The Increase

She was in my preschool class the first year I taught. From the first moment I saw her, I knew she was different. I had seen her paperwork and I knew that she came from a troubled home. Mom had abandoned her, dad was in prison and her grandparents were raising her. School started and she was the one who came in with cigarette smoke on her clothes and backpack...she was the one with the hesitant look in her eyes, but always a smile, always.

In October our church hosted a "Friend Day" and I invited all my students to come. But guess which one came? She did. She looked so pretty all dressed up in her cousin's dress that day. She went to Sunday School and Children's Church and then enjoyed a big meal in our Family Life Center. She heard more about Jesus and I wondered if any of it would stick with her.

Christmas came. For the Christmas program a few of the teachers got together to be sure she had a pretty dress for the Christmas program at school. This girl had stolen our hearts. She looked so pretty the night of the program and you could tell she felt special in her new dress.

Christmas went. And she didn't show back up for school. One week and I called her grandparents. No answer. Two weeks...no answer. Then one day the grandma showed up at the school. Mom was back in the picture and wanted her back. I was devastated. Grandma knew this was a bad idea, but the girl wanted her momma and after all momma's are important. The girl moved back in with mom a few towns away.

Living in a small town you run into people at the grocery store, gas station, hair salon. I saw Grandma a few weeks after and not to my surprise the girl was back with her. I was so glad. I knew this was the safest place for her. She didn't come back to school but started kindergarten in public school and finished the year in May.

She was walking down the hall at church yesterday when I spotted her. I had to look twice. Was that really her? I saw one of the bus workers walking with her and then, she spotted me. It was like a scene from a movie...we were running towards each other with arms opened wide. This little bit of a girl had been recruited to ride our bus for church. She had even brought her cousin. We took a few minutes to catch up about how kindergarten had gone and how excited she was about first grade and then she went to class. Smiling.

I walked down the hall with a stray tear or two streaming down my face. One more opportunity to minister to a little girl who has had a rough start. One more chance for this body of Christ to embrace a wounded family. One more time to share love with the fatherless. One more story about Jesus for her to hear. One more answered prayer...

I'm thankful for the bus workers who brought her in, for the Sunday School teachers who always have something for the children to eat in class so they aren't hungry, for the Caraway workers who have their lessons prepared and for Jesus, most of all, for Jesus who welcomes little children to come to Him. In a world where there is so much rejection and family heartache, it's good to see God's family reaching out in Jesus' name. Some plant, some water, but God gets the increase.

What's Really Important

Tomorrow is the last official day of school...then Friday Morning there is graduation. It's been a busy year for my class. We've learned about ABC's and 123's and colors and shapes and phonics. We've learned about vegetables, pilgrims, patterns and weather. But, all of that is second to the really important things that I hope these kids came away with. 

My prayer is that when they look back at this year that they'll remember these lessons:

1. Jesus loves them. If they know that, then my job is done.

2. Be kind to others. It's not enough to just be kind when someone is nice to you. If they can remember to treat people with kindness...even someone who doesn't deserve it then they will have learned a valuable lesson for life.

3. Say I'm sorry. When you do wrong, on purpose or on accident, say "I'm sorry" and then get on with life. If you take a toy, interrupt, cut in line, push, bump into someone, or call them a name...do the right thing and apologize. Don't let things build up....you'll get angry.

4. Forgive...when someone hurts you, or your feelings, forgive and move on. 

5. Share....your crayons, your glue, your toys, your books, your colors. 

6. A hug makes things better. It's a bandaid for your heart. And we all know preschoolers love bandaids.

7. Be a helper. If someone is struggling give them a little help. One day they will return the favor.

8. Do your best. Whatever that is. Your only competition is yourself.

9. Work together as a team. 

10. Try try again. Don't give up just because you don't get something the first time. Keep trying...and then try again. 

Come to think of it, I hope these are lessons I have learned this year! What an amazing time we've had.

This truly was a year of life change for me and my little class. What a wonderful group of lives God allowed me to be with each day.  

- Thank you Lord, for these unspeakable gifts.

Mother's Day Artwork

Each student in my preschool class made one of these paintings for their mom for Mother's Day. They turned out super cute!

Here's how you do it:

Supplies:

canvas mats (found mine at Walmart near the acrylic paints)

green acrylic paint

blue acrylic paint

white acrylic paint

brown acrylic paint

pink acrylic paint

stencil paint brushes

pencil

Directions:

1. Place your canvas mat vertically and draw a light pencil line slightly below the halfway point on the board. This will be the dividing line between your sky and grass.

2. Take a small amount of green paint and dab you stencil brush in it. Using an up and down motion stomp off some of the excess. Then begin pouncing the green paint in the up and down motion below the pencil line. This creates an illusion of texture.

3. Repeat the same directions as #2 but using blue paint for the sky. Allow to dry completely

4. Take child's arm paint fingers, palm and halfway if the arm with brown paint. Place arm down on canvas where the brown on the arm is placed at or below the halfway point of the green. Any further up and the fingers will be off the canvass. This creates the tree and branches. Allow to dry completely.

5. Place pink paint and white paint on paper plate. Then mix a little white and pink together to make three separate colors...(pink, light pink and white). Take a small stencil brush and using same up and down motion as before pounce on each finger (branch) and cover palm. This will give the illusion of cherry blossoms. You might also like to paint some on the grass to look like they have fallen from the tree. All to dry.

The kids loved seeing how great their work turned out. They did an awesome job being patient (it took us a week to complete all the steps).

Why Teach?

Face it. I teach four year olds and most of my mornings with them consists of Crayola's and Stephen Fite songs, but every once in a while a moment takes my breath away. One such moment happened today.

We've been creating our own dozen resurrection eggs for the kids to take home their set and share with their parents. All last week we were busy filled the eggs and learned the resurrection story. Today we finished up with the last two days and when I got to the last day I gathered the students close and talked about the empty grave. I'm not really sure what happened, only that, in that brief moment, no one talked, every set of eyes was fixed on me and that for once this year 8 little children sat in amazement at the miracle story of the Resurrection of Jesus. Finding out the tomb was empty fascinated them.

I confess, as I watched them, a tear streamed down my face and I found myself choked up by their innocent excitement and maybe even more by the sacrifice HE made. Like a chef who has discovered a great recipe, they were giddy. They had finally discovered the hope and the reason for everything we had already talked about in the resurrection story...the bread, the garden, the crown of thorns, the dice, the darkness over the earth, the white burial cloth, the sponge of vinegar and more. These things had to happen in order for us to experience the greatest miracle of all times. Resurrection.

This is why I teach. It's not to impress anyone or get praise or get a paycheck or to teach a kid to read or write. Solely...100% it is to teach children about a God who keeps His promises. Is it my responsibility to do this....not solely, but it is my responsibility as a Christian to share the gospel with others. I'm so thankful that includes my class of energetic four year olds!

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for:

1. Friends who look out for my best interests.

2. The opportunity to serve.

3. Missionaries.

4. Words of encouragement from preschool parents.

5. An unexpected lunch date alone with Bruce/

How has God blessed you lately?

Teachable

I tell my students all the time, "If you don't listen, I can't teach you". And most of the time, I get their attention for 2 minutes before I have to repeat myself....after all...they are 4 years old. Learning to be a good listener is tough work for them. It's a skill that none of them have mastered....and on some days you might wonder if they are ever quiet. Seems they always have something to say...and it's important...can't wait kind of information.

The thing is, recently I realized how similar I act in regards to listening to God. I can almost hear Him say to me, "If you don't listen, I can't teach you". And yes....it does seem like I have a lot to say to Him and it's important....can't wait kind of information (just like my pre-K-ers). It's pitiful.

I heard someone say that God is a gentlemen. Gentlemen don't yell, become impatient, raise their voice, throw temper tantrums or anything else that deems them less than gentle. And yes....that's a perfect description of God. He's patiently waiting for me to finish my lists of questions, requests, burdens, praises and what nots. He's wanting to teach me something but will wait until I'm ready to listen. But in the meantime, what am I missing because I'm too busy talking.

Sometimes in my class I wait for the class to get quiet, sometimes I make a motion for those listening to come get candy out of the cabinet, sometimes I do a hand signal so they know it's time to zippy the lippy.   And sometimes when enough of them are listening, I go on with the lesson...in a quiet voice. And what happens most of the time is nothing short of a miracle. Those talking realize life is going on and that they need to be paying attention and they join the rest of the group.

I'm not saying I understand or know all of God's MO's...but what I do know is that His quiet voice can get my attention when I am willing to listen. He desires to mold me, to create something beautiful, to encourage me, to love me and most of all to teach me His ways. Life is passing by each day....today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday....and unless we embrace and listen and learn, moments will turn to days and days into weeks of hearing my own voice rattling the rafters....while God's voice...the teaching voice, gets drowned out in a sea of words that, quite honestly, just sound like a room full of chatty 4 year olds all wanting to be heard at the same time.

Lord help to me to listen...

Dear Preschoolers

Dear Preschool Class,

Tomorrow Ms. Gina will be gone. Don't worry. I am not sick. I am not tired. You see, sometimes life calls for a little adventure. Usually Ms. Gina's adventure begins around 11pm Thanksgiving evening and ends around 6pm the day after Thanksgiving. This year, however, I could not go on my adventure. So, as the calendar would have it and the preschool rules allow it, I am skipping school to bask in the bliss of retail therapy. A teacher has to do what a teacher has to do....and so I must go on this adventure.

You will not be far from my thoughts....when I see big puffy skirts...I will think of you. When I need to go to have a morning snack I will think of you. When I see silly bands....I will think of you. When I see Texas Tech paraphernalia I will think of you. When I run in a store instead of walk....I will think of you. When I hear Christmas music...I will think of you.

So....I will hope that you will think of me too....and remember our classroom rules for the sub, and help her...and use your inside voices....and sit still and quiet during L and L time (Listen and Learn)....and be kind to each other...and "get what you get and don't throw a fit".

And when I return to class on Tuesday....after a long marathon shopping day I hope to hear of a sparkling report as to how my angelic class made it through their first day without me. Come on class! You can do it!

Love,
Ms. Gina

Top 10 Lessons Learned During My First Week At Preschool

1. Never underestimate the power of a hug....given or received.

2. Before giving children glue....you really do have to tell them not to eat it!

3. Punctuality is not important to preschoolers....except when going to snacktime or recess.

4. There are times that "many hands" do not make "light work".

5. Nose picking appears to be an Olympic sport that most preschool students earned a gold medal in.

6. Some teachers NEED a diet coke before they start the day....I am one of those.

7. As a teacher you do not need to buy "back to school clothes" to wear during the first 2 weeks of school. Otherwise, you'll be wearing home the hand and footprints of each of your students.

8. Snack time is a sanity break...which should probably require a chocolate bar.

9. Before you teach the 3R's you have to teach kindness. Some kids don't know about it.

10. Hugs, I love you, stickers and smiley faces make most things better.

Catching up....

Make a Smilebox slideshow

School Days...School Days

Today was our first day of school. We all got up early with Tucker and escorted him to his first day of preschool.

Savannah is ready to start 2nd grade!

Tucker's modeling his new backpack for preschool.

Such a big and handsome boy.

Giving kisses to Deet before he marches off to school.

Hand and hand...

This is what was going on when we left him...do you see the tears???

Me either!!!

Meet the Teacher Night

Who: Tucker

What: Meet the Teacher Night

When: September 3, 2009

Where: Kid Central Preschool and Kindergarten

How: We aren't sure...and we aren't asking!!!

Big sis being supportive

Welcome Sign at Meet the Teacher

Round Up Theme for Preschool

YeeHaw...School starts Tuesday!!!