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).

Argh, matey

I don't have much time, but I want to write down my funny moments so as to remember them at a later date. :-)

My pirates were pretty crazy in the play. . .but the teacher didn't kick us out or anything, so I am very happy! :-) One of my students is in "Law and Order: Fairy Tale Unit" in a couple of weeks with a one-liner. We will see what happens.

Event 1: My student is supposed to be exiting the stage and takes a pose while I am frantically waving her off from the other side. Then she looks at me and shrugs her shoulders in confusion.  Hehe.

Event 2: In the midst of helping tiny boy number one pull one of my girls off stage, she got a major wedgie and screamed. . ."MY UNDERWEAR" really loudly. 

Event 3: One of my girls came to life during her death scene to fix her hat.

Event 4: Lots of fist pounding with Starky. 

Event 5: One of my students literally fell asleep standing up during the night performance. Wow. She was even more tired than I was after chasing them! :-P

So there were lots of moments of hilarity during the two productions. I'm just glad we made it out alive. Overall, it was a good experience for the girls. 

Off to write up some GAA activities. We sent out invitations for a surprise b-day party for one of my students next Thursday! YAY! 

PS--The Lord has kept His promises! I can see how His guidance is changing my life so much. Thank you for bringing me here, Lord. Thank You.

Unclogging toilets

Yesterday I discovered a new talent. It's pretty amazing, I know. Lol. 

Let's just say that even with powerful flushing toilets like ours, too much toilet paper is still a bad idea. 

"Ms. _____, I need help!"

Situation got handled. These are the things that keep me laughing day after day.

It may seem a little weird to others, but I hope you all understand.

We went bowling again today and next week is Special Olympics. It is going to be great--I am super excited. My kids are actually very good at bowling, so we will be right down there, cheering people on. 

For anyone who is interested, my girls are in a play next Thursday night at 7pm at the high school. . .Peter Pan and Wendy! I am very excited to see them all decked out as pirates and mermaids, even though next week is going to be very hectic.

Whoo, fall break is Monday~! I am totally going to get plenty done this weekend so I will not have to do anything next week. We've got drama rehearsals on Tues. and Wed., and then the play on Thursday.

The Lord is really being faithful and allowing me to make so many new friends. The relationships I have with people are truly growing and I see that my new friends and co-workers are people that I really enjoy hanging out with. I love hanging out with others who are passionate about kids and teaching, so it's fun to be able to relate with people who are so different from me (aside from those two things!). 

I am SO thankful for this answered prayer. I know that God wants me at VMS, and I am thankful that He is letting me in on some of the reasons so far. I pray that people will continue to open up their hearts to me and I pray that the Lord will speak to them through me. Let the words that come out of this mouth be seasoned with salt and full of love and grace.

Off to lie down. . .it's a bit of rest before sleep time!

Projectile Vomit?

My poor kids have been falling off like squished mosquitos this week. . .yikes. 

We've had two massive vomit-covered days this week, and I am praying against this evil stomach virus. I am so thankful to have stayed well this far. I am praying that the Lord keeps me well. The kids don't deal well with the change of having a stranger in the room. :-/ 

Either way, we'll make it.

Today we went bowling. I have never seen kids get so excited about bowling. This is another reason why I am so thankful for my students. They do not take things for granted. It was like we were on a trip to Disneyland to eat breakfast with the whole crew of Disney characters! They had such a great time. Quotes of the day, "You are swingin' that ball!" "You go girl, be the Queen!" and "I'm smokin'!" 

:-)

The week has flown by! We have a workshop Friday, and I hate to miss the kids, but I am trying to remind myself that I will get an extra hour and a half of sleep!

I am trying to plan an AWESOME field trip. . .I will tell you if it is approved! <><

HI-larity

Here are some funny things that have happened that I wanted to write down to commit to my memory. I want to remember the fun times!

1. My friend (who is 22) came to visit and do paper mache. . ."OOOOOHHHH, Ms. Rose, is that your daughter?" Yea. LQTM. These kids. 

2. Anytime I ask the rhetorical question "And you know what?", one of my students says, "What?" It's just the way she says it. 

3. When we talked about asteroids, one of my kids was in TV land. We try to encourage him to come out and play with the real people occasionally. "Will that come and blow up the Earth?" "No, but it made a good movie." 

4. We're reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Before we started, we previewed the story. I showed them pictures from the movie and we watched the movie trailer. One of the pictures was of Aslan--the front of the DVD, for those who have it, I do believe. One of my students says (with big eyes), "That lion is lookin' at me." The next day, Friday, she told our ILT's during the picnic that the lion was looking at her. Then I had to explain the situation. It was so funny.

5. We had a picnic yesterday. We also had a dance party. Our principal came in and danced with us. One of my para's took some pictures of it, so yesterday afternoon, we printed off one of him doing the robot and taped it on the door to his office. :-) Hehe. "CAUGHT IN THE ACT!!"

6. "WHAT?!?!?!" You just have to come visit. You'll understand.

7. One of our ILT's came and gave out notebooks to my students. The girls all got Hannah Montana. One student jumped up and down for 5 minutes, literally about the notebook. We didn't get much done in science that day. 

8. During a music break, one of my students fell to the ground and spun herself around, pretending to play the guitar. Wow. 

9. "It's on my hands!!!" The boys freaked out when we did paper mache. . .but the girls were elbow deep in glue and water!

10. The first time I snorted. . .apparently, snorting is the funniest thing on the planet to middle school students. . .and paraprofessionals. One of my students almost fell out of her chair.

We have the best time in the room. I love my job even when things get crazy and discouraging. When that happens, I try to focus on the funny, wonderful things that have happened so far. :-) It's a blessing to be a teacher. 

1 Peter 3:8-17

"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, 
   "Whoever would love life 
      and see good days 
   must keep his tongue from evil 
      and his lips from deceitful speech. 
 He must turn from evil and do good; 
      he must seek peace and pursue it. 
 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous 
      and his ears are attentive to their prayer, 
   but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil."

Lord, I pray that I will continue striving to do good and not evil. May my attitude and heart be under the full influence of the Holy Sprit; He Who guides me. May my heart not be troubled in times of trials. May I depend solely on You for my strength. Even in my discouragement, may You allow me to cleave to You in utter dependence. 

Thank You for my students. When others discourage me, they are what I need to get motivated yet again. I praise You for the good days and the bad. . .because without bad days, the good days just wouldn't be SO good. :-)