Superheroes, Bran, Single Ladies, Gravity, and Sesame Street

Today was the day!!  The first day with some of my students.  We do a staggered entry, so I only had half the class for a half day today, I will have half tomorrow, and then everyone on Wednesday.  I've been so excited about this day for a while.  The anticipation just about made me explode with excitement as I wondered about each one of them, their personalities, how they act when mom's not around (which can be good or bad!) what they're interested in, and what they love to do....oh I could go on and on.  There are so many little details about each one of them that makes them so unique, and a special part of our class family.

So, what I learned in my 4 hours with them today...

• No one likes bran cereal...what a shocker (not)
• I have 2 DIVAS! (maybe more after tomorrow)
• I have to watch/learn A LOT about batman, spiderman, superman, superwoman, cat woman, sand man, hulk, Bruce Wayne, Peter Parker, Clark Kent, and all the other superheroes...which i've avoided all these years...geez
• you can learn a lot about a family when you have cousins in the same class, if their moms only knew
• i'll have to plan a little lesson on "What goes up, WILL come down" ie. sand in the sand box, of course i think the lesson was learned for this little one...it only takes one speck in the eye...
• apparently "Single Ladies" is the hit song in the 4-year old world...sad
• you have to keep it a secret if you still like Seseme Street bc "its for babies"
• And...I basically have the COOLEST kids in Durham in my class

Can't wait to see what tomorrow holds!

Back to the Routine

Summer is over...sad, I know, but its the "season" of the year where everyone gets back into their "normal routine," and so will I.  I must say that summer, and what I do during the summer is part of my overall routine, but you know what I mean.  So what is my routine that I'm finding my way back to?  Well part of it is work.  I am a teacher, and so over the last week I have started to get ready for my next class of little ones.  I teach some of our youngest learners, 4 year olds, who rival some older kids in their eagerness for information and learning.

When I think about routines in reference to our days together, there literally is a routine for EVERYTHING we do.  A routine for coming into the classroom, for going to centers, cleaning up a meal, group time, lining up, cleaning up, reading, going outside, and the list goes on and on.  We use routines to make things habit, if we have the kids clean up their area the same way everyday, eventually it becomes a habit (a much desired one) and not just a routine.

So what? Kids need routines, yeah.  What about me though.  What is my daily routine? What habits am I forming because of my routine?  In all honesty, are they good, bad, consistent, inconsistent?  I think if I constructively criticize my routines or habits, there is room for improvement.  For example, I've got it down when it comes to getting ready in the morning...get out of bed, shower, get ready, etc...improvement comes in not hitting snooze 5 times before I actually get out of bed :-)  I'm also in the habit of driving to and from work the same way.  But I could probably stand to make it a habit not to be in such a rush or get flustered when the person in front of me isn't...I could in fact make it part of my routine to leave 5 minutes earlier.

But the biggest one for me, the one I need to be ever so consistent in, the routine that shouldn't be compromised...ever.  Well thats the one that I think a lot of us struggle with, and its stopping...just stopping...and finding the moment (or several) to have time with God, and rest in His presence.  Not just on Sunday morning or Wednesday night, but every single day.  And as much as I teach my students routines until they in fact become habit, why can't I (we) live by the same standard.  Sure I do it several days in the week, usually when it is "convenient" for me...but thats not how it is supposed to be.  I don't teach my kids to wash their hands after coming out of the bathroom so they can do it when its convenient for them...eww, gross....no, I teach them that routine so that is becomes a habit for every time they use the bathroom!

So, in the same way that I hold my kids accountable to the routines we have at school...I'm holding myself, and you, accountable to making it a part of our "normal routine" and a habit, to stop...stop and spend time with God, in the Word, talking with Him, and investing in my relationship with Him...every day.

I'm going to get back into my normal routine...with an added element, how about you?

Hurry Up Camp!

For the past several years (9 or so) I have worked with Youth Conference Ministries (YCM) at camps during the summer.  Several years I was a camp counselor, I did a couple of years on work crew, I've been an intern, done recreation, but now my claim is summer staff.  If you're not familiar with YCM or "Camp stuff" in general, those titles probably mean nothing to you, and thats okay.  

Basically Summer Staff is a summer long commitment to work at several different Great Escape Camps (middle school) and Fun In The Son camps (high school) all over the east coast, doing any and everything you can.  We help set up and tear down stage and program sets, help run cameras, spots, or slideshows at program, help run rec, help with evening events or aftermaths, and do SECURITY at night to ensure all campers are quiet, safe, and accounted for (this job can get quite exciting!)  Some interesting things happen on security...(stories to come) and I think I'm learning that I don't always understand middle school girls...shocker!

Anyways, I'm in the middle of my 2 off weeks, and while I've thoroughly enjoyed my time off, I am so ready to get back.  

You quickly find that camp staff becomes a family.  You spend 17-20 hours a day with the people working around you, so its hard not to get to know each other.  And like most families, there are countless stories of funny, exciting, embarrassing, and "stupid" moments, and inside jokes.  Moments like falling out of a chair in the middle of the common room (that was me), running into doors and support poles while everyone is watching you (not me...promise), or sitting in a friend's room, eating their snacks, about to talk to them, only to realize your in the wrong room!  Again, not me...I do have several stories though, mostly embarrassing, that I could share.  However, I think I'll leave you hanging and wondering....don't you hate that?!!

For the ones that were there with me, all I have to say is, Cheese Nips and Microphone...the rest of you can just wonder what happened   :-)

But how about this...next time I embarrass myself, or something really funny happens, I'll share it with you...promise!

covered by grace??

Apparently to have a blog, you have to have a blog name or a heading...and how in the world do you come up with something creative, but with meaning?  I would like to say I came up with mine because I am just that creative, cool, and "deep," but no...to be honest I was scrolling through the different fonts as I was designing my new blog, and what do you know...there really is a font called covered by grace!  

So I thought about it, moved on, went back, moved on, went back, and then paused.....(insert dramatic pause here).....covered by grace, well that definitely is me.  I'm covered by grace.  But really, what does that mean for me, what does it mean for you?  Aren't we all covered by grace...(YES would be the correct response, in case you're wondering)  But do we ever stop to think about it, realize it, accept it?  I'm covered by God's grace, whoa...that's a big deal!

2 Corinthians 12:9...go read it (its under my heading in case your Bible is MIA)

As I think about it, just in the last few weeks I have countless examples, big and small, of how God's grace really has been a covering over me.  As you may know, I've spent the last three weeks working at youth camps for middle school students, crazy at moments, but a humbling learning experience for sure.  

One weakness I truly have...ladders.  Heights really, but throw in a shaky 15 foot ladder....leads to weakness in every joint of my body.  But, I love a good challenge and building a platform for the camp program meetings requires someone to get atop a 15 ft ladder and bolt trusses together, tie curtain from dangling poles, hook up cool lights, etc.  I'm not really positive what I was thinking in the moment....but it was only by GOD'S GRACE that I climbed that ladder, multiple times and completed the task before me.  His power made perfect in my weakness.  

You may think, its just a ladder, why not let someone who's not scared get up there?  All I can say is that in the moment, I volunteered, but not me, Christ in me, to take my moment of weakness, and show His power to use a terrified gal on top of a 15 ft ladder, (no hands to hold on might I add) to teach me a lesson in His perfect grace.

So, I write to you....whoever you are reading this, we are covered by grace, even in a simple moment of bolting two pieces of steel together.  We're all weak...so what do we do?...finish the verse....

"...Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong."  2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 

Welcome

So I figure since everyone is doing it...why not give this blog thing a try?  I think I've realized over the last year or so, I have a really hard time keeping in touch with people.  I'm horrible at calling people, I only send necessary emails, and I stay pretty busy so good luck setting up lunch!  I do text, but how good can a conversation of shortened words and only 60 characters really be?

So, in an effort to share about what's going on in my life, and stay in touch with family, friends, and acquaintances I'm going to blog!  This is a new adventure, so let's see where it goes!....PS, I love to use exclamation points, they make things fun!!!