A Lesson in Winning... Super Bowl Champs

Yesterday it rained...

hard

and for the life of me I couldn't figure out
why the coach didn't cancel practice

so I called my hubby at work just to be sure

My 11yr-old said

"Mom, it's football.  We still play even when it rains."

So much to my chagrin, my daughter and I bundled up to drive him
to the High School Football field for practice in the pouring rain

I was secretly hoping they would cancel practice once we got there,
but was quickly informed...

"It's the Super Bowl.  We still have to practice because tomorrow
we're playing the team that beat us last year... in the rain"

So they practiced...
hard

as it rained...
hard

for two and a half hours

After practice the coach called all of the parents over and asked us to stand with our kid

He said

"Everybody link up"
"Take a knee"
"Look at me"
"Arrive on time tomorrow"
"Leave it all on the field"
"Play smart"
"Play clean"
"Play like big boys"
"Have fun"
"Let's win"

Then just as I thought he was finally finished he said...

"Let's go watch film"

(which meant another hour and a half of)

watching past games from the opposing team's season

He said that while it is important to

practice
condition
hone our skills

we can't stop there, we must also know our opponent

"Watch their plays"
"Spot their weaknesses"
"Build on our strengths"

to put together a winning game plan

Yesterday it rained...

hard

But today...

the sun shone bright
we played the game
and won!

And I learned that...

Winning is not just the outcome of the game
Winning is also everything else that leads up to it

because in order to be a champion

you must first

practice
work
live

like a Champ!

Carson Colts Blue

Jr. Pee Wee 2013 Super Bowl Champs!

"APFLH" Children's Art Studio- Flavors of Fall (Mosaics)

I am quickly learning that

"A Place For Little Hands" 
Art Studio is not just for children...

In fact, we had so much fun last weekend with our

"Flavors of Fall" 

Gratitude Collages 

I could hardly wait to get back in the studio again! 

This time the children and I sat down and created
our masterpieces with supplies that we already had

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Bean Mosaic Art

-pencil

-glue

-cotton swabs
-cardboard pieces

-beans, seeds

First we sorted...

Split Peas

Bird Seed

Red Beans

Black Beans

Pinto Beans/Navy Beans

Placed the beans into separate containers...

Traced our designs and
glued beans onto cardboard...

to create our mosaic masterpieces!

"When you use what you have

to do what you love...

That my friends, is true art"

-Tondra Denise



Flavors of Fall culminates w/
"Water Colors and Print Painting"

He Opens Doors

"I'm in sixth grade now"...

he proudly proclaimed upon seeing her again

Micah and Mrs. H- September 2013

and I watched the two of them as she stopped 

to look at him, shaking her head in disbelief

"Wow, sixth grade already? 

It seems like just yesterday that

I tested you for Kindergarten!"

She looked at me smiling... 

(and I knew what was coming next)

"I'll never forget that as we

were leaving the room you said,

'Let me open the door because

that's what a man does for a lady.' 

She had never heard a five-year-old

speak in that manner and

6 years...

3 months...

150 students...

later

she was still talking about him

There are few things

that make such a lasting

impression

indention

but some things touch us so deeply

that we remember...

We remember that

After the time of testing,

He opens doors

opens doors

(while reminding He is the Door)

perhaps really saying

After the test, I will

open myself to you

open myself

reveal myself

allow myself

to become transparent

enough for you to see

Me

And His Word leaves

an impression

an indention

reminding us to thank Him

for fond memories

completed tests

and

opened doors

Mrs. H and Micah- June 2008

"APFLH" Children's Art Studio- Flavors of Fall (Collages)

I love how Autumn has a way

of awakening the senses...

 

the coolness

the crispness

the colors

(and smells)

the rich flavors

that seem to bring back

a flood of childhood memories...

My favorite

(being reminded to)

slow down

give thanks

spread joy

while spending time with the ones we love

Gratitude Collage Art

-scissors

-magazines
-paper

-glue

Children were prompted with...

"What are you thankful for?"

    

  

I have experienced

so many

blessings

lessons

that it is impossible to fit them all

onto one board, but I started with

"I'm thankful for..."

friends

fun

food

home

children

blessings

the Bible

fresh brewed coffee

humor

music

my friend

my rock

sandwiches

singing

marriage

bare feet

and

crunching leaves

What are you thankful for?

(Flavors of Fall continues with... Mosaics)

Pair this activity w/ our Virtual Storytime

First Fridays-

A Story. A Song. An Activity.

click here

Fear is Not a Factor... A Christian Halloween Party

Halloween was approaching and I had recently read
the Apostle Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus

(reminding me of an old episode of "Fear Factor")

Paul...

you have fought a good fight
you have finished your course
you have kept the faith

Fear is obviously NOT a Factor for you!

And that's when I decided to host a "Fear is NOT a Factor" Party

invite a few of our friends
grab some candy and
plan a few games

to remind everyone that we have absolutely nothing to fear...

Baby Food Tasting and Identification

Contestants were to taste and name the two ingredients in each section
(1.Sweet Potato/Corn  2.Apple/Cherry  3.Pear/Pineapple)

Eat a Cricket

The contestants used the popper to get a number...

1, 2, or 3
Eat that number of crickets

4 or 5
Try again

6
Skip the cricket table altogether!

After the initial shock that they were eating actual crickets, contestants agreed
that they tasted similar to sunflower seeds and this game was the hit of the party!

Next, it was time to give the kids something to wash down all of those crickets and baby food so we...

-set out cupcakes for them frost and decorate

-headed outside for glow-in-the-dark bowling and
-listened to a fireside story while warming by the outdoor fire pit

Then it was time to head back in for more games...

Pasta and Skeletons 

Small rubber skeletons were buried with

cooked bowtie pasta and placed in a sensory table  

The table was covered with a black table cloth, contestants spun the wheel, and

were given one minute to reach in and save a life or two...or whatever number they had spun 

(Contestants who pulled out pasta instead of a skeleton were disqualified)

Hand in Ice 

Contestants were instructed to hold one hand in ice water for 2 minutes

(Remove your hand and get disqualified)

And I am so grateful that our...

"Fear is Not a Factor" party
had so much teaching potential

and the children
had so much fun proving

Halloween is more than candy and costumes, but
can also lend itself to lessons in gratitude and grace

So what did we learn in all of this?

Let's recap...

Baby Food Tasting and Identification taught us to distinguish flavors.  We come into this world ignorant to God and His plan for our lives, but when we learn to eat at His table and appreciate the nourishment He provides, it allows us to mature in Christ.  Then we learn what we should and should not eat and can distinguish the flavors set before us.

Eat a Cricket shows us that life is full of trouble, but Jesus has already tasted death for every one of us.  Abide in Him and some of us will even get to skip the cricket table altogether!

Pasta and Skeletons were used to remind us that once we become alive in Christ, God uses us to go back and get others.  We become fishers of men as we attempt to pull other dead men and women out of the black hole and bring them into the light.

and finally...

Hand in Ice is a testament that although life can be cold sometimes, there is a reward waiting for those of us who endure