Today I drug out the wii fit again. Logged in. It's very interactive, which can be encouraging. But today, not so much. It announces with a loud voice, "It's been 130 days since your last workout, you've gained 6.6 pounds," etc. Thanks wii fit, way to make me feel like a fat loser! AWESOME!!!!!
I did some of the balance exercises. Yes, I know some of you are already starting to giggle. I did not fall! But I was a bit wobbly at times. The wii fit ran this quote across my screen multiple times, "If you feel unbalanced you can lean on a friend or steady object for support."
I laughed out loud. This is so true in life. When I feel unbalanced I need to lean harder on my friends for perspective and the steady object, God's Word, for support. What a great quote!
On another note, The Crossroads hung out at the Nalls' house tonight for a kids' fishing derby. Grace won the trophy for the most fish caught. We made new friends, saw old friends, and had a great time.
Funny story. Abby caught a couple of fish, she was having a great time fishing and playing in the worms. I went over to rebait her hook. When I pinched a long worm in half and started stringing it on her hook she went berserk. "You're killing it! It's going to die!" She connected that the worm would die and freaked out about fishing. I tried to cast the worm, thinking she would be distracted by reeling the pole, but Oh no! She was grabbing at the fishing line trying to yank the worm out of the water before a fish ate it. She was very done fishing at that point. Horrified by the killing of the worms, she refused to fish any more during the entire evening.
It was a lot of fun to chill out on a beautiful summer evening with friends and good food. Lovin' my life. Looking forward to a super day at The Crossroads tomorrow!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
The End Of Another Year
This is the end of another year of teaching first graders. I cried this morning when a student handed me a letter she had written herself. Understand that at the beginning of the year first graders can't usually put together sentences much less write letters. So I was thinking about how far she's come in addition to all the sweet things she wrote and became emotional.
However, I am way excited that school is almost out for the summer. I have to do a work day tomorrow and then I'm free, I'm free!
I am pretty sure that my favorite part of teaching is the time off. It's like my students who say their favorite thing about school is recess!
I have stacks of stuff saved up to read, curriculum to rewrite, laundry to wash, walls to paint, and a family to hang out with. I can't wait. I've already got a headstart on my first summer goal - to spend all day in my pjs. Since today was pj day at school, I can check that one off my list. Just kidding.... not quite the same!
However, I am way excited that school is almost out for the summer. I have to do a work day tomorrow and then I'm free, I'm free!
I am pretty sure that my favorite part of teaching is the time off. It's like my students who say their favorite thing about school is recess!
I have stacks of stuff saved up to read, curriculum to rewrite, laundry to wash, walls to paint, and a family to hang out with. I can't wait. I've already got a headstart on my first summer goal - to spend all day in my pjs. Since today was pj day at school, I can check that one off my list. Just kidding.... not quite the same!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
the next to last day of school
It was a crazy, insane day. We had our first grade carnival today. Very similar to field day, except with more water games. I was worn out by the end, but the kids had a great time.
They made me cry as they trickled in this morning with gifts and cards they had made themselves. One of my more challenging students that I have really bonded with brought me in a coffee cup that he had personalized with hearts and a picture of the two of us. It touched my heart to see how far we have come this year.
My students have grown and developed in amazing and sometimes almost miraculous ways this year. I am proud of each and every one of them.
One of the moms brought in a CD of pictures for me to use to make CDs for the other parents. Cause I'm the loser teacher who never remembers my own camera. It was cool to reflect back on the year. I found one of the most awesome pictures ever that I was so tempted to post. However there's all this legal mumbo jumbo about not posting pictures of students on the internet, etc. But it was a picture of my students sitting on the carpet listening to me read them a story. Every face is upturned looking at me. Every set of eyes is staring spellbound into mine. They are completely captivated by the moment. (Of course seeing this reaction narrows down for me to just a few which book I was probably reading) But I loved seeing them learning.
The mom also videoed me teaching (without me knowing). It was cool to go back and watch myself teach. I have never done this. There are those moments where I cringed, and there were moments that were pretty good. I may have to post some of the pics of just me, where you can't see the students. Just to show what a crazy nut I really am in my classroom. There are some awesome ones of me from Christmas dramatically opening gifts. Cause you have to make a huge big deal out of every little thing that children give you! My facial expressions are hysterical! I'll work on putting that online for all my friends to laugh at.
They made me cry as they trickled in this morning with gifts and cards they had made themselves. One of my more challenging students that I have really bonded with brought me in a coffee cup that he had personalized with hearts and a picture of the two of us. It touched my heart to see how far we have come this year.
My students have grown and developed in amazing and sometimes almost miraculous ways this year. I am proud of each and every one of them.
One of the moms brought in a CD of pictures for me to use to make CDs for the other parents. Cause I'm the loser teacher who never remembers my own camera. It was cool to reflect back on the year. I found one of the most awesome pictures ever that I was so tempted to post. However there's all this legal mumbo jumbo about not posting pictures of students on the internet, etc. But it was a picture of my students sitting on the carpet listening to me read them a story. Every face is upturned looking at me. Every set of eyes is staring spellbound into mine. They are completely captivated by the moment. (Of course seeing this reaction narrows down for me to just a few which book I was probably reading) But I loved seeing them learning.
The mom also videoed me teaching (without me knowing). It was cool to go back and watch myself teach. I have never done this. There are those moments where I cringed, and there were moments that were pretty good. I may have to post some of the pics of just me, where you can't see the students. Just to show what a crazy nut I really am in my classroom. There are some awesome ones of me from Christmas dramatically opening gifts. Cause you have to make a huge big deal out of every little thing that children give you! My facial expressions are hysterical! I'll work on putting that online for all my friends to laugh at.
Just one more day with students and then one more work day to clean up and get things sorted out.
I think I'll make it!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Monday Morning Update 6.1.09
I was in children's worship today, so I don't have a whole lot to say about "big church." I'll get to it in a little while.
In children's, our lesson was from Acts 14:8, the story where Paul and Barnabas travel to Lystra. Paul heals a man with crippled feet and the crowds want to sacrifice to him, believing that he is a god. So Paul says sure, has his devoted followers build him a big temple, and begins his own healing ministry, taking credit for it all himself. Had you going there for a minute, didn't I? No, seriously, Paul tells the people that he is only a man serving the one true God. This wins him no popularity, and by the end of the chapter he is stoned and left for dead. Now that's a happy ending for a children's story!
I was thinking about this story. So often in my life when things are really going well, I want to take all the credit and get all the glory for myself. If Paul had taken the credit for himself, he could have been famous and had a huge following. By giving God the credit, he got stoned (with rocks not drugs, hello.) However, it was only by pointing to God that he was able to further God's kingdom. He chose the right path, that was not the easiest path. That's what great men do.
Most of the time our choices boil down to furthering our own kingdom or furthering God's kingdom. I am embarrassed to admit just how often I am guilty of furthering my own kingdom. Often by default. I am so busy that I simply do what is easiest and requires the least amount of effort. I struggle with remembering to evaluate my choices.... instead acting on instinct.
So, back to services at The Crossroads. The lesson really struck a nerve with me. I am not sure that the children were really all that into it. The activities seemed a bit lame to me, and there was more whining than usual. However, we had fun and hopefully some of the lesson stuck with them.
I haven't heard a word about Shawn's sermon. I'm assuming it was good. It always is. I will look forward to listening to it later in the week at www.welcometothecrossroads.com under what's happening.
I did heard that worship was great. I heard parts of the set as the band was warming up. It seemed to be going well. I loved the new song they did, "Revelation Song." Tammie did a superb job with the female vocal on that one.
I am desperately miss playing with the band when I am in children's. However, don't misunderstand me here. Children's ministry is a vitally important part of The Crossroads. Children are extraordinarily valuable to God, and as such they are very valuable to us. Statistics tell us that we have the greatest opportunity to reach children with the gospel before they are 18. Me taking a turn at sharing God's love with the children once a month or so is definitely very important. And we are blessed in a young church plant to have enough volunteers that I only have to take a turn once a month. Many church plants are not that blessed. So I am not complaining about working with the children. God has blessed me every time by revealing Himself to me in huge and mighty ways through the Bible story. I can see His hand all over what I am doing. It is beautiful to watch Him bless my (at times reluctant) obedience.
It's just that somehow, in the span of a year or so, the band has become a valuable part of my life. It leaves a gap in my life to have to go a week without spending time with them, and entering into God's presence together. I miss us walking up to God's throne together and experiencing God's Spirit together. Even though they are worshipping without me, and I (in children's) am honestly worshipping without them, I miss them being a part of my worship experience. But how blessed am I to even have the opportunity to play with such an incredible group of people. How awesome is it to have a group of people that you are so used to worshipping with, that you miss them when you are not able to worship together. That's pretty cool, if you ask me!
On a more personal note, thanks to those of you who prayed for me this weekend. I am totally and completely exhausted from the emotional stress of having company on the last weekend of the school year. It's an insane season in my life in the best of times. However, the visit went better than usual, and I credit that to all of you who were praying. I have a crazy week ahead as I close out the school year. I am looking forward to getting my life back in just 5 more days!
In children's, our lesson was from Acts 14:8, the story where Paul and Barnabas travel to Lystra. Paul heals a man with crippled feet and the crowds want to sacrifice to him, believing that he is a god. So Paul says sure, has his devoted followers build him a big temple, and begins his own healing ministry, taking credit for it all himself. Had you going there for a minute, didn't I? No, seriously, Paul tells the people that he is only a man serving the one true God. This wins him no popularity, and by the end of the chapter he is stoned and left for dead. Now that's a happy ending for a children's story!
I was thinking about this story. So often in my life when things are really going well, I want to take all the credit and get all the glory for myself. If Paul had taken the credit for himself, he could have been famous and had a huge following. By giving God the credit, he got stoned (with rocks not drugs, hello.) However, it was only by pointing to God that he was able to further God's kingdom. He chose the right path, that was not the easiest path. That's what great men do.
Most of the time our choices boil down to furthering our own kingdom or furthering God's kingdom. I am embarrassed to admit just how often I am guilty of furthering my own kingdom. Often by default. I am so busy that I simply do what is easiest and requires the least amount of effort. I struggle with remembering to evaluate my choices.... instead acting on instinct.
So, back to services at The Crossroads. The lesson really struck a nerve with me. I am not sure that the children were really all that into it. The activities seemed a bit lame to me, and there was more whining than usual. However, we had fun and hopefully some of the lesson stuck with them.
I haven't heard a word about Shawn's sermon. I'm assuming it was good. It always is. I will look forward to listening to it later in the week at www.welcometothecrossroads.com under what's happening.
I did heard that worship was great. I heard parts of the set as the band was warming up. It seemed to be going well. I loved the new song they did, "Revelation Song." Tammie did a superb job with the female vocal on that one.
I am desperately miss playing with the band when I am in children's. However, don't misunderstand me here. Children's ministry is a vitally important part of The Crossroads. Children are extraordinarily valuable to God, and as such they are very valuable to us. Statistics tell us that we have the greatest opportunity to reach children with the gospel before they are 18. Me taking a turn at sharing God's love with the children once a month or so is definitely very important. And we are blessed in a young church plant to have enough volunteers that I only have to take a turn once a month. Many church plants are not that blessed. So I am not complaining about working with the children. God has blessed me every time by revealing Himself to me in huge and mighty ways through the Bible story. I can see His hand all over what I am doing. It is beautiful to watch Him bless my (at times reluctant) obedience.
It's just that somehow, in the span of a year or so, the band has become a valuable part of my life. It leaves a gap in my life to have to go a week without spending time with them, and entering into God's presence together. I miss us walking up to God's throne together and experiencing God's Spirit together. Even though they are worshipping without me, and I (in children's) am honestly worshipping without them, I miss them being a part of my worship experience. But how blessed am I to even have the opportunity to play with such an incredible group of people. How awesome is it to have a group of people that you are so used to worshipping with, that you miss them when you are not able to worship together. That's pretty cool, if you ask me!
On a more personal note, thanks to those of you who prayed for me this weekend. I am totally and completely exhausted from the emotional stress of having company on the last weekend of the school year. It's an insane season in my life in the best of times. However, the visit went better than usual, and I credit that to all of you who were praying. I have a crazy week ahead as I close out the school year. I am looking forward to getting my life back in just 5 more days!
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