Rainy Day Field Trip

We are learning about different community helpers in Social Studies. Because were were going to be learning about a salesperson today, I thought it would be a perfect time to take a walk up to Hess Gas Station and Dunkin Donuts. The children would be able to pick out their morning snack, and interact with some salespeople.

Of course I had to pick a day when it was pouring down rain!!! Oops.

With rain jackets on, and umbrellas up, we were off. However, I think walking in the rain just made the adventure all that more exciting for them! :-)

~Umbrella Buddies~

Our first stop was to Hess Gas Station, and after only a few minutes of deliberation, they all decided to buy chocolate milk for their snack.

We were then off to Dunkin Donuts, where the next task was picking out the type of donut they wanted. With so many donuts to choose from, I was surprised that this was also a quick decision-making process!

Much thanks to Miss Kristen for coming along to help get us safely to our destination!

Filling their bellies with sugar...what was I thinking??!! ;-)

Playdough Fun

On Monday afternoon, we made our own play dough.

1 c. flour
1/2 c. salt
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 Tbsp. oil
1 c. water
Food coloring

Mix the dry ingredients together. Add the food coloring, water, and oil. Mix all ingredients thoroughly, and then put over medium heat until a dough ball forms.

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I love this recipe! Minus the fact that the girls found it rather smelly (it still smells much better than the store bought kind!), it has great texture and lasts a long time.


Working together to stir up the ingredients...

We made 2 batches of play dough - pink and blue. The girls had fun playing with it back in the classroom once it cooled off.

And Let the Painting Adventures Begin!

"Are we going to paint today???" has been the question literally EVERY day since the first day of Kindergarten. Because there are so many other activities to do in the classroom, (and paint tends to be a rather messy activity!), I have pushed it off as long as I could. However, today when I was asked the question again, rather than saying, "It's not on the schedule" which was my first thought, I decided to push aside my apprehension and let the kiddos do the painting that they have been looking forward to since day #1. And you know what? It wasn't that bad!!! Painting smocks & shirts on, paint poured, paintbrushes ready, and they were free to explore the wonder of paint.

Unfortunately, there was only about 20 minutes left to the school day, so they could only paint one paper (which is fine!), but I think if they had their way, they would have painted 10!!!

Clean-up was actually a breeze. I *heart* washable paint!!!! 4 quick hand washings in the bathroom, paintbrushes soaking in a pitcher filled with water, table wiped down, painting papers sitting on another table to dry - and wa-la! Life is good. Until the process starts all over again! :-)

Their rather "abstract" masterpieces

Taste Testing

Today in Science, we were learning about our 5 senses. The highlight was having a 'taste test' after we talked about our sense of taste. The kiddos had lemons for sour, chocolate cake for sweet, pretzels for salty, and baker's unsweetened chocolate squares for bitter (they unanimously voted that as their LEAST favorite!)

Bravely trying their sour lemons! :-)

Enjoying their little chocolate cake pieces! :-)

September 11, 2000

Tossing and turning, I tried to go back to sleep, willing the troubled thoughts to just go away. Glancing at the clock by my bed, I saw that it was only 4:30 am. I still had plenty of time to sleep before a new school day began. But my troubled mind would not rest.

"Why not now? Why not now? Why not come to Jesus now?"

The lyrics of the Sunday AM invitation song rang in my ears. What was wrong with me?

The week before a new school year had begun, and with it had come a chapel message on salvation each day.

"How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?"

"The Savior is waiting to enter your heart. Why don't you let Him come in?" My Dad's offertory song that he had been practicing the day before played back in my mind. I needed the Lord to enter my heart. I knew that. I wanted that. I had tried for sooooo long to get by in life being a good little girl. Although I had heard countless messages about how you could never be good enough to get to Heaven on your own merit, I couldn't help but wonder if the Lord would make an exception for me.

Down deep inside, I knew He could not -would not.

What was holding me back??

As time slowly ticked by, I finally heard footsteps down the hallway, entering the living room. "Great!" I thought, "My Dad is awake. I've got to talk to someone!"

I leaped out of bed and walked down the hallway as quickly as I could. There was my Dad getting ready to start his devotions. Startled to find me awake so early, he waited for me to sit down, and say with a trembling voice, "I know I need to be saved. I just don't know how. I don't know what to do. I can't figure it out!"

He showed me in the Bible the verse where it says that God's ways are not our ways, neither are His thoughts our thoughts. "You can't figure out salvation, Becky," he said, "God doesn't ask you to. He just wants you to come to Him and trust Him."

He handed me a "Which Road" pamphlet and told me to go back to my room, and read it over. The verses inside the pamphlet were familiar verses that I had heard all my life, but at the end of the pamphlet, these words caught my attention - Your choice is clear - it is either sin or Christ. What will you do? Receive Christ now into your heart as your Lord and Savior and have eternal life OR reject Him now and continue on your road to Hell?

I knew that I wanted Christ. I realized that all the "good things" I had ever done, would never be enough to earn my way to Heaven. I knew Christ was the only way. I knelt by my bed to pray, but a little nagging voice inside me, stopped me - God won't save you, the voice said, Yes, He has saved other people, but you are the exception. He won't save you.

Startled, I listened to the little nagging voice that was whispering this lie to me, and I ran to my parent's room. Pacing around their room, I just started repeating all the things this little voice (better known as the devil) was trying to convince me of. God didn't want to save me. I was the only one who would never have this free gift. Everyone else could have it except me. I literally was getting sick to my stomach with all these thoughts. A feeling of complete hopelessness was just washing over me. My parents told me, "Becky, you are in a battle. The devil doesn't want you to get saved, and he and the Lord are fighting for you now. Whatever you do, Becky, do NOT let Satan win!"

With the feeling of complete hopelessness still raging strong within me, I headed off to school, knowing I was going to have a horrible day.

How would I survive another message of salvation???

As the chapel message got started, I got out my sermon notebook as we were required to do, and braced myself for another "torture hour". Pastor Hammett started preaching on knowing God's will for your life. My heart stopped pounding rapidly, and I began to settle down to a message geared towards people who were already saved. However, the Lord had something else in mind. The next words out of Pastor's mouth were, "It's not God's will that you remain lost."

That simple statement jerked me awake. It wasn't God's will that I remain lost? You mean, He really does desire that I - Becky - get saved?? I am not an exception?! Although that convinced me that the Lord really did want to save me, I still had the nagging question - How?

As if Pastor Hammett was reading my thoughts, he looked straight at me, and asked, "Becky, if I asked you to come up here, what would you do?" Startled, and rather embarrassed that he had singled me out, I mumbled, "I would come up there." Looking at everyone, he then said, "That is all God asks - that we come to Him."

The rest of the message was a blur. I just knew that no matter what, I was NOT going to leave the room without talking to someone afterward. At the end of the message, Pastor gave an invitation and said that if you wanted to talk to someone, please remain seated while everyone else leaves. I clung to that seat with white knuckles. I didn't care how many of my friends were climbing over me. I didn't care what anyone else thought. I HAD to get this settled. Kristin soon came, and we went into the side room to talk.

Seriously, at that point, I was completely lost. I knew I needed the Lord, but so much fear was holding me back. The deceiving whispers of the devil still troubled me. What if I pray and the Lord doesn't save me? What if I make a "false profession"? I told Kristin about my fears, and she told me that I had to ask God to save me, BELIEVING that He would. If I didn't truly believe that He would save me, I was really guilty of unbelief. She showed me the verse John 3:18, He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

When she showed me that verse, it was like a "light bulb" suddenly was turned on inside my mind. That was all I had to do?? All I had to do was ask, believing that God would save me??? She asked me if I wanted to pray or just leave, and I told her that if I left again, saying "No" to God, I probably would not have another chance. I then closed my eyes and prayed a simple prayer. I don't remember the words, or even if the words I said made any sense, but it wasn't the prayer that would save me - it was the Lord. After I opened my eyes, I must confess, I expected fireworks or something to just explode inside me. Kristin then quoted Romans 10:13, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. A calming peace (instead of fireworks) then flooded my heart. I had called upon the name of the Lord, and I had to trust that His Word was true, and that He had truly saved me.

My new life had started.

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Ten years ago today, that was my story. I hope everyone who is reading this can think back to a time in their life when they had a similar story happen to them! If not, I pray that you will not wait another day to get it settled. Remember - It's not God's will that you remain lost another day!

Field Trip #1

Today the Kindergarten and Elementary classes had their first field trip of the school year. Because of family plans, only Leah and Juliana were able to represent the Kindergarten class on this field trip. However, I am glad both of them were able to come because it was a BUS field trip, and they haven't gotten to experience the thrill of a bus ride like Grace and Aidan have. (They get to ride on a bus each school day!) :-)

Just look at those smiles!! They definitely loved their first ride on the bumpy bus. :-)

We went to the Hay Creek Festival. It is the home of the historic Joanna Furnace, which we got to learn about. Some of the younger students thought that it was the same furnace that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into. We tried to explain that although it might be similar, it wasn't the same one, but I am not sure if the connection was made. Oh well...at least now they will have a visual every time they hear that Bible story!

There were LOTS of things to do and see at the festival. So many workshops and exhibits for the children to experience what life was like back in the "olden days".

Watching a lady weave a scarf...

Pumping water from an old-fashioned water pump...

Learning how to roll out animal fur, which was being used to make some types of hats...

This rather furry rabbit got to depart from some of its fur in the heat of the day. As the lady was talking to the children, she was pulling out clumps of hair and weaving it in with the wool! Yes, the thing on her lap is actually a live rabbit. I have NEVER seen a rabbit with THAT much fur before!

The highlight of the field trip for many of the children was the "stamp treasure hunt" they got to participate in. Throughout the festival there were different stamping stations. At the beginning of our day, each child received a paper that had spaces for different stamps. If you got a stamp from each station, you got a prize. Needless to say, the children were rather motivated to get that paper filled!! Although we ended up having to do some fast-paced walking/running towards the end to get to the last stamp station, each child was able to complete their paper and collect their prize - a candy stick from the "olden days". :-)

It was a great first field trip, but I am looking forward to Field Trip #2 when all 4 Kindergarten kiddos will be able to join in the fun!

Stay tuned for more adventures....:-)

The Job that Best Fits Me

I am pleased to announce that a Facebook quiz has yet again helped me discover more about myself. Seriously, what would we do without Facebook quiz revelations?!! :o)

I took the What job best fits you? quiz and got: Teacher

Children and education are your passion. Seeing a little child cry breaks your heart and your goal in life is to make a difference for somebody. You are the sweetheart with your heart on your sleeve and almost everybody loves you. The smell of new books excites you and you spend more time at the school than you do at home.