12/31/12

It is the end of 2012.

It is time for some reflection.  I always enjoy looking at the past year and recall what I have learned and what I continue to learn.  There should always be some sort of growth in a year.  I thought I would share a bit of what I have been thinking on in the last few days.

In 2012 I have learned....

• I can't change other people's hearts... only the Lord can do so.
• that no matter how many times I give advice or try to help someone, I cannot make them take or do it.
• burnout can happen and it isn't pretty.
• it takes a long time to recover from burnout.
• it is painful to watch your child go through something and there is nothing you can do yourself to change it.  
• it is OK not to do a blog every day.  I found that I was putting forth a lot of time for no one to read or comment.  It has been freeing to be able to post whenever I want...
• I became busier than I thought I would have when we hit Middle School.
• Pinterest is an addiction that I have to use wisely. lol
• I can tolerate my house not being deep cleaned from August until December.  Oh, wait... I really can't, I just had to learn to overlook it.
• Electronics and technology are here to stay.... more on that later.
• I still love my Rainbow vacuum cleaner.
• I am not an abstract painter. 
• it is OK not to teach the same way I did for 17 years prior.  
• What a FREEDOM I have had by changing things up this year and teaching in a way my heart has desired for a long time but was afraid to do so because it might not be "right."  The kids are less stressed and so am I... and we are having a super time together while doing it.

In 2012 I continue to learn....

• that true faith in the Lord requires a daily putting away of myself and  constantly believing in God.
• it is a comfort to know that the Lord guides our steps.  When I have no understanding of what to do, that is when the Lord can do the greatest moving and work in my life.
• that just because someone thinks of something differently than you does not mean they are wrong and you are right.  
• we all have differences and we should rejoice in them.
• I have different gifts than others.  I can't compare myself to someone else, but see it as not my gift.
• I have the ability to use my talents to bless others.  There is an unspeakable joy when I can do something for someone that they didn't think could happen.
• kindness goes a lot farther in life.
• change is OK.  Change is good.  Change is a part of life.
• it is OK for us to LIVE in this house.... and it doesn't have to be perfect.
• it is also OK for people to come in and see your house looking not-so-perfect.  They find out you are human, too.
• teaching is an "evolving" profession.  If I don't move with the times I am going to be set out by the curb!

In 2013 I want to ....

• learn more about my Lord.
• find out more about others needs.
• lose some of this weight that has decided it likes me since I turned 40.
• keep exercising and improving my health.
• continue building my faith in the Lord.
• keep finding new ways to teach my students and help them love to learn without getting burnt out myself in the process.  :)

2012 was not the best of years, but also not the worst of years. 

It was a year that was LIVED and for that I am blessed.

2013 will more than likely be the same. 

If you stop and think about it, EVERY year has its highs and lows.  It is how you look at your circumstances which makes it to be "successful" or not.  There have been some rough moments throughout this year for me, but I can honestly say God has been with me every step of the way and has guided my steps and those of my family.  Nothing happens by chance... even those things we do not understand.  I am thankful that I know Who is holding me at every moment of my life.

Do you know Who holds you?  Don't put your faith in the new year in horoscopes, resolutions, or wishes/dreams.  My desire for you is that you know the One Who can give you freedom and peace ALL year no matter what happens:    

Jesus Christ - the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Much Love to you all......


I wish you all a wonderful and happy New Year. 

12/24/12

The Christmas tree holds special memories for me.  I love the lights, the ornaments, and the presence of its beauty in our home during the month of December.  I can remember as a child staying in the living room or den, wherever Mom and Dad put it that year, and staring at the lights.

As I have gotten older, the tree holds different meaning.  It is now part of my past, present, and future.  Past because of ornaments and memories from long ago, present because of the ornaments bought and memories made this year, future for the memories I pray the Lord will allow to come in more years.

Whenever I teach Christmas to my students or kids at church, I always like to share with them how the Christmas tree is very special.  I talk to them about how the Christmas tree is just a symbol for the real Christmas tree... the cross.  I drew these out on Microsoft Paint today to show you how I demonstrate it to the kids. 

Here is a Christmas tree as we think of it....  I draw it out on the board like this:

 

I then take another marker and show this:

The first, real "Christmas" tree was actually the cross where Jesus gave His life for you and me.  Without Christmas there would be no cross.  Without the cross there would be no hope for us... no gift of eternal life to save us from our sins.

This past weekend I read a booklet that I was given by a student.  It is called Trees and the Christmas Story by Dr. Stephen Davey.  It was wonderful and it affirmed some things I have taught to my students/kids in years prior, but also taught me a few things as well.  I just had to share these with you on this Christmas Eve.

I have always loved the story The Tale of the Three Trees.  If you have never read it, or heard of it, please feel free to click on the link of the story name and it will take you there.   It is a story of how three trees desire to become something great when they get older, but their plans and God's plans were different.  God's plan was better.

In reading this booklet this past weekend, it brought new meaning to that story for me.  There are three important trees mentioned in God's Word.

The first tree is found in Genesis - the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.  This was where man had a choice to obey God and failed. 

Because of that failure, God had to send His Son to die on a tree, the cross, the real reason for the Christmas tree.  This tree was needed for God had to send His perfect Son to take on human flesh to become one of us so we could know Him.  Then, He had to die on that cross for my sins and your sins... that tree. 

Lastly, there is the Tree of Life.... the tree that stands in heaven.  Adam and Eve were banished from the garden after eating of the first tree because God did not want them eating of the Tree of Life and live in their sin-cursed bodies forever.  Once those who have accepted the gift of salvation from the second tree get to heaven, there will be no banishment from this Tree of Life.  We will be free of sin and there will be no more curse.  This tree will bear twelve different kinds of fruit every month, all year long.  (Revelation 21 and 22)

The book summarizes all of my thoughts from reading so beautifully so I want to share what Dr. Stephen Davey wrote here:

There was a tree in Eden that exposed man's pride.  

There was a tree on Calvary that exposed God's pardon.

The tree in Eden caused separation from God, but the tree on Golgatha brought reconciliation with God.

So, when you see a Christmas tree during this season, remember all three trees of the gospel story:

• The first exhibits prohibition and pride;
• the second embodies pardon and peace;
• the third exemplifies the grace of God, the glory of heaven, and the gain of eternal paradise.

Of these trees we've noted together, one tree stands above all others.... without it, the Tree of Prohibition (Garden of Eden) would be an everlasting regret and the Tree of Paradise (Tree of Life in heaven) an unreachable haven.

But the Tree of Pardon (the cross) has turned regret into redemption and a haven into our eternal home.

The cross of Christ.... what glory!

• The base of the cross stretched downward, as if to say that God has descended to earth;
• the top of the cross stretched upward, as it to say that there is a way to heaven's shore;
• the arms of the cross stretched outward, as if to say that whosoever will may come!

~ Dr. Stephen Davey

12/18/12

Tis the Christmas season.

Let me just ramble for a minute... or two.  I haven't done that in a while.


I feel ahead, yet behind.  I am not feeling as stressed this year for some reason, however, my house still looks like there was a tornado that came through or something.

Ask me if I have wrapped any presents yet.  No, really.  Ask me.



Since you asked.... the answer is.....

NO.

Sweet Man has wrapped up a few but I have been lost under piles of laundry and plan on doing some soon.  I better....

I have been enjoying my Christmas tree.  I do love the lights.  If I could photograph them constantly I believe I would.

We did our second grade Christmas play last week.  In fact, I can't believe it has already been a week since the kids performed.  It was the easiest time we have ever had getting the kids to know what to do.  This group of kids all learned their parts quickly and listened to our directions more.  My fellow teachers and I talked often about how much we actually were enjoying the practices and not over-stressed.  lol  (We have had awesome kids in the past, too, please don't get me wrong if you are reading this and I taught your child before... this is just the first time the entire cast of children cooperated to the fullest extent!)

School gets out tomorrow for Christmas break and I am ready....we all are just ready for a break.

Wesley and Mikayla asked me last night what I wanted for Christmas.  I told them I didn't know.  I was thankful for what I had and happy with just them.  I realized then that I have become my parents.  lol  They can be quite difficult to buy for because they always say... "As long as I have my family..., etc."
Well, it is true.  I am just thankful for a home, food, clothing, etc. .... I am blessed beyond measure and am appreciative for all.

I did have to laugh today when one of my students was telling me about how he and his Mom had to unwrap my present he is giving me to repaint it.  He began to describe what it looked like and then explained again that he would bring it tomorrow once it was wrapped.  I'll just be surprised as to what it ACTUALLY is since he just described painting and colors.  :)

This has nothing to do with Christmas but it made me laugh yesterday....

One of my students who has to get out what he is thinking as soon as he thinks it had his hand raised yesterday.  Once I finished what I was saying, I called on him, but it slipped his mind.  After a minute of trying to remember what he was thinking he said to me, "It's OK, you just keep talking and I'll let you know when I have it again.".....

Why, thanks for that permission, little guy.  :)

On that, I'll end this rambling. 

12/16/12

In light of what has happened this past Friday in Connecticut with the killings of the elementary children and adults, my heart has been heavy.

As a teacher, I know the drills we go through to protect our children.  Whether it is a fire drill, a tornado drill, or a "code blue" drill where we go into lockdown, we go through them as calmly as we can to help the children know how to react if those drills actually became reality.

I can recall so many times of sitting in the room with my children during a lockdown.  I think of the possibilities, think of how we need to be quiet, and get on kids who think this is just a time to get under a desk and make noises.  We wait patiently for the few minutes to pass before the "all clear" comes on the loud speaker and we go back to our normal activities.  We give no thought as to "what if" because we can't live there.... we are there to comfort our students and help them know everything is going to be alright.  We have to show calmness in times of fear because little ones depend on it.

On Friday, a drill became reality for those children and adults in Newtown, Connecticut.  A reality that I cannot fathom.

I will be honest... I have not been able to shed any tears.  My heart has been in too much shock and my mind cannot comprehend what transpired there.  I look at the pictures of the children who were killed and I see my own students.  I look at the pictures of the brave adults, whether teacher, counselor, or principal and cannot imagine their last moments alive.  I think of what it would have been like to be them.

What must have gone wrong in that young man's head that he chose to walk into an elementary and kill so many innocent people?

What goes on in ANY person's mind when something like this occurs?

There has been much debate on the news and social media as to what is the reason behind this madness.

There are many who want to blame what has happened on guns.

There are others who feel it is because God has been taken out of schools.

There are even others who say we shouldn't even be discussing this in that way and only think of the families who were affected by this tragic event.

I can't help but think of all three.

Guns are dangerous.  Guns can also be used for good.  Guns did not kill those precious children and adults.  A young man who made a choice to use a gun is who killed them.  

God has been removed from public schools.  Our hands are tied with what is and is not politically correct.  There are Christians in public settings, in public schools, but in this type of tragic event a Christian is not a super hero... we are human just like everyone else and we do our best to protect and help those around us.

These people who have been affected have lost their loved ones, whether a child or a Mom/sister/daughter/friend.  They need the time to come to grips with what they have lost and to mourn without all of the analyzing from media and the ridiculous questions that are asked. 

We, as humans, want to pinpoint the answer on something or someone.

The root of all of this is simply sin.

We live in a fallen world. One where man chooses to do what is right in his own eyes.

Satan, the great Deceiver, has blinded the minds and hearts of many people.  Just as he tempted Eve and Adam in the Garden of Eden, so he continues in our world today.  He wants to do everything in his power to cause us to fall and to cause us to blame God.  Scripture tells us that the world will grow worse and worse the closer it is to the Lord's return.  We can love as much as possible, but our humanness causes even our love to be imperfect.

Perfect love came when God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to become payment -the sacrifice - for sin.  It is the reason we celebrate this season of Christmas.  With society wanting to move farther and farther away from the reason for this season, is there any wonder tragedies like this still occur?  

No amount of human love can take away tragedies.

No amount of laws can change tragic events such as this.

Most people today do not want to be reminded or told of their sin.... they only want to find a way to make it all better while excluding the only One Who can and will.

My mother's heart aches for the families.

My teacher's heart can't wait to see my students in the morning and hug them and let them know I love them.

My spiritual heart yearns for the Lord to bring His eternal peace.

.... Even so, come, Lord Jesus......
 for YOU are the only One Who can save us from ourselves.