Something old, Something new

Kunsmiller K-8 Creative Art Academy

For those of you who didn't read "random facts" about me, factoid number 2 was: "I love school…as a student or a teacher…always have…always will." With that said, today was the "first day of school" for me, once again, after being out of the classroom for about 5 years.

With my experiences with upper elementary, mid school, high school and unversity students and teaching science, my assignment as a KINDERGARTEN, reading intervention teacher is a new direction indeed. But the fun thing about teaching is that there is SO MUCH TO TEACH and SO MUCH TO LEARN!

Thus, my learning curve started in full force today and my teaching will hopefully follow soon. In the meantime, I get to spend time reading with little ones. Who can beat that?

Thankfulness

For my family, my health, a nice soft bed
My friends, my freedom, a roof over my head

I'm thankful right now to be surrounded by those
Whose lives touch me more than they'll ever possibly know

Thankful Lord, that You've blessed me beyond measure
Thankful that in my heart lives life's greatest treasure

That You, dear Jesus, reside in that place
And I'm ever so grateful for Your unending grace

--Scott Wesemann

Premier Soccer- Table of Champions

There was a time (in the not so distant past) when this particular foosball table was the most expensive piece of furniture in our house. It all started when Adam was having a bunch of kids over for his birthday party. We already had the trampoline but Mark thought that the addition of a foosball table was just what was needed for a boys teenage party.

So, off Mark went in search for the coveted table. I, being the nieve wife who knew nothing of the costs of such a precious piece, was absolutely floored (at the cost) when Mark returned with the "Premier Soccer Table of Champions". "This table is solid-quality and it will last forever", he assured me. Needless to say, the table WAS used and used. I think that Adam actually made some money off of friends when they came to our house at lunch and played foosball (he was pretty much unbeatable). In fact, it was one of the first pieces of furniture he bought for his first apartment (seriously???).

Unfortunately, we don't have room in our smaller house for the "Table of Champions"....and it hasn't been really used in years. So, today I listed it on Craigslist as, "Foosball Table- Solid-Quality". Perhaps it will make a great holiday gift for some lucky teenager for many years to come!

October storm

I wasn't ready for this much snow in October but now that it is here and the city has pretty much "shut-down" for awhile, I am coming around....it is really pretty!

So I took some pictures and went on the internet to find some intellectual, philosophical or awe inspiring quotes about snow for this post but I ended up with this one;

“When it snows, you have two choices: shovel or make snow angels”

So, I'm off to make a snow angel in the back yard with the dogs.....and then, I will shovel!

Pa Pap

One of the most precious things to witness is our grandchildren sitting on my dad's lap so that he can read to them. Keadryn came up with calling him "Pa Pap" (it is a lot easier than saying "great-grandpa") and I'm sure that this will be his name for all of the great-grandkids that follow.

I LOVE that he is in Denver and that we are also here to share in these moments!

Are you serious????

I can't tell you how much that I enjoy going to visit our kids and friends. I can barely sleep the night before we leave with anticipation of spending time with them. I really don't care WHAT we do, I'm just glad that we have the time together.

So when I woke up at "dark thirty" this morning and spent the next 12 hours in and out of the bathroom being sick, I wondered why couldn't this happen when I was at home? So far, I have already missed visiting with our dear friend, Edna, and we postponed our visit with Anvita, Vivek and their new baby girl until tomorrow.

Hopefully the tea and toast stay down and I will good as new tomorrow.

Gaining a heart of wisdom

At the beginning of every year, I set goals; physical, professional and personal goals. Not too many that I cannot really commit to them but far enough "out there" that I really need to work on them. The top of my "goal list" for 2009 was to spend some intentional time in "The Word" so that I could really get to know God....not just about Him but who He really is. I actually wrote down the prayer of my heart on January 1, 2009, Psalm 90:12, "Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom". My goal this year was to become more a woman of wisdom, prayer, and to experience joy in all circumstances. In fact, I made another notation in my bible regarding this passage on June 9, "We must have a right view of eternity to know the real value of time".

Several months later, when I was visiting Jordan, I picked up a book on her living room coffee table, "Holy Habits". I began reading it and thought that I would enjoy doing the study in the book. So I asked Jordan if I could borrow it. The study has been wonderful...in fact, Mimi states in her first chapter that her lifetime goals are to know God and to become a woman of worship, prayer, wisdom, peace and contentment. Coincidence???? I think not!



To make a long story short, I actually contacted Mimi Wilson (the author) as she is living in Denver and asked if she could speak at a Women's Retreat for our church in September. She agreed and that retreat was last weekend. I purchased another "Holy Habits" book at the retreat to give to Jordan. As I was looking at the back cover yesterday, I was brought to tears.....at the top of the book she wrote Psalm 90:12 as her inspiration for writing her book, "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." I have been reading Holy Habits for months and I never read the back cover.

I LOVE how God works...when we are truly seeking Him and at just the right time, He brings people and circumstances into our lives so that we can KNOW Him!