Barrels and Buckets of Fun!

"Barrels and buckets of fun we are having,
While I am taking my test I am panicking.
My knowledge took flight with my mind on its wings;
Tests are a few of my favorite things."
(Sung to the tune of "My Favorite Things", written by me, myself, I, and Fletcher Larson)

Some of you can relate with me to the previous statement... does the homework ever END?! :) I have found it to be difficult at times to really focus and appreciate all of the things that I learn in class, because my tendency is to go into "survival mode" and just get through the next test, paper, reading assignment, etc. But, is that what God wants me to do? Methinks not. So, I'm praying that 1) I will have time to get the homework done (lots of stuff due by this Monday! ;) ) and 2) that I will remember and meditate upon the truths of God's Word that I am learning! :) The study of God's Word is awesome... it is living and powerful and changes lives!

Today my Mom and I had a "girl outing." I left school early (ahem, at 12:00 p.m., which for me is EARLY!) and we went up to Wausau (pronounced with the appropriate "Whaa!" sound, of course ;) ) to do some shopping, etc. It was really fun, though both of us are exhausted because Mom is sick and I am on the verge of getting sick.

Tuesday was my parents' 25th wedding anniversary-- wow! So, I took them out to Culvers for dinner (college kid budget-- they understood completely :) ), and we had a great time and a great talk, too. It was a blessing!

Isn't it wonderful that the Lord cares about the "little" things in our lives? Here's a recent example: so, the other night I was updating my virus protection, etc. on my laptop (which was about a year overdue). The next day, my computer and I were not communicating AT ALL. It wouldn't let me open anything and wouldn't let me get to my docs (which were crucial to accomplishing aforementioned homework) and I was really scared my computer was going to crash again. So, we took it to the shop today, and the guy got it running, and it looks like it will be okay! I was praying for that laptop to be all right! It is a "little" thing, in the grand scheme of life, yet God cares about such things. Praise Him!

Random thought: Wouldn't it be fun if all words were pronounced like they are spelled? Today I was asked to confirm the spelling of the word "pigeon", and we pronounced it like it is spelled ("pij-e-on"). I can only spell when 1) I can write the word down, and 2) when I say it in my head EXACTLY as it is spelled (which yields amusing results! But hey, that's how I learned how to spell!). Words are such fun... I ran across a new one the other day: "pendantic." Speaking of words and all things random, the other day our sophomore was saying her memory verse, and part of it said, "abominable works." Well, her version (definately NOT KJV, ESV, or anything remotely close) read "abdominal works". It is so hard to keep a straight face sometimes!!!! Anyway, I am obsessed with words and grammar, which leads me to the point of this paragraph: if you find any spelling or grammar errors in my posts, please notify me! The grammar/ spelling nut in me is obsessed about such things. I know the Flying Weather Squirrel will keep an eye out for errors! ;)

Methinks I must needs sign off for now. Barrels and buckets of homework await me on the morrow! :) Have a good and godly day!

alc

PS-- Donut day tomorrow!!! ;)

The Master Teacher

I was sitting at school the other day marveling at the wonder of being a teacher. There is just nothing like it! We have a little 3rd grader who has been with us since 1st grade, and I was marveling at how much she has changed and grown and matured, even since last year. Last year at this time I was ready to pull my hair out because of this child; this year is so different! Last year I thought, "I will NEVER see the light at the end of this tunnel! This child is impossible!" This year, while we have had our moments, there is evidence of growth! Last week I gave my first piano lesson. What a thrill to be able to teach little fingers how to dance (ok, maybe move is more accurate at this point :) ) across the keys! :) So, the practicing gets hard on the ears sometimes, but those little fingers need to start somewhere! One day, they will produce beautiful music! ;)

It got me to thinking about the Master Teacher, the Lord Jesus Christ. I thought about how frustrated I can get inside because the kids just don't "get it" when I want them to, and I have to keep repeating myself repeating myself over and over again until they get the point. But then I look at them a few months or a year later and I see vast improvements, and I realize that it is worth sticking with it to see those little minds grow and mature! I realized how tempting it is to either throw in the towel or become impatient with the kids. But then I think of Jesus, and how patient of a Teacher He is! He never becomes tired of me and throws in the towel. He is always standing there, patiently, teaching me how to be more like Him. I realize just how stubborn and sinful a student I am! Thank God for His patience!

The other thing that occurs to me as I think of the Master Teacher is the verse that basically says, "But a student will be like his teacher." I am to emulate Christ in my life, as He is my Teacher. Yet, what kind of a teacher am I? Am I the kind of teacher that will not be ashamed to say, "That's my student!"? What kind of students am I producing? Paul speaks in Phil. 2 about the walk of the Philippians, "that I may say that I have not run in vain, nor labored in vain." Am I a teacher worth following? Sobering thought!

One of my favorite quotes is, "God can bestow no greater privilege upon you, than to place His Book in your hands and call you 'teacher.'" Well put, indeed! In Sunday School we have started teaching the book of Ezra (with great hopes to teach Nehemiah as well :) ). It is absolutely fascinating to study, and it was so neat this morning to see little eyes and ears listening intently. In two weeks we are going to talk about the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths) and we are going to build our own booths. It should be fun and educational! :)

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for being the patient Master Teacher, and thank you for the privilege of being a teacher myself! :)

alc

The Cricket Crusade

I am on a crusade, a quest, an adventure! There is a renegade cricket in our church/ school, and it must DIE! There is currently a reward out for the successful capture and execution of said cricket. I am determined to be the conqueror and vanquish the foe. To be completely Biblical, I am "breathing out threatenings and slaughter" against the cricket and his cohorts. I will keep you posted on the success of my personal crusade. :)

The thought from God's Word today: God's righteousnesses cannot be numbered! He is awesome and great, yet he deigns to look down upon the details of my life. How often I wrestle with Him and His plan for my life, when the whole time He has everything under control and He loves me! Praise God for His love and longsuffering toward me!

Simple things can be so encouraging! Today, my Dad brought me flowers at school...how sweet! :) Just the thing to delight a girl's heart. ;) Just wanted to share that with you. :)

Have an absolutely splendiforous day! Cuvulti! ;)

The Blogging Sensation

Hello!

I have finally succumbed to the blog sensation... not sure if this is a worthwhile venture or not, but it might be easier than sending multiple emails! :) I hope you enjoy!

Life is normal here at Faith Christian Academy, if life here can ever be termed as normal. This would be for two chief reasons. The first is that every student is unique and special and makes life interesting! The second is that I am their teacher and I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, considered normal. :) Today's cutest moment: One of our 4th graders wrote a sentence that went something like this: "On the sixth day God created human BEANS." I think he knew better, but I'm not sure.... I had a hard time keeping a straight face. :)

I am currently under a fairly large homework load... I printed out all the projects, etc. that are due by next Monday and promptly became sad. However, I have learned in this adventure called college that God is faithful! I would appreciate your prayers for focus and discipline, though. :)

It was a good weekend with the extension team from Northland Baptist Bible College! Well, so it was only a fraction of the team... Sara and Tim came, but we had some good fellowship! I even managed to get my Romans reading done! :)

New on the home front: My parents got a new dog. She is a 4-year-old yellow lab who thinks that it is fun to climb in Blueberry's (my car) trunk and sit there. :) She is almost as big as the car is, so the sight was quite amusing! Also new on the home front is the news that I am no longer living there at the moment. I am staying with a family from church who lives in Wautoma, which is a blessing! I am saving money this way, which is a necessity, especially considering that I have applied to take graduate classes at Northland in the spring. :)

Must needs depart and think about leaving school for the day. Do write and tell me your news!

chanda panda