Lately

Lots going on lately:

• I bought a new phone. I'm not a talk-on-the-phone kind of girl which is what makes this phone so fun. (and it's a huge step up from my last phone)

• I discovered how easy it is to make tater tot casserole and how yummy it can be.

• Another school year has begun... and I'm excited about it! So far, I'm loving second grade. I already love my 20 little babies. It's a little overwhelming to learn to be a second grade teacher, but I think it's worth it.

• In small group, we've started this great series on knowing the enemy. It's all around us, working in more ways than most of us are aware. It's a video series called the Fuel Project. I really like how it is also connecting biblical events with secular history. I've always thought it would be awesome to take a class like that. Those two topics often seem separate from each other in my brain (though I know in reality they are not).

• Waffle bar and movie night with friends... with added Yoga Booty Ballet bonus! Ha! Too bad it was a school night...

Monday Ramblings: A Little Bit of This and a Little Bit of That

I wonder if there's a limit on number of words in a blog title...

Anyway...

Today was different.

First, the kids spent half the day at the middle school. The fifth graders get to visit every year in May. This is one of the many signals that the school year is coming to an end.

So, it was a good day for getting things done... except that I really didn't have time to do anything productive like clean my desk, filing papers, accomplish general cleaning tasks. Instead, the other fifth grade teacher and I took $300, high-tailed it to the local Wally World, and spent like crazy on a little of this and a lot of that for the SOAR store this week. Our cart was heaping full when we were done. How amazing it is to spend a ton of money that isn't yours on a whole bunch of junk that you won't be keeping.

My other time-filling task was cutting out bulletin board letters for a bulletin board far, far away from my classroom. Who knows how my name was chosen for that bulletin board, but I'll be putting it up tomorrow after school. [I'll be sure to post a picture of our lovely watercolor art.] Fortunately, I got to use this nifty little device.

It's a Cricut. How cool it is!

Then, the kids came back. Oh, here we go. There's a couple of kids that I feel I am already done with their behavior and/or attitude. I am ready to say, "See ya!"
The part I don't like about the end of the fifth grade year is that, somehow, something clicks inside of them. All of a sudden, they start acting as though they are no longer in elementary school, no longer fifth graders.

Line? What's that?

Be quiet in the hallway? What?

Do work? What? It's not summer yet?

Ai-yi-yi. Preteens.

After school, I had a dentist appointment. Am I the only one who finds watching, in the somewhat-mirror, in the center of the light, fascinating? Because I do. In fact, I'm disappointed when I have to turn my head just so or when the dentist's hand is in the way and I can't see what's going on anymore. Is that strange? I also like looking at the pictures they take inside your mouth. Very fascinating.

I was very serious when I told my mom a year or so ago that I think it would be very interesting to have x-rays taken of my whole body and to create a life-size skeleton of me. Now that would be cool! You have to admit it.

This random Monday is ending on a high note... lasagna... blog-reading... relaxing. I like it!

Random Monster Acts

I've been somewhat random, it seems this month. Oh, well.

I think I've decided on a classroom theme for next year. [Yes, I am already thinking about next year!] My first 2 years here in fifth grade I somewhat had a theme that revolved around my reading tree. I eventually had to nix the awesome fake tree that I had from floor to ceiling, complete with fake vines leftover from our wedding reception, due to fire codes. Since then I haven't really had a classroom theme. So, next year is the year.

Now I'm not sure if these are really the monsters I'll be ordering in my requisition, however, you have to admit that these monsters are just too adorable to pass up.  This summer will keep me busy, then, with creating some monster curtains for my classroom windows and maybe making some monsters games/centers for next year. Even though it's classroom related, I don't mind doing it over the summer. I don't [think I] know any teachers that really take the whole summer off.

Small group last night was great. It is always such a blessing to get to share with other believers. It can also be very encouraging. That's what last night was all about, sharing where we are right now in our walk.  I think this is something we should do somewhat regularly.

I feel like the Lord is really working on me in two areas: fear and love. I have such fear in so many areas of my life, but He is slowly changing my heart and has put people in my life that encourage me. (ha ha) It is also very easy for me to treat other people the way they have treated me instead of treating them with love... regardless... the way I want to be treated. Oh, so hard for me. I think that I am getting better though. I'm so thankful for the convictions that God gives me because I do want to become a better person.

I've really been enjoying attending church-related events lately. We've officially stopped the Wednesday night ministry we were going to have for kids of all ages, young and old. Instead, it's just a Bible study focusing on Acts, and I like it. Very appropriately (since Easter was Sunday), we read Acts 1 tonight which focuses on Jesus' ascension and Judas' replacement. It's great to get together for an hour, read from the Bible, and talk through it. I'm always so impressed with other people's knowledge of Jewish traditions, daily life, and the Hebrew/Greek language.

I've found many things humorous lately. I need to start writing them down. The humorous quote of the night is from our pastor during the Bible study... "A resurrection doesn't just happen, unless it does!"

Another Blessed [long] Weekend

Gotta love a 3-day weekend!

Thursday night was our communion service, since it was Holy week. That was a great experience. I got to be a part of the service in a way I have not been in a while.

I sang "In Remembrance of Me" in a little quartet. Awesome. I don't dig the performing in front of people as much with singing simply because I'm not confident. I'm very self-conscious. For me, it becomes less about worshiping my Lord and Savior and more about if sound or look ok. I can't get past it. I enjoyed this, though.

I also played "Be Thou My Vision" as a duet with our church's awesome piano guru. I [heart] playing my clarinet. In high school, I loved the concerts we performed in. There's nothing like the buildup of the song and the release at the end, when there's a moment of silence before the applause. It's enough to make me smile and get goosebumps. Awesome. Playing a duet or solo is not quite the same, but it is still fun because the combination [in my opinion] is bea-u-ti-ful. Love it.

Friday was cleaning day. Mostly because we were having a bunch of guests on Saturday. Really, though, cleaning stinks [and flairs up my allergies like crazy] but the end result is worth it. No one likes a dirty or messy house. Cleaning is a necessary evil [just like dealing with those nasty dandelions in the front garden area. The funny thing is that I used to like dandelions when I was little]. We also ran some errands and installed our stained glass window. [It's really a decal that looks cool, none-the-less.]

Saturday was the much anticipated get-together day. Fun times with the PWNK group from church. [That's people with no kids group, in case you were wondering.] It's been fun getting to know these people better. Turns out we have many similar interests and laugh at many of the same things. Good times! We chatted, played Drift on the Wii, and watched some good ol' SNL. Good conversation. Good food, as usual. Lots of laughs. Looking forward to our next get-together.

And Sunday. Easter. A wonderful holiday. A day we celebrate the sacrifice Christ made for us and the promises that were fulfilled. How thankful I am that my Father loves me THAT much!

The sunrise service this morning was awesome. One of our small group members shared a heart-tugging testimony. How powerful is our Lord God that He can take a person out of darkness and bring them into His light!

The church service was great too. We shared our first cardboard testimonies which also tugged at my heartstrings. It's always such a HUGE blessing to see how God has worked in someone else, how they have been changed.

I was actually invited to be a part of this wonderful experience in front of the church, but I decided to decline. I'm not sure what my cardboard would have said. I was afraid. I am still afraid, a work in progress. That's me.

Of course, there was the annual family dinner. It was great eating lunch with everyone again. I can't take that for granted! I [heart] family meals.

Friend-ly Weekend

Such a good weekend. Lots of time with friends. Some time with family. Fellowship. Meals together.

Yesterday we spent time with another couple at a baseball game. It started out a chilly morning, and we were bundled up in a blanket, but it was very comfortable by the afternoon. Such a quality time enjoying each others' company. We left tired and sunburned. Well, I was anyway.













When we parted ways, Hubs and I went to my brother's new house to spend the night. It was nice seeing my brother in his element. Crazy to think he owns a house now. I don't know if it was getting up so early, spending so much time out in the sun, the headache I had developed, or the sunburn, (or a combination of everything?) but I fell asleep around 9:30. WOW! That never happens. Hope my brother doesn't feel unloved by our early retreat.

This morning we traveled to worship and fellowship in Council Grove. It was so wonderful to see many of the people I had gone with on the missions trip. We sang many of the songs we sang together on the trip. We watched the trip video. We shared and ate together. So great. Such a blessing.

I enjoyed the pastor's message too. He read from Matthew 17, Mark 9, and Luke 9; the story of when the disciples and Jesus came down from the mountain and healed the boy. I like that he reminded us of how Jesus saturated his life in prayer. He didn't act first then pray like we tend to do. Jesus didn't say "God helps those who help themselves," Ben Franklin did. The pastor said that discipleship is learning to constantly believe in Jesus and (I really like this part) constantly realigning our lives to him over and over. In order to do this, we need scripture and prayer. Good message.

Good weekend.

Evidence of a Broken World... (And Other Ramblings)

...as if anymore evidence is needed! What's that saying? The proof is in the pudding. [I wonder where that saying comes from. How did it get started? What was in the pudding? What did it prove?]

This note (minus real names) was intercepted by one of my 10 or 11 year-old informants on Friday:

I [heart] U (girl) More then ever and (boy) he didn't hit any body that hurt you I did have you ever stayed the knight at his house no pluse if we do go out ever I won't be bad and I won't do the stuff that you tell me not to do if we don't are we still friends call me or write me back and I was going out with (girl) but not write now because I want you. I [heart] U

This reminds me of a couple conferences I had with parents in the fall. I was concerned after a student announced openly that he had slept with another student at the school. When I addressed this with both parents, they responded in a very matter-of-fact way about the students watching TV or movies in each others rooms and falling asleep together. 

So, so sad. Obviously, these parents living in darkness will have no concept of why this is wrong. They live and teach their children according to the world's standards. How can I expect anything other than the behavior I'm getting from some of my students when they are being trained to serve the wrong god?

---  ---  ---

On another note... I came home this afternoon, used the bathroom, washed my hands and noticed a long blue mark on my neck. It easily washed off, but I have been consumed by the question Why didn't anyone tell me about a blue mark on my neck two or more inches long? I suppose I can understand the kids not saying anything. Perhaps they aren't trained in that sort of etiquette. It's not like this was a day where I had little to no interaction with any adults, though. In fact, we had a staff meeting after school where I sat at a table with other teachers. So, still I wonder, Why didn't anyone say anything?

---  ---  ---

I had a nice evening. Good conversation. Good food. Good times. I got to tell about the wonderful experience on my missions trip over spring break. I like talking about that. About our time being stopped at the border. About how welcoming and loving the people are. About working with the kids. About working with the missionaries.

I miss seeing the brothers and sisters in Los Fresnos and Matamoros and their love for the Lord. They obviously weren't perfect humans [perfect human, isn't that an oxymoron?], but they didn't seem as consumed with treasures and schedules as I notice around me in El Dorado. Many of them were living a life in service of the Lord. Doing, for the glory of God. God first, me last. That's a mindset that we are missing. It's just so, so awesome to see a such a love for Christ.

Sunday Ramblings: This and That

Oh, I am such a slacker! It is so difficult for me to buckle down into the grading papers routine after I've been out of it for two or three weeks. How much did I grade this weekend, you might foolishly ask? Nada. Usually Sunday is my get-ready-for-school day. I was too busy spending time with friends after church and then reading blogs today, one of my new favorite things, to give it much thought. Luckily, I did most of next week's planning after school Friday.

I'm really into blogs lately and am excited with the prospect of creating a classroom only blog in August. Something parents and kids could access too. That would mean no more mixing personal with professional... for the most part. (I'm sure I'll still have some funny or interesting stories to share here.) I would also like to include the kids in it somehow (regardless if I'm teaching 5th or 2nd). I'm excited to expand on and nail down that idea over the summer.

Today was a great day. A blessed day. (As usual.) It's so hard to say a day is not great, you know, when everyone I care about is healthy, fed, clothed, and has a roof over their heads. Not to mention, we went out to lunch with some friends after church and sat for hours talking and laughing. What a great afternoon! We need to do this most Sundays.

At church there were some postcards with the church information on it to hand out to people to invite them. I'm not great at sharing in that way, at inviting people to come share a Sunday service with us. I should be better at that. Jesus is Lord, and I'm so thankful He's my Savior. I should be shouting from the rooftops.  I took a couple and put them up in the teacher's lunchroom at school this evening. We'll see what happens with my indirect invitations.

Last night I read through John 10 to get ready for our small group discussion on Tuesday. Strangely enough, our song leader prayed from John 10. This was awesome to me because rarely can I pinpoint exactly where people are praying from when they quote scripture in their prayer. Made me feel good.

So far I like the new series we've started at church. The cross. Thankfully, God is a holy God. He is trustworthy and faithful. In contrast to who God is, we are filled with sin and darkness. Our priorities are completely off. We live so that we hide behavior that we are ashamed of. We only let people in so far in our lives. Amazingly, though, God sent His Son to die a sinner's death on the cross. This is why the cross is a symbol of Christianity. Because Jesus sacrificed His life on the cross so that anyone could be freed from the chains and slavery of sin. Apart from the cross we live a cursed life.

I want more truths revealed. I want my life to be focused more on God, to radiate His love from every inch of me. I don't want to be fearful of how people perceive me or of [dis]pleasing others. I want to live for the Lord, letting His good and perfect will and His Holy Spirit guide me. Keep forming me, Father.