Hear My Cry....

I am not one to generally be affected greatly by stress. For the most part, I don't profess to be under a lot of stress but in the last 90 days it seems as though as a family, we have endured one small trial after another. Now I am not one to complain...I count my blessings often. But it has been a challenging three months for me. Great news: It hasn't been a challenge for my Lord. Read this:

Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer.From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings."
Psalm 61:1-4

So I will do just that...I will trust in Him and hang in there. Tomorrow is a new day.

Kim

What is Love?

If you had to work today, I can't think of a better place to spend Valentine's Day than working with a bunch of first graders. They are sooooo precious trying to read the names on their valentine cards and struggling to match it to the rightful owners' bag. In Writer's Workshop, we have realy worked in the past two weeks on writing with depth - trying to get them beyond the normal: I went to Florida. It was fun. I got a new shell. - oh yeah, how did you get there? Who went? What was fun? Where did you buy a shell or did you find one? I admit, it is exhausting but so worth it when they write well.

Today, we tried our hand at poetry. Yep, you guessed it.....Love is....poems.

We talked about the source of LOVE - God. We talked about how love tastes and the things that mom and grandmas cook that cause you to feel loved. We shared ways that our parents and teachers and God help us to feel loved. We talked about what love looks like and smells like - that's an interesting one for first graders. Here are some samples:

"Love tastes like cablegs with hot buder."

"Love smells like dad's chicken warming on a fire pit."

"Love tastes lick mom's chken nudl soope."

"Love feels all snuglee."

"Loves smells like cinimn." (cinnamon in case you don't read the hooked on phonics way)

"Love is OK." (written by a 7 year old boy)

"Love is my granma's chkin on a Sunday aftrnun."

"Love is God's protection." (love their theology)

"Love is yor parris." (your parents - again, Hooked on phonics worked for me!)

"Love is my mom bakeing a piy."

"Love smells like my dad's fish."

"Love sounds like nice words."

"Love is muzik."

"Love is good."

"Love sounds like God's strong words."

and we all ended with "Love comes from God."

Good stuff from the classroom today. Hope you find as much joy in it as I did!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Tag...I'm it!

Nikki at Three Girly Girlz tagged me for a fun thing. I am to pick up the book nearest me....Imagine this Valarie and Nikki - it is my copy of God Calling. I am to turn to page 123 and type the 5th sentence and the next three that follow.

Here it goes: "Follow the path of obedience. It leads to the Throne of God. Your treasure, be it success necessary on the material plane, which will further the work of my Kingdom, or the hidden spiritual wonders revealed by Me to those only who diligently seek, this treasure lies at the end of the track. From one point (a promise of Mine or a Command) to the next, you have to follow, till finally you reach the success you covet.

Whew.....

If you are a bogger and you read this, consider yourself tagged.

Sense of Wonder

I know what you are thinking.....two posts in one day? Yes, but I could not pass this one up. Don't you just love that sense of wonder in young children? Our son has always had a deep admiration for God's creation and when it comes to animals he wants to know as many details about how they were created as possible. In this photo, he is actually observing sea lions at Riverbanks Zoo.

This reminds me of something he said on the way to a friend's house today. It is, as Winnie the Pooh would say, "a blustery day" and we saw litter flying about the interstate. From the back seat our son says, "Why do people have to litter? It makes me sad." Trying to get a feel for where he is at in his thinking, I asked "Why is it wrong to litter?" and he responded, "Well, they just aren't showing that they appreciate God's wonderful creation." You go my son....you have a mama who is so proud of the young man that you are becoming but a God who is all the more pleased.I love you buddy!

Whew - What an Awesome Day!

My hubby and I had such an incredible day in the Lord yesterday. We attended the SOng of Solomon Conference together at our church yesterday. Thank you Lord for the reminders that you gave us to cherish one another more....we have been married for almost 17 years and yes, at times, we get lazy and take one another forgranted. Thanks for such creative ideas to fan that flame once again.

Yesterday was really special because not only did we get to spend special time with one another - but we got to have a quiet lunch with the couple that we co-teach Sunday School with and then, we had the pleasure of eating dinner at Outback with another Christian couple who we have really become close to over the past year. It was a truly fun-filled day with Christian friends. To top the evening off, we went back to the church for an awesome concert with Warren Barfield - he is an amazing writer and quite honestly, a talented singer as well. But hang on, the day wasn't over...

If you know me personally,and I hope you do if you are reading this, (if not, leave me a comment and introduce yourself so I won't feel uncomfortable around you), then you know how much I LOVE to laugh. Well, we had a comedian end the evening with his performance and he talked about things that happen to uncool people....if you don;t have children or haven;t turned 40 yet, then you haven't experienced those feelings of being UNCOOL yet....but I found his sense of humor to be one of the funniest things that I have heard in a long time - I laughed so hard that I cried. On the way out, some dear friends that I work with at church, told me that they had more fun watching the camera monitor which eveidently featured me laughing a majority of the show....oh well, as long as it brought them JOY!

I am sorry that I have been so BUSY lately and unable to post. I have some great stuff for you in my heart. Our son has been through a few trials (strep throat, staph infection and then a dog bite) lately and quite honestly, I have put most things aside to enjoy being his "mommy" because nowadays - with an 8 year old - you become just MOM. (until they get really sick and then they want MOMMY) Can I get a witness to that one Mamas?

I promise to be back to share with you soon. Summer is coming and while I love the classroom - this first grade teacher is looking forward to renewal.

May you enjoy this day of worship!

Kim