Beginnings

"To glorify God and enjoy Him "whoever". This is the answer Lillian gives each time I ask her what is man's primary purpose. Even when I type her words it brings a smile to my face. Doing "school" with her has done the same. It over joys me each day. One thing we do each week is a service project. Our theme verse is "serve the Lord with gladness" from Psalms 100:2. I, with the help of Facebook friends, have come up with a service project for each letter. I hope to share pictures soon but for now will share details.
A Apple juice and apple sauce for Anderson Interfaith Ministries (AIM)
Lillian and I took the donations we had received from friends to AIM early one morning. The nice man who helped us showed us where food was stored and about the people they serve.
B Baby boy clothes for Care Pregnancy Center
Once again Lillian and I took our donation of clothes and diapers to the center. Now when we ride by Lillian tells us that is where women go for help with babies and they need clothes. So sweet to see the Lord help her remember who we have served.
C Coins for Calvary
This has been one of my favorite projects. At the beginning of August I sent a letter to all of Lillians friends asking that they collect coins for Calvary. They did it! We raised over $68 among a small group of two and three year olds. We delivered the money and took pictures with the children who would directly benefit from the money. I can't wait to see this ministry grow next year!
D donuts for Dad
We surprised Joey at work with his favorite donut one morning. Such a sweet thing to teach our little ones to serve their fathers! It of course served me as well to see my husband take such delight in our daughter.
E Errands for the elderly
This project did not work as well as I planned. All the elderly I called from church did not need errands ran. So we modified and wrote "encouraging notes to the elderly". Lillian wrote and drew and I translated. So precious!
F Flowers or Food for a friend This is where we are now. So I will report back soon.
G Goodies for good news club workers
Our church host the Good News Club at Midway Elementary so we will provide some fall treats for them.
H Hats for the Homeless. We hope to donate collected hats to Haven of Rest
I Ice for the injured
Plan on purchasing some ice packs for NCS students who get hurt and need an ice pack while at school.
J Jollyranchers for Jessica
(Jessica is my husbands assistant but you could do any J name)
K Need an idea!?????
L ladies for Lunch
We have assisted living place across the street from our house and we refer to the tenants as the Ladies. We wave and talk to them any time they are on the porch so hopefully I will be able to coordinate lunch with them some how.
M Money for Missionaries
As a family we are going to pick one missionary family or mission to send money to this week.
N Notes for Nursery workers
O ornaments for orphans
P Pizza with the pastor
Q Quiznos for quality care
Hopefully I will be able to deliver some Quizno sandwiches to our doctors office for their quality care of us.
R Read to.... Still working on this one
S scripture and snickers for someone
T Treats for terrific teachers
U used toys for the unfortunate
V volunteer for veterans
W Word searches foe widows
X xerox copies for the teachers at NCS
Y Yummies for Youth
Z Zoo????

I look forward to sharing how through "serving the Lord with gladness" we learn more about our merciful Father.

The Beginnings of a New Classroom

One of my favorite parts of teaching was decorating my classroom. Some things never change! Our "classroom"is in one of the corners of our guest room so I had to coordinate the colors of our materials with the room. I was able to go to two teaching stores last week and shop with my girls for supplies. The lady at the counter asked me where I taught. I replied "I teach at home." I am sure she thought why do you need bulletin board border at home. For those of you who know me well, know I could open a store and just sell border. I love it! 

So, once I got home the decorating began and has not stopped. However, I am still looking for that moment when I walk into the room and it makes me feel refreshed because it is complete with all the right "touches". I felt this same way when decorating my 4th grade classroom, as well as overwhelmed about all the standards I needed to cover. Now, thankfully I only have one standard to teach towards.  In Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. " Even though this standard is overwhelming on many days, I am so excited to embark on the journey of teaching my little ones at home! Praise the Lord for opportunity to find joy in what we love!

"Good Morning Teacher Mommy" are the sweet words I love to hear from my two year old each morning at the beginning of school. However, it is has been a "desire of the heart" in the making for many years. Most of my memories as a child are of me playing school for hours on end any where I could find a space. Many of my days included grading pretend papers, writing lesson plans, teaching "students", making bulletin boards etc. My desire of being a teacher finally came true in 2002 when I began a six year journey as a fourth grade teacher. During my second and third year I earned a masters and thought my dreams would continue as an administrator of teachers. But the Lord had other plans! I met Joey while getting my masters and was married the week after graduation. Two years later we were blessed with our first little girl and two years after that our second girl ,therefore the teaching began. Now I am completing real lesson plans for our first full year of homeschool preschool. So, I decided to share some of my experiences with you as "teacher mommy".