Praying Hands

I just finished cutting out these handprints of 8 of my new students in my preschool class. Last night at Open House I had each child and their parent/grandparent/guardian trace their hands for us to use in a lesson and craft on the first day of school.

I was sitting here in my comfy chair watching Shark Tank while three under 9 year old girls ran through the house with Savannah and it dawned on me that I could be using my cutting time to pray for these students and their parents. Preschool isn't a big deal to those not sending a child off for the first time, but for those young parents or perhaps grandparents that are sending their four year old to me it can be daunting. I know. I'm there.

Am I doing this right?
Is he/she well behaved?
Does the teacher like my child?
Does my child have friends?
Is my child up to speed?
Is he/she having fun?
Is he/she learning...growing?

It's hard. Trusting someone to take care of your child is hard....whether you do it when they are 4 years old going off to preschool or 25 and getting married. It's hard to believe that anyone could manage to take care and love your kid like you do. And you're so very right. Our job as parents is unique, blessed, a privilege. No one can do your job as well as you do. But the fact of the matter is that we have to trust something...some ONE bigger and much more trustworthy than our humanness. We have to trust God to protect them, to lead us, to grow them, to guide us. It's amazing the peace God brings when we take all our issues to Him.

So this night of cutting out these sweet handprints has turned into a prayer time for those bigger handprints...moms, dads, grandparents who are working hard and depending on God for the wisdom and guidance to do their best at parenting....and maybe even for some who don't know yet or need to be reminded of how special and valuable they are to the Lord. May this year be a year that changes all that. May our class be a special expression of God's love for each family.

The Preschool Room 2011

I've spent the better part of the month of August knee deep in preschool. Here's how it's paid off:

Focus Board for September 

Circle Time 

Theme for the year "Oh Happy Day!" 

Left open for good work to be displayed 

Cutesy wreath from one of my students! 

 The Classroom

A little gift from me to my students at open house. 

Reading nook. It now has chairs and a rug in front of it.

It's gonna be a fun year!

Super Summer Wrap-Up

24 hours ago I thought it would be a good idea to blog a short list of what we did this summer. But I waited: Then I saw that my friend Jaime beat me to it. But instead of just forgetting about it, I've decided that I can blog about it too. So, hang on my friends because our summer was eventful!

1. Kids to GA
2. Bruce and Gina to Peru
3. Complete overhaul of house
4. VBS
5. Splash Kingdom
6. Snowcones
7. 18th Anniversary
8. 39th Birthday
9. Savannah's 9th Birthday
10. GNO
11. Movie date with Tucker
12. Tucker's first sleepover
13. Drought
14. Great Wolf Lodge
15. Grapevine Mills Mall
16. Airplane Rides
17. Dairy Queen
18. Howling Tornado
19. Junior Camp
20. Savannah and the Zip line
21. Rain Forest Cafe

It's been fun. But I'm ready for routine. For something more orderly. Here it comes....school starts Tuesday!

Multitudes on Mondays #61-#71

It's been a busy couple of week and as life settles down I can honestly say that I'm glad for the routine...the everyday....even the mundane. I'm reminding myself...and maybe you too, of the multitudes I have to be thankful for this Monday.

61: New faces at choir practice today

62: The clean slate of a new school year

63: The 9th birthday of my sweet girl

64: The fun of 3 days away on vacation

65: A bargain

66: Ladies who rock babies during church

67: Moments that MAKE me depend on God

68: Kindred spirits

69: Good dr. visits

70: Making memories with the hubby on the Howling Tornado

71: Vanilla cupcakes

Do you see God in the everyday? What blessings have you noticed? Leave a comment and share what God is doing all around you!

Forgetful

Source: tissosweetcandy.blogspot.com via Gina on Pinterest

When Time Flies

As I type this I am reminded that time flies....faster than I ever imagined....Savannah turns nine years old in just a matter of minutes and that bittersweet reflection of her birth floods my soul again, as it does every year.

Wasn't it just yesterday when I strolled through Walmart hiding a pregnancy test under other items just in case I ran into someone I knew, hoping to avoid that glaring question..."Are you pregnant?"

Wasn't it just yesterday that I was daily struggling with morning sickness? Having christened just about every store in Beaumont, Texas? And the Alabama State Line, Hoover Dam and well...you get the picture.

Wasn't it just yesterday that we found out you were a girl and all that shopping, and pink, and frills began?

Wasn't it just yesterday that we decided your name would be Savannah....from my GA roots and Malynne because it means "girl from God" and that's how we felt about you....a special surprise gift from God.

Wasn't it just yesterday that I started feeling bad? Really bad....like something wasn't right?

Wasn't it just yesterday that the Drs. looked uncertain and that friends surrounded us with worry lines and tears and prayers?

Wasn't it just yesterday that we welcomed you with fear, joy, hope, anxiety? Your 2 pound 6 oz frame so tiny and weak and frail and 3 months underdeveloped?

Wasn't it just yesterday that the ups and downs and sorrows and joys of 91 days in the NICU were over and Dr. Thompson hugged you and nurses cried over you with happiness and Dad and I took you home?

And wasn't it just yesterday that you stopped setting off the apnea monitor and you gained some weight and you took your first step and you spoke your first words and you learned to run and play and jump?

My, time flies.

I'm so proud of the young lady you are becoming. Your tender heart and sweetness makes me excited to see where God takes you.

Happy Birthday Savannah....may God's hand shelter you all the days of your life and may you be obedient to all He has in store for you!

Preparing for the Best

The last couple of weeks  have been filled with prep for my classroom and students for the new year. We don't start until after Labor Day but I don't like to be rushed at the last minute so I've been working on it a little at a time.

It's funny how this time of year we never think about how we (as teachers) will be feeling around February 20th or so....tired, irritated, impatient, desperate for Spring break! We set out....preparing for the best year we can - Going the extra mile to be sure our students are welcomed and excited about the new year and learning. But somewhere along the way... some of us ...me .....lose steam.

I learned a few lessons last year that I hope will help me in the coming year. I've also brushed up on some classroom management tips over the summer to help me deal with those problems that arise (in other classes...not mine, of course!) I'm spending time in prayer for each family that will walk a child through my door on September 6. For whatever reason God has placed them in my class, I pray that I'll be up for the task and sensitive to what God wants.

And come along February 20th when I'm tired and wishing for summer, I will try to remember that these children deserve the best all year long. That God deserves my best, all year long. That my boss deserves my best all year long. Anything less than that is preparing for failure. It's preparing to start strong and finish weak. To be a bad steward instead of one who works diligently. It's taking advantage of a paycheck without doing the work to earn it. And that's just wrong.

I hope that as a teacher who knows that my responsibilities go way farther than the 3 r's, I will openly share Christ in everyday actions, lessons, prayer and conversations. After all, that will be more important than any math and reading and handwriting I teach.