Dinosaurs

I don't know exactly why, but kindergartners seem to love dinosaurs. The loud growls! The sharp teeth!  Maybe they enjoy being scared----in a safe kind of way. After all, dinosaurs are extinct. And, even though the dinosaurs in the Prehistoric Park roared and moved as if they were alive, the kids had their parents there to protect them.

We adults sometimes encounter scary things, too....problems that cast large shadows in our paths and dangers that lurk around every corner.  The difficulties we face are real. Parenting is tough. Life is tough. But we, also, have a heavenly Father who walks with us every step of the way. We have a Savior who promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

I've been through a few really frightening situations in my life.  I can't say that I've always been a paragon of faith, or that my trials were just a "walk in the park." (Well, maybe they were a walk in Jurassic Park.) But I can say that God has always been faithful to walk beside me and to bring me safely through the difficulties I've faced.

When our kids are afraid, we can reassure them that God will always be with them, and we can rest in the confidence that He's with us, too.

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33
                                                                                                           
"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."  Joshua 1:9

"Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You."  Psalm 56:3

Surprise!

A Great Day for a Party

Celebrating with Crowns and Beads and Glasses

Waiting to Be Served

Chillin' with our Friends

Oooh....king cake! 

Yum!

Delicious!

Fun!

The King Cake Baby

Pizza!

Cool dude

Just when we thought Friday was going to be an ordinary day--program practice, spelling test, reading groups, math centers, indoor recess (ugh!)... Surprise! It's party time! My sweet class decided to celebrate my birthday.

At PBS, we live out I Thessalonians 5:16: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

There's always reason to rejoice, even on a cold, wet Friday. And I'm am finding so many reasons to be thankful. I'm grateful for the thoughtful parents who planned the event and for my sweet students, all decked out in Mardi Gras beads, crowns, and cool shades, who were bursting with excitement at the idea of surprising the teacher.

The kids and I gave thanks for the king cake and the pizza, remembering that "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." James 1:17

Every day is filled with good gifts and surprises.  In this New Year I've resolved not to miss the good gifts---both great and small---that the Father daily offers. I don't want to get so wrapped up in my Things-to-Do list that I fail to appreciate the kids' drawings, to smile at the cute and funny things they say, and to celebrate their daily triumphs.

Rejoice always! Surprise! It's party time.

Remembering and Forgetting

"True Colors"

"That's What Friends Are For"

"Flashdance-What a Feeling"

"Footloose"

"Celebration"
("Celebrate Good Times, Come On!")

"Girls Just Want to Have Fun"

"Eye of the Tiger"

It seems kind of funny to start off the New Year by looking back to the 1980's.  Shouldn't we be looking forward?  Some of us teachers who lived through the '80's had a few laughs reminiscing about what we wore in the 80's.  I actually did not wear neon colors and never owned a pair of leg warmers.  I spent the 80's sporting "mom jeans" and badly permed hair. (Those are embarrassing memories. Some trends should simply be forgotten!)

The Bible tells us there are some things we should always remember---like God's faithfulness. When we face challenges, it's encouraging to recall the many ways He's taken care of us in the past. 

"I will remember the works of the Lord;

Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.

I will also meditate on all Your work,

And talk of Your deeds." Psalm 77:11-12

But there are other things we can forget---like our past mistakes and sins. 

"Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth. Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43:18-19

"...but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 3:13-14

After all, the Bible says that God has forgotten them.

"As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us."  Psalm 103:12

We don't need to be defined by past faults and failures. As I told the kids, it's a new year with new opportunities to focus, to exercise self-control, to finish what we start, to strive for excellence, to show kindness to others. 

Happy New Year, and here's to remembering goodness of God and forgetting the problems of the past.