child like faith

i love teaching. i love interacting with kids. most of all, i love hearing kiddos talk about Jesus.

this week i was subbing in a kindergarten class. [oh, and i love kindergarten!] as the students were working on a worksheet, it was my job to walk around and monitor their work. as i was making my rounds, i walked by a table of girls who were talking more than working. as i made my way to the table, i heard "Jesus" excitedly come from one of the girls mouths and became very curious. here is the conversation that took place [with much enthusiasm]

girl 1: "DID YOU KNOW JESUS DIED FOR US?!"
girl 2: "YEAH! JESUS DIED! ... FOR US! ISN'T THAT SOO COOL?"
girl 3: "Yeah, did you know that?!"
me: "I did know that"
girl 1: [goes to one of her friends at another table] "DID YOU KNOW JESUS DIED FOR US?!"
girl 4: "Jesus died for us! Isn't that so sad?"
me: It's not sad.
girl 2: "YEAH! It's not sad. HE died so that we may live."
girl 5: "He died so that we could live?"
girl 1: "Yeah, he died so that we could live with him one day in Heaven. JESUS DIED FOR US!"

..and this was the conversation that has brought me much joy. while the rest of the day was slightly challenging, God brought me back to this conversation to show me his simple truth; He died for us.

here is a sermon from john piper about children that i plan to listen to this afternoon. 

here is a short article by piper that you should read.

"Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3-4)

snow days

saturday, we received around a foot of snow.
so, we made a snowman.
meet sunny.

provision

this whole substitute teaching thing is going a lot slower than i anticipated. and i mean a LOT slower. this friday will be my fourth job in four weeks. besides subbing with the public schools, i have been subbing at the children's center through the university.  how am i holding up? some day are better than others. but through this i am finally starting to see a glimpse of what the Lord is trying to teach me.

for the past month i have been reading Luke. four days ago i stumbled across Luke 12: 1-34  - and have been camped out ever since.

anxiety...a sin that hits close to home. for me, it usually sounds like: shouldn't i have a full-time job now that i'm done with college? will i get a sub job this week? whats my purpose this semester? what are we going to do after this semester? will we make enough money? am i respecting my husband enough? blah blah blah...

but then, Jesus said:

wow, there is a lot in these 3 verses. but ultimately, seek his kingdom and you will receive what you need. it's that easy? 

i am starting to see this is going to be a process for my heart. a process that probably won't happen over night. God has already shown me that when i seek his kingdom, he will provide jobs. and when jobs are canceled, he wants me to seek his kingdom that much more and trust in his provision. 

what does the next 3 months, year, 5 years look like for us? i don't have the slightest clue. [seriously] what i do know is that i am starting a journey of learning how to seek His kingdom and in return we will be given exactly what we need. 

Luke 12:29-31

pinewood derby's and entertainment centers

saturday was cody's first [cub scout] pinewood derby experience!

one of his students that he mentors is a cub scout so cody decided to compete in the "outlaw" race. overall, cody placed 7th out of 13 cars. he had a couple disadvantages: sickness and not knowing the cars weight. [notice the taped coins on top of the car?]

his student received best of show out of the pack! the student painted his car as a white hamster, with detailed whiskers and all. cody went with a simple green and yellow theme. [go pack go!]

overall, we had a lot of fun. plus it meant the world to his student that cody took the time to make a car, and compete in the derby. needless to say, i am so proud of cody. :)

also speaking of cody, remember when i said he made an entertainment center here?

here is an unfinished glimpse. we still need to paint it and figure out how to hide the cords behind the unit. i will post pictures when it is complete.

i am blessed by his workmanship and relationship building.

my first sub job!

yesterday i had my first, official job!
i was at the school i student taught at.
let me tell you, it felt SO good to be back [even if it was for a half day].

what did i teach? well, i basically was a floater.
first hourish: indoor recess.
next hour: music teacher for 1st grade.
[this was...interesting! ha! it went well, and thankfully did not have to sing. but there is a reason i don't plan to teach music full time :)]
fifteen minutes: music teacher for kindergarten
[sadly, not the class i taught last semester. but it went so well! so much it made me rethink of i shouldn't be a kindergarten teacher...]
last 45 minutes: 1st grade teacher.

at one point i had to walk past the kindergarten room and was caught by a couple of my past students. with wide eyes and grinning faces, i heard "THAT WAS MRS. ANDERSON!!" and had to quickly keep walking to not disrupt the entire class. yes, i feel like a movie star. and yes, i miss them greatly.

i am starting to realize that i am having a difficult time moving on from those kiddos. but thankfully, God's grace and love meet me right where i am. and show me that he does have a special plan for me to be a teacher. now it's always a matter to truly trusting and believing His truths.

updates

obsessing over: the color gray, boots and scarves

working on: having quiet times each day with the Lord, rearranging and organizing our apartment, working out, making a substitute bag

reading: 

• One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are 
• The Power of a Praying Wife

thinking about: that i think the most when i am trying to go to sleep, and to be grateful for everything i have been given in all circumstances

anticipating: my first substitute job, and what this semester will look like for our jobs

listening to: pandora stations: gungor, phil wickham and the head and the heart

drinking: water, spark, tea

wishing: i had my own classroom - i may have said this before but i am ready to teach.

[this might be a new trend for my blog. maybe once a week? we will see...]