Friday, September 28, 2012
Roses
PENCILS
Emily told me a beautiful story. I hope I can do it justice by writing it out, I believe it will make a difference for generations to come on how teachers use their time with children. The story so warmed my heart that I cried, adding to the tears I had been crying all day for one reason or another. I think it was just one of those days where everything was so clear to me in the Heaven-lies. I seemed to understand how much what we do here on earth really matters to God.
I also believe that one minuet given to a child's benefit will have a ripple effect for generations to come. I believe it will make a difference in their life.
We cannot claim that the Scriptures are unclear on how precious children are to our God Almighty. He not only loves them with a love we cannot begin to understand, but he respects and believes in them.
Okay, on with the story...
Emily Jo (Mrs. Harren) is a Kindergarten teacher. She often times can tell us wonderful stories about what happens in her job. Today she gets to tell me a story and I can know who she is talking about... it is our Jaci Anna.
Jaci Anna is a great speller. She has her spelling test on Friday's and her mom lets her buy a pencil on each Friday before her test. They call it her "lucky pencil".
Today she is searching all over the room looking for something...
"What are you looking for Jaci"
"I am looking for all the pencils, I want to have a lucky pencil for each person in my class, I want them all to do good on their spelling also"
... well, momma gets right busy and helps her find enough new pencils for her class. While she is doing this she explains to Jaci that her teacher may not have time to have each student get a new pencil and to sharpen it before the test. She explains it in a way that only a teacher who knows the rush of the day can do. Jaci seems understanding but is determined that she would like to do this, do it for her class...
so she finds 23 pencils and brings them with her.
Jaci explains to the teacher that she has a lucky pencil for each one of the students.
I imagine right about now her teacher could have blew a gasket, thinking of all the extra time this would take, knowing that she has government rules to follow and guidelines that don't inlcude extra time for things such as this.
But, she didn't...
instead
she graciously helped Jaci give each student a lucky pencil, and let them all sharpen them before their spelling test.
And each student did better because of it...
because a teacher took the time to let a little girl give of herself to others.
We cannot claim that the Scriptures are unclear on how precious children are to our God Almighty. He not only loves them with a love we cannot begin to understand, but he respects and believes in them.
Okay, on with the story...
Emily Jo (Mrs. Harren) is a Kindergarten teacher. She often times can tell us wonderful stories about what happens in her job. Today she gets to tell me a story and I can know who she is talking about... it is our Jaci Anna.
Jaci Anna is a great speller. She has her spelling test on Friday's and her mom lets her buy a pencil on each Friday before her test. They call it her "lucky pencil".
Today she is searching all over the room looking for something...
"What are you looking for Jaci"
"I am looking for all the pencils, I want to have a lucky pencil for each person in my class, I want them all to do good on their spelling also"
... well, momma gets right busy and helps her find enough new pencils for her class. While she is doing this she explains to Jaci that her teacher may not have time to have each student get a new pencil and to sharpen it before the test. She explains it in a way that only a teacher who knows the rush of the day can do. Jaci seems understanding but is determined that she would like to do this, do it for her class...
so she finds 23 pencils and brings them with her.
Jaci explains to the teacher that she has a lucky pencil for each one of the students.
I imagine right about now her teacher could have blew a gasket, thinking of all the extra time this would take, knowing that she has government rules to follow and guidelines that don't inlcude extra time for things such as this.
But, she didn't...
instead
she graciously helped Jaci give each student a lucky pencil, and let them all sharpen them before their spelling test.
And each student did better because of it...
because a teacher took the time to let a little girl give of herself to others.
The Moon
I walked 600 times down the 600 wing today...
punched papers, read emails, read the newspaper, talked, rubbed backs, smiled, laughed, cried, walked 500 times down the 500 wing...
charted, played lawn dice, got sheep-head players gathered, feed the birds, loaded up the car to go home, got the mail, stopped and got some milk, picked up the snap towels, put them in the washer, changed my clothes, grabbed a plastic bag and the dog, put Nola Jean in the stroller...
and we walked
and she took her little finger and pointed to the moon
and in her excitement she said in her beautiful voice that melts my heart
"the moon gramma, look at the moon"
suddenly nothing else mattered to me at all
except the beautiful evening
the moon shining full in the sky
and the voice of my baby girl rolling over the rushed places of my heart
slowing me down, bringing me to a peaceful place where the moon shines and little girl voices sooth your soul.
And I pray for each of my grandchildren now. Lord, when they look at the moon that they will know even if I am not with them - I am looking at it too. And I am praying that they know the love of Jesus Christ, that they will be filled with His joy.
punched papers, read emails, read the newspaper, talked, rubbed backs, smiled, laughed, cried, walked 500 times down the 500 wing...
charted, played lawn dice, got sheep-head players gathered, feed the birds, loaded up the car to go home, got the mail, stopped and got some milk, picked up the snap towels, put them in the washer, changed my clothes, grabbed a plastic bag and the dog, put Nola Jean in the stroller...
and we walked
and she took her little finger and pointed to the moon
"the moon gramma, look at the moon"
suddenly nothing else mattered to me at all
except the beautiful evening
the moon shining full in the sky
and the voice of my baby girl rolling over the rushed places of my heart
slowing me down, bringing me to a peaceful place where the moon shines and little girl voices sooth your soul.
And I pray for each of my grandchildren now. Lord, when they look at the moon that they will know even if I am not with them - I am looking at it too. And I am praying that they know the love of Jesus Christ, that they will be filled with His joy.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
TURTLE TIME
***the little guy was tired, maybe a little apprehensive about going to the open house and starting kindergarten himself in a few days.
I did manage to get him dressed, out the door, and to the school by 6:30, even though this was not on his time scale - we got it done!
That night after everyone got home Conner D. came home with grams and I. He was sleeping by the time we backed out of their driveway. Just another reinforce r that this little guy needs his sleep. If he doesn't get it you are going to notice a few behaviors.
On Friday we woke up after sleeping in and got all of our stuff ready to go to NewUlm. Practice is at 6:00 and then a little supper gathering after. Lila, Conner and myself are in the car, all things packed, and off to see if we can find some new school shoes, check in the motel, meet Lindsey and get a bite to eat.
***the little guy was ready to go (with new shoes on) by 6:00. He may have been a little apprehensive about getting to a place where he had never been, and being with people he hasn't seen in a long time... it wasn't on his time scale - but, we got there!
After the practice Lindsey took Conner D to the motel for a little swim and sleep. Lila and I went to Lafayette for the "grooms supper". It was a wonderful time and the food was the top! When we got home he was sleeping peacefully. So, to bed with us also... we have to have Conner D. to the church by 11:30 for pictures. We all slept until about 9:00 am. Hopefully that was the 12 hour slot he needed to make it through a long day in a tux! In the shower we go, get the hair washed and combed and the new spider man undies (see an older blog, they take care of a lot of things!) on Now the tux pants, and shirt... and...
WHAM OH! He has decided that he doesn't want to wear a tux, everyone is going to laugh. He doesn't want me to help him and low and behold if he doesn't want his mom and dad who are still in Foley.
WHAT IS A GRAMMA TO DO?
I get him dressed as far as I can and pack up the rest - deciding that someone at the church will help me coax him on how much fun this is going to be. The other ring bearer is there and his dad is helping him finish up his last details also. Thanks Rick for making this much easier on gramma. Rick and Tiegan help Conner get ready and soon
***the little guy is ready to go and he is on time!
Everyone did excellent on the picture taking and it was a beautiful day! We went to the park where everyone did a perfect job of smiling for the black box... - the whole wedding party was absolutely stunning - and my little guy was no exception. He was adorable and perfectly behaved. Mom and dad, along with Jordyn and Jaci arrived at the wedding in time to see their perfectly groomed, and behaved son walk down the isle before the bride and groom. It was a perfect wedding on a beautiful day and it was the best time I have had in NewUlm sense the last Hacker wedding!
***the little guy had his timing right on, everything else from my memory bank fell away!
The next day we all got our stuff ready at the motel and packed up to go home. The wedding couple would be opening gifts at the Keggle and we were invited. Emi, Chris, Jordyn, Jaci, Conner, Lila, Grams, Curt and myself went. We had some lunch there and watched as they opened gifts. The kids did great but it soon showed that it was time to go. Momma called to "pack up the van!" So after many good byes we all went outside to see my baby girl and her wonderful family get into the van, ready for their trip back to Foley. Everyone in their car seats?
Jaci Anna - check
Jordyn Noel - check
Daddy - check
Mom - ????
Mom cuts him short, "you need to get in your car seat right now!"
"but, mom I have to...."
"You need to get in your car seat right now... I am not talking about TURTLE TIME, I am talking now.
***the little guy is working on TURTLE TIME?!
And finally the whole week-end of gramma time comes together for me. I realize we did not have any problems getting going where we needed to go.
I was just working on a different time clock that my guy!
And I take this moment and thank my God above for the love of little boys. For giving me the time that I have had to spend loving him here on earth. And,
I let out my breath
and smile...
just thinking about "TURTLE TIME"
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN
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| MAY 2012 |
I choose to believe.
I believe this is an earthly good bye.
That she has met her Savior face to face.
The awe
it ignites a joy with in me that brings me to my knees.
The precious gift of love.
All the world falls away...
A BEAUTIFUL PINK DRESS ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON
I never had a sister.
My mom has a younger sister, Shirley Loy.
My girls have sisters, Emily Jo, Lindsey Kay, Lacey Lynn.
My grandchildren have sisters, Jaci AnnA and Jordyn Noel.
I think now about the bond of sisterhood.
How can I do that?
I never had a sister.
When I was young I remember only wanting one thing...
to get married'
and have a family.
I did not have many "boyfriends", many boys who found me worthy of dating and I became worried about if I would find someone. I knew at this time there was a God, I knew He loved me but I didn't know who He was...
so I went searching, looking for love (in all the wrong places).
I developed relationships during this time with Carol and Robin and other girls our age
and we went searching, looking for love (in all the wrong places).
We did eventually find our Savior.
We eventually found earthly partners and started our families.
I have sisters.
I think again of the bond of sisterhood.
....How when you are thinking -
You can reach out and touch them and not have to say anything and they know what you said.
They love you for all of your failures, all that you are searching to be, all that is behind you.
I see them snapping a picture of their three faces, remembering the years gone by and seeking the love they will have for each other when I am gone.
I see a kiss from a baby to her sister, trusting her care, knowing her love with out words.
I wonder if I could put all these pictures together, make them one
That is how I feel.
But, it is that we are only one in Christ. He pulls the threads of our heart and weaves them together
We are each a separate piece of His grand design and yet worked together for the beauty of the finished person, the person never being finished, living eternally with Christ.
Individual and yet one.
And I know that the whole earth is filled with His Glory
this beautiful Savior of ours. He fills the sky, the land, the sea
fills the hearts of my sisters and me.
And there you have the beautiful mess of sisterhood.
The life that you have lived together and yet apart,
keeping your breath held at the beauty of a pink dress on a Saturday afternoon...
and you give thanks for all that is within you for the wonder of a sister.
My mom has a younger sister, Shirley Loy.
My girls have sisters, Emily Jo, Lindsey Kay, Lacey Lynn.
My grandchildren have sisters, Jaci AnnA and Jordyn Noel.
I think now about the bond of sisterhood.
How can I do that?
I never had a sister.
When I was young I remember only wanting one thing...
to get married'
and have a family.
I did not have many "boyfriends", many boys who found me worthy of dating and I became worried about if I would find someone. I knew at this time there was a God, I knew He loved me but I didn't know who He was...
so I went searching, looking for love (in all the wrong places).
I developed relationships during this time with Carol and Robin and other girls our age
and we went searching, looking for love (in all the wrong places).
We did eventually find our Savior.
We eventually found earthly partners and started our families.
I have sisters.
I think again of the bond of sisterhood.
....How when you are thinking -
You can reach out and touch them and not have to say anything and they know what you said.
They love you for all of your failures, all that you are searching to be, all that is behind you.
I see them snapping a picture of their three faces, remembering the years gone by and seeking the love they will have for each other when I am gone.
I see a kiss from a baby to her sister, trusting her care, knowing her love with out words.
I wonder if I could put all these pictures together, make them one
That is how I feel.
But, it is that we are only one in Christ. He pulls the threads of our heart and weaves them together
We are each a separate piece of His grand design and yet worked together for the beauty of the finished person, the person never being finished, living eternally with Christ.
Individual and yet one.
And I know that the whole earth is filled with His Glory
this beautiful Savior of ours. He fills the sky, the land, the sea
fills the hearts of my sisters and me.
And there you have the beautiful mess of sisterhood.
The life that you have lived together and yet apart,
keeping your breath held at the beauty of a pink dress on a Saturday afternoon...
 |
| SISTERS THREE |
 |
| LOVE OF A SISTER |
 |
| THREE OVER THE YEARS |
 |
| SISTERS THREE |
 |
| SISTERS WITH MOM |
 |
| SISTERS THREE |
 |
| A PINK DRESS ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON |
 |
| SISTERS BOWLING |
 |
| SISTERS DANCE |
 |
| SISTERS WALK |
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