Singing Bible Verses

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4D-XibtcZU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zylWykASN7E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2MvHqAXgwo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4fOkOy7TRc

Autumn Spotlights

This afternoon, the Kindergarten class made "Autumn Spotlight" cookies.

It's a simple recipe consisting of: 1 yellow cake mix, 1/2 c. peanut butter, 1/4 c. butter (softened), 1/4 c. water, 2 eggs, and 1 c. Reese's Pieces.

Mixing all the ingredients...

Adding the best part...Reese's Pieces!!



Using a special "handy-dandy-cookie-dough-scooper" to put the cookies on the trays...

After baking for 7-9 minutes at 350 degrees, the cookies were done!

Despite the fact that one tray turned into more of a "burnt offering" (I blame the cookie sheet and oven for that one!! :-)), we had lots of fun making the cookies, sampling them, and then going around the school to share our cookies with others. (Thanks to all who were brave enough to try one!!)

Sunrise & Day at the Beach

This morning we woke up at the EARLY hour of 4 am, so we could make it to Ocean Grove in time for the sunrise. Alayna and 3 of her friends had come up with this idea a few months ago. Despite the fact that we were all dragged out of bed WAY too early for a Saturday morning, it was totally worth it! We made it just as the early morning light was beginning to peak over the horizon. Seeing the sun rise over the glistening ocean waters was beyond amazing!

All I could think of as I was seeing this breathtaking view was the one hymn we sing in church...

Here is love vast as the ocean...

Enjoy the short picture video I put together (well, actually Picasa did!) of today's adventures at the beach!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abJm0Z-9Z6I

Pumpkin Patch Field Trip

Today the Kindergarten and Elementary students went to Savidge Farms for a field trip (better known to my kiddos as the "Pumpkin Patch" field trip! :-)). What a perfect field trip for a crisp fall afternoon!

We got to go on a hayride...

We each got to pick our very own pumpkin...

The children got to go through a corn maze, and then climb on a hay bale castle/tunnel...

On top of the world!!

There also was a combine there for the children to climb in, and then go down a fun slide.

Inside, there were other fun activities to do. They especially loved playing in the corn.

Before we left, we got to visit some of the animals. The goats were being rather social!

If you want to see more pictures, go here to our school's blog to view them!

My Little Clowns

My "1/4 Century" Birthday

Yep, I am now 1/4 of a century. What a comforting thought indeed! I have also said that I am halfway to 50...even more comforting! However, it's been a great birthday so far!

My mom made my birthday cake...of course! I love what she did with it this year!

If you want to see the cakes she made for me for my past birthdays go here. When I first created this blog, I dug up all the pictures from my past birthdays and the cakes that went along with them, and posted them all. That started this whole blog thing rolling! In fact, today is the 2nd anniversary (???) of my blog, and this is my 322 post. Wow! I must have lots to say... :-)

Today I celebrated my birthday with my family...

A sibling pose :-)

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On Friday, Mrs. Lytle made me a birthday cake, and the Kindergarten and Elementary students sang to me.

Of course, they were all thrilled to get a piece of the cake as well!!

It's definitely been a great birthday so far with lots of yummy cake!

Apple Afternoon

Today, the Kindergarten and Elementary students enjoyed an "Apple Afternoon".

They made cinnamon applesauce ornaments....

(Recipe - 1 c. cinnamon, 3/4 c. applesauce, 1/4 c. Elmer's school glue)

They formed bread dough into different shapes...
(The bread was then baked in the oven and topped with butter, cinnamon & sugar = yum!!)

They got to make applesauce...definitely the highlight!

They got to work on Apple coloring pages, Apple word searches, and Apple mazes...

They listened to an Apple story...

They watched a Johnny Appleseed movie...

And saving the best for last, they got to eat the applesauce and bread they had made!

What a fun-filled afternoon!

I put some more pictures here on our school's blog, so be sure to check them out as well!

Following Directions!

Today after recess, I had to run out of the classroom for a few minutes. I told my kiddos, "Get the carpets ready for story time, and sit quietly. I will be right back!"

When I got back, this is exactly what I found...

We have been reviewing our class rules this past week. Our #1 rule is - Follow Directions. Seeing this response to a classroom rule definitely makes this teacher's heart glad!!

Rock Pets

Last week as I was having the children clean out their desks, rocks that had been collected awhile ago during recess, were discovered to still be hidden inside their desks. (It's amazing how much stuff can get collected inside those desks!) So I decided it would be fun for the children to paint them, and create their own "rock pet".

Who knew "rock pets" could be so cute?!

They were excited to finally take them home today!

Memories and Friendship

I said goodbye to a dear friend today. Rachel and her family are officially on their way to Botswana even as I write. They are being sent out as missionaries from our church. Pastor Hammett has been my pastor for almost 23 years, which means that Rachel and I have been friends since...well...forever! I don't remember a "beginning" to our friendship. I am guessing we met in 2's and 3's junior church, and of course, those beginning years are quite the blur!

As I have slooooowly gotten used to the fact of the Hammetts leaving, my mind has literally been swirling with all the memories I have shared with Rachel over the years. We've been through every stage of life together (minus the infant stage!) so as you can imagine, my "memory drive" is on overload!

It's unfortunate sometimes that it takes a big change like this to make you realize how much you love and appreciate someone! It's been easy for me to take our friendship for granted at times...just being used to the fact that Rachel has always been there.

Now, as we like to say at our church, today was not "Goodbye forever!" to the Hammett family, but "See ya later!" Even if, for some reason, we never meet here on earth again, we have the reassurance - as Christians - that we will be together one day in Heaven. However, we are still looking forward to future visits here on earth! :-)

Pictures are worth 1,000 words, so although I could write a LONG, LONG post about every memory I have shared with Rachel, I'll just post 5,000 words of pictures. :-)

(Even the lyrics to the song below bring back memories - who knows how many times our girl's group sang this song together!?)

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God gives us special friends,
forever friends,


(I had to find at least one picture of us when we were in our "glasses stage"!)

Who know just what to say

(I think this was taken a Winter camp judging by the chairs in the background!)

God gives us special friends to walk with us along life's way.

(At a baseball game, listening to the guys sing the National Anthem)

And oh, how great to know, as on we go,

(Enjoying Starbucks in NYC)

There's someone there to share,

someone who cares.

(All dressed up in NYC, eating at a Mexican place before going to see "The Miracle Worker")

God gives us special friends,

Who always will be there.

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I have been blessed in life to have some really special friends. As we all get older, and life is constantly changing, we don't always get to spend a lot of time together. I found this quote the other day, which reminded me of the friendship I share with Rachel, but it is also true for all of the rest of you who I can claim as special friends!

~True friendship is not being inseparable; It's being separated and nothing changes.~