A Piece of Chocolate.

Today my teacher handed out a piece of chocolate to each student in the class while whispering, "This is from Ms. Teddy..." Immediately after she whispered these words I heard one, "Thank you, Ms. Teddy!" after another. So sweet. After the thank you's about 6 six of my students ran up to give me a hug - just for bringing them one little piece of chocolate! For about 30 seconds they were about to lose their mind...all over a piece of chocolate. I kind of loved it. For a few split seconds their faces lit up. For a few split seconds I hope they realized how much I care for them and more importantly, how much the God of the Universe delights in their being. If only I could get across to them how Loved they truly are...more than just a yummy piece of chocolate...so much more...

Lord please use me. Please, Lord. I ask that Your Holy Spirit be thick in this 4th grade classroom. Lord, please. Use me. Father I pray Your desires would become my heart's desires. Father I will claim You each morning as Lord over my life. I will glorify Your Name and will share Your love with my students - now and forever. Let it be.

A Thankful Heart

Lord, let my heart continually bring You praise. Father let my core being be filled with thanks. Thanks in all circumstances.

Thankful for...

• Hugs (random hugs) from 4th graders
• My sweet Mama and Daddy
• Worship at 5:30 am before school
• A 20 minute car-ride in the mornings
• Waves from students I don't teach

"But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you..." (Jonah 1:9)

Ladies and Gentlemen

Well, I decided today that my students will be "Ladies and Gentlemen" once they step into my classroom. As a class, I will address them as ladies and gentlemen and they will be expected to act accordingly. They will be required to say "Please" and "Thank You" as well as "Yes Mam" or "No Mam."

My classroom will be a classroom of etiquette. My students will know what I expect and I will not accept anything less.

One day this will be real life.

Gotta have your classroom rules...these will be mine :)

Gotta know your ABC's...

GOTTA be organized...

Gotta have a place to sit...

Gotta know your classmates (I'm going to take pictures of each student and clothespin them in a frame like this one...)

Gotta know what day of the week it is...

Gotta be kind to others...

Sweet Moments

A week of thanks. A week of learning to look for the sweet moments, the moments filled with the Lord's Presence, the moments where I am learning and disciplining my self to recognize God in the midst of craziness.

I am thankful for these moments:

• 9 year olds that have lots of bottled up energy - What did I do? I told them to do as many jumping jacks as they could in 1 minute. What did they do? They jumped so hard that half of my students ended up on the floor, "exhausted" and in desperate need of a drink of water...

• Watching students wave to one another in the hallway...that's just sweet...

• Hard, hard workers

• Excitement over FRACTIONS (of all things...)

• Friends who are willing to dress up as "colonists" to come visit my class :) Sweet, sweet friends...

• A teacher who is wonderful, helpful, and in love with the Lord