Cards & Crafty Chics

Time to catch up a little from Christmas Break since I spent all of it without my computer I couldn't post anything about the fun I had. I got to hang out with some of my favorite people and make cards together! Here they are in all their glory.... Jen, twirling her tulle

Could this be Amy adhering white embossing powder instead of clear? :)

Buffie & Katye wielding the wands of heat!

Katye and I - a gazillion miles away from where we met!

What I love about kids

Last night, I went to interview a lady named Jennifer who has a club for kids one evening a month in a local school where she gets to share the gospel with them. When I pulled up to the curb I knew I was at the right house because there were people (and they looked very little) sitting at the window watching for me. It was her two daughters. Now mind you, I had never met their mom or them but there they were watching for me like I was a really good friend! And when I came in the house they told me that they had been waiting and they were excited for this "guest" to arrive that their mom had called "a friend". That's the beauty of children isn't it? They don't even have to know you yet they still deem you worthy of their friendship.

One Blog Leads to Another

You know how one interesting blog often leads you to another...I started following this blog a couple months back because the pictures of Niger were absolutely awesome. I'm not exactly sure what Esther does in Niger but I do know that she seems to have a yard full of animals - horses, goats, dogs and birds - are the ones I know about. She takes beautiful pictures of her animals and of Niger and gives clever commentary. This particular pictures only post entitled "The Day We Told Allis What Happened to Her Father" made me laugh out loud. It's definitely worth a look!

No Public Talents to Display

Last year, my grade level chair decided to afford our first grade team the opportunity to display our talent for the purpose of providing one another with a good laugh. Our whole school had been through a lot of craziness so it was just a way to let off some steam. When the idea was announced, I got up and demonstrated my dancing ability just to emphasize the fact that I really don't have any public talents to display....I'm not a dancer, a singer, an instrument player or anything else. But the show had to go on and it had to include my 'talent' or lack there of. While preparing I was struck by a most brilliant idea which I will not reveal here because one day I might have to display my talents for you and I would hate to reveal my only possible public talent. I will just reveal that it included juggling. I had no idea that I had been caught in the act...which makes this picture all the more fun. I have to tell you that this event had our whole first grade in stitches. We laughed until we were crying! One of my other favorite acts was Sara who busted out the trumpet for the first time since she was in middle school or high school. Needless to say after hearing her, I felt fine about getting up and displaying my non-talent. We all just laughed at our REALLY bad talents!

A Weary World Rejoices

My Dad loves watching the news. It's his thing! But lately watching the news has been more than a little depressing. At least I find it difficult to listen to it for long periods of time especially the financial news. Just this week we heard a story about a man in New York, working in the area of finances who committed suicide because of a loss of a billion dollars. It's heartbreaking to think that some have lost all hope to the point that they've given up on life.

Tonight I went to the Christmas Eve service at my brother's church. We were in the middle of singing "O Holy Night" and the words just hit me...

the weary world

We are weary aren't we? Weary of things that don't satisfy. Weary of broken down relationships. Weary of trying to mend them. Weary of waking up to face our troubles again. Weary of hurt and bitterness and anger. Weary from all the effects of sin.

the weary world rejoices

Why does the weary world rejoice? Because God looked down on this world full of weary sinners and had compassion on us. He loved us and He sent Jesus to lift the burden of sin from our backs, to restore hope and give us a reason to live and a reason to rejoice.

"Thank You" doesn't seem adequate enough for this gift of hope we've been given. God, you are so worthy of our praise! Reach down into our weary lives and restore hope this Christmas. We need you.




This is one of my favorite versions of "Oh Holy Night".

Wacky Weather

The weather's been a little strange the last 24 hours. Last night I went to bed and the world around was covered in white but clearly starting to melt. Sometime in the night it must have begun raining. By the time I woke up all the snow was gone. I was actually kind of sad. However, within about 4 hours the world around was covered in a blanket of snow again. Unfortunately, the blanket of snow covered some crazy patches of ice. Glad I didn't have to go anywhere today! Had a little fun writing in the fresh snow! I love the dusting of snow covering the branches.

There is truly something so peaceful and quiet about a world covered in a fresh blanket of snow!

This Sounds Like Fun!

I've never read The Elf on the Shelf before but I just read about it on someone's blog and it sounds like so much fun that I want to try it myself. Apparently, it's about an elf named "Scout" that Santa sends to make sure that kids are behaving well and you can get a little elf to go along with the book. Then every day leading up to Christmas, Scout takes up a different position in the house to "spy" on the goings on and report back to Santa. As a teacher, I always have a hard time making up my mind whether I really want to promote Santa or not...so I really don't say much about it but wow, I can only imagine the power of this elf to improve classroom behaviour if he were to suddenly appear in the days leading up to Christmas. That...you've got to love!