A to Z Challenge: R is for Rainbow

 Teaching Sunday school is always an adventure.  Besides the fun on the playground at outdoor time, where i keep having to warn the kids not to take too many chances, as i don't think their parents would appreciate it if i broke their kid, the story time can be very revealing indeed.

It was so when the story circle lesson included me talking about how some things were done differently in biblical days.  Timmy, from his usual position, doing a headstand in the corner so he could listen properly, noted that lots of things are different, not just the way people do things like get water or travel from place to place.

You're right, i told him, and asked what other things in this world are different besides how people do things.

This brought up a lively discussion about different plants, different animals, and different colors.

Noah, who is only 4 but is in the class of 7- and 8-year-olds some Sundays because there is only one other child his age and it's silly to have a separate class for one kid and i don't mind at all having him, he's well behaved, said, "And the rainbow is different colors."  He doesn't always get all of the lesson, but he gets something from it, and it's enough.

"People are different from each other, too!"  Timmy noted.  "Look how G-d made people different colors, like the flowers or the colors in the rainbow.  The world would be boring if all the flowers were the same color, and it would be boring if all the people were, too!"

Keep that rainbow attitude, kid, and pass it around.


Today is

Anniversary of Something That Happened So Long Ago Everyone Has Forgotten Day -- Fairy Calendar

Astronomy Day 2013 -- Saturday at or before the first quarter moon between mid-April and mid-May
     sponsored by The Astronomical League; find out what your local astronomy society is doing today, and go enjoy

Banyan Tree Birthday Party -- Lahaina, Maui, Hawai'i (celebrating the "birthday" of Lahaina's most important landmark, their 139-year-old banyan tree which now covers over 2/3 of an acre; cake, nature displays, kid activities, history exhibits and more, through tomorrow)

California Poppy Festival -- Lancaster, CA, US (two fun days celebrating California's State Flower)

Go Around Humming "You Light Up My Life" Until Everybody Screams Day -- the person who thought this one up should be tied down and forced to listen to Barry Manilow songs for 12 hours straight!

Harvest Offering to Renenutet -- Ancient Egypitian Calendar (offering to the Lady of the Fertile Fields; date approximate)

Historic Garden Week in Virginia -- VA, US (enjoying some of Virginia's finest homes and gardens)

Husband Appreciation Day -- 3rd Saturday

International Marconi Day -- a 24-hour amateur radio event annually near the birth anniversary of Marconi

Lima Bean Respect Day

National Auctioneers Day -- recognizing the contribution of auctioneers to American commerce

National Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Day

National Take a Break to Reset Your Mind Day -- because everyone needs a day like this

Ramanavani -- Hindu (celebration of Lord Rama; local festivities may vary)

Ramnawami / Ramanavami / Chaitay Dashain -- India; Nepal (birth of Rama, avatar of Vishnu)

Record Store Day -- celebrated by independent record stores everywhere (mistakenly noted here last Saturday; lashes with a wet noodle for me!)

Ridvan begins -- Baha'i (begins at sunset)

St. Caedwalla of Wales' Day (Patron of converts, repentant murderers)

Taro Festival -- East Maui, Hawaii, US (celebration of Hawai'ian culture;through tomorrow)

YMCA Healthy Kids Day -- third Saturday

Zhabdrung Kuchhoe -- Bhutan (death anniversary of Zhabdrung)



Birthdays Today:

Joey Lawrence, 1976
Carmen Electra, 1972
Don Mattingly, 1961
Clint Howard, 1959
Luther Vandross, 1951
Jessica Lange, 1949
Ryan O'Neal, 1941
George Takei, 1937
Nina Foch, 1924
Lionel Hampton, 1908
Harold Lloyd, 1839
Joan Miro, 1893


Today in History:

The last naval battle in Byzantine history, 1453
Jews are expelled from Orange Burgundy, 1505
Jacques Cartier begins the voyage in which he will claim Canada and Labrador for France, 1534
Freedom of religion is granted to the Jews of New Amsterdam, 1657
Admiral Robert Blake destroys a Spanish silver fleet under heavy fire at Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 1657
Captain Cook arrives in New South Wales, 1770
René Caillié becomes the first non-Muslim to enter Timbouctou, 1828
Edgar Allan Poe's Murder in the Rue Morgue becomes the first detective story ever published, 1841
Louis Pasteur and Claude Bernard complete their first pasteurization tests, 1862
Pierre and Marie Curie refine radium chloride, 1902
Manfred von Richthofen, aka The Red Baron, shoots down his 79th and 80th victims marking his final victories before his death the next day, 1918
Western Electric and Warner Bros. announce Vitaphone, a process to add sound to film, 1926
Apollo 16, commanded by John Young, lands on the moon, 1972
Pianist Vladimir Horowitz performs in his native Russia for the first time in 61 years, 1986
Danica Patrick wins the Indy Japan 300 becoming the first female driver in history to win an Indy car race, 2008
The Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion kills 11 and causes rig to sink, initiating a massive oil discharge in the Gulf of Mexico, 2010