Note to self from Matthew 13

Today you have the GREAT privilege of entering into kingdom work with the Creator of the universe.  You have been called to sow seeds of the gospel in the lives of your family, friends and students.  When you think about your partnership with Christ, doesn't it make you want to fall on your knees in gratitude for such amazing work?  Have you praised God for allowing you, a fallen sinner, to enter into the work of loving, serving, teaching, and sowing seeds of the gospel today?


Are you dipping your hands in the seed bag?  Is your heart and mind full of the words of Christ today?  Have you spent time enjoying His means of grace so that your hands are full of seeds to plant?  Don't go into the day with empty hands!! 




Are you praying for GOOD SOIL in the lives of those around you?  Only God can make the seeds grow in the hearts of the children you love and serve.  Pray, beg, for the seeds to fall on good soil!




Sow with patience, joy, and love today!  Enjoy your work!  You are so blessed to be a part of it!

Valentine Luncheon

My precious friend Leigh Ann had the grammar faculty members over to her house on Valentine's day.  She has the gift of hospitality and encouragement like no one I have ever met before.  She is also very artistic.  Her house is a masterpiece!

She made chicken salad, garden salad, soup, and a fabulous dessert.  Every room of her house had precious decorations for every holiday.  Have you ever seen a Valentine tree?  Her dining room had one!  And garland and hearts, galore.  She picked a variety of containers, from tea cups to silver pots, and put an arrangement of succulents for us to take home.  I am telling you it was the sweetest day!  I whispered to her that our husbands were doomed, how could they top this for Valentines?

Our lovely principal presented a devotion.  It was based on a verse that is now one of my favorites:

"Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on new plants."

Deuteronomy 32:2

Isn't that the perfect prayer for me to pray every day as a Mom and teacher?  I left refreshed and excited.  Right now, I cannot fathom my life without my new, sweet friends and all of the friendship, wisdom, laughter, and encouragement they bring to me every day!  It feels so amazing to be settled at a place that I want to plug into for a long time...until someone drags me away!

Mega Rome Day

Both third grade classes together at Mega Rome day!

One group making bullas (a child's necklaces), at 1 of the 6 booths!

Each group had a special colored "Eagle standard" to represent his or her group for the day, much like the Roman army.

Reclining and eating like Romans!  The children LOVED lunch!

My sweet friend's beautiful daughter making a mosaic piece of art.

One of my sweet students playing Roman dice games.  So precious!

Mega Rome day is the highlight of the third grader's year.  Although we begin with Creation and study history through Constantine, we really focus the majority of our time on ancient Greece and Rome.  On Mega Rome day we spend a day in our togas in the gym.  There are 6 booths with art projects and games that are Roman in nature.  Lunch is prepared on trays and the children recline on blankets, just like the Romans.  It is an entire day of fun and learning!  I loved the laurel wreaths and togas.  It was so exciting and a tradition that will be the highlight of my winter for years to come!

The first day of school

The 4 of us at 6:15, ready to roll!

We were so very excited about our first day of school.  As I have written, we prayerfully decided to end our homeschooling journey and join a private school.  Not only did the children go to school, but I joined them, as I got a job at their school teaching third grade.  This year will be an enormous transition for all of us.  I have not worked out of the home since Jackson was born twelve years ago!  And we have been homeschooling for four years!  But we feel called to this school and we are resting in that confirmation from God with eagerness and expectation.

My gift to my three sweeties the night before

It was a wonderful first day for all four of us!!