Weekly Verse: 7/28

Recently a friend said to me, "I guess we've reached that point in our lives when we stop going to as many weddings and we start going to funerals instead." This was a sad, yet startlingly true, statement. Over the past few weeks I have seen so many friends lay their loved ones to rest. 

Anytime someone experiences the death of a loved one I begin to think, "how would I react if that was my parent, my aunt, my brother, etc?" and "what scripture would get me through that situation?" So I began a journey for scriptures referencing death.  I finally found the two verses that seem so comforting to me.  I know how painful it is to lose a loved one, but I can rejoice in knowing that mine are with the Lord!  

If you have recently lost a loved one, I hope these 2 verses give you peace 💜

So we always have confidence. We know that while we live in this body, we are away from the Lord...So I say that we have confidence. And we really want to be away from this body and be at home with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:6, 8 ERV)

Weekly Verse: 7/7/13

This week's verse is "God has chosen you and made you his holy people. He loves you. So your new life should be like this: Show mercy to others. Be kind, humble, gentle, and patient." (Colossians 3:12 ERV)

Do you remember being in grade school and having to be picked for teams? Luckily, I was never the last kid picked, but I do remember the same poor kid that always got picked last.  Once I was the leader for my Red Rover team, and I decided to pick this kid second (I didn't want to be obvious 😉).  I will never forget the beaming smile that lit up her face. It made her day to be picked early and I was happy with my unpopular decision because it made her so happy. Now, that was just a silly childhood game of Red Rover but think about this game we call "Life" and the two teams that exist. You and I have been chosen by God! He wants us on His team to fight the good fight! To bring others to Him, to defeat evil!  How awesome does that make you feel? 

Part of our job on God's team, part of our position, is to treat others with mercy. When we're waiting in line and the person in front of us is taking 

Forrrrrrr-Eh-Verrrrrrr we need to practice patience. When they finally turn around and apologize for the inconvenience (and maybe they don't) we should respond with a heartfelt "It's okay" or my personal favorite "No worries!" Treating others with kindness and mercy not only makes our day better, but it blesses their day as well. 

I want to live in a world where people love each other, are kind to one another, and forgive one another!  The only way that can happen is if I'm an active participant of that world. 

Weekly Verse: 6/30

She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. (Proverbs 31:27 NET)

Summer is in full swing and I am loving this time off! It usually takes me about a week to get into my groove (aka rest up) but then I am one little busy bee!  I love having this time off because I get to play "housewife". Don't get me wrong, I take care of our home when school is in session too. However, in the summer I get so much more done. 

- deep cleaning: I'm talking baseboards and even cleaning supplies. Yep I clean my cleaning supplies (Monica-Syndrome); 

- straightening closets, sifting through clothes to give to goodwill

- painting and redecorating rooms

- and my favorite, sewing projects

Having several weeks off in a row allows me to be so productive, but I still find time to lay by the pool, go shopping, and see my friends. My summer goal though? It's to stay busy. Remember when you were a kid and your mom would tell you "idle hands are the devil's workshop".  Well, that's the same even when we're adults. When we become idle, we get bored; and when we're bored we get into trouble. 

Trouble can have many different faces for each person. My worst two are drinking and gossip. If I'm bored and don't stay busy I will find myself allowing these two evils to take over me.  My medicine...busy hands. I stay busy with things that I enjoy (clarification: I enjoy a clean home, not actually cleaning!). At the end of the day, each day, I am happy with the activities that have filled my day and not ashamed of how I've acted.  

Do you find yourself bored on the weekend, over the summer, after work? What do you do to stay busy?  What's your hobby? 

Weekly Verse: 6/16

"A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling." (Psalm 68:5 NIV)

What a wonderful day to celebrate dads!! I hope everyone had a great Father's Day! I didn't get to see my dad today, I will next weekend for his birthday, but I did get to talk to him. It was very nice and as usual, he directed the conversation to me...isn't it funny how dads do that? They always focus on their children, especially their "little girls". 

As today wraps up though, I'm thinking of my friends and loved ones who don't have a dad to call. Now, maybe you've never had a dad around or maybe you've lost one recently, either way today can be difficult or stir up new-found emotions. To you, I want to say:  you do have a Father! You have the greatest Father of all. He loves you, forgives you, and wants SO much for you to be happy! You an be His little girl, His champ, His buddy, etc. 

He is a Father to the Fatherless!

Weekly Verse: 5/26

This week's verse is "Always be full of joy. Never stop praying. Whatever happens, always be thankful. This is how God wants you to live in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ERV).

It is so easy to be joyful when things are going well, life seems easy, and everything feels like it's falling into place! But what about the other times? The times when you're having financial problems, or work is grueling and wearing you down. These are the times when it is most difficult to be joyful.

Barrett and I have been struggling to start a family for almost 4 years now. I did not start this journey with a joyful heart. In fact, I was very bitter and jaded and continually asked God, "Why me?" I spent a lot of time trying to place blame or search for an answer, but I was not willing to listen to Him.

I turned my thinking around the last several months and have begun having conversations with God. Asking Him to give me wisdom, understanding, peace, and a joyful heart. I have turned to reading His word; studying it and meditating on it. Memorizing scripture and speaking it out loud. People around me have noticed a change. I'm happier! I'm joyful! I'm more kind and loving than I have been in 4 years.

No I'm not pregnant, yet ;-) but I know I that it will happen in His timing. As much as I LOVE to have control, I have given this need to Him. He will provide for me, and while I wait I will do so with a joyful and thankful heart.

Is there something you're waiting for? Have you surrendered and given God the control? I can honestly say that if you do, you may not get what you want immediately, but you will find peace and joy! Turn it over to Him, He can handle so much more than we can!

Weekly Verse: 5/19

A few weeks ago, I posted about the "dreadful Monday" postings that would soon begin filling our news feeds as people prepared for their work week.  Since then, I have looked forward to each Monday seeing the good in each busy one to come.  So just like the other Sunday nights, I went to bed last night with the intentions of having a great Monday.  Monday on the other hand decided to just be dreadful.  I won't give you all of the nitty, gritty details because this is not the forum for that.  However, I will tell you that my day turned around completely!

Late this morning I was wrestling with my old self (who would let anger, hurt feelings, and the power of a spiteful tongue take over) and my new self (the one who is forgiving, loving, and kind). As I was walking out of my office, headed to one of my best friends to vent, a song popped in my head, and then it stuck!  I could not stop hearing "You make all things work together for my good," playing over and over in my head.  For a few moments I just walked around in the computer lab humming this song. And then I realized, venting isn't going to make me feel any better and it could even ruin my friend's day.  So I marched back to my office, opened a new book "Mind Monsters" and began reading, meditating, and praying.  It only took a few minutes for me to realize that I needed to forgive, I needed to repent, and I needed to move on.

The song, "Your Love Never Fails" by Jesus Culture ends with the refrain "you make all things work together for my good".  This comes from Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (KJV).

I didn't have a Bad Monday; it started that way but I fought and ended up having a great afternoon that outshines the struggles I had this morning!  I am a better person because of what happened today, because the the challenge that stood before me and the action I took to make the right choice!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_2qG22SPwU

http://www.amazon.com/Mind-Monsters-Conquering-negative-thoughts/dp/1616387386

Mystery Skype in the Elementary Classroom

Mystery Skype is a global classroom learning experience in which two teachers schedule a video conference for their students.  The conferencing classes can be in different cities, states, or even countries.  This activity is suitable for all grade levels and students at Furr Elementary are loving this 21st Century Classroom Experience!

As our school's Technology Facilitator, I have worked with 2nd through 5th grade teachers in setting up their Mystery Skype sessions and teaching their students about research and problem-solving.  My Mystery Skype tasks have differed based on the grade level I am working with.

With Second Grade classes and one Third Grade class, I created open-ended questions.  These questions were shared with both Skyping classes ahead of time so the class could research the answers for their own school location.  Students were then assigned a question for the Skype session.  Our Skype session ran as follows:
Introduction:  The teacher or a designated student can introduce the class without giving away any specific information.
Question and Answer session:  Students are called up by corresponding question number.  The classes then alternate asking and answering questions.  With the lower grade levels, I sat with my laptop and recorded the answers.
Research:  The call is ended and both classes begin their research based on the answers given.  Once the class thinks they have determined the correct location they will create questions they would like to ask about the school/curriculum/activities, etc.  Laptops and iPads are provided for students to begin their research.
Call Back:  The call back is placed the same day or within a day or two of the original Mystery Skype (this depends on schedules).  During the call back each class will take turns guessing where the other is located.  Once both have guessed correctly we then have an open discussion.
Open Discussion:  The Open Discussion is a forum where the students can post questions to the other students and class.  Some questions and topics:  size of the school, grade levels, after school activities, local attractions, weather, and even testing.

Our upper grade levels (3rd through 5th grade) have taken the Mystery Skype experience to an expert level.  These students begin with a few scripted Yes/No questions, but then have to create their own Yes/No questions as the Mystery Skype progresses.  Each class tries to be the first to guess the location of the other.  For this advanced Mystery Skype, jobs are assigned for the students.  Similar to above, once the locations were guessed correctly students were able to have an open discussion and ask questions about their city, state, school, and lifestyles.

With the onset of the Common Core Standards in our school system, I have been asked how Mystery Skype aligns to the new standards.   These are the links to the Anchor Standards met:

Comprehension and Collaboration
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.SL.1
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.SL.2

Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.SL.4
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.SL.6

Documents
Yes/No Questions (advanced Mystery Skype)
Open-Ended Questions (beginner Mystery Skype)
Jobs & Preparation