Gratituesday

Today was my youngest child's first day of preschool. Yes... such a big day. His big sister started first grade about two weeks ago, but today was his turn. He attends a little Christian, age- appropriate preschool two mornings a week in their three year old program, where, believe it or not, I attended thirty years ago. And yes, most of the same teachers are still there! The original teacher just retired in June, after 32 years of service. I am so grateful for the wonderful ladies that teach there. (So this morning we made them apple spice cakes with maple glaze... an apple for the teacher. Or an apple cake, at least! Picture with beloved Spidey backpack to the left...)

My husband texted me as I was dropping off our oldest, saying today was going to be a tough day for me (no tears from my little guy, but his Mama was so sad!!), but we are grateful for their love of school, interest in learning new things, and their smart little minds. He is so right!

Each year before the start of a new school year we pray for the safety, security, peace, hope, and growth of our little students, or "school boy" and "school girl" as we call our children, with this prayer...

"Dear Lord Jesus take my hand
I'm going to a foreign land.
One not ruled by king or preacher,
but someone by the name of teacher.

My mommy says that I'll have fun;
I'll sing and skip and play and run.
But I am scared 'cause I don't know
just what to do or where to go.

So please Lord Jesus hug me tight
and keep me in Your loving sight.
For with you by my side today,
I know that I will be okay."

Linked to: Gratituesday

Harvest Time...Well, almost!

I just had to snap a picture of our view this morning. Isn't God good?

"You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance" (Psalm 65:11).

One of our peach trees has been looking so, well, "peachy" lately. I check just about every other day to see if it's ready for picking, but they haven't been "just right" yet. Peaches that are ripe for the picking are softer to the touch (but not squishy), peachy scented, and easily picked off the tree. One of the trees...no where near ready. The other...a beautiful peach color, but still a little firm and difficult to pull off the branches. With all of the rain and cooler weather earlier in the summer, I think they need another week or two.

Well, this morning I found that one of the branches was broken...from one of the daily bear visitors, no doubt. So I had to pick at least this branch before they went rotten.

While not "ripe" for eating whole right now, I'll throw some in a paper bag to soften them up a bit and make preserves and peach butter out of the rest. Round 1 in the peach harvesting scramble. (This is just from one branch...about 60 peaches!!)

Post linked to: Gratituesday, How Does Your Garden Grow?

Gratituesday- Reaching out to Others

I wasn't going to go. We were in the middle of potty training, and there was no way I wanted to brave WalMart and food shopping in the same errand... but something drove me there. Literally. And before I knew it, I had parked in the Walmart parking lot, had my little guy, and was on my way in.

Back by the toy department on the search for a bribe/celebratory potty-training prize, I ran into the mother of one of my daughters friends from preschool. They had been in the 4 year old class together the previous year. We hadn't seen each other in about a year, and she asked how our kindergarten experience had been. I enthusiastically said what a great year my daughter had had and asked her the same about her daughter...when I noticed the look in her eyes that she just needed to talk.

She explained that they were dealing with the onset of her daughter having seizures and how difficult their year had been. I listened, and then with a compassionate smile on my face I explained how we had been down that same road with our daughter a few years ago. We had been through the same testing, sent to the same neurologist, and experienced many of the same emotions. She couldn't believe it. I was also able to share some insight as a teacher how to be an advocate for her daughter (we need to be our children's advocate...you know your child best!) and where to find some valuable information about the learning process. I gave her my email and phone number and told her I would help her if she needed...or I was there to listen and share anything I knew.

After our half-hour long conversation, I noticed a look of relief on her face, like a burden of needing to talk to someone who understood what she was going through was lifted off her spirit. I was candid in my conversation, re-living the feelings, emotions, anger, panic, etc, when we were going through the same thing...but the only difference was I didn't have anyone "like me" to talk to. No one I knew had been through it before. No one really understood. And I saw the need to reach out to her and to let her know they will get through this...it will work itself out.

I then knew why I ended up at WalMart that morning...

The purpose of this post is not to "toot my own horn" by any means, but reaching out in an empathetic way to others from the heart is gratifying, even in the middle of WalMart...and I think we all would benefit if we each took that step every once-in-a-while.

Post linked to: Gratituesday

Gratituesday...Let's do the Potty Dance!!

Tinkle, tinkle, little tot
Sitting there upon the pot.
Any second now, you'll see ...
Sprinkle, splash and you'll go pee!

Tinkle, tinkle, little tot

Sitting there upon the pot.

Today, I am especially grateful, and proud to say, my little boy is finally potty trained!! Woo Hoo!! I thought this day would never come! He sure is strong willed, that little boy, and he went at his own pace. But when he was ready, there was no turning back. Through this experience, as frustrating as it may have become at times, I prayed that I was strengthened with patience and perseverance.

It's bitter sweet... my oldest has her first loose tooth, and now my baby goes on the potty and it's off to preschool two mornings a week in the fall. I'm so happy they're growing and developing, yet another page has quickly turned in our journey as parents. If I could only figure out a way to slow down these years...

"...imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises"

(Hebrews 6:12)

This post is linked to: Gratituesday

Teacher Appreciation Day!

I come from a family of teachers...my father was a teacher/coach then athletic director, my sister is a special education teacher, my husband is a special education teacher and coach, and I am an elementary teacher (well...at least I was in my pre-children life...but I'm still a certified teacher!!) Therefore my daughters kindergarten teachers are dear to my heart. (Remember...it takes a village to raise a child!) For Teacher Appreciation Day we made each teacher and aide a jar of Southern Friendship Tea. They can enjoy it hot or make a cold pitcher of it for the summer.

And so this Gratituesday I'm showing my gratitude for all those teachers out there. Because an education is the most powerful tool in life!!

Number One Teacher

(Name of teacher),

I'm happy that you're my teacher;

I enjoy each lesson you teach.

As my role model you inspire me

To dream and to work and to reach.
With your kindness you get my attention;

Every day you are planting a seed

Of curiosity and motivation

To know and to grow and succeed.
You help me fulfill my potential;

I'm thankful for all that you've done.

I admire you each day, and I just want to say,

As a teacher, you're number one!

Joanna Fuchs

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Life...Enjoy the Ride!

Click here for a reminder of what life is all about...Enjoy the Ride!!

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A Bear Encounter...

A 400lb. black bear... in my dining room.

My husband, my daughter and I were downstairs in the basement watching TV (ironically it was an episode about Extreme Alaskan bears) and we heard a crash upstairs. I thought something had fallen, so I quickly ran up (my three year old had fallen asleep coming home from my nieces Confirmation, so I took him from the car and brought him inside still sleeping...he was ten feet away from the incident...still sleeping!!) and peeked in the kitchen- nothing was awry. So, I went around the corner, and came face-to-face with a 400lb. black bear. We have a sliding glass door off of our dining area, which is attached to the kitchen, and it was 75 degrees, so we had the glass door open and used the screen door, which is usual for us on warm days/nights. He/she had knocked the screen door right in and it fell to the wood floor (which is the crash we heard) and he/she had walked right in the house from the patio. I immediately started screaming for my husband, and everything flashed through my mind within seconds...how do I get my son out without getting mauled, how can I get a pot to either bang together or hit it with without getting mauled (which the "bear experts" recommend). I started making as much noise as I possibly could screaming, clapping, yelling, and waving my arms to frighten it. Somehow, by truly God's intervention, he/she backed right up back out the door and sat on the steps (this was all within about 20 seconds!!) I then ran around the table and managed to slam the glass door shut from the other side, then locking it. The bear then tried to get in again, slamming and pawing at the door.

I am so grateful for God's protection that no one was hurt/killed. I am so grateful that I did not have a heart attack (I know it sounds funny...but I was so frightened and I have a heart condition to begin with, that was certainly a possibility!!). And, I am so grateful for the five state troopers that came right away and chased this bear for over an hour to get a clear shot, to no avail. They were determined and tried their hardest, deep into the woods in the pitch black of night. I will be even more grateful when we get this bear...

The next morning the state contacted us to come to put up a bear trap to try to catch it (not the first time we've had one...and it never trapped one either!!) Well, yesterday the family of six bears (I think it was actually the Mama that came into the house) tried to get in the door again, then walked right over to the trap, looked in, and kept on walking. They're smarter than we think!!

So, it is an adventure living here in the Northeast, and we were always super cautious to all of the wildlife we have around our property. We are used to it. But never, ever did I think I had to be afraid in my home. Until now.

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray that you watch over us, our families, and our children. We thank you for being the place we can run to for safety, refuge and shelter. Hear our prayers, Lord. Keep our hearts tuned in to You as we dwell in the shelter of Your kingdom.

Gratituesday..."Chicken Soup for the Soul"

When I see a soul less fortunate than myself:

Less optimistic,

Less "well off",

Less healthy,

Less attached to his or her family,

Less assured of a peaceful night's sleep,
I can say, "there, but for the Grace of God, go I",
and be thankful
for what I have.

"If the only prayer you ever say in your life is thank you, it will be enough."
Meister Eckhart (?1260-1320?)

"Throughout history wise men and women have encouraged us to feel grateful for what we have.Why? Very simply because gratitude makes us feel good. When you're feeling grateful, your mind is clear, and therefore you have access to your greatest wisdom and common sense. You see the big picture."
- Richard Carlson, Ph.D., (1995)

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Gratituesday...St. Patrick's Day Edition

There are so many Irish blessings...I could probably post a different one each day for many years to come. I am grateful for my heritage and the ability to share with my children the blessings passed down through our family for generations. My grandparents knew these by heart, and I can still see my 6 foot 6 inch Irish grandfather in his green shirt and St. Patricks Day tie singing "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" and "Danny Boy", then reciting these blessings for us children. For this St. Patrick's Gratituesday I wanted to share with you some Irish Blessings that are dear to my family, but are universal.

An Old Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Another Old Irish Blessing
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!

And one I still say with my children daily:
A Morning Blessing
Christ be with me,
be after me,
be before me,
and be at my right and left hand.
May everything I do be for Christ.

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Gratituesday in honor of "Random Acts of Kindness Week"

Last week our local paper featured an article that really struck a chord. There was a large picture of an elderly man picking through blankets. This man looked disheveled, tired, lonely. He is someones son. Possibly someones husband, father, or brother. Well, he is homeless. The local soup kitchen (yes, we have one of those in this tiny little town) at the church hosted a "fair" for the homeless with free dental screenings, caseworkers on hand to check on them and to do the census, and free clothing, blankets, personal items, and winter coats. The article said the turnout was down this year due to the snowstorm that morning. It also said that homeless members of the community look forward to this all year, and quoted many as saying so. This one gentleman happens to live above an old hotel and restaurant, which the paper said is now housing the homeless. I couldn't stop looking at this picture. This could be any one of us. Well, I needed to do something (other than donating countless tubes of toothpaste...which I'm sure was given out at the fair), shampoo, and other CVS-type items. Don't get me wrong, these items are essential!! But I wanted to do something from my heart, and get my children involved as well. My daughter didn't even realize there were homeless people and even children, living in our area (which prompted countless questions). She wanted to do something nice for "Random Acts of Kindness Week". (Feb. 9-15th)

So...we were already making Valentine's for her kindergarten class, and we made some extra. For "Random Acts of Kindness Week" I made some vanilla chai tea and some gourmet hot chocolate into little bags for my husband to bring in and pass out to the other teachers (hoping they'll pay-it-forward in the kindness department!) so we made some extra. And we'll be making a few batches of heart shaped poundcakes tonight and wrapping them in cellophane with a little bow, then placing them in a basket and we'll be bringing one basket (filled with Valentine's, tea, cocoa, and cakes) to the "hotel" where the homeless are staying and another to the soup kitchen tomorrow, so they can hand some out as well. That way, if there are any "visitors" or "residents" in need of a valentine, or would like to receive one themselves, they'll have one. Everyone deserves a little love on Valentine's Day. Let's remember to "pay-it-forward"...show a kind, compassionate heart, not only on this holiday or during this week, but always.