Refresher course of the wisdom of Kindergarten

I've been thinking a lot about Kindergarten this week.  The pictures above are me, Gwen and Doug in Kindergarten.  It is Ellie's birthday on Thursday and Gwen will soon be registering her for Kindergarten next year.  There are also some kids that I work with everyday that are turning 5 and talking about Kindergarten.  Remember that book "All I really need to Know I learned in Kindergarten" by Robert Fulghum?   Here is an excerpt from that book............

1. Share everything.
2. Play fair.
3. Don't hit people.
4. Put things back where you found them.
5. CLEAN UP YOUR OWN MESS.
6. Don't take things that aren't yours.
7. Say you're SORRY when you HURT somebody.
8. Wash your hands before you eat.
9. Flush.
10. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
11. Live a balanced life - learn some and drink some and draw some and paint some and sing and dance and play and work everyday some.
12. Take a nap every afternoon.
13. When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.
14. Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Stryrofoam cup: The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
15. Goldfish and hamster and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.
16. And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.”
― Robert Fulghum, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

Even though I work mostly with kids that are 3 and 4 years old, my days are filled with teaching numbers 1-12 from that list above ALL DAY!   I guess that it must take a few years to really learn these key things.   And today was not much different than many other days.  It was CHALLENGING!  We have quite a few very active boys (actually there are 17 boys and 6 girls registered in the class).  There have been many kids who are feeling a bit under the weather and this adds to the challenge.  Additionally there are a couple of boys that are just (choosing my words carefully here) difficult!  It's hard to not feel kind of bad when you just can't get through to these kids!  It's hard to not take it personally and wonder what you are doing wrong.  There is one particular boy that spent almost more time in "time out" today than he did playing!  Let's just say that he has NOT learned numbers 1- 7 AT ALL!  

Part of what makes my day so hard is that I have to keep my faith "under wraps" so to speak.  It would be much easier to teach these basic principals when you include Jesus and the Bible.  I certainly do a whole lot of praying (silently!) and asking for wisdom (silently!).  So often I would like to just reach out and pray for a child.  As I go around and pat backs during nap time, I am praying for each of these kids.  But still the day is very frustrating! 

I remember Kindergarten very clearly.   I did not want to go and I was not happy with my mom leaving me there!  Needless to say, I got over that and quickly learned to love school.   Gwen had no trouble going to Kindergarten.  She marched right up to the principal on the second day of school to report problems on the bus!  On the first day of school Gwen had listened carefully when the principal had said that the students could go to him with any problem.   So she did!  Doug did not want to get on that bus for the first day of school.  But he did!  I am not sure that we learned those 16 points in school.  I hope that Gwen and Doug learned most of these things at home.  Don't you think it would be a good idea for ALL of us to review this list and actually start using them in our everyday life? 

So I will remind myself that my job is important since these kids I am with every day need to learn these important rules of life.  I am thankful that I have been given the opportunity to impact these little ones.  I will continue to pray for them and their families and I will remind myself that they have a couple more years until they are in Kindergarten!

Jesus, thank you for the place that you have me right now.  Holy Spirit, show me ways to reach and teach and touch these kids.  Give me wisdom and grace to walk through each day.   Thank you Jesus for your love and your peace.  Amen

Just a pair of boots............

Yep, this is just a pair of boots.  My boots.  Way back in 2009, after I had just taken a job as a full time nanny, I bought these boots.  My thoughts were that I should have boots if I needed to be outside with the children.  Prior to these boots, I don't remember the last pair of boots that I had.  Well, I never wore these boots during the 4 years that I worked as a nanny.  Then came this year!   I am not sure how many times I have had these boots on this year, but I know that it is way more than I wanted!

When I pulled these boots out of the closet in early December, they were like brand new.  That is because they might as well have been new, since I never wore them.  I was so thankful that I had these boots at the back of my closet.  Since that first early snowfall, they have kept my feet warm and dry through this really horrible winter.  Here it is, the beginning of March, and I put these trusty boots on this morning to help Ken snow blow the  6" of snow we got overnight.  Enough is Enough!!!! 

I was thinking about these boots.  They have just sat, unused for 4 years.  But then they became very, very important.  In a way, these were like an "insurance policy".  The boots were for "just in case" I needed them.  For some people, their faith is that kind of thing.....kept hidden away, in the back of their life, like an insurance policy, just in case they ever have a crisis and need it.   I remember when I had that kind of faith.   I am so thankful that I have grown and learned how to better LIVE my faith.  To take it out of the closet, actually put it to use, and even see it grow and gain strength. 

Yesterday it was such a treat for Ken and I to have some "one on one" time with Ellie.  She asked to ride with us from the church back to their house after Anna's baptism.  She talked for the entire trip!  Most of the conversation had to do with her upcoming birthday.  Next week she will be 5 years old.  Then the conversation turned to her favorite books and what her daddy read to her each night.  She told me that the Bible was her favorite book.  And when I asked her what story about Jesus was her favorite, she said "Jesus said let the little children come to me".  I asked her why that was her favorite.  She thought a moment and then said, "well its just not the adults and Jesus".   I loved that response.  She already "gets it"!  Jesus is for everyone - even the kids!   What a joy it is to see Ellie and Lia and Zeke (and someday Anna) growing up with their faith, OUT of the closet.  It is a reminder to me, to be willing to show my faith.  To put it to use.  Most importantly, to remember that growing my relationship with Jesus is the key. 

Jesus, thank you for speaking so clearly to me through Ellie and my boots.  Holy Spirit thank you for reminding me how important it is to show my faith.   Give us all courage and boldness to live our faith every day.  Thank you for Ellie and her trust in you.  Continue to give all parents wisdom and knowledge as they seek to raise their children to know and love Jesus.   Amen

A day in the life of a Grandma......being like a little child

Its been  a great day with my grandchildren!  Some how it is always good when I get to spend time with them.  Today was no exception.  First of all we went to a McDonalds playplace.  As they say, getting there was half the fun!  I haven't driven around very much since they moved to a new house.  I thought (thought is the operative word here) I knew where I was going, but low and behold we were lost!  Needless to say the kids thought this was very funny.  I just kept driving in what I thought was the right direction and prayed for a road that I knew!  I saw parts of this area that I had never been in.  Fortunately, we soon came to a familiar road and we proceeded to a different McDonalds (one very close to their OLD house) and eat and played.

After we got home it was time for Zeke to nap and Lia and Ellie got to paint some new piggybanks that they got from their Mom.  It was great to watch them paint!

 

This finished piggys are so cute.  Lia and I enjoyed many, many great games of Uno and the kids played all afternoon.  There was a brief thunderstorm, but Zeke was already asleep for his nap and Lia and Ellie were fine.  I got treated to a couple of really nice dress up fashion shows and dances and Zeke and I played trucks (of course). 

 

But the most amazing thing was the conversation in the car on the way back from the McDonalds.  We passed a cemetery and Ellie said "that's were Great Grandma Nona is!"  So that started a conversation and at one point after I said that Great Grandma Nona was in heaven, Lia said and that is a wonderful place.  So we talked about being with Jesus and being happy and being with everyone you love.  Then Lia asked a really good question.  She wanted to know if we have to "start over" as a baby when we get to heaven.  Isn't that interesting?  So we talked about the timelessness of heaven and how Jesus doesn't have "time or ages".  Then she asked me how the Bible got to earth if it came from Heaven!  Another great question!  This gave me a chance to talk about the Holy Spirit speaking to people.   Ellie asked if there was candy in heaven! I told her I bet there is because Jesus has promised us a banquet table of all good stuff!  Ellie asked "even ice cream?" (Can you tell that she loves ice cream?)  Then Lia talked about Jesus getting the bread from his body and the wine from his blood!  Clearly she is listening and beginning to understand Communion.  So we had a great conversation about that.  Oh how I love that these kids are growing up to know all about Jesus and heaven and prayer and the Bible!  What a blessing this is to me.  And what sweet, sweet prayers these little one prayed tonight.   

 

Tonight I am a very blessed Grandma.  I love thinking about Jesus like a child.  I love thinking about heaven and the Holy Spirit and the Bible like a kid again. And I love that I can have so much fun just doing nothing but sitting on the couch watching the kids play.  What a great day.

 

I encourage you now to stop and think about things like Heaven and the Holy Spirit and how the Bible came to be.  Take a moment and step out of your "head knowledge" and let Jesus show you, in a deeper way, what it means to have the faith of a child.  Step back from everything that you know and let the Holy Spirit bring you to a fresh place of childlike understanding.  I think we all need to do this from time to time.  Jesus said the only way we could enter the Kingdom was as a little child!

 

Jesus, bless us as we sleep tonight!  Be with Gwen and Tim and all of the youth that they are with right now.  Be very present to them over the next couple of days.  Keep everyone safe and in your arms.  Bless Ken and give him a restful night also.  Bless us all with more childlike faith and understanding.  Thank you for my precious little ones!   Amen





When Jesus knows your heart......

Do you know how you have some people that you have never met, and you can't wait to get to heaven to talk with them? Well, Corrie ten Boom is one of those people for me. I imagine that I am one of thousands of people who have been touched by her through her books, writings or the movie "The Hiding Place."  By the time I read about her and then read her book in the late 1980's she was already dead.  This morning I found a link on my Facebook feed to this amazing video.  Corrie ten Boom - in her own words.  It is 45 minutes long, but so worth watching.  I had never heard her speak and there is something about hearing her voice that spoke so much to my spirit. 

This reminded me of an interesting thing that happened to me, a LONG time ago.  (Well actually, about 22 years ago)  My walk with Jesus had been influenced greatly by reading Christian books - most of which were not new releases at the time.  I had read books by Larry Christenson, Dennis Bennet, John Sherrill, and heard stories about Kathryn Kuhlman.  I remember thinking how amazing it would be to actually get to hear these people speak or to see them at a conference. I knew that Kathryn Kuhlman had died in the 1970's, so it would not be possible to see her.  One evening, I was flipping through the channels on the TV and happened upon what I knew to be a very old program of a worship service.  I could tell by the way people were dressed that it was not a current program.  Suddenly there was an introduction, and Kathryn Kuhlman walked onto the stage.  I sat fixed on the screen and listened to her speak about the relationship between faith and healing.  It was mind-blowing.  Then much to my surprise, she introduced Dennis Bennet!  He joined her on stage and spoke a small portion of his testimony.  For me, it was an amazing gift.  I felt as if I had been given a chance to see these two in a real way - through the rebroadcast of an old television program.  It was such a God thing.  Then, just a short time later, I got to meet Larry Christenson and actually spend time fellowshiping with him at a retreat held by my church.  It was such a personal desire, that I felt Jesus had answered, just for me. 

And this morning I felt the same way.  Once again, I am so thankful that I live in a time of television, computers, the Internet - the information age.  It has allowed me to really see and hear these true saints of the church. 

Yahweh, thank you for all those who have put their faith stories onto paper so that they could be read generations later.  Jesus you know the desires of our hearts and it is your blessing to us to provide them.  Yahweh, continue to use the many books, videos, stories and testimonies of your people.  Thank you for your plan to use us, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to demonstrate to the world, who you are!  Jesus, thank you for posts on Facebook and old television programs!  Yahweh, you are an amazing and wonderful Father.   Amen

Roadside billboards

While traveling home from vacation, I saw some amazing things!  Of course all you have to do is look around as you travel and you WILL see things that sometimes, you don't even want to see!  There were lots of RV's, campers, jammed full vans.  There were trucks pulling trailers, buses and even a few regular cars.  And there were billboards.  We love to see the Ron Jon signs.  This means we are close to the ocean (and most likely, one of our destinations).  There are all kinds of signs and billboards along the road these days.  I saw two billboards that stuck with me while I was driving and Ken was sleeping. 

The first was a large white board divided down the middle with a black line.  On the left was a large yellow sad face.  On the right was a large yellow happy face.   On the sad face side it said "American does not need a face lift".  On the other side it said "America needs a faith lift". 

This was very interesting to me.   Just that morning I was looking at my face in the mirror and thinking how OLD I suddenly look. After this billboard, I realized that I should be much more concerned about my FAITH than my FACE.  And I do need a FAITH lift.  Isn't it true that we would all be so much better off if we were concerned about our Spiritual life rather than our Physical appearance. So I am going to be praying this for everyone.  Because this is not just true for me or you.  It's not just true for America.  It is true for everyone. 

Then the second billboard I saw said in big black letters - ALL YOU NEED.  And underneath that it said B.asic I.nstructions B.efore L.eaving E.arth.  BIBLE!  Okay this got my attention.  What an interesting way to look at the Bible.  Yes, it is an instruction book that leads and guides us.  It is what we need everyday to walk out our destiny.  I think some would say it is anything but basic.  But when you approach the Bible after asking the Holy Spirit to show you what you need to see in what you are reading, passages seem to make sense.  I am SOOOOO thankful for the written word.  Everyday when I open my favorite Bible (and then notice the many different Bible translations on my shelf), I think of the many people around the world who do NOT have the written word available to them.  I have been so blessed to know a few people who have fulfilled their destiny to bring the written word to people around the world. If you ask to see my key chain, you will see see a worn, leather fob.  You can no longer read the words on it, or see the picture.  But I know what it says!  Remember the Korumba.  When I met this missionary family to Burkino Faso, Africa, the Korumba people did not even have a written language.  Now, thanks to these faithful people, the Korumba people  have parts of the Bible to read in their own language.  Isn't Yahweh just amazing???  He is getting His word out  through the hands of regular people like you and me. I have been blessed to be a part of this by praying for their work, everytime I pick up my keys!   

Thank you Yahweh for your written word - the Bible.  It is so amazing to me that you have preserved and brought your written word to 2013.  And I am in awe of your great plan to bring your Word to the nations.  Thank you for Chris and Sue Ladish who are walking out their destiny for the Korumba people of Burkino Faso, Africa.  Yahweh, bless all those who are serving you around the world.  Give them a faith lift!   Amen

Living in the Sandwich

I know this is a funny title for this post.....  But today was one of those times when you realize your "place" in your family.  I experienced being in the sandwich today.  For the better part of the day, I visited with my 93 year old father-in-law.  He is a wealth of information on many different subjects, after years as an accomplished mechanical engineer with a metallurgist masters degree.  He traveled the world and speaks several languages.  Today, however, we had a wonderful private talk about God.  It was so refreshing to hear him express a true belief in Jesus and the gospel message. And I got to share with him, a bit about my experiences with Yahweh.  This time spent with him, made this trip so worth it!  Shortly after our talk I saw that my daughter posted an ultrasound picture and announcement of my 4th grandchild - expected in February, 2014.  And I was hit by the reality of being "in the sandwich".  Here I am with an elderly parent and an expected grandchild.  Sandwiched between the generations.  But also feeling the generational shift to the far side of that sandwich, since my own parents are no longer living.  I've moved from the meat to the bread side!

Merv (my father-in-law) is a scientist and he sees no conflict between science and faith.  It was interesting to listen to his perspective on God.  He described the assurance he felt in the Creator by the scientific fact of the placement of the earth at exactly the correct orbit to sustain life.  As he said, "Only God could have planned that!". 

My encouragement to anyone and everyone out there reading this blog, is to seek out your family. Find those times of conversation to discuss what is REALLY important.  Don't waste time on only the trivial things.  I don't mean with just the oldest in your family.  Yes, it is important to hear from their wisdom and experience.  But don't forget the children.  Ask, and listen.   And remember also those in your own generation.  Be truth tellers.  Be reflectors of all that Yahweh has placed in you.  Be lovers and givers. Be receivers! 

Tonight, I am so thankful that Yahweh planned for today to happen!  That he gave me the opportunity to talk one on one with Merv.  To hear his heart and feel the love of Jesus in the room. What an amazing God!  Praise Him!