Day 27... Grace Still Happens (Perfect Together)

She

made biscuits from scratch

sifted the flour

cut in the shortening

hand kneaded the dough

let rest

and baked

until they were golden

pulled out to cool before

real butter

grape jelly

made them perfect

they were perfect

she was perfect

we were perfect

together

And I wonder if she knew...

because the year she left us

was the same year I met

him

(almost as if she made room for him)

to sit at the table

sharing biscuits

made perfect

and I am overcome with emotion

as I have been blessed once again

because...

this feels perfect

they are perfect

we are perfect

together

Country Gravy or Jelly?

The Unopened Invitation

"We missed you at the baby shower last week"

(and my facial response must have said it all)

"Wait, didn't you get the invite?"

as we both knew what must have happened...

her hubby

my hubby

his Bible

(where the envelope still sat unopened)

So I asked him later...

"Was there something you

were supposed to give me?"

immediately refreshing

his memory

and

prompting

his apology

(and I couldn't help but think about how)

this Gospel has been

handed to us

wrapped neatly

and tucked

between the pages of our Bibles

but unless

we are responsible

we remember

we open and share

(the information inside)

others will be left

still sitting

home alone

never realizing

they ever received the invite

Ten Weeks to Better Business... Children's Edition

Know a child starting a business this summer?

Follow the 10 lessons from my children's 2014
business experience to achieve maximum success

Here are the first five...

Select a business venture

If this is something the children expect to continue 

-suggest they select something they have a passion for

-determine if their business will provide:

a service or

a product

Establish a business brand

Focus on how the business
product/service will be...

presented
packaged
represented

Strategic planning

Know the...

Who?
What?
When?
Where?
Why?

Knowing and understanding these are at
the foundation for building a strong business

Marketing

Informing others about the product or service
is an important step for business success

How will people know the business?

Get to work

Selling a product?

Get out there and sell!

Offering a service?

Start doing the work!

Understand the law of supply and demand, master these five
basic lessons, and prepare to take the business to the next level!

Early Care and Education (Mud)

I get excited about this every year...

2014

2016

and now... 2017

which presents the opportunity to share the wonder and fun of

mud play and exploration with other Early Learning Professionals!!

because

celebrating mud

on the same day

across the world

ultimately

reconnects us

all back 

to the Earth

to childhood

to one another

How will you celebrate?

Early Care and Education Series (Week of the Young Child)

We celebrate each April...

Week of the Young Child

An opportunity to...

remember

celebrate

and share

how young children learn through

enriched hands-on play experiences

------------------------

Week of the Young Child 2017

Music Monday- Sing, Dance, Celebrate, Learn

------------------------

Tasty Tuesday- Healthy eating and fitness at home and school

------------------------

Work Together Wednesday-

Work together, Build together, Learn together

(Italian Herb Play Dough)

------------------------

Artsy Thursday- Think, Problem solve, Create

(cardboard pizza)

------------------------

Family Friday- Sharing family stories

"Little Nino's Pizzeria" by Karen Barbour

and a sight words salt writing tray

Learn more about WOYC

and see how others celebrated!

naeyc.org

Buried...or Planted

Some have shovels
while others use their bare hands

to pick up dirt

big piles
big clumps

of dirt

to throw

at you
and
onto you

again
and
again

You do realize that they are trying to bury you, right?

Well, they buried Jesus
(in a tomb)

and you should know that when you've identified yourself with Christ
and embraced His Gospel

They will also try to bury you

But Jesus said things like

No one takes my life...
I have all power...
I am the Resurrection...

and you can find comfort in knowing
that even if they are successful in their attempts

it cannot spoil

His plan
His purpose
His provision

because

You do realize that He is trying to plant you, right?

And it appears to me that the only real difference between

burying something
and
planting something

is

the intention
the state
the condition

of the item during the time at which it is placed into the ground

So even when others throw dirt

with the intent to

consume you
cover you
cancel you

remember that although they may

sincerely
seemingly
successfully

be trying to bury you

He may simply be using their efforts...

to plant you

1 Corinthians 15:36

(Originally posted 4/3/15)

Early Care and Education Series (Open-Ended Painting)

She said...

"I could never do that, I am not creative like you"

(and I cringed)

because...

it is impossible to support the learning and creative development

of young children if you cannot see the value of your own

So I decided to show them

and began with two prompts...

What will you paint on?

What will you paint with?

allowing the group to explore

their creative range

proving once again that

we are ALL creative

(each in our own way)

and we should never

confuse

compare

choose

someone else's gifts and talents

over

our

own

Check out our video series for more creative painting ideas

Fly swatter painting

Bubble Wrap painting

Wax resist painting

click here

Early Care and Education Series (Vision Boards)

It's a...

new year

new month

new day

and time to visualize your plan

Information Board

Snacks

Vision Boards

Notice my 2014 Vision Board?

What is your vision for the New Year?

Check out more from our Early Care and Educator Series