Handprint Snowmen

My students made snowmen ornaments to give to their parents for Christmas. I painted their hands white and made a handprint on a simple ball ornament. When the paint dried they turned each finger into a snowman using permanent markers. We completed each ball with ribbon for hanging on a tree. They loved this little activity! 

Name and year in the palm of the hand

Cute Thumbprint snowman

They were all unique

We decorated bags to put them in for Mom and Dad

The kiddos loved making their bags and ornaments! 

Truth

Things I know are true...

1. God is good. 

Psalm 100:5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. 

2. God is love.

1 John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 

3. God loves us. 

Psalm 86:15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

4. God wants us to love others. 

John 13:34 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

It's a Beautiful Snowy Day

It took me an hour to get home from work yesterday and normally takes 15 minutes. Sheesh! The snow started falling at my school around 3:00; I left work before 5:00 and the streets were already horrible. I drove under 30 mph the entire way home. It's crazy how  a little (or a lot) of precipitation can have such a huge impact. The snow sure is beautiful though! It reminds me how powerful and beautiful our creator is. 


Jeremiah 10:12

It is he who made the earth by his power,

who established the world by his wisdom,
and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.

God's Grace

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Summer is Nearing

Whew, it sure has been a crazy school year! I've had fun in 1st grade this year. I have enjoyed teaching the kids to read and it is amazing to see the progress they've made. Kids who didn't know all of their alphabet are now able to read simple stories. This is the joy of teaching :) Along with the joys come the challenges. I wouldn't have made it this far on my own strength. Thank you to everyone who has been praying for me. I pray I'll be able to show God's love to my students during the remaining time they are in my classroom. Some of my kids desperately need and seek the attention they don't receive at home. By God's grace they will one day receive his love and know that it is the best kind of love out there.

My students love doing artwork. I think it is one of their favorite things we do in the classroom. I have a little boy who asks every week, "Are we going to do a project today?" We have done a couple of projects over the past few weeks. St. Patricks Day was full of fun projects. The kids made traps to try and catch leprechauns. When we came back the following Monday the traps had been shrunken down and turned into little leprechaun hats. The kids thought this was great! Last week we did a lion art project and this week we made rainbows. The kids loved them both.

I'm excited for more art project Fridays! The next few months are going to be full of fun times with my students. Then, it's summertime!

Oh Man!!!!

School is almost out for the summer. I've been counting down the days and letting everyone know I'm almost done. However, I'm feeling a little nostalgic at the moment as I think back on this year. I've had a lot of fun with my students this year and will be sad for them to move on to 4th grade. The 4th grade teachers are SCARY!!!! (not really)

I was told a few days ago that I will be teaching 1st grade again next year after two years of being in 3rd. I love my 3rd grade teammates and am extremely sad to be leaving them. The 1st grade teachers are all great too, I've just gotten used to the 3rd grade teachers and their awesomeness. It will take some getting used to.

1st grade is one of the biggest years in a child's schooling. It's the year they learn basic reading and writing as well as the foundations of math. When I taught first grade I loved teaching writing! This is one thing I'm excited to go back to. The kids write the funniest things sometimes.

I have a feeling I'll be at the school a lot this summer preparing for a new grade. I'm just thankful I'll have the time. And it's not like I'll be spending my entire break at the school. I have many other fun things planned.

1) I'm going to a concert at the Red Rocks amphitheater in Denver.

2) My baby brother Brian is getting married!!!!!

3) A ton of out-of-town relatives are coming for his big day :)

4) I'll head back to Denver for my friend Stina's bridal shower.

5) My friends Britt and Mario get married in August.

6) Stina's wedding is in September.

7) I'll also be planning for my own wedding next summer :-)

This summer is going to be busy!!! I'm really looking forward to all the awesomeness that's about to go down!!

Distractions

Facebook, sleep, work, tv, movies, music, books, and housework are all things that consume my time and attention. I get so excited when the latest episode of my favorite show is on or when someone comments on my Facebook status and I find myself on Facebook after work nearly everyday of the week. These things aren't necessarily bad, but they become bad when they consume the majority of my time. All of this makes me think of the story found in Luke 10.

^{Luke 10:38-42}

38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. ³⁹ And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”
⁴¹ And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. ⁴² But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

In this story Mary chooses to spend time with Jesus. She spends time listening to Jesus' words and simply being in his presence. Martha is distracted by everything that isn't Jesus. I want to be like Mary. I want Jesus to truly be above all else in my life.

Philippians 4:8

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.