old Toastmasters clubs. I belonged to Achievers from 2012 to 2018 before taking the 2018-19 Toastmaster year off and rejoining in the Summer of 2019. The club met in different locations every month and then settled on Blairsville from 2019 until COVID hit in the spring of 2020. Since then, the club has met exclusively online.
Today we had ten people in attendance, including a Toastmaster from Wisconsin. Four of our members gave speeches and they were very creative and all of them varied by topic. I stepped up to the plate and evaluated our guest’s speech on “International Eat an Apple Day”. Hey, I learned something new on Sunday. Kris’s speech was very informative and I learned a lot about apples. I even mentioned our local apple and arts festival held in early October in Delmont. She was pleased with my evaluation and feedback and she was already preparing for her next speech.
I’m happy to see that the club is still in good standing. One of our members is celebrating 30 years in Achievers (that would be Mike, our club treasurer in Greensburg). Out of the ten who attended, three were current presidents of their clubs. I’ll attend sometime in the future when I have a free third Sunday.
My “journey” began two years ago and was one of many changes that I dealt with in 2021. I turned 40, changed jobs, and walked away from the church. After a couple of years away having needed time to think about my walk with God, I feel like I’m ready to go back. The Netflix series Queer Eye gave me inspiration as a non binary person to stay strong in my faith and love unconditionally. Even my adopted momma, a Christ follower herself, loves my fashion sense.
As I was looking for songs on Amazon music, and getting back into listening to Contemporary Christian, it was a reminder how much the church has been part of my life. I love the church but not the politics. I believe in God but not in the views of most people who go to church. While some have been OK with it, others have gotten downright nasty with me. We may not share the same views and that’s fine, just don’t be a bully. One need that I need to learn is that this argument goes both ways.
Listening to some of those songs and hymns reminded me how fun it was to be part of the choir at my old church and take part in the cantatas at Easter and Christmas. I’m starting to get a playlist of Christmas music together that takes me back to those days of attending practice and having dress rehearsals.
In addition it will set my heart on fire ❤️🔥 for Jesus once again.
Stylish 🍒 