School Days, School Days, Good Old Golden Rule Days!

You may not know that I am an elementary school teacher. Last night (on my birthday!) we had Open House to meet our new students. I absolutely loved talking to my students and getting to know a little bit about them. The evening made me recall my own childhood school days and it gave me an idea for my blog. I decided to list my top five favorite memories of school. You may have some of the same memories or yours may be completely different. Either way, take a walk down memory lane and share your top five memories with me.
My Top Five School Memories
#5- Finding the golden egg at the Easter Egg Hunt and winning a silver dollar.
#4- Putting glue on my fingers, letting it dry, and peeling it off.
#3- Learning to read in the claw foot bathtub that my second grade teacher brought to school...no water or soap invovled!
#2- Writing letters to my friends--the old fashioned way.
#1- My second grade teacher blessing our lunch before we left the classroom.

Following Directions

When I was young, I loved spending the night with my grandparents. They treated me like a princess and always had my favorite foods ready and waiting for me. Nothing could compare to my mammaw's scrumptious cornbread. Her cornbread was like dessert for me. It absolutely melted in my mouth. When I turned 8, my mammaw decided that I should cook supper for her and my pappaw. We went to IGA and debated on what I could make (on my own) for supper. I chose Chef BOY-AR-DEE pizza. Should be simple--all ingredients were in the box and the process only included a few directions.

There I stood in the sacred kitchen of my mammaw with a baking sheet and Chef BOY-AR-DEE pizza mix. I was excited, but nervous. I just really wasn't sure about making the pizza without any help. I opened the box and was quickly overwhelmed with the pouch of dough mix, the can of pizza sauce, and packet of parmesan cheese. For the longest time, I stood and stared at everything from the pizza kit. I knew that I needed water and oil, but what was I supposed to mix the water and oil with? I knew that the pizza should already be in the oven. So, I did the only thing I could think of. I pulled the glass bowl close to me and proceeded to empty the pouch of dough mix, the can of pizza sauce, the packet of parmesan cheese, the water, and the oil. I slowly stirred the concoction. I realized it really didn't look like it did when my mom made it, but I couldn't really figure out what I had done wrong. I quickly pressed the pizza onto the pan--nice and flat and stuck it in the oven. And then I waited. I waited until my pappaw came and removed it from the oven for me. He smiled and got me a cold bottle of Coca-Cola and a straw. My grandparents told me that it was the best pizza they had ever eaten. We ate every single bite of that pizza.

Making that pizza reminds me of how I follow God's directions for my life. He gave me the Bible to read and learn from...a set of directions. If I follow those directions, I will receive wisdom and the blessings of a great God. Sometimes, I may not follow the directions, but I have the right ingredients and I give my best effort, but I panic. God takes that effort and uses it for the good. God sees my mix-ups, but more than that, I think God sees my heart. I think He knows that I love His Word and I want to please Him and serve Him.

Did my mammaw and pappaw see my mix-up? If they did, they never ever told me that they did. They called all of their friends and the family and told them about the best pizza they had ever eaten. I think my grandparents saw my heart...my passion to serve them.

When Life Hands You Lemons...

Make lemondade! Yeah, right. After a lemon of a day, the last thing I want is to sugar it up! No, I want to bask in the sour juices that oozed out and made my day a slippery, sticky mess. I want to frown and pout over the bitter zest that threw me into a tail spin. Basically, I want to roll around in my misery and feel sorry for me. Have you ever had a lemon of a day? You know, what I'm talking about. The kind of day where you trip over your own two feet, you drop everything you pick up, you forget what you're doing every three minutes, you have a double ear infection, and NO ONE does what you think they should.

Poor me. Let down by the world again. And then, it happens. That still, small voice says, "Ahem! Remember me? I'm the Lord of your life. Why are you allowing the world to squirt lemon juice in your eyes? Why are you ignoring the riches and beauty that I have placed before you, my child?"

He pours on the sugar: I saw cows grazing in a lucious field of green. I listened as my nephew, Sam told me about his pet caterpillar. He named him Marvel. I noticed corn and tobacco plants inching taller and taller from the rich soil of the earth. I heard the cicadas sing a wondrous symphony beneath a star-filled sky. I felt the touch of my mother's hand as I helped her to the sidewalk. I experienced the power of God when thunder rumbled in the distance and lightening dazzled an ebony sky. I looked at all that God has created and I had to say, "It is good."

Tell me about the "good" ways God took your day from sour to sweet. (Coyrighted TNTNKY, 2008)

Frosty...A Friend Indeed!

Remember when Frosty was brought to life by a magic top hat on Christmas Day? From the first time I watched Frosty the Snowman, I think I understood some of the most distinct elements of friendship. Frosty loved Karen with a pure, sacrificial love. Even in the earliest moments of their relationship, Frosty watched out for Karen's well-being because he loved her. He made many choices that elevated Karen above self.

Frosty brought laughter and fun into Karen's life from the very moment he took his first breath. Whether they were marching down the streets of town, outsmarting an unthoughtful magician, or attempting to communicate with a crazy rabbit, Karen's heart was warmed by Frosty's endearging personality!

Frosty promised to return each Christmas to visit and play with Karen. Frosty's promise echoes God's promise to each of us. He promises to always be with us--living in our hearts. Frosty promised to always be there--living in Karen's heart. How loving warm promises are!

I am enjoying this must see classic today with my students. It is my effort to bring a little bit of magic and love to their life. Don't let the season pass without filling up a cup of cocoa, stoking the fire, and popping your most beloved holiday classic in. After all, we never truly grow up, do we?

A Few of My Favorite Things...

I absolutely love The Sound of Music. My favorite part is when Julie Andrews sings "Favorite Things." It just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. This morning, I thought to myself, "Why not consider a few of my favorite things?" Here a few of my favorite things and I hope after you read, you will share your list of favorites!

* Wet kisses on my cheek from my neices and nephews
* Naked trees in the dead of winter
* Thick frost on windows
* Burning wood in a stove
* New fallen snow
* A midnight sky painted with stars
* The first taste of watermelon in the summer
* Old, familiar friendship
* Love
* Weeping Willow trees
* Hot chocolate with whipped cream
* Warm chocolate chip cookies

Please share your favorite things and bring a bright spot to the holiday season!

Is It Wrong to Question God?

When I was 12 years old, my favorite grandfather passed away.

As I sat beside my youth leader, I asked, "Why did he have to die?" She replied, "God was ready for him to be in heaven." That was a good answer and it made sense. At least it was as good as any answer that an adult could have given me. I was scared that God might want me in heaven sometime soon.

I was in elementary school when my aunt and uncle decided to get a divorce. As I sat beside my aunt, I asked, "Why did Uncle Dennis leave?" She said, "He doesn't love me anymore." I wondered if he had stopped loving me, too.

I was in middle school when I first understood about child abuse. My mom was on jury duty and the person on trial was being accused of abusing their child. As I sat beside my mother, I asked, "Why did that mom hit her child?" She replied, "She is full of anger and cannot control herself." I was glad she wasn't my mother.

I was in college when I heard about a girl being raped. I was naive, but I figured out what it meant. As I sat beside my sister, I asked, "Why would a man do that to a woman?" She replied, "They think they need to control other people and women are easy targets." I understood that I was a target, too.

I'm a 38 year old teacher now. About a month ago, one of my students lost his dearest uncle--his hero. As I have tried to minister to him over the last few weeks, I realize that I don't have very many answers. And the ones that I provide are weak at best. He looks at me with those doubtful eyes and I know he realizes that I absolutely have no clue as to what the right answers really are. But, he accepts them and finds some degree of comfort. My question is: Is it wrong for me to feel terribly angry about having to answer these questions to begin with? Not angry at the student, but at the situation. Why would a seemingly healthy 26 year old farmer die in his sleep? And, I believe my student considers whether he might die when he's 26 years old.

I am what they call in the eduation field an "existentialist." I fight to know the answer to all of life's burning questions. I have shared some of the burning questions of my life. To this day, I still have all of the questions that significant people in my life attempted to answer. But, the question mark lurks in the corner of my mind. So, I'm not so settled on these issues, I suppose.

What do you think? Is it wrong to question to God? Is it a big, fat sin for me to question death, abuse, rape, and divorce? I know....another question from an inquiring mind.

Five Reasons I Dig Jesus

SelahV graciously tagged me to share five reasons why I "dig Jesus." I love to talk about Jesus; so this is an easy request!

~~1: He endured the cross and died for me. It is completely breathtaking and incredible that Jesus took my sin upon Him to secure a place in God's Kingdom for me! No one else has ever loved me in that way.

~~2: He walks beside me every step of my journey. The fact that I'm never alone truly amazes me. He travels the mountains, the valleys, and the plateaus with me. He is my constant, never changing companion; the only friend I truly need--to me, that's awesome!

~~3: He thinks I'm beautiful. Beautiful on the inside, which is what really matters. Jesus "digs" what He sees in my heart. A heart sold out to teaching. A heart breaking for the lost. A heart beating for His Mission. A heart melting for the depravity of the world. A heart strengthened by God's power. A heart soaring for my family.

~~4: He helps me relax. My mind rarely stops racing--worries, thoughts, and emotions war for my attention. But, I love it when Jesus whispers, "Chill out already! Take a load off and think about Me and you. How 'bout a quick Bible drill to remind you of my promises?" He also says, "Come to Me and I will give you rest and relaxation." Basking in the Son is truly intense experience.

~~5: He reveals Himself to me in a million completely original ways. I see Him in the dewdrops on rose petals, the moonbeams bathing my garden at midnight, the eyes of my neices and nephews twinkling with mischief. I feel Him in the hugs from my earthly father, the kisses of my mother, the rain that wets my face in thundershowers. I hear Him in the rush of the wind, the roar in a seashell, the claps of thunder.