It WAS Friday. . .

This week was nutty, but extremely enjoyable! :-) Here are a few humorous things I want to remember. . .you may not find them funny, but this is how I remember the things I love. :-)

1. One of my students has a thing about the days of the week. He CONSTANTLY talks about Friday now. It's only been going on about 3 weeks, but whew, it's a daily battle. Every time I hear my name, "Ms. _______. . .," I know what is coming. "Today is Friday. It's Friday. Today is Thursday and Friday. These are my days. Guess what? Today is Friday!" That's what's coming. Apparently, he and his sister and mom had a countdown for Halloween . . .and ever since then, it's all about Friday. The funny part is that other teachers and people play along. They correct him. . .but then he's saying the same thing again. It's hilarious because he really does know it's Friday. My wonderful, well-meaning co-workers correct him many times daily. . .but it's always Friday. And he loves to tell every person he sees that it is Friday. My newest try at helping him stop this (this repetition is from his disability, and I am trying to help him stop this abnormal behavior) was to tell him that he needed to keep the dream alive in his heart that it was Friday. Now I hear, "Ms. ________, I'm thinkin' in my head for you. . . .I'm keepin' it in my heart." LOL. Sometimes students fixate on certain things, and we have to try and stop this behavior before it gets out of control. For now, I am set up for hearing, "Ms. _________, I'm thinkin' in my head for you. I'm thinkin'. . ."

2. Alien hands. One of my other students LOVES the color green. If I give him a green marker to write with. . .he will have green hands a green face before you can even ask ______ what the word "pat" rhymes with. 

3. Fluffy heads running. Enough said.

4. I burned the biscuits in the psycho lunchroom oven. Oops. :-P

5. Mr. Beaver.

6. The word "Scootch." This may not be a real word, but it means "move over a little bit." We were in the gym and my PE interns were teaching a lesson. I told another student to "scootch" so my student who uses a walker could participate in the activity. She almost fell over she was laughing so far. This is the same kid who picked up a phrase from one of my parapros: "Oh, my stars." Now she says that constantly while laughing. When asked what she was thankful for, she said: "Alan Jackson." LQTM. That girl loves her country music.

7. One of my girls sang me a song this week in front of the whole class. It was about how I was her teacher, she loved me, she ate pizza, and we had fun. She grabbed my hand and I was supposed to dance with her while being serenaded. It was hilarious and wonderful all at the same time. 

8. Me, trying to say "the first Thanksgiving." I could not get that phrase out. My parapros and PE interns were in the floor laughing. I mix up words when I get too excited about things. 

9. "I saw a moose in the woods."

Whew, that's all I got for the funny stuff. There was so much more, but it's all been forgotten by now. Now I'm off for Thanksgiving. The bad thing is that our WHOLE First Collection Period for GAA is due right after Thanksgiving, which should tell you what I'll be doing all week. I have faith that the Lord will help me get it done (or I'll be in big trouble!!), but I know I will get bored from the repetition. Fortunately, the Lord has placed coffee and pajamas on Earth, so I can totally make it!

Today I met with 3 great friends to have breakfast at Cracker Barrel to celebrate our Turkey Day week off. Shopped a little bit. I went to The Potter's House on the way home to pick up Beth Moore's study on David. It's 90 days worth o' David. I've studied David's life before, so I think it will be great to revisit again. 

I also picked up an amplified Bible. I like comparing the different versions and I've been holding off on getting another one for a quick minute. However, I figured I go for it today! Excitement. Gotta love the Bible, books in general, and office supplies. :-)

The Lord is amazing. His grace is ever-present and good enough to cover even my biggest mistakes, mishaps, and boo-boos. He never ceases to bless me, even when I'm unsure of the exact things He wants me to do. I am very grateful for God's work in my life, in my heart, and in my head, changing my thoughts and actions. 

Passion: "Grace Flows Down"

"Amazing love. . .now flowing down,

From hands and feet,

That were nailed to the tree,

His grace flows down and covers me."

Romans 5:19-21: "For just as by one man's disobedience (failing to hear, heedlessness, and carelessness) the many were constituted sinners, so by one Man's obedience the many will be constituted righteous (made acceptable to God, brought into right standing with Him). But then Law came in, [only] to expand and increase the trespass [making it more apparent and exciting opposition]. But where sin increased and abounded, grace (God's unmerited favor) has surpassed it and increased the more and superabounded, so that, [just] as sin has reigned in death, [so] grace (His unearned and undeserved favor) might reign also through righteousness (right standing with God) which issues in eternal life through Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) our Lord."

2nd Corinthians 12:9: "But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!"

Even when I follow the Lord, I still make mistakes, I make poor judgments, I don't work 100% for Him, I fail to be Jesus-like, and I do not represent Christ in the manner I desire to. I pray that You will continue to pitch Your tent over me. . .take me in Your arms. . .protect me under Your wing. . .make me the apple of Your eye. . .take me as I am. 

Jennifer Knapp: Whole Again:

Daddy, daddy do you miss me.
The way I crawled upon your knee.
Those childish games of hide and seek
Seem a million miles away.

Am I lost in some illusion.
Or am I what you thought I'd be.
Now it seems I've found myself
And need to be forgiven.
Is there still room upon that knee?

If I give my Life, If I lay it down
Can you turn this Life around, around
Can I be made clean
By this offering of my soul.
Can I be made whole again?"

God can turn ANYONE around. He's done it for millions. He's waiting on more. As the Christmas season gets closer and I think about the first time I understood grace, Christ's role as ruler in my life, and cleanliness, I am reminded of how far I've come. How many times I've wondered if there's room at the Father's knee for me. If He listens. If He loves me. 

I know that He does. Even in my doubts, selfishness, and flesh. . .the King is enthralled with my beauty. May I respect Him, go to Him when I need to confess my sin, and submit to His desires for my life (Psalm 45:11).

It is Well...

This song is a great reminder of the peace and assurance we have in Christ. No matter what is going on in your life, if you have Christ, you have the promises of God. You will never be snatched from His hand. In the tempest, pray for peace. 

"It Is Well With My Soul"

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul. 

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blessed assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul. 

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! 

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Colossians 4:2-6: "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

Make the most of every opportunity. Let others in on your life so that they too will be able to experience the peace that we experience daily by having Christ active in our lives. I pray that God will open doors for His message in my life and in yours as well so that we too may proclaim the mystery that is Christ.

1 Corinthians 2: 10-16: "But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ."

We have the mind of Christ. Whew. While it is not our job to judge or to try and instruct the Lord in how He ought to do things, it is our job to be available to be used by the Lord. While we were still covered by our sins, the Word was foolishness to us. It is the same for others who do not know the Lord. God is foolishness to them because they are perishing. May we act as though we have been changed by Christ. 

1 Corinthians 9:16-18: "For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel."

Necessity. Upon me. May I not disregard the commands of Christ. I also pray that I will do so lovingly, willingly, and in a steadfast manner. WOE TO ME if I disregard the calling of Christ in my life. I am hurting others if I am disobedient. In my inadequacy, Christ uses in me in the manner He sees fit. Let me not abuse my place in Christ's family. To be a member of a family is to respect, love, honor, care for, and defend each member no matter the "cost" or "consequence." May I not be selfish in my sharing, but may the Lord be able to use me through my weakness and inadequacy to share Him with others.

1 Corinthians 13:1-8: "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away."

Even with multiple gifts, you are nothing without love. I can do and do and give and give, but if I do not love these people, I AM that clanging symbol. 

God, please give me great compassion for your people, both those in Your hand, and those not within Your hand.

It's November, and there's much to be thankful for!

Wow, I cannot believe that the month o' turkey is here already! When I look back, it seems like school just started and it was just August yesterday. That is not the case. I've discovered that each year goes by faster and faster. The past 3 months have been a sprint. Let's see if I can make it to Thanksgiving. At least after this week the busy time for drama will be over. "Law and Order: Fairy Tale Unit" will be this Tuesday and Thursday. The teacher and I have created a back-up plan for my student, just in case the line doesn't quite come out. We will see what happens on Tuesday night. The line has not generalized over to the actual play. She knows the line in an isolated setting, but when we get in there with the other kids and costumes. . . .the need to laugh over another student dressed as a cow (who jumped over the moon) becomes to great to focus on anything else.

The girl's cow costume is actually extremely cute. The got a white sweatsuit and her mom sewed on black patches. She's even got tiny ears and a tail! :-)

My DynaVox conference was great, despite poor hotel service. It was great to meet other teachers in my position. The conference was based on implementing the device with the student. I will tell you that I have to spend a great deal of time helping him to communicate using the box instead of gestures and leading people to desired items. . .hopefully the ideas I got at the conference will help him become more independent. It's difficult to be the only adult who can assist him in using his AT device. 

I am excited about Thanksgiving. It's just around the corner. I am praying to get all my GAA write-ups done during the week off. We shouldn't have any grad school work either, so I think I can get it done.

One of my parapros (and her 2 kids) and I are going to have Thanksgiving together. I am so excited. :-) 

In other news, last day o' grad classes for the semester: December 8th!! I am anticipating the holiday season. . .a plan to go take pictures of some snow for my students has been formulating for awhile. The poor kids have never seen snow. That is deprivation. Snow is so beautiful. 

Back to Thanksgiving. Sweet taters, mmmmhmmm!

Things I am immensely thankful for:

1. My students

2. My co-workers

3. Friends & church family

4. The Bible and it's wisdom

5. God's guidance, even when I don't understand it

6. Sleep

7. Cool weather

8. Watches

9. Contacts

10. Comfortable walking shoes

11. The color brown

12. Grass

13. Thai food

14. Biscuits

15. Humor

16. Random trips we take to conferences with the low incidence program (we usually laugh a ton)

17. Binder clips

18. Stick glue

19. Colored paper

20. The value of Hershey's enabling me to use chocolate to teach fractions

21. Hand sanitizer

22. Febreeze

23. Toilet plungers

24. Fingernails

25. Sidewalk chalk

26. My car

27. Coffee

28. Granola bars and the ease of carrying my lunch

29. Music

30. Genius music mixer

31. The ability to think

32. The ability to express my feelings verbally

33. The ability to move quickly without any help

34. The ability to answer simple questions

35. The ability to button my pants on my own

36. The ability to take a bath on my own

37. The ability to stand up for myself

38. The ability to say "no"

39. The ability to hug

40. The ability to appropriately express my emotions

41. The ability to show love

42. The ability to drive

43. The ability to comprehend what others are saying to me

44. The ability to read

45. The ability to write

46. The ability chew and enjoy the food I eat

47. Patience

48. Important Bible Scriptures

49. The ability to continue my education

50. The ability to pay the bills and give to the church

. . . .there are more, but I am out of time now! I love writing these down because there are so many things I think of each day that I am thankful for that others cannot do/cannot comprehend/do not have/etc. Thank you, Lord!