Reach for the Clouds!

In my 2's and 3's Sunday School class, I like to have "role call" time where I call a child's name, and they will raise their hand calling, "Here!"

However, you know how it is...one child starts something, and they all have to follow. One of the first weeks I started doing "role call", one child decided to cover their eyes when I called their name instead of raising their hand. Apparently at this age, they think that because they can't see me, I can't see them...haha!

After awhile it got to the point where every.single.child was covering their eyes instead of raising their hand. A child would then yank on their friend's arm to get them to raise their hand, and seeing how I didn't want to really encourage arm pulling, I knew I had to come up with a Plan B.

About a month or so ago, I finally came up with Plan B. Instead of telling the children to raise their hand when I called their name, I would tell them to "Reach for the clouds!!" This seemed to inspire them to raise not only one, but BOTH hands, stretching up as far as their short, little arms could reach! Since then, to provide some variety, we have also reached for the stars, birds, trees and last week it was even "Reach for the cats and dogs!" (apparently they were either climbing a tree or flying in the sky...never did figure that one out!)

Anywho...there is a point to all this :)

This morning in my devotions, I read this verse:

"Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds." - Psalm 36:5

Immediately, this made me think of my Sunday School kiddos holding up their short little arms, straining themselves in the futile effort of reaching for the clouds. They may groan, moan, and strain all they want, but they will never truly succeed in reaching the clouds.

However, my Lord is SO faithful and SO merciful that we can't even dream of reaching the heights to where His faithfulness and mercy can take us.

I also read this verse this morning:

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" - Romans 11:33

So many times I find myself limiting my Savior. I stretch my arms up as high as I can reach in a futile attempt to "reach for the clouds", and think that is as far as the Lord can reach as well. However, His judgments and ways are unsearchable and past finding out! His faithfulness reaches unto the clouds. How dare I think that God can't handle any situation that arises in my life?! He is GOD! He has made this entire universe, and there are NO limits as to where He can go, and what He can do! All He asks of me is that I stop trying to accomplish things on my own (like reaching for the clouds!), and ask for His help and strength. His grace is sufficient for me, for His strength is made perfect in my weakness.

Pool Memories

My grandparents have always had a pool in the center of their backyard. Every summer for as long as I can remember, we would have family picnics, and swimming in their pool was always one of the highlights of the day.

I mean really...how many little girls have a chance to ride on the back of a "killer whale"? :) I feel very blessed indeed!

Although its not always been the same exact pool (they've had 3 over the past ummmm...many years!), a pool has ALWAYS been there.

However, as the years have gone by, its gotten harder and harder for my grandparents to take care of a pool, and it just wasn't worth keeping up anymore because we didn't go in it as much.

So last July 4, the guys took down the deck...

The pool sat empty and alone for awhile until a couple of Saturdays ago. It was finally decided that it was time to take down the rest of the pool.

Doesn't it look so sad and lifeless sitting there? Look! There is even a "tree" growing up in the middle of the pool. Apparently a squirrel's nut found an opening in the liner and decided to grow. :)

I mostly just stood back and observed as the menfolk took down the pool, although I was handed the occasional screw to put in a bag. :) That was my BIG task of the day!

My camera battery died before I was able to get a picture of the end product, so that is why I didn't post about this right away. I had to wait for Andy to take a picture of it when he went to mow my grandparent's yard the other day. :)

Their backyard looks so bare now! Its going to take awhile for me to get used to seeing it without the pool. :(

However, although the pool may be gone, the memories will linger on forever. As I was thinking about this blog entry, I remembered something significant that happened on the pool deck's steps. I asked my mom this morning, "Didn't Dad propose to you on the deck steps?"

Indeed, he had! In fact, I discovered this morning that yesterday it was 28 years ago that my Dad proposed to my Mom on the deck steps. That actual deck had been rebuilt since then, and apparently, as he was building the new deck, my Pop-Pop had asked my parents whether or not they wanted to keep the old steps as a memory. :) Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

The happy couple!
Engaged August 28, 1981

So, yes, there are lots of good memories of my grandparent's pool(s) over the years. I don't even know half the stories, because they hosted so many church and family picnics. Although the object that created all the memories is gone forever, the memories themselves will never go away!

Ready or Not...

...the time has come!

Today was Sarah's last official day at work before she heads off to college next week. Wow, this summer has just zoooooooooomed on by! It feels like only yesterday I was stepping into both offices for the first time, and now...training time is officially over. Oh I am sure there will still be issues to deal with...which is why I am glad there are such things as cell phones and email!!

Today some of the lovely ladies of LVBC got together, and we had a special "good-bye" lunch for Sarah. We ordered from Panera Bread...and yes, it was yummy! Because the phones and security doorbell never stop ringing, some of the ladies couldn't be out of the church office, so we had the lunch right in there. We tried to transform the room into a cozy haven by turning off some of the lights, and locking the door so none of the guys could get in. ;-)

Its been a rather stressful week for me with school starting, and my "official" schedule starting to kick in. However, over these past months, Sarah has been an awesome teacher, always enthusiastic about the new things she is teaching me, and I know everything is going to be okay (her cell phone number will be on my speed dial :P)

I just want to say a BIG "Thank You!!!!!" to you, Sarah, for ALL your patience, enthusiasm, encouragement and understanding these past few months as you have trained me in these two new jobs!!

Let the fun begin as we both step out into a time of new and exciting adventures!! :-)

Sarah and I in the Challenge Press office at church

Happy Thought Indeed!

I was just figuring out the list of elementary students our school has this year so I could start working on a weekly job schedule for Mrs. Lytle.

And do you know what?!

There are lots of EVEN numbers this year!!!!

There are 16 students....

There are 8 boys and 8 girls....

The Elementary Learning Center splits up the 1st - 3rd grade students and 4th - 6th grade students for various classes and activities.

Sooooooooo....

There are 8 1st - 3rd graders....

There are 4 boys and 4 girls in 1st - 3rd grade....

There are 8 4th - 6th graders...

There are 4 boys and 4 girls in 4th - 6th grade...

This makes me quite happy.

End of story.

Reminiscing...

School starts this next week...and I am not teaching. I am not sure if "reality" has sunk in yet for me. I know once school starts, it will probably hit me more so! This week has been "teachers-in-service" week and I just remember how for the last two years, this was always a crazy week for me, making sure the classroom was spotless, the curriculum was all organized, and my brain was in gear. This coming Saturday would be Orientation day, where my students would come excitedly into their new classroom, their backpacks filled with classroom supplies to be shoved in their "new" desks (I had the same desks when I was in Kindergarten so -NO -they are not necessarily new!). They would have huge smiles on their faces as they explored all the fun things to do around the classroom.

*Sigh*

I am going to really miss that this year! At the end of the school year last year, I was just so relieved to have survived the year and gotten through the graduation preparations and program, that I wasn't too sad about not having any Kindergarten this year. I would be starting a new line of work, something fresh and exciting, that didn't involve dealing with screaming, hyper kiddos on a daily basis! The grass is always greener on the other side though, right? :)

Don't worry though!! I am enjoying what I am learning in the accounting world - although at times it is still a bit overwhelming - but I think with school starting this next week, I got "bit" by the "teacher bug" again. (And here I just thought it was a mosquito!)

I am thankful that I do still have the chance to help out in the school in a small way, but it won't be the same. Teaching at EBA became my "comfort zone" after two years. Now, my "comfort zone" is slowly being changed into new areas.

This morning, I was reading the devotional from Proverbs 31 Ministries, and at the end the questions were asked,

"Are you in a season of being uprooted? Has God re-arranged your plans and your future? Are you struggling to trust His ways?"

Hmmmmmm...it's funny how the Lord times things just right! This morning I had been getting all "bent out of shape" wondering how I was going to possibly figure out all the "new things" happening in my life. Change isn't something I seek. I like things to stay the same (boring, I know!) I do enjoy my two new jobs, but right now I am being "uprooted" from the familiar and being planted somewhere in "unknown" territory. However, I am learning that there is nothing wrong with that! I think the Lord does that to us at times, because we get too comfortable with where we are, too secure in our own capabilities, that He has to bring something new into our lives to draw us back to Him in full dependence and surrender.

I may hate change, but change is inevitable, and I can either let it crush me or I can "bloom where I am planted".

(Note to self: *Read this blog entry again as a reminder when you are complaining/panicking about change in the future...Practice what you preach, girl!!!...okay, note to self over now*)

At my church, we have what we call "Super-Duper Cleaning" each August before school begins. Each member is given a certain area of the church that they are responsible to do a thorough cleaning. I had my Kindergarten classroom again this year, and I was working on that yesterday. I think being in that room again, cleaning the shelves, just brought back all the fun memories I have of being in that room with my kiddos! I hope to be in that room again in the future, but we shall see what God has planned. :) Right?! One day at a time, one day at a time...

So as I was reminiscing I decided to look at pictures again and remember the "before and after" look of when it was transformed into a Kindergarten classroom two years ago....

-Before-

-After-

Wow, I didn't expect this blog entry to be so long, but its been awhile since I posted anything. :)