Teach On Teacher!

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week!

Each day teachers should be appreciated!  As a former-homeschooling-mom and now a public school parent, I give each teacher a standing ovation and a huge round of applause!

Regardless of your opinion of public (or private) education, there is something to be said about a person who can take a room full of 20 plus children and educate them in a way they will understand.  School is not at all like it was when I was in elementary school, the requirements for what children should know have fast forwarded to earlier ages.  The freedom for teachers to take one-on-one time with a student or incorporate other projects into the day have been all but stripped away.  There are so many new standards for teachers and demands, that the fleeting thoughts I have about going back to college for an elementary education degree are immediately extinguished.  Well that, and the fact that I don't like other people's children....but that is another story for another day....just know if I ever offer to watch your children I really mean it - I don't generally volunteer to be around children besides my own.  Again...another story for another day. 

If your child comes home on a less than stellar behavior mark, ask your teacher about it if you disagree.  Don't immediately jump down the teacher's throat...actually don't jump down their throat at all.  Make sure you get both sides of the story, both your child's and the teachers.  If you don't agree with the behavior mark, then don't discipline at home, but don't bad mouth the teacher to your child.  If my children come home on a behavior mark we deem unacceptable, we discipline our children accordingly. If the story sounds outlandish that my child gives me, I always contact the teacher to find out their side of the story as well.  Then I deal with it accordingly.   This year, one of my children's teacher has met me in the car rider line to explain situations to me or has wrote a note home regarding a behavior note, and knows I will call her to find out what has happened.  Be the parent who the teacher is going to be respected by; show your children an example of respect.

Volunteer your time or talents.  I know that in this day, parents are not able to volunteer in the classroom like they were when I was young.  But, ask the teacher what you can do to help.  Our teachers are great about sending home notes of what is needed in the classroom and we are happy to send in items.  The stories we hear of teachers salaries are true and teachers pay for most of the things for their classroom out of pocket.  Not only are they teaching because of the love of teaching, but they are teaching because they need to make money as well.  During the holidays, ask your teachers what you can do to help.  I send double of what is asked for during the holidays so the teacher may not have to buy so much out of pocket.  The teacher may say they do not need any help, and that is okay, at least you asked and they know it is there if it is needed.

Encourage your teachers.  I like to send just little messages of "Thank you" or "I appreciate you" to the teachers throughout the year.  Even if it is in a simple correspondence, I make sure the teacher knows I appreciate all they do for my children.  As with any job, even for me as a stay at home mom, it is essential to know you are appreciated, a word of encouragement can go a long way, and you never know when a teacher will need to hear "you're doing a good job!"

Pray for your teachers.  Every morning we pray together as a family, and I make sure we pray for each of my children's teachers and assistant teachers.  Teachers spend at least thirty hours a week with your child.  I pray for the teachers health, sanity, that they have a passion for teaching, for their families, and for the school as a whole.  If someone is investing time in my children I expect them to be healthy physically and mentally!  I have three children, different ages, and two of them are in school most of the day.  By 6 pm I am exhausted, grumpy, and just want to go to bed.  That is only with three children, I can't imagine how teachers feel.  Not only do they teach all day, but they go home to to their own families and children.  They have to have a heart for teaching and they need our prayers.

Take time to tell the teachers in your life "thank you", they need to hear it and they deserve 
it!

Am I Six?

Today is our second child's sixth birthday!  He is a full of life, energetic, little ball of laughs.  There are many things he says and does that remind me of my grandpa, and that is so precious!  

For him, the age of six is the age of perfection.  Since I can remember, he has wanted to be six.  He has longed to be six.  Even at the beginning of the year he would start telling others he was six!  

This morning as we were talking, our conversation went like this:

Child: "Mom, am I six now?"

Me: "Yep, today's your birthday.  Your finally six!!"

Child: "Hmmmm......I don't feel like I am six."

Me:  "How is six supposed to feel?"

Child: "Different.  Like six"

Me:  "Trust me baby, you're six.  I remember clearly when you were born. You were the loudest and tiniest baby I have ever had; even the doctor and nurses said how loud you were!"

Child: "I don't think you know when I was born, I just don't feel six!"

                                                             


I don't quite know how he was expecting six to feel, but by the time he left for school I am sure I had him half way realizing that he is six.



Life lesson of the day from a six year old:  Life doesn't always feel or go the way you expected it would.  Just trust that it is going the way it is meant to!  Celebrate...even when you don't feel  six!!!

Movin' On Up

The day is finally arriving!

We are movin' on up!  After almost thirteen years of living in one city (that is a record for me), we are moving from the big city to a small town.  

We are currently a stones throw from family on all sides.  We live in an older home in an established neighborhood.  We are a short drive to any major retailer.  And we are moving!

The excitement in the house is electrifying!  This is the only house our youngest child has ever lived in and the only house our middle child remembers.  To our oldest child, a move is just a part of life in our family.  As I have packed up everything that I did not deem unnecessary, our youngest child has been underfoot and she has enjoyed "packing up for new house."


We are moving from a city with over 71,000 in population to a town just under 1,500 people.  My husband and I are very pendulum type people, we are one extreme or the other, never in the middle.  We either go big city or small town.  We are looking forward to the small town!

We are moving to a newer home, bigger home, land on our property as far as the eye can see.  We will not live in a neighborhood, and we are about a thirty minute drive from any major retailer.  Our children will be attending a new school.  Family while not as close as they are right now, will be accessible via a nice drive.  We will be in a different zip code, yep, we are all grown up!

I have a lot of memories in the house we are in now, some good, some bad.  I look forward to leaving the bad memories at the house we live in now and bringing the happy memories with us.

This will be a BIG life change for us, and with that I have been in a lot of prayer, because of course change brings you into a new season.

- We are entering into a season of rest.  We have been non-stop people for the past few years, now we are entering a season of rest to rejuvenate and enjoy a calmer pace.  Who knows how long this season will last.  We are not known as a family who rests easily!

- Our new home is sacred.  While still having our southern hospitality, we will be protecting the sacredness of our abode.  

This will be our "forever home" until we leave the state we currently reside in.  It feels good to lay roots in one state and know that for however long, this is ours!

The Horrible Awful No Good Very Bad Mom

Today I was a horrible awful no good very bad mom.

I was tired.

I was grumpy.

I had a headache.

I am in immense need of a-l-o-n-e time.

My patience is short, my to-do list is long, and my exhaustion is winning.

I am certain that if I had a performance appraisal of being a mom, today I would be less than satisfactory.

On the way to soccer practice tonight, I was silently berating myself.  I was taking deep breaths.  I was trying to give myself a pep talk.

My oldest child said in a quiet voice, "Mom, I drew a picture of you."

I imagined the picture would be that of a fire breathing chimera like creature.

I looked and the picture was of a very muscular woman holding up a huge fire breathing dragon.  Around the woman were the words "SUPER MOM".

The picture is beautiful.

It shows the grace and forgiveness of children.

It shows that even though today, in my eyes, I was a horrible awful no good very bad mom; in my children's eyes I was still super mom.

Today I was a worn out version of the usual fun-loving, patient, memory making, and caring mom that I generally am.

Tomorrow is another day.

Tonight, I will go to bed knowing that in my children's eyes, I am still Super Mom.

Survivor

Survivor.  What does that mean to you?

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, to survive means to remain alive, to continue to exist.


To me, survivor means:

- Strength

- Grace

- Dignity

- Beauty

- Heroic

- Living Life To The Fullest

- Laughing With No Fear Of The Future

- Choosing Joy

- Inspiring

- Fighter

- Faith

- Courage

- Legacy

- Mom

Today marks the two year anniversary that my mom became a cancer survivor!  She has been cancer free for two years!  I am proud of my mom and I have watched her from the time of her diagnosis on and have seen courage, strength, and dignity in her.  I have seen her choose to live.  I have seen her fight.  I am proud of my mom and am happy that I am able to write this post about her today!

I love you mom.  Thank you for fighting. 

Where Everyone Knows Your Name

The theme song from the television show "Cheers" is becoming a theme song of sorts for my life.  The song talks about going to a place where everyone knows your name.

This is the story of our life and the ER.  We made our monthly visit to the ER this week.  I am pretty sure they are going to designate a room just for our family soon.  We go to the ER so often, it feels like a family reunion when we walk in.  

This week's visit was humorous, after the fact.  After I picked up our two oldest children from school, I decided to treat myself for surviving another day and went to Starbucks.  As we were in the line waiting for my cup of heavenly goodness, my youngest starts saying "Uh oh!  My gum!  My gum! Up nose!"  I ask her if she stuck the gum up her nose.  Yes, she did and she proudly showed me which nostril it went up.  After I got my cup of my source of life, I pulled over and tried to get her to blow her nose.  To no avail, that little booger, errr I mean gum, was stuck up there.  I googled various things to do, which were all quite terrifying.  So, I ended up giving our pediatrician a phone call.  Once again, I am sure the receptionists recognize my voice as soon as they answer the phone.  I explained to the receptionist that my child lodged a wad of chewed up gum up her nose and I can't get it out.  I was advised to my child to the ER.  

I went to the ER with the gum nosed child and my two other children in tow.  We signed in and within two minutes were called back to triage.  As I explained what had happened, both the nurse and doctor looked at me humorously and said they haven't seen that before.  The doctor did an examination and I found out why my daughter couldn't blow the gum out of her nose.  It went through her nose and down her throat!!!!  Instead of me being worried she would have gum lodged in her brain, now every time she passes gas she blows a bubble!

Your Legacy

Legacy.  One word, so much power.  What kind of legacy do you want to leave for your children?  What do you want to be passed down from you to your great great grandchildren and beyond?

I think about this often.  The most important focus for me is that my husband and I leave a Godly legacy.  My husband and I were both raised in church and in homes where God was in the forefront.  My Grandpa and Grandma passed down a Godly legacy to my parents.  My parents passed down a Godly legacy to my siblings and I.  We are passing down Godly legacies to our children.  My husband's mom and step-father passed down a Godly legacy to my husband and his sister.  They are passing down Godly legacies as well.  

The decisions you make and how you raise your family are a domino effect to the following generations.  The dominoes can go one of two ways - good or bad.  I have watched my parents develop and grow their own legacy from what my grandparents planted in them.  I have watched and have had the privilege of seeing first hand God develop my parents into the people they are today.  My husband comes from divorce, while statistics show that children who come from divorced families are 60% more likely to divorce, my husband and I have took the stand and have chosen to stick it out.  We have chosen to leave a legacy for our children.  I do need to mention that I understand there are times when divorce happens and I do not judge anyone who divorces.  

Monday night we saw another domino in our legacy fall.  Our middle child asked Jesus into his heart!  We were eating dinner and he started asking questions, he decided he was ready to be saved.  Our oldest child was able to lead him in prayer to ask Jesus into his heart.  This is not something we forced, but through the way we live our lives we allow an environment of Godliness and openness.  

There are things my parents did with me that I have passed down to my children.  Some of them are:- On the way to school in the mornings we say who we are in Christ.  My parents did this with my siblings and I throughout our school years.  As a teenager I would roll my eyes and act like I hated it.  As an adult I am able to easily remember who I am in Christ.  Below is a link of verses of who you are in Christ:  Who am I in Christ?- My parents would pray with us every morning and every night.  My parents still pray with each other every morning and every night.  - Every day things would be used as a Godly lesson.  This was not a freaky thing, it was just the way it was.  For example, during junior high there was another student who was horribly mean to me.  I would go home and cry to my mom, begging her to take me out of school, asking to be home schooled.  My mom told me to start praying for the other student.  I did, and by the time we were seniors in high school we were best friends.  

Building your legacy comes down to making your home what you want your legacy to be.  The outside world will be what it is. Society will say what it does.  But, in your home you have the opportunity to build your legacy.  You have the opportunity to make a difference.  Make what you want your legacy to be a daily part of your life.  Make it important.  Don't let it be an after thought.

Below are five essentials to leaving a Godly legacy.  I found this on Family Life and it is written by Dennis and Barbara Rainey.

1. Fear the Lord and obey Him. Your legacy begins in your heart, in your relationship with God. Psalm 112:1-2 reads: "How blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who greatly delights in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth; The generation of the upright will be blessed."
On our first Christmas together, Barbara and I gave a gift to God first. These sheets of paper became title deeds to our lives—to our marriage, to our hopes of having children, to our family, to our relationships, to our rights to our lives, to whatever ministry God gave us—we gave everything to Him.

2. Recognize the world's needs and respond with compassion and action. In Matthew 9:36 we read: "And seeing the multitudes. He [Jesus] felt compassion for them." You and your mate need to leave a legacy by being committed to doing something about our world. Many Christians today are walking in the middle of the road; they're so focused on what other people think that they are unwilling to take any risks in order to make an impact for Christ. In light of this, Jamie Buckingham wrote, "The problem with Christians today is that no one wants to kill them anymore."
When you fly over rows of houses, do you wonder how many people in those homes know Jesus? This year thirty million people will die without hearing the name of Christ. Hundreds of millions will pray to idols. Someone needs to reach these people with the Good News.John F. Kennedy, in Profiles in Courage, described the need for courageous people: "Some men show courage throughout the whole of their lives. Others sail with the wind until the decisive moment when their conscience and events propel them into the center of the storm." If you want to leave a lasting legacy, you need to act with courage to reach out to those in need.

3. Pray as a couple that God will use you to accomplish His purposes. As recorded in 1 Chronicles 4:10, Jabez prayed, "Oh that Thou wouldst bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that Thy hand might be with me, and that Thou wouldst keep me from harm."
What did Jabez ask God to do? Bless him. Give him new turf and enlarge his sphere of influence. Keep him from temptation. Stay with him. Pray this prayer with your mate, and at the end of the year, see how different your lives will be.

4. Help your mate be a better steward of his gifts and abilities. Help your spouse recognize how God has used his gifts and abilities in the past. Serving others? Teaching the Scripture? Advising a Christian Ministry?
Help him plug into the local church, which needs committed laymen and women who have strong, godly character and a vision for their communities.Help him recognize his convictions. Thomas Carlyle says, "Conviction is worthless until it can convert itself into daily conduct." Help your mate determine what he is willing to die for so he can ultimately determine what he can live for.

5. Ask God to give your children a sense of purpose, direction, and mission. The challenge here is to leave your children a heritage, not just an inheritance. As someone once said, "Our children are messengers we send to a time we will not see.""

You can do this!  Choose what legacy you want to leave your children and begin living it now!