I Love Crafts

I think that's my favorite part of being a teacher. Although I haven't done as much of that this year, I've taken on another equally exciting thing for me, a teacher store. It's like an Etsy store but for teachers. I make a lot of resources that I use with my kids and now I can sell those things that I make for myself to other teachers. It's an exciting little side "business" experiment that I'm trying for 2013. If it's not very profitable, I won't continue it after this year, but I'm already making the stuff, so I decided to give it a try. I'm optimistic about it.

I like that part of Sunday school too. I have a group of kids that are mostly good friends so they are very chatty. This makes reading the Bible and learning time difficult. Craft time is a time for me to zone out their complaints and let them talk while we make our craft. It's a necessity. Otherwise the Bible conversation is constantly being derailed.

I like foldables!

Jesus calms the storm

Psalm 56:3 -- When I am afraid, I will trust in you!

Jesus feeds the 5,000+ crowd

John 6:48 -- I am the bread of life.

Jesus walks on water

Hebrews 12:2 -- Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, 

the author and perfecter of our faith...

As I read and plan for these Bible stories and lessons, sometimes I think it would be fun to make them into books for kids to read. (Or for adults to read to kids.) I wish I were a better artist, though. That sounds like fun.

Popsicle Nativity

our finished product today in Sunday school

I think they turned out really cute!

GROW Snowballs

In Sunday school this morning we read {in Luke 2} 

about the shepherds who heard from the angels about the baby Jesus. 

We talked about why shepherds {and lambs} are so important in the Bible.

We continued our work on the nativity decoration we're making. 

It will look a little something like this (idea from Pinterest):

We made some snowmen to hang on the children's tree in the foyer.

I had originally wanted fake snow to be inside the ornaments, 

but I bought ones with too small a hole, 

so I went with plan B, 

white paint that we "swished" around inside it. 

I still think they're cute. 

Helmet, Sword, and Pumpkins

Our study of the armor of God is over. Sad face.

I think the kids enjoyed it. I know I enjoyed it 

{except for the shoes week, that was rough}.

{small} Helmets 

If I were to do this again, I would have them be bigger 

and perhaps have the face shield thing.

Swords {plus all the other gear}

Sure do look like warriors!

Totally unrelated but I'm excited about our experiment at school.

We opened a pie pumpkin on Halloween and put dirt inside.

We have over 25 sprouts and the tallest is at least 6 in.

My next step is to plant the whole thing in a big container of dirt 

so the pumpkin can decompose and the roots can push through and flourish.

Breastplate, Shoes, and Shield

We're still working in Ephesians 6:10-20.

breastplates of righteousness

gospel of peace flip flops

This particular Sunday I had a big group 

{probably because of the big announcement during the sermon} 

that was very difficult to keep focused. 

This particular combination is always so difficult. Bittersweet.

shields of faith

I'm loving our armor of God study

and very much like the small group size most weeks. 

GROW: Genesis 1

I'm behind, I know.
My next post will hopefully be about Easter weekend. It was a big one!
I'll catch up in due time.

This morning our church began an early morning class called GROW. I'm teaching the 3rd-5th grade class. I was nervous before this morning. I didn't know how many students we would have. I didn't know if the way I planned to structure our hour would work well. Would I be a good spiritual leader for these kids? God provides, though.

I was pleased to have 11 amazing kids show up for the first morning today. We decided to start at the beginning, Genesis, and read how God created everything. I love that 4 of the kids were willing to take the risk of reading out loud from the Bible this morning. They aren't all fluent readers, of course, and there are some big words in the Bible. I love that each group really took their time on their posters to show what happened on each day. (They especially liked using the sequins, even the boys. I also think the lion is just cute in day 6.) I love that several students offered prayer requests and one student was even willing to pray out loud. I am so excited for what this group already is and especially for what this group will become as we grow together.

I'm also super excited to have something other than my job to think about and get my creative juices flowing. I'd much rather spend my free time working on the GROW class. (And in just 6 more weeks, 28 more school days, that's exactly where all my creative juices will be flowing!)

Our memory verse: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1

GROW stands for God's word, Relationships, Obedient living, and Worship. These are the four areas we want to encourage in the early morning ministry.