03/12/09

Let's just say the time change has hit me completely. I have been tired all week, but today I wanted so badly to knock everything off of my desk and go to sleep. lol (I am sure my students would have enjoyed that!) I'm looking forward to crashing tonight! :) Off to finish the "races" of homework and such before kids go to bed!

03/11/09

We had a meeting after school today that was one of two to "open the teacher's/parent's eyes" to drug/alcohol abuse in teens. Oh my... it is scary to think of what kids can do these days.

The thing that kept coming at me when I was sitting there listening to all of the things that kids can use now to get high or get "drunk" was:

Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Something that the lady kept saying today was that parents are the greatest influence over their children. I wholeheartedly agree with that statement.

Someone once made the comment to our Administrator that their kids go to church, are in AWANA and go to a Christian school so they should be "safe."

That is so wrong for this reason:

I Peter 5:8 - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

Home is where thoughts and habits begin and if we are not setting the right example at home our kids are going to have a confused sense of what is truth and what isn't.

They are going to think: "Mom or Dad said this, but they DO this..."

We must be "sober" and "vigilant" in showing our children we not only talk the talk, but we walk the walk.

Ephesians 4 is what I have been meditating on many nights lately before I go to bed. As I went there just now to type out one of the verses, the Lord brought me to Ephesians 5:15... which I found is a great verse for us as parents as we raise our children to the glory of the Lord:

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, (NASB)

Our actions speak louder than words.

03/10/09

Hope y'all are not tired of roses....


Wow... what a crazy, busy, hectic, exhausting day. I just will not even tell you all that happened, but I am glad to finally be home and have a moment of quietness when the kids finally get to bed. lol


Today my class (and the other second grade classes) went to a local Senior Center to have a mission outreach. The kids made cards and when we gave them the cards the kids got to talk to the older people a bit and hug them. They also sang a few songs and recited our theme verse for the year.


I was also able to walk around and talk/hug many of the older folks, too. They were so happy we came and couldn't say enough about the students. It really blessed my heart knowing we had been a blessing to them. As I walked around I noticed a few that reminded me of Miss Pearl that kept Wesley and Mikayla when they were babies. It made my heart miss her quite a lot.

I asked Wesley and Mikayla what their thoughts were from our trip to see the older folks today. They both said they wished we had stayed longer to spend more time with the people. (Wesley, especially) I was so glad to hear that. I want them to learn early to respect and value those that are much older.

Poor little Sampson isn't doing so hot with some of his "fixedness".... he has had normal "complications" with it and Steve had to take him back this afternoon to make sure he wasn't having an infection. He was a bit dehydrated and they are giving him some new pain meds. I'm going to snuggle with him tonight since Steve is working late. He really isn't himself right now.

Off to do flashcards and finish up homework.

03/09/09

I never mentioned this past weekend that we got Sampson and Isabelle "fixed." Bless their little hearts... they need some extra TLC right now. They are doing well. We had to take them off of their "Happy Patch".... AKA narcotic.... because it was making them quite the loopy cats. They are acting more normal now but you can tell they are sore. Sampson was even so crazy on Saturday that I held him and rocked him to calm him down. He loved it... and, yes, I am spoiling him. Isabelle is always so calm anyway so she has just gone with the flow. I'll be glad when they start feeling more like themselves again.

Hard to believe that a week ago we didn't get out of the 30's and had snow. Today it was near 80 and beautiful. We are supposed to be back in the 40's by the weekend. Spring Fever is really beginning to "attack" me, it seems!

03/08/09

I was reminded today of what Christ did for me on the cross. It is something that is always there in my mind... but also good to take the time to really think of the price that was paid for me and you. It brought tears to my eyes today.

Isaiah 52:14
As many were astonied (astonished - numb to look) at thee; his visage (appearance) was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

Isaiah 53:5
But he was wounded (pierced through) for our transgressions, he was bruised (crushed) for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes (blows that cut in) we are healed.

Here is a hymn we partially sung in a medley today and I knew this was the one I needed to post with the verses we meditated on today.

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ, my God;
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See, from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down;
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

It is not what I have done to gain a place in Heaven, but what Christ did for me on that cross. He suffered, bled and died. I cannot even comprehend the suffering that He took for me. Oh that I would always remember that the love He showed and the gift of His life for me demands my soul, my life, my ALL.

Galatians 6:14
But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

03/07/09

My students in the past (and present...) always had/have to "promise" to do something by raising their right hands and saying "We promise to....."blah, blah, blah", and we love you Mrs. Fowler with a purple passion!" (Don't ask where I got "purple passion" from... goes right along with my post on making up stuff. lol)

I have done that for years with them... just being silly.

Well, this year, my kiddos kind of changed that. They know I love dark chocolate, too, so they have made it say this: "We love you Mrs. Fowler with a dark chocolate purple passion!" They now say it when I do work with them or allow them to finish something before they have to work on it individually. I'm sure if someone were to walk by my room when they were saying it all together that the person would think we were doing really strange things. lol

One of my kids last week brought me some dark chocolate, which is not unusual. (It is now gone.)

One of my other kids brought in this plant. I was stunned by how pretty and unusual it was and then I read the name: Purple Passion. Not only is the name cool but it has my two favorite colors on it!!

She found it and asked her Mom if they could buy it for me. I thought that was so sweet!! It is an exotic plant from Java, Indonesia.

So... I told my kids that I literally had a "Dark Chocolate Purple Passion" week.... they loved that.

Enjoy the pics... it really is unusual!

03/06/09

I thought of my friend Gretchen when I took this gerber daisy. (One of my students gave this to me for Valentine's Day... I have another flower one of my students gave me this week that I'll be sharing this weekend, I hope.) I realize I have taken lots of flowers in my past, but I just can't resist.... I am so drawn to them!



I love to teach!!

I realize most of you already know this fact, but I just had to say it. By this time of year I am really enjoying my kids because of them knowing ME and how things work in the classroom. It always makes me sad around this time that I don't have much longer with them before I have to "give them up" and start over. I love the challenge and enjoyment each new year brings, but there is always a bittersweet moment to it.

All of my students, past and present, hold a special place in my heart. I may not always remember their names, unfortunately, and have to call them "Honey" or "Dear" if I see them, but they are still there. It always thrills my heart to see ones from the past come see me.

I find many times the kids begin to shy away from you as a former teacher when they get older because they are trying to figure out who they ARE, and their second grade teacher isn't always at the top of the list of priorities! ha!!! I enjoy watching them grow up and change. It is neat to see how they "turn out."

My first class is a Junior in College now. Pretty soon I will have been teaching long enough to be teaching children of the children I have taught. Wow.... I'm not ready to go there just yet. lol

Enough of that rambling.... I just love imparting knowledge of little minds and am so thankful for that gift from the Lord!

Off to go on a date with my precious man. We haven't really had time to ourselves since Asheville so it will be nice to be with just him tonight. We've cleaned and gotten the house in order so that always helps, too. :)