Sia Drammatico!

Yesterday our Italy mission trip team met to practice one of the dramas that we will perform on Good Friday.  It was the first time that we were all in the same place at the same time (yay!), and we enjoyed getting to know one another a little better through the drama practice.

This mime, "Hands," depicts how God created our hands (for building, loving, protecting, giving) and how we misuse them (tearing down, hating, hurting, being selfish).  Contrastingly, Jesus' hands were nailed to a cross for our freedom and redemption.  We now have the opportunity to respond... to reject Him or to accept and believe.

Camp Campbell!

For the past week, my roommates and I have lived life with the Campbell kids while their parents were away at a conference in England.  The Campbells live in an amazing home up "in the mountains," about 15 minutes on a windy road from BFA's main campus.  Spending time with this amazing family was truly a blessing and privilege.

Arriving in Marzell last Saturday -- Fasching parade blocking the roadway!

What a beautifully tranquil setting!  (Campbells' house on the far right)

Braiding hair (paid in backrubs!)

Nightly bedtime story about Princess Snow Globe

Brittany making a fire to keep us warm at night

Sunday morning breakfast of baked oatmeal -- yum!

Practicing their instruments...

Of course... I would get a flat tire in the middle of all this!

Thank goodness for good neighbors!

Playing Ticket to Ride

Monday morning brunch prep

Enjoying chocolate chip waffles, apple slices, and bacon frittata

Sister time!

Making notecards to send with the older two kids going to basketball tournament

Dinnertime with the girls!

Popcorn and season premiere of "The Amazing Race"

Reading together

What a wonderful week!

"Welcome home" sign for the parents!

Travel Back in Rhyme!

I recently found a poetry contest for elementary school that our school could enter!  It needed to be an English contest, but also one that welcome international entries.  "Travel Back in Rhyme" is a British contest for children ages 7-11 for poetry about the past.

My students slaved away on their poetic creations on Thursday and Friday afternoons with a new excitement and motivation to do their best.  The students asked me to look up rhyming words on my online rhyming dictionary and offer suggestions to improve their meter and rhyme scheme.  Whether or not any of my students wins a prize, I am still proud of their hard work!  Here are a few for you to enjoy...

America

By O. E.

When the first settlers came

Everything was quiet

But when they found people living there,

It started a riot

Through the mist barely seen

There stands the New World

They fought each other

They taught each other

Through the mist barely seen

There stands the New World

They killed the beasts

Then they had some feasts

Through the mist barely seen

There stands the New World

They made fishing poles

But they didn’t have any tolls

Through the mist barely seen

There stands the New World

Oh, America, America

Oh, how brave and strong you are

In God we trust

Through the mist barely seen

There stands the New World

Dinosaurs

By J. E.

They walked across the land

Many years ago

Walked to and fro

Nowhere to go

T-Rex, Stegosaurus, Piesiosaurus, Rex

Long neck, short neck, long tail, short tail

Some that fly, some that walk

Some that talk, some that squalk

Some that roar, some that slam the door

And then one day it started to dry

And then one day they said goodbye 

Ancient Treasures

By J. R.

Pyramids for Pharaohs,

Resting in peace,

Temples for gods,

All over Greece.

Over the years

They’ve fallen apart

But they still seem

To be a piece of art.

You can find treasures

Of silver and gold

Or at least

That’s what I’ve been told.

If you find treasures

You will be rich

You might need to look for them

In a deep, dark ditch

Together we can learn

How they lived in the past

So, treat these landmarks kindly

So that they can last!

Lots of Love!

Check out some highlights from the celebration of Valentine's Day in my fourth grade class!

Bible verses about love written in cursive

Bulletin board in the hallway -- "Love is..."

(4th grade responses and Bible verses)

Pinterest creation: shortbread cookies (plus my almond glaze addition)

They may have dyed my fingers semi-permanently, but it was worth it!

Class Valentine's Day Party!

Table full of goodies

V-Day scavenger hunt and word puzzle

Doing math problems to figure out the puzzle clues

Sharing poetry at "Cafe de Love" (complete with snaps for each poet!)

The whole class!

Be Still.

Be still.  If you know me, then you probably know that I am not one who does that very well.  I like being productive and I'm always thinking of something.  I like to be moving or talking or doing something all the time.  This can be a great thing when I do need to check things off the list or when I have a busy schedule, but you can only imagine how convicting this was:

"Whatever your personality, it is a spiritual discipline to be still, to listen, and to cut out the distraction and din of our world.  And as we practice this stillness, this waiting, this being, it is then that we can experience deep intimacy and relationship with the Holy Spirit."  (from Forgotten God, by Francis Chan)

I've been reading through this book with my small group of six high school sophomores this year, and we were all really struck by this particular challenge to be still.  They shared how difficult it is to find a quiet place to be alone when living in a dorm with 20 other girls.  They expressed their frustration with trying to make time for God in the midst of an overwhelming amount of schoolwork and demanding extracurricular activities.  And so I decided to create an environment that would help us all spend time being still...

"We are not called to fear what following the Way of Jesus may require of us, but that desn't mean those fears won't crop up.  A life of following Christ requires relinquishing those fears when they do come... Are you willing to pursue truth in your journey to know and be known by the Holy Spirit?"  

--Forgotten God

"Without the Holy Spirit, people operate in their own strength and only accomplish human-size results.  The world is not moved by love or actions that are of human creation.  And the church is not empowered to live differently from any other gathering of people without the Holy Spirit.  But when believers live in the power of the Spirit, the evidence in their lives is supernatural.  The church cannot help but be different, and the world cannot help but notice." -- Forgotten God

"How much do you love the church?  How much do you care?  The Holy Spirit has given you a supernatural ability to serve the people God has placed around you.  If God cares enough about His church to give you this Spirit-empowered ability, shouldn't you care enough about the church to use that gift for the same purpose?"  -- Forgotten God

After we had about 45 minutes to work through the five prayer stations and just spend some time alone with God, we shared, prayed, and listened to the song "Here" from Kari Jobe's new album.  As you read these words, I hope that you will take the time to rest and really be still in His presence.

"Come and rest here, come and lay your burdens down
Come and rest here, there is refuge for you now
You'll find His peace
And know you're not alone anymore
He is near
You'll find His healing
Your heart isn't shattered anymore
He is here"

Pillows and Narnia Day!

Last week we finished reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, a novel that all of the fourth graders loved.  As has (now) become fourth grade custom, we celebrated the end of this unit by watching the first Narnia movie.  This year, our Narnia Day had a slight twist... students could bring pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals to use during the movie presentation.  You can see it turned out to be almost like a sleepover party in our classroom!

"Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight,

At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,

When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death,

And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again."