I love spending time with my kids. I think one of the neatest parts of being a parent is when you recognize that you are growing right along side of them. When you become a parent, you think you know everything (because you read a book or three), but really you know absolutely nothing. So, from day one, you are growing. Just as they are changing from a newborn baby into an amazing person, you too become an experienced parent. And, it's all based on the relationship you have with your kiddos. My kids have grown me in so many ways, I cannot measure them. They've grown my faith, for sure, and tonight they grew a very personal part of me. It's definitely not the most important part of me, but it's part of my core person, and that's my musicality.
I started playing the piano when I was five, and had umpteen squat years of lessons. At nine, when I started the flute, I really became less interested in the piano (as practice time was limited by all the other extra curricular stuff going on in my life). So, all I ever really learned to do was play classical music well. Pretty much now, the last thing I want to do is play classical music. Hand me a hymnal, or a classical piece that's written out and I'll play it for you (it may take a few tries, but I'll get it). What interests me, though, is playing with my kids. Grace likes contemporary Christian music, so that's what I want to play. When Elissa's playing the drums, that's the kind of music she wants to play as well. So....that leaves me needing to grow!
Tonight, Grace brought me some sheet music that was quite complicated, with all sorts of ledger lines and funky stuff, with a quick beat. Let me just say, it was not a piece I could sight read on the spot and make sound at all like the actual song. So, I said what I've never said before. "Go print the guitar chords." So, she did. And they weren't easy. Eb, Ebsus4, Eb7, Cm, Abm, C#7, Fm, yikes!!!!!!! Let me just say, that wasn't easy for me either, but at least it sounded a little bit more like the real song, and I could play it closer to tempo with something that resembled the melody. Yep, she grew me! And I'm loving it!
Let me just say, if you've never spent time like that with your kids, please do. You'll all grow, and it will be a wonderful experience.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Why I Love Guided Reading
Reason #1 Why I love guided reading: You meet your students right where they are and they immediately learn something new that they can use.
Today I pulled two of my groups to the teacher table for guided reading. It was the first day to read the book, so with one of my groups we talked about the purpose of the Table of Contents, the Glossary and the Index. This was such a great lesson, and I didn't even know how great it would be! It was the first time to discuss the differences between a glossary and an index, and it was also the first time for us to discuss the purpose of them as well. They really had no idea why a reader would want to use either, but they were excited to try it out after we had discussed it.
Reason # 2 Why I love guided reading: It gives students an opportunity to take a risk they might not take in front of the whole class.
A small group setting is an ideal place for students who are not confident in their reading abilities. Because they are working with students that are on or near their same level, they are more willing to suggest an answer, or try a reading strategy that they would not do in a whole group setting. Today one of my students volunteered to read out loud. That has not happened in a whole group setting.
Reason # 3 Why I love guided reading: It gives students an opportunity to discuss what they are reading in an intimate setting.
When you only have five or six people discussing a book, you can share more ideas. 'Nuff said.
Reason # 4 Why I love guided reading: They come back from the library and say "Mrs. Miller, look! My book has both a glossary and an index!" and they are excited about it!
That was definitely a highlight today!
Today I pulled two of my groups to the teacher table for guided reading. It was the first day to read the book, so with one of my groups we talked about the purpose of the Table of Contents, the Glossary and the Index. This was such a great lesson, and I didn't even know how great it would be! It was the first time to discuss the differences between a glossary and an index, and it was also the first time for us to discuss the purpose of them as well. They really had no idea why a reader would want to use either, but they were excited to try it out after we had discussed it.
Reason # 2 Why I love guided reading: It gives students an opportunity to take a risk they might not take in front of the whole class.
A small group setting is an ideal place for students who are not confident in their reading abilities. Because they are working with students that are on or near their same level, they are more willing to suggest an answer, or try a reading strategy that they would not do in a whole group setting. Today one of my students volunteered to read out loud. That has not happened in a whole group setting.
Reason # 3 Why I love guided reading: It gives students an opportunity to discuss what they are reading in an intimate setting.
When you only have five or six people discussing a book, you can share more ideas. 'Nuff said.
Reason # 4 Why I love guided reading: They come back from the library and say "Mrs. Miller, look! My book has both a glossary and an index!" and they are excited about it!
That was definitely a highlight today!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Building Each Other Up
After much anticipation, Elissa's drum set finally arrived! She has been waiting for what seems like forever to her (about a week and a half), and yesterday her instructor brought it over and set it up. Let me tell you, that was the best money ever spent! There are a lot of parts, and no doubt I would not have done it correctly. He also took the time to explain to her everything he was doing, and showed her how to tune it and adjust it when the time comes. She is one very happy girl!
The best part, though, is not about Elissa, but about how her sisters are reacting to this whole new adventure in our house. Instead of jealousy or complaint about the noise, Grace and Kaitlin are excited for Elissa. We have already had several concerts, and the girls are eager to encourage Elissa and give her positive feedback. Grace asked Elissa to come and show her what she had learned as soon as we returned home from lessons today. Then she videoed it and posted it to Facebook with some really nice comments.
The Bible says we are supposed to encourage one another and build each other up in 1 Thessalonians 5:11. While I take this verse to be talking about our faith, so often we can transfer what we learn about our faith into our actions in every day life. That's what Grace and Kaitlin are doing for Elissa, and that makes me one proud Mama!
The best part, though, is not about Elissa, but about how her sisters are reacting to this whole new adventure in our house. Instead of jealousy or complaint about the noise, Grace and Kaitlin are excited for Elissa. We have already had several concerts, and the girls are eager to encourage Elissa and give her positive feedback. Grace asked Elissa to come and show her what she had learned as soon as we returned home from lessons today. Then she videoed it and posted it to Facebook with some really nice comments.
The Bible says we are supposed to encourage one another and build each other up in 1 Thessalonians 5:11. While I take this verse to be talking about our faith, so often we can transfer what we learn about our faith into our actions in every day life. That's what Grace and Kaitlin are doing for Elissa, and that makes me one proud Mama!
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Cultivating Talent
My ten year old daughter Elissa began taking drum lessons five weeks ago. She loves it! She practices faithfully every day, uses the metronome, and pays attention to what she is doing so she can make improvements. A week ago her instructor told her she would be finishing the first book within a week or two, provided sho could perform the "test" to him and then to an audience (me) at the studio. Well, she was determined to graduate from the book yesterday. So, she practiced extra hard, working on one line at a time, then putting them together until she got it right. On a side note here, she does not have her drum set in my house yet - it's ordered, but has not come in yet, so she's practicing on a phone book and various stacks of boxes, making it even more challenging. Well, Elissa is one determined girl! She did it, and she did it well. She had a little glitch when playing for me at the studio, but she just kept on going, recovered, and finished strong. It was a proud moment for both of us.
Watching her go through this process has really made me think about talent lately. Of course, I think she's extremely talented (I may be a little biased here), but she also works hard to grow her skills. Everyone starts out with the potential to be great at something, but if they don't make an effort to be great, it'll never happen. I can just imagine that there is so much untapped potential in our world - musicians, inventors, and all sorts of geniuses that will never reach greatness because they aren't working on their talent. I had a friend tell me a story yesterday that really touched my heart. His brother was always talking about playing the lottery, and finally his dad said to him, "Why waste your money on the lottery. You have a million dollars sitting in your guitar case if you would just open it." So, the brother did, and now has a CD out there for everyone to enjoy. What a bold statement for a parent to make, especially to their grown child!
So, back to cultivating talent. Teachers, parents, and mentors are a little bit like gardeners. We start with a child, just a seed. Have you ever noticed that it's hard to tell what kind of plant you'll have if you have a bag of mixed seeds? We don't know what kind of flower will bud, but it's still our job to nurture the child, providing them with experiences and opportunities to grow their talent into a masterpiece. Kids need to have lots of different opportunities to experience a variety of things. What you originally think may be their talent could be something they are good at, but not necessarily their passion. So, let them try ice skating, even if you groan about it. If that's where their talent lies, it will grow. If not, they'll be excited to try something new, but they'll get to walk away from ice skating knowing they had the opportunity to try. And if you are a teacher, remember you could be teaching the next Einstein. So, grow their talents and, more importantly, ignite the passion within your students to pursue their dreams. That will make an impact on your student that will reach far beyond the year you teach them.
Watching her go through this process has really made me think about talent lately. Of course, I think she's extremely talented (I may be a little biased here), but she also works hard to grow her skills. Everyone starts out with the potential to be great at something, but if they don't make an effort to be great, it'll never happen. I can just imagine that there is so much untapped potential in our world - musicians, inventors, and all sorts of geniuses that will never reach greatness because they aren't working on their talent. I had a friend tell me a story yesterday that really touched my heart. His brother was always talking about playing the lottery, and finally his dad said to him, "Why waste your money on the lottery. You have a million dollars sitting in your guitar case if you would just open it." So, the brother did, and now has a CD out there for everyone to enjoy. What a bold statement for a parent to make, especially to their grown child!
So, back to cultivating talent. Teachers, parents, and mentors are a little bit like gardeners. We start with a child, just a seed. Have you ever noticed that it's hard to tell what kind of plant you'll have if you have a bag of mixed seeds? We don't know what kind of flower will bud, but it's still our job to nurture the child, providing them with experiences and opportunities to grow their talent into a masterpiece. Kids need to have lots of different opportunities to experience a variety of things. What you originally think may be their talent could be something they are good at, but not necessarily their passion. So, let them try ice skating, even if you groan about it. If that's where their talent lies, it will grow. If not, they'll be excited to try something new, but they'll get to walk away from ice skating knowing they had the opportunity to try. And if you are a teacher, remember you could be teaching the next Einstein. So, grow their talents and, more importantly, ignite the passion within your students to pursue their dreams. That will make an impact on your student that will reach far beyond the year you teach them.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Speeding into reading
We are almost finished with our second full week of school, and things sure are in full swing! I'm loving my new classroom, and all the space I have. This is the first time I've ever had the space to pull a group of students to the carpet for Read Aloud! Over the summer I spent some time reading several children's novels, and I found four that I really like. I'm reading my favorite right now, Silverwing, by Kenneth Oppel. The main character is a bat who is the runt of his colony. He goes on a journey, meets other characters, and during the adventure makes friends and learns about himself. We are still at the beginning of the book, and tomorrow the students are going to discover the reason why the bats have to obey a law that allows them out only at night. They were really sad when school ended today and we had to stop reading! Ok, enough about the book already. I thought I'd take a moment to write a little bit about why this type of reading is so important for student learning. So, here goes....
1. It's important for students to hear what good readers sound like when they read. We, as readers, did not just come by inflection and intonation naturally. We read with expression because we heard someone read that way to us. So many students are not read to at home, so how are they supposed to learn how to read expressively? From someone who loves to read.
2. Reading to students exposes them to new vocabulary. When we read aloud to students, we have the opportunity to read books that are above their independent reading level. Many of them contain new words for students. If you take the time to explain the words to the students, they have instantly increased their vocabulary, and they don't even realize they've learned something new!
3. Reading unlocks creativity. Books leave so much to the imagination. How many times have you been to the movies after reading a story, and thought, "Wow, that character doesn't look anything like I imagined?". After school, our students head home, quickly complete their homework, then plop in front of the tv or a video game and watch. While it took creativity to make the tv show or game, it does not take creativity to watch it. Reading aloud gives students the chance to use their imagination.
4. Reading aloud gives students the chance to think at a higher level. When students are actively engaged in read aloud, they don't even realize that you are growing their brains when you ask questions like, "How is the character feeling?" or "How has the character changed from the beginning of the story," or even "What do you think the character is going to do next?"
5. Reading to students instills a love of reading in them. I always say that reading takes you places. It takes you to places literally, like where the story takes place, and it also takes you places figuratively, like to the next level of book to read, or to the next grade level, or in the case of our students eventually to higher education and a successful career. Students who are read to are more likely to enjoy reading later, and that will take them farther than they ever dream!
So, bottom line, read to your students, read to your kids, read to your neighbors, just read!
1. It's important for students to hear what good readers sound like when they read. We, as readers, did not just come by inflection and intonation naturally. We read with expression because we heard someone read that way to us. So many students are not read to at home, so how are they supposed to learn how to read expressively? From someone who loves to read.
2. Reading to students exposes them to new vocabulary. When we read aloud to students, we have the opportunity to read books that are above their independent reading level. Many of them contain new words for students. If you take the time to explain the words to the students, they have instantly increased their vocabulary, and they don't even realize they've learned something new!
3. Reading unlocks creativity. Books leave so much to the imagination. How many times have you been to the movies after reading a story, and thought, "Wow, that character doesn't look anything like I imagined?". After school, our students head home, quickly complete their homework, then plop in front of the tv or a video game and watch. While it took creativity to make the tv show or game, it does not take creativity to watch it. Reading aloud gives students the chance to use their imagination.
4. Reading aloud gives students the chance to think at a higher level. When students are actively engaged in read aloud, they don't even realize that you are growing their brains when you ask questions like, "How is the character feeling?" or "How has the character changed from the beginning of the story," or even "What do you think the character is going to do next?"
5. Reading to students instills a love of reading in them. I always say that reading takes you places. It takes you to places literally, like where the story takes place, and it also takes you places figuratively, like to the next level of book to read, or to the next grade level, or in the case of our students eventually to higher education and a successful career. Students who are read to are more likely to enjoy reading later, and that will take them farther than they ever dream!
So, bottom line, read to your students, read to your kids, read to your neighbors, just read!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
End of Summer
Tonight marks the end of another summer for the Millers. Tomorrow is the start of another school year. Yay! I have always been a parent of progress. After all, you can't stop the train from moving forward. However, the realization has hit me that my girls really are growing up. Grace is entering her last year of middle school. That means high school next year. Elissa is entering her last year of elementary school this year. That means middle school next year. Any my baby is entering third grade. Third. Grade. Where has the time gone? Why does it seem like an eternity from weekend to weekend sometimes, but you can blink and your kid is a teenager? After this realization, I decided that ice cream wasn't the answer, and neither was panicking. So, I've decided to embrace this reality. Instead of focusing on how quickly the train is moving, I'll focus on the moments during the train ride. We've had some amazing moments as a family, and there are so many more yet to come. I have loved my kids in every stage of their development, and I will love every stage that is yet to come. Most of all, I'll remember that God loves my girls, and has given me the most tremendous blessing - I get to be their mom. And, after all...
I can do all things through him who strengthens me! Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me! Philippians 4:13
Thursday, August 18, 2011
New Beginnings
New Building, New Classroom, New Students, New Year, New Beginnings!
Wow, these last two weeks have sure been busy! School starts next Monday, so last week I spent the majority of my time setting up my new classroom. This week I tweaked it a little bit, but really spent most of my time in training and meetings in preparation for the new school year.
I love the beginning of the year. Over the summer, I spend time reflecting on my teaching and the needs of my students, in order to better myself to facilitate their learning. I always come up with a bunch of new ideas to implement in the classroom. Some are better than others, for sure! I also love the way the kiddos come in, bright eyed and excited to begin a new year of learning. Children are like sponges, soaking up new information and just always wanting more. I love how animated they get when I introduce a new concept, just so eager to learn!
Here's a sneak peak of my new classroom....
I am looking forward to a new beginning this year, with new students in a new classroom in a new building!
Wow, these last two weeks have sure been busy! School starts next Monday, so last week I spent the majority of my time setting up my new classroom. This week I tweaked it a little bit, but really spent most of my time in training and meetings in preparation for the new school year.
I love the beginning of the year. Over the summer, I spend time reflecting on my teaching and the needs of my students, in order to better myself to facilitate their learning. I always come up with a bunch of new ideas to implement in the classroom. Some are better than others, for sure! I also love the way the kiddos come in, bright eyed and excited to begin a new year of learning. Children are like sponges, soaking up new information and just always wanting more. I love how animated they get when I introduce a new concept, just so eager to learn!
Here's a sneak peak of my new classroom....
I am looking forward to a new beginning this year, with new students in a new classroom in a new building!
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Amazing Kids
I have amazing kids. I know, I know, all parents say that, but mine are really amazing! In fact, I marvel at their amazingness each day. What a blessing it is that God gave me them to nurture. He teaches me so much through them, and I truly am in awe of Him when I see how He works through them. Let me just tell you a little bit about what has been going on with them lately.
Grace: Queen of the Elves, or should I say Queen of the Stage? This summer she has been one busy girl! This weekend she performed as Oberon in Midsummer Night's Dream at the Courtyard Theater in Plano. It was incredible! I never imagined that my thirteen year old would be performing Shakespeare, and performing so well. It was a riot! All of the actors were amazing, and I can't wait to get the DVD so I can watch it again!
In addition to theater this summer, she also worked on her Silver Award for Girl Scouts. This is probably the activity that made me the proudest mom ever! Grace has always had a passion to help people less fortunate than her, and she has a big heart for kids. Put those two things together, and you have a girl who worked very hard with her Girl Scout troop to plan an implement a week's worth of stations at a summer camp in Dallas. Add to that a school supply drive, and you have a Silver Award! My oldest daughter is smart, talented, kind hearted, and a Christ follower. What a package! I'm so glad God gave her to me.
Elissa: A sweet soul, that's probably the best way to describe her. She's very quiet, so you might not think of her as the percussion sort, but she is! For two years (at least), she's been begging me for drum lessons. I finally consented. She's a model student, practicing several times a day, with the metronome. She's super cute, too.
She would like to adopt a family that has kids and is less fortunate than us, and give them clothes and food because no one should go without. Anyone know how to adopt a family like that? I need some help in that area for sure. By the way, she really likes pie too.
Kaitlin: Let me tell you, this little girl keeps me on my toes! She asks so many questions, I have found that Google really is my friend! She is very goal-oriented, and someday I really think she might be President. Or a fashion designer. But for now, she's our bowling star! Yes, she won the game fair and square. Please take note about how you should dress when you intend to win at bowling.
All of you out there, you have amazing kids too. Don't forget to count your blessings every day and thank God who gave them to you.
Grace: Queen of the Elves, or should I say Queen of the Stage? This summer she has been one busy girl! This weekend she performed as Oberon in Midsummer Night's Dream at the Courtyard Theater in Plano. It was incredible! I never imagined that my thirteen year old would be performing Shakespeare, and performing so well. It was a riot! All of the actors were amazing, and I can't wait to get the DVD so I can watch it again!
In addition to theater this summer, she also worked on her Silver Award for Girl Scouts. This is probably the activity that made me the proudest mom ever! Grace has always had a passion to help people less fortunate than her, and she has a big heart for kids. Put those two things together, and you have a girl who worked very hard with her Girl Scout troop to plan an implement a week's worth of stations at a summer camp in Dallas. Add to that a school supply drive, and you have a Silver Award! My oldest daughter is smart, talented, kind hearted, and a Christ follower. What a package! I'm so glad God gave her to me.
Elissa: A sweet soul, that's probably the best way to describe her. She's very quiet, so you might not think of her as the percussion sort, but she is! For two years (at least), she's been begging me for drum lessons. I finally consented. She's a model student, practicing several times a day, with the metronome. She's super cute, too.
Kaitlin: Let me tell you, this little girl keeps me on my toes! She asks so many questions, I have found that Google really is my friend! She is very goal-oriented, and someday I really think she might be President. Or a fashion designer. But for now, she's our bowling star! Yes, she won the game fair and square. Please take note about how you should dress when you intend to win at bowling.
All of you out there, you have amazing kids too. Don't forget to count your blessings every day and thank God who gave them to you.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Summer Vacation Fun!
This summer we headed for the mountains. It was somewhat cooler than Texas, thank goodness! Our first stop after flying into Denver and spending the night with the grandparents was the cabin. It's located near Eagle, Colorado, and is pretty remote. It backs up to Bureau of Land Management land, so it feels like miles and miles of open space. We hiked through the hay field, relaxed, and took a day trip to Redstone and Glenwood Springs.
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| A hike through the field |
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| On the bridge over the pond and stream |
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| Just across from the front door |
Mid-week we headed back to the airport in Denver to pick up Aaron. We stayed another night at Grandma and Grandpa's house, then headed to Custer, South Dakota. What's in Custer, South Dakota, you ask? Well, a cute little town, but nearby is Mount Rushmore. It's been a long time since I was there, and things have really changed. I remember the monument and the cafeteria area, but the flags were new to me. It was impressive! Also impressive was Crazy Horse. I had never been there either, and it was quite a gem. We learned a lot about the development of the monument, and they have quite an extensive Native American artifact collection, as well as artisans at the monument to share in their heritage and the development of the monument.
After spending the majority of the day at the two monuments, we headed back for Custer, taking the scenic route on the Needle Highway. This is a geologic wonder, to say the least. Driving through the National Forest, and some of a State Park, you are surrounded by massive pillars that look like needles. There is a lot of wildlife (we saw Antelope right by the side of the road), and you have to drive through some very narrow tunnels (only one lane). I love to see God's creations, and am always in awe of Him when I do! The pictures do not do it justice, you simply must see it for yourself.
Also in Custer, SD is Flinstone Bedrock City. It's basically a park with all the homes and buildings from the Flinstones show. The girls literally ran and played for an hour and a half, checking out all the buildings, them playing at the park. It was a wonderful way to end the day for sure!
We ate at many great places in Custer, but the family favorite was the Purple Pie Place. They serve lunch and dinner, but we just went for dessert. Elissa is on a pie kick right now, so we just had to try it. I'm not sure what we liked more, the pie or the store!
After South Dakota, we headed back to Denver by way of Nebraska, stopping at the Agate Fossil Beds National Monument. This place was also amazing. It is a very large discovery of fossils of extinct animals, though not as old as dinosaurs. Because the rancher who owned the land was curious about the animal bones he happened to come across, this huge fossil bed was discovered. It makes me wonder how many more fossil beds are around our county that haven't been discovered just because someone wasn't curious, or didn't stay curious.
Now we're home, enjoying the Texas heat. Seriously, even though it's hot, we're still having fun together!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Making Music
Today was the first Sunday in about three months that I sang on the Worship Team at church. Boy, have I missed it! A complicated schedule of three school-age daughters has kept me busy during Thursday night rehearsals, but it seems the madness has ended! As I spent the last week or so preparing for services, I have been thinking a lot about the worship experience. I love that we live in a country where we can worship wherever and whenever we want. What a blessing that is!
The fact is, I love to worship! Our day to day lives keep our minds focused on things that are not important, and worship is a way to refocus on the one thing that matters most - our Heavenly Father's love for us. Worship, to me, is my direct connection to God, where I can show Him how much I love Him. It's a complete time of engagement, and it focuses my mind and heart on Him. Matt Redman writes about worship in his book The Unquenchable Worshipper - "The Bible is full of unquenchable worshippers - people who refused to be dampened, discouraged, or distracted in their quest to glorify God." I want to be an unquenchable worshipper- no matter what's going on in my day to day life, I want to be a focused and passionate about my praise! Worshipping is not about the notes we sing or the technical details about the music, but about our connection with God. I can't imagine a life without Him! Thank you God, for being in my life, and giving me the opportunity to glorify you!
The fact is, I love to worship! Our day to day lives keep our minds focused on things that are not important, and worship is a way to refocus on the one thing that matters most - our Heavenly Father's love for us. Worship, to me, is my direct connection to God, where I can show Him how much I love Him. It's a complete time of engagement, and it focuses my mind and heart on Him. Matt Redman writes about worship in his book The Unquenchable Worshipper - "The Bible is full of unquenchable worshippers - people who refused to be dampened, discouraged, or distracted in their quest to glorify God." I want to be an unquenchable worshipper- no matter what's going on in my day to day life, I want to be a focused and passionate about my praise! Worshipping is not about the notes we sing or the technical details about the music, but about our connection with God. I can't imagine a life without Him! Thank you God, for being in my life, and giving me the opportunity to glorify you!
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Still Living
It's been a while, so I thought I'd post just to confirm that I'm still living. Yep. Still alive!
What a busy spring we've had! Here's what's been going on.....
Grace was in a play, called "Give and Take" at school. She played the part of a leprechaun. She was terrific! It's not every middle schooler that can pull that off, you know!
My school had it's annual carnival last weekend. The girls and I went while Aaron worked on fixing the fence (just in time for our really big storm). I got really sunburned - not peeling yet - and then got sunburned some more when we took apart our playscape in the backyard in preparation for bulk pickup. I pulled muscles I didn't even know I had hauling all that stuff to the curb!
On Sunday, the girls and I participated in the Girl Scout Amazing Race in our Service Unit last weekend. We had a blast! None of us had ever done it before this year. I went along with Grace's troop as the adult in charge of keeping the driver company, while Elissa and Kaity went with their troops. We didn't win (none of us did), but we had a great time, and I even learned something about Plano! I wore sunscreen for this event, in hopes of not burning more! It seemed to work.
What else is new? I've been working really hard, Aaron's schedule has been insane (read - we barely see each other during the week), and the girls are really busy too!
I have to admit, I'm looking forward to summer break just so we can slow down a bit!
What a busy spring we've had! Here's what's been going on.....
Grace was in a play, called "Give and Take" at school. She played the part of a leprechaun. She was terrific! It's not every middle schooler that can pull that off, you know!
My school had it's annual carnival last weekend. The girls and I went while Aaron worked on fixing the fence (just in time for our really big storm). I got really sunburned - not peeling yet - and then got sunburned some more when we took apart our playscape in the backyard in preparation for bulk pickup. I pulled muscles I didn't even know I had hauling all that stuff to the curb!
On Sunday, the girls and I participated in the Girl Scout Amazing Race in our Service Unit last weekend. We had a blast! None of us had ever done it before this year. I went along with Grace's troop as the adult in charge of keeping the driver company, while Elissa and Kaity went with their troops. We didn't win (none of us did), but we had a great time, and I even learned something about Plano! I wore sunscreen for this event, in hopes of not burning more! It seemed to work.
What else is new? I've been working really hard, Aaron's schedule has been insane (read - we barely see each other during the week), and the girls are really busy too!
I have to admit, I'm looking forward to summer break just so we can slow down a bit!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Dirt, Sweat, and Smiles
Dirt, sweat, and smiles. That just about sums up my Saturday!
It started early with the dirt part. Before Grace was even fully out of bed, I was off to Lowe's to acquire more plants for my front flower beds. While cleaning out my wallet earlier this week, I realized I had a merchandise credit for Lowe's that I had yet to use. Woohoo for me! $43 worth of plants for $3 - that's my kind of shopping. I purchased coleus, phlox, and several other perrenials that are meant for shady gardens. My once sunny or partly sunny front flower beds have become quite shady over time as the trees in the front have gotten quite large. It's amazing to think that when we bought our house eight years ago (almost nine!), the trees in front were basically twigs, but now they are huge!
After finishing my gardening, I continued the pursuit of dirtiness by finishing my sprinkler repair job. My dad and I had repaired a leak in the sprinkler line last month, but we had waited to fill on the hole over the pipes just to make sure it was working properly. Well, it is, at least at that spot, so I went ahead and filled it in. Another item checked off my list. The remaining sprinkler repair will have to wait for another weekend, I'm afraid!
After lunch, the girls and I headed back to Lowe's to purchase more plants for their mini-gardens (large pots on our back patio). This is probably the best part of gardening - doing it with the kids! They picked the annuals they wanted (Grace chose a veggie and an herb), and of course we had to plant them when we got home. More dirt.
As if that wasn't enough activity for one day, we then headed to the park at the end of our street for more outdoor fun. Grace and Elissa are pros at riding two wheelers, but Kaity hadn't quite got the hang of it yet. However, when she realized they were both going to ride, she decided she'd rather bike than scooter down there. So, being the daring mom I am, I decided to throw caution into the wind and let her try. Keep in mind, that the sight of blood for an eight year old causes serious screaming, crocodile tears, and Mom having to carry the bike and maybe the child home as well. Luckily, things worked out well, and she managed to ride it down there, then figure out how to start on her own without me giving her a push. Probably the funniest part was her screaming while riding because it was "scary." We only had one little wipe out, but there wasn't really any blood so she was able to cope. The bike's a bit small for her, so I'll have to garage sale for a new one. Hey, if you have one you'd like to get rid of, please let me know - I'll come and check it out! So - biking - sweat and smiles.
When I reflect about the gardening and activity with the kids today, I can't help but think about how things change. When we first moved to Murphy, Grace was starting Kindergarten and Kaitlin was only four and a half months old. Now Grace is almost finished with seventh grade and Kaitlin is eight! Elissa was a feisty two year old when we first got here, and now she's this amazing fourth grader with a totally different personality. Just as the trees have grown from twigs to huge shade trees, my girls have grown from babies into amazing people. Those trees will continue to grow and shade my house even more, and the girls will continue to grow and change in their lives as well. Sometimes I'm sad that they are not babies anymore, but only for a fleeting moment. Now they are these unbelievable people with whom I can share the things I love to do, like gardening. The best part is that I will have many more days to share moments with my girls. Like Dr. Seuss said, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." Today I'm definitely smiling!
It started early with the dirt part. Before Grace was even fully out of bed, I was off to Lowe's to acquire more plants for my front flower beds. While cleaning out my wallet earlier this week, I realized I had a merchandise credit for Lowe's that I had yet to use. Woohoo for me! $43 worth of plants for $3 - that's my kind of shopping. I purchased coleus, phlox, and several other perrenials that are meant for shady gardens. My once sunny or partly sunny front flower beds have become quite shady over time as the trees in the front have gotten quite large. It's amazing to think that when we bought our house eight years ago (almost nine!), the trees in front were basically twigs, but now they are huge!
After finishing my gardening, I continued the pursuit of dirtiness by finishing my sprinkler repair job. My dad and I had repaired a leak in the sprinkler line last month, but we had waited to fill on the hole over the pipes just to make sure it was working properly. Well, it is, at least at that spot, so I went ahead and filled it in. Another item checked off my list. The remaining sprinkler repair will have to wait for another weekend, I'm afraid!
After lunch, the girls and I headed back to Lowe's to purchase more plants for their mini-gardens (large pots on our back patio). This is probably the best part of gardening - doing it with the kids! They picked the annuals they wanted (Grace chose a veggie and an herb), and of course we had to plant them when we got home. More dirt.
As if that wasn't enough activity for one day, we then headed to the park at the end of our street for more outdoor fun. Grace and Elissa are pros at riding two wheelers, but Kaity hadn't quite got the hang of it yet. However, when she realized they were both going to ride, she decided she'd rather bike than scooter down there. So, being the daring mom I am, I decided to throw caution into the wind and let her try. Keep in mind, that the sight of blood for an eight year old causes serious screaming, crocodile tears, and Mom having to carry the bike and maybe the child home as well. Luckily, things worked out well, and she managed to ride it down there, then figure out how to start on her own without me giving her a push. Probably the funniest part was her screaming while riding because it was "scary." We only had one little wipe out, but there wasn't really any blood so she was able to cope. The bike's a bit small for her, so I'll have to garage sale for a new one. Hey, if you have one you'd like to get rid of, please let me know - I'll come and check it out! So - biking - sweat and smiles.
When I reflect about the gardening and activity with the kids today, I can't help but think about how things change. When we first moved to Murphy, Grace was starting Kindergarten and Kaitlin was only four and a half months old. Now Grace is almost finished with seventh grade and Kaitlin is eight! Elissa was a feisty two year old when we first got here, and now she's this amazing fourth grader with a totally different personality. Just as the trees have grown from twigs to huge shade trees, my girls have grown from babies into amazing people. Those trees will continue to grow and shade my house even more, and the girls will continue to grow and change in their lives as well. Sometimes I'm sad that they are not babies anymore, but only for a fleeting moment. Now they are these unbelievable people with whom I can share the things I love to do, like gardening. The best part is that I will have many more days to share moments with my girls. Like Dr. Seuss said, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." Today I'm definitely smiling!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Eight is great!
This past Thursday Kaitlin turned eight, and being that she's my youngest child, I first had to take a deep breath, swallow down the shock that in ten years she'll be a grown up, and begin celebrating! Is it just me, or can you never really do all your birthday celebrating in one day when you're a kid? The real celebration took place this weekend when we went out to dinner at Red Robin with her bff who also spent the night. I believe the highlight of the evening was either watching Barbie Fashion Fairytale, or playing with every Build-a-Bear in the house. Either way, she enjoyed her birthday, and I enjoyed seeing her have fun.
You know, it's really amazing being a mom. It's such a delighful journey - a complete blessing to be a caretaker of God's children. Sometimes I worry I might screw up, but most of the time I am in awe of how God uses them to bless me, teach me, and comfort me. I would never in a million years trade in the blessings I've been given, especially my three girls!
You know, it's really amazing being a mom. It's such a delighful journey - a complete blessing to be a caretaker of God's children. Sometimes I worry I might screw up, but most of the time I am in awe of how God uses them to bless me, teach me, and comfort me. I would never in a million years trade in the blessings I've been given, especially my three girls!
Friday, March 18, 2011
Spring Breakin' It
Although it feels like summer today in Murphy, TX with highs in the 80s, it has been Spring Break for us this week. After school Friday, we hurried home to finish packing and get the house in order for our departure. We left fairly early Saturday and made it to Denver just in time for lunch. We are always so fortunate to be able to visit my parents, but this time we had an extra special opportunity to visit with my Aunt Chelsea. Sunday morning we woke up to winter, which was not what I had expected at all! I did not pack winter clothes, so thankfully it didn't stick around. The girls did get the opportunity to sled down the hill, but to my relief the snow was gone by the afternoon.
I won't bore you with all the details of our trip, but here are the highlights:
Sunday - ARGO Gold Mine. We toured the mine, wandered through the mill (I'd never done that before, and it was really interesting), then panned for gold.
Monday - Air and Space Museum at Buckley AF Base. This is a gem of a museum! The girls got to fly a Wright Flyer Simulator, sat in different training pods for United Airlines, and got up close to many airplanes. They also had the weapons (including nuclear) with the planes, which is not something I've seen before. The girls got the flying bug for sure!
Tuesday - Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. This zoo was incredible! We were so close to the giraffes that we could pet and feed them right out of our hands. An orangutan kissed us through the glass, we were close enough to pet the mountain lions, the turtles, and many other animals. The added plus - it was in the mountains, and they took advantage of it in all their landscaping. Pretty cool.
Wednesday - The movies. What is spring break without heading to the movies? We saw "Gnomeo and Juliet." It was really cute, and the girls enjoyed it. They'd been begging to see it, so I'm glad we did!
Sadly, our trip ended Thursday. I'd love for it to last forever, but then it wouldn't be vacation!
I won't bore you with all the details of our trip, but here are the highlights:
Sunday - ARGO Gold Mine. We toured the mine, wandered through the mill (I'd never done that before, and it was really interesting), then panned for gold.
Monday - Air and Space Museum at Buckley AF Base. This is a gem of a museum! The girls got to fly a Wright Flyer Simulator, sat in different training pods for United Airlines, and got up close to many airplanes. They also had the weapons (including nuclear) with the planes, which is not something I've seen before. The girls got the flying bug for sure!
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| Yes, that is R2D2 in the background! |
Tuesday - Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. This zoo was incredible! We were so close to the giraffes that we could pet and feed them right out of our hands. An orangutan kissed us through the glass, we were close enough to pet the mountain lions, the turtles, and many other animals. The added plus - it was in the mountains, and they took advantage of it in all their landscaping. Pretty cool.
Wednesday - The movies. What is spring break without heading to the movies? We saw "Gnomeo and Juliet." It was really cute, and the girls enjoyed it. They'd been begging to see it, so I'm glad we did!
Sadly, our trip ended Thursday. I'd love for it to last forever, but then it wouldn't be vacation!
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Springtime in Texas
Well, spring has arrived in Texas, and you know what that means. Seventy degrees one day, followed by forty the next. Having lived here for twenty years, you'd think I'd be used to it. But I'm not! Today is one of the chillier days, but being a Texan, I know that summer comes all too quick and now is the time to get out doors and enjoy it! So, that's what we've been doing the last few weekends. Last weekend we took a trip to Bonham state park. I took about 100 pictures, but I thought I'd share just a few.
This week has been really busy at school as well. I admit, I could have worked until 6pm every day and still not get finished. But, that would not be fair to the girls! On Thursday Elissa went to the symphony for a program. Here are a few pics of her in a dress - I know, rare!
Kaitlin had a program Thursday night in conjunction with Multi-cultural night at her school. She marched in the parade of nations and represented Scotland. So cute! I made the skirt from our family's tartan.
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| Three beautiful girls on the trails. |
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| Enjoying the day together. |
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| A sleepy girl being carried by her daddy. |
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| Isn't she a beautiful girl? |
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| I'm so excited to go to the symphony! |
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| I mean, really excited! |
Kaitlin had a program Thursday night in conjunction with Multi-cultural night at her school. She marched in the parade of nations and represented Scotland. So cute! I made the skirt from our family's tartan.
Grace, my super busy teenager, has found time to create a blog for her small group. Check it out! http://www.christfollowingteens.blogspot.com/
Do you feel caught up yet?
Just looking at the pictures (as well as all the ones I did not post), I am reminded of my blessings. What an amazing family I have!
Blessings to you all,
Wendy
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Balanced Learning
A friend and I went to see "Race to Nowhere" last night. If you haven't heard of it, it's a documentary about burned out students and concerned parents. What an eye opener! I tried to watch it both from a parent perspective and that of an educator. It was the end of a professional development day where the focus was on the student's learning, not the teacher.
As a parent, I was a little distraught. I watched the students in the movie talk about the hours of homework they have every night, and the pressure they are under, beginning at a young age and accelerating as they speed through high school. I kept thinking about my daughters, and how I don't want them to be focused on college and their careers at a young age. However, the reality is not my desire. Grace is already thinking about college, her career, and her choices in school with regards to that. Her enrollment in courses for this year in seventh grade and next year in eighth grade are directly related to her career aspirations. Now, if you know Grace, you know she is driven to succeed. This is her drive, not my drive or Aaron's drive. We want her to be successful, and we try to advise her the best we can, but we do not push her. After all, she pushes herself enough that we don't need to. We suggest that she choose electives that she wants to take because she finds them interesting, not because they will look good on a college application. After all, she's only in seventh grade, and her college application is a long way away.
As an educator, one thing really stuck out in my mind. Are the children learning? And by learning, I don't mean applying a formula to solve math problems, but are they learning to be problem solvers? Are they learning how to live life? Are they learning to develop a project, implement it, and analyze the results? I can imagine that spending hours doing homework might make a student cram information into their brains, rather than actually figure out how to use it in real life.
Now, in life, we aim for balance. A balanced diet. A balanced check book. A balance of academics and extra-curricular activities. Balance between work and family. With my kids, I'm aiming for that too. I'll continue to do what I do - encouraging my girls to make great choices at school, but still play on the weekends and enjoy their childhood! After all, they are only children once. As an educator, I'll continue to keep student learning at the forefront, and make my lessons real and relevant for them.
As a parent, I was a little distraught. I watched the students in the movie talk about the hours of homework they have every night, and the pressure they are under, beginning at a young age and accelerating as they speed through high school. I kept thinking about my daughters, and how I don't want them to be focused on college and their careers at a young age. However, the reality is not my desire. Grace is already thinking about college, her career, and her choices in school with regards to that. Her enrollment in courses for this year in seventh grade and next year in eighth grade are directly related to her career aspirations. Now, if you know Grace, you know she is driven to succeed. This is her drive, not my drive or Aaron's drive. We want her to be successful, and we try to advise her the best we can, but we do not push her. After all, she pushes herself enough that we don't need to. We suggest that she choose electives that she wants to take because she finds them interesting, not because they will look good on a college application. After all, she's only in seventh grade, and her college application is a long way away.
As an educator, one thing really stuck out in my mind. Are the children learning? And by learning, I don't mean applying a formula to solve math problems, but are they learning to be problem solvers? Are they learning how to live life? Are they learning to develop a project, implement it, and analyze the results? I can imagine that spending hours doing homework might make a student cram information into their brains, rather than actually figure out how to use it in real life.
Now, in life, we aim for balance. A balanced diet. A balanced check book. A balance of academics and extra-curricular activities. Balance between work and family. With my kids, I'm aiming for that too. I'll continue to do what I do - encouraging my girls to make great choices at school, but still play on the weekends and enjoy their childhood! After all, they are only children once. As an educator, I'll continue to keep student learning at the forefront, and make my lessons real and relevant for them.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Playing catch up here!
So, I have been a bad poster lately. My apologies. We have just been so busy with ice storms and sickness in our house! But, we're finally on the mend. In the last month, Kaitlin has had two rounds of strep, we've had five days with no school (on school days!), and I've had a really nasty cold. Despite all this, life has still managed to go on.
We spent our snow days in the company of our neighbors - traipsing back and forth to each other's houses and keeping each other company. I already mentioned this in my last post, but I'll share pics now of some of the crafts we worked on.....
As you can see, I got a little desperate on day three and had to bust out the sewing machine. The girls had a great time crafting!
For Valentine's Day, the girls made crafts for their teachers - fleece scarves! This was a fun craft. I cut two pieces of fleece, ten inches wide, and sewed a straight stitch down the middle. Then the girls cut fringe and tied it. They turned out "sew" cute! The girls enjoyed making them, my pocketbook enjoyed the price, and the teachers enjoyed the gift. All good!
So, enough of crafting! The girls are great - getting back into the swing of things at school. I think they are really glad to be back and into our normal routine. Last weekend was filled with Girl Scouts, birthday parties, and for Kaitlin and I, a special treat to the Justin Beiber Movie. It was a special treat for her. I went for the company, not the content!
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| Quickly cooling cupcakes on a snow day in Texas! |
We spent our snow days in the company of our neighbors - traipsing back and forth to each other's houses and keeping each other company. I already mentioned this in my last post, but I'll share pics now of some of the crafts we worked on.....
As you can see, I got a little desperate on day three and had to bust out the sewing machine. The girls had a great time crafting!
For Valentine's Day, the girls made crafts for their teachers - fleece scarves! This was a fun craft. I cut two pieces of fleece, ten inches wide, and sewed a straight stitch down the middle. Then the girls cut fringe and tied it. They turned out "sew" cute! The girls enjoyed making them, my pocketbook enjoyed the price, and the teachers enjoyed the gift. All good!
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| Tying the fleece |
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| All finished! |
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| Getting ready to tie the fleece |
So, enough of crafting! The girls are great - getting back into the swing of things at school. I think they are really glad to be back and into our normal routine. Last weekend was filled with Girl Scouts, birthday parties, and for Kaitlin and I, a special treat to the Justin Beiber Movie. It was a special treat for her. I went for the company, not the content!
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| Oh Baby, we're ready for the movie! |
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Iceapalooza in Texas
We were iced in four days this past week when a horrible winter storm hit North Texas. A few were williing to brave the roads and get out, but this mommy was not willing to brave her driveway! While the street in front of the house was mostly dry on day three, our driveway remained covered in over an inch of ice. To back the van out of the garage, I have to make a pretty drastic turn and hope I don't run off the edge of the driveway and into the ditch, or perhaps even my neighbors' house. I decided it wasn't worth it. After all, my neighbors like us and I wanted to keep it that way! So, the ice began at about 4:00am Tuesday morning, and we did not leave our neighborhood until around lunch time on Saturday. How did we survive, you ask?
It was what I call "Neighborfest." That's right folks. "Neighborfest." We played at eachother's houses, we crafted together, we let the kids entertain eachother while we played Scrabble Slam or just talked. We shopped at the grocery store for eachother, cooked for eachother, and tried to pass the time when it was too cold to play outside, and too icky to go anywhere fun. Thank goodness for neighbors! I imagine that early settlers in the new frontier did this same sort of thing. It's hard going it alone, but when you go it together, as a team, it really lightens the load for everyone.
I'm not going to get all philisophical on you, but I will tell you that you need good neighbors. If you don't know yours, get to know them. Whip up a batch of chocolate chip cookies and walk them over and introduce yourselves. You'll be glad you did!
It was what I call "Neighborfest." That's right folks. "Neighborfest." We played at eachother's houses, we crafted together, we let the kids entertain eachother while we played Scrabble Slam or just talked. We shopped at the grocery store for eachother, cooked for eachother, and tried to pass the time when it was too cold to play outside, and too icky to go anywhere fun. Thank goodness for neighbors! I imagine that early settlers in the new frontier did this same sort of thing. It's hard going it alone, but when you go it together, as a team, it really lightens the load for everyone.
I'm not going to get all philisophical on you, but I will tell you that you need good neighbors. If you don't know yours, get to know them. Whip up a batch of chocolate chip cookies and walk them over and introduce yourselves. You'll be glad you did!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Double digits
Well, I now have two daughters in double digits. Yep, Elissa turned ten! She is growing into such an amazing young lady, and it's truly a pleasure to be her mom. In honor of this momentous birthday, I've created the Top 10 Reasons I Love To Be Elissa's Mom:
10. She's a cuddler. Whenever I need a cuddle, she's conent to sit and cuddle, but not climb all over me.
9. She's a listener. Elissa listens to what people have to say, and always respects their opinion, even if she doesn't agree.
8. She's a comedian. Yesterday she ran around the back yard like a rooster. Need I say more?
7. She's clever. Elissa plays with words and ideas and puts them together in new ways.
6. She's intelligent. Wow, this kid is smart! I love to watch her solve problems and come up with unique solutions to different situations.
5. Elissa is patient. She will work for hours on Legos, sewing, and crafts to get them just right.
4. Elissa is artistic. The things she can draw make my drawings look very childish. She has an eye for things that I just don't see.
3. She's a peacemaker. Elissa is the perfect middle child, always helping her sisters make up, or smoothing over situations between sisters and friends.
2. She's a lover. Elissa loves people, animals, the Earth with passion and sincerity.
1. She's devoted. Elissa is devoted to God, her family, and her friends. You can always count on Elissa to stand by you, no matter what!
10. She's a cuddler. Whenever I need a cuddle, she's conent to sit and cuddle, but not climb all over me.
9. She's a listener. Elissa listens to what people have to say, and always respects their opinion, even if she doesn't agree.
8. She's a comedian. Yesterday she ran around the back yard like a rooster. Need I say more?
7. She's clever. Elissa plays with words and ideas and puts them together in new ways.
6. She's intelligent. Wow, this kid is smart! I love to watch her solve problems and come up with unique solutions to different situations.
5. Elissa is patient. She will work for hours on Legos, sewing, and crafts to get them just right.
4. Elissa is artistic. The things she can draw make my drawings look very childish. She has an eye for things that I just don't see.
3. She's a peacemaker. Elissa is the perfect middle child, always helping her sisters make up, or smoothing over situations between sisters and friends.
2. She's a lover. Elissa loves people, animals, the Earth with passion and sincerity.
1. She's devoted. Elissa is devoted to God, her family, and her friends. You can always count on Elissa to stand by you, no matter what!
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| Waiting in line for the pinata. Yes, that is my daughter wearing a sombrero! |
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| My beautiful daughter |
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| World cake - her birthday theme was "Around the World" |
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| Chopstick challenge |
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| Pattern landscape |
Sunday, January 23, 2011
What kind of soil are you?
I love to garden, but it sure is hard work! When I trimmed back my rosebushes this fall, I ended up with scratches from thorns all over my body - even through my jeans and gloves that I wore while working. It took me days to cut back everything I wanted to cut back, and I think I bagged about 30 trash bags (the big yard waste ones) in the process. I really appreciate my garbage men for picking all that up! Even with the trimming I did, I look at my garden now and know that I have my work cut out for me this spring. After all, I only cleaned up the beds. I still have to turn the soil, remulch, and plant new plants. Only when I prepare the beds correctly, will they then be ready to receive the new, fragile plants. After I plant the plants, I'll have to feed them, watch them, and maybe even protect them from unexpected weather - drought, cold temperatures, etc. And, that's only the front flower beds! I still have a very large garden in the back that needs to be tilled, mulched, and seeded! It sure is a lot of work, and not just for one season, but all the time! Yet I will continue to work on it, because I love looking at all the blooms in the spring and eating the homegrown produce from the vegetable garden in back.
The Parable of the Sower
4:1-12pp -- Mt 13:1-15; Lk 8:4-10 4:13-20pp -- Mt 13:18-23; Lk 8:11-15
1 Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge. 2 He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3 "Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times." 9 Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." 10 When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 11 He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables 12 so that, " 'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!' " 13 Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14 The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop--thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."
The Parable of the Sower has been on my mind for the past couple of weeks. I want to be good soil - the kind that hears God's word, accepts, it, and produces a crop. But I know that tending to soil is a lot of hard work. It's very easy to turn our backs to the garden and let it get overgrown with weeds, or dried out from lack of water. The best news is, I have all the tools I need to keep my soil healthy. God's Word is my nourishment - it waters my soil and keeps it fed. To turn my soil, I have my fellow believers - friends who will pray with me when the work seems too hard, and friends who will stand by me when there is a particularly daunting task ahead and keep me encouraged to go forward. Thanks friends! I hope you know that I will bring my trowel to your garden and lend a hand when you need it!
The Parable of the Sower
4:1-12pp -- Mt 13:1-15; Lk 8:4-10 4:13-20pp -- Mt 13:18-23; Lk 8:11-15
1 Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge. 2 He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3 "Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times." 9 Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." 10 When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 11 He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables 12 so that, " 'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!' " 13 Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14 The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop--thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."
The Parable of the Sower has been on my mind for the past couple of weeks. I want to be good soil - the kind that hears God's word, accepts, it, and produces a crop. But I know that tending to soil is a lot of hard work. It's very easy to turn our backs to the garden and let it get overgrown with weeds, or dried out from lack of water. The best news is, I have all the tools I need to keep my soil healthy. God's Word is my nourishment - it waters my soil and keeps it fed. To turn my soil, I have my fellow believers - friends who will pray with me when the work seems too hard, and friends who will stand by me when there is a particularly daunting task ahead and keep me encouraged to go forward. Thanks friends! I hope you know that I will bring my trowel to your garden and lend a hand when you need it!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
When did my childhood become a decade worth researching?
Grace has been working on a decade project at school for the last couple of weeks, and she chose the 80s because she figured Aaron and I would be able to help. It's been fun sharing my yearbooks and memorabilia with her. But, I have to wonder, when exactly did my childhood, which seems so recent, become history? Her comments about my yearbook were priceless! She said we all looked so funny with our big glasses and bangs. "Mom! Everyone had bangs!" She found one girl she thought looked pretty normal and figured we all thought she looked strange at the time. Funny!
Her area of research has been 1980s television. So, we've watched a lot of the Cosby Show. I'd forgotten how funny it was. Her observations are memorable, to say the least.
She has to dress up for this presentation, too! It was really funny when I was taking her picture - she bobbed her head and moved her shoulders just like I did when I was her age. I guess she's her mother's daughter after all!
Her area of research has been 1980s television. So, we've watched a lot of the Cosby Show. I'd forgotten how funny it was. Her observations are memorable, to say the least.
She has to dress up for this presentation, too! It was really funny when I was taking her picture - she bobbed her head and moved her shoulders just like I did when I was her age. I guess she's her mother's daughter after all!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Resolutions
I admit, I've never been a fan of New Year's resolutions. I've tried them in the past and can never seem to stick with them. Always say nice things, fix sack lunches at night instead of the morning, give up caffiene, etc. I've lasted a few days, or maybe a week at best. So, a few years ago I resolved to have no resolutions. I think many times we give up on our resolutions because we don't feel an immediate impact. Without an immediate impact, we tend to fall back on our regular routine, good or bad. Or, we feel like our resolution is just too hard. Well, this year I prayed about my New Year's resolution, and I came up with a great one! It's simple, and easy to implement. It doesn't cost a penny, just my time. And this time, I am confident I can stick with it. This time, my resolution is to pray more. I've moved my quiet time to the morning, when I'm fresh. The girls aren't awake yet, so there are no interruptions. It's been great! I feel so refreshed when I get the girls up for school, and when I get to work every day I remember my purpose to reach others for Christ. I feel God moving in me and working through me, and I see Him working through my family as well. It's simply wonderful. This is definitely my kind of resolution!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Teenage years, here we come!
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| Just hangin' around |
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| My beautiful family |
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| Christmas, just before turning five |
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| First dance recital at 3! |
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| Winter party, just before turning three. |
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| Beautiful at thirteen! |
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