Sleeping Beauties

"And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done." Genesis 2:2

"Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; in plowing time and in harvest you shall rest." Exodus 34:21

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

Saying our prayers

Sleepy time

 A teacher's wish come true...everyone paying attention!

Seeing these kids in pajamas reminds me of the importance of rest. (Okay, well maybe sleep wasn't a good thing for Sleeping Beauty, but it's good for us.) . Our bodies were designed with a need for sleep. Recent studies have shown that all adults need 7-8 hours of sleep each night, and those who don't get a sufficient amount of sleep on a regular basis perform poorly on tests of problem solving and verbal acuity.  Kindergarten-age children require 10-12 hours of sleep.

Beyond a good night's sleep, we need spiritual rest. Children and adults alike need unstructured down-time to recharge. It allows them a chance to explore their own creativity.

God rested, not because He was tired, but as an example to us. God set apart the seventh day of the week as a day of rest, a day for us to take a break from the busyness of our lives and to worship.

We know this, of course, but sometimes, in our activity-driven world, we need to give ourselves permission to take time to take it easy. When we regularly take time to pray, to rest, and to sleep, our bodies and spirits are renewed, and we're better able to face the challenges before us. 

Super Heroes

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

" I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know...his incomparably great power for  us who believe." Ephesians 1:18-19


The Flash can move with phenomenal speed. The Hulk has incredible strength. And Wonder Woman---she's an athlete and a warrior, with healing powers, psychic abilities, and cool tools, such as bracelets that deflect bullets. It's no wonder that kids want to imitate these superheroes.

Sometimes we forget that as Christians, we have "super powers," too. We have the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us, helping us to do everything that God has called us to do. We may not be able to scale tall buildings, but we can be patient in traffic, loving to those who are offensive, faithful to keep our promises, even when we don't feel like it. We can be strong to say No to temptation and courageous to face any situation that comes our way. I like to remind the children (but it's a good reminder for us adults, too) that when we exhibit the fruit of the Spirit, we're using our super power. "

Pumpkin Patch

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

The first twinge of cool air…a sunny field dotted with fat, round, orange pumpkins….it finally feels like fall may be on its way.

Mrs. Heather taught the kids the basics of pumpkin-growing, but I was curious to know more. Is it easy to grow pumpkins? I consulted the online Old Farmer’s Almanac and discovered that pumpkins are very finicky.

First of all, they’re sensitive to cold, so the farmer has to be sure the danger of frost has passed. He can’t wait too late, however, because pumpkins have a long growing season and must be harvested before the first frost in the fall. (That’s probably not a problem in Louisiana.)

They’re greedy feeders, and they require rich, well- drained soil. (That means lots of fertilizer, compost, and manure.)

They have to be protected from pesky insects. But wait…don’t kill the bees, because bees pollinate the pumpkin flowers.

They’re thirsty; they need lots of water, but they can’t remain damp because they’ll rot.

They have to be regularly pruned, turned, and generally pampered.

All that to say…those beautiful, orange pumpkins we brought home were the result of someone’s very hard work. We have our pumpkin pie or jack-o’lanterns or autumn centerpieces because someone was faithful to do his or her job and see the process through to the end.

I’m not a farmer or even much of gardener. But like the farmer, I’ve got obligations. Each of us has responsibilities that God has assigned to us…. responsibilities to our spouses, our children, our extended family. We have job responsibilities, church responsibilities, and community 

responsibilities. Sometimes those responsibilities are tiresome and demanding. Sometimes it doesn’t appear we’re making much progress. But God tells us not to grow weary. There’s a beautiful harvest in our future if we don’t give up.

Big Buddies

    Big Buddies from the Middle School came to spend some time with their Little Buddies in the class. The older students helped with literacy stations, giving encouragement and setting a good example for the younger students. The kindergartners enjoyed the extra attention, and the Middle School girls were happy to serve as role models.

This group of fifth grade girls was especially excited because this is their first opportunity to be Big Buddies. When they were in the Elementary Division, they were the Little Buddies. Discipleship is God's design for the body of Christ; God intends for Christians to develop relationships with younger (or newer) believers, who will in turn grow in their faith and disciple other believers.

In Second Timothy 2:2, Paul instructs Timothy: "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witness entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others."

Working Together

"So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work." Nehemiah 4:6

What are we learning this week? We're learning to work together....

learning that each one of us makes an important contribution to class projects...

learning to participate appropriately for lessons, stories, games, and songs....

learning to participate in reading group....

learning to take turns and to listen....

learning to share ideas...

learning to work independently and to wait for a turn....

 learning to use soft, indoor voices...

 learning to stay on task while the teacher works with other children....

 learning to get along other children...

 learning to help each other out!

In kindergarten, one of the most important things a child will learn is how to learn in a group setting. Learning in a group setting is different from one-on-one instruction. In a classroom setting, children have to learn to receive instruction that is directed to the whole group and to engage appropriately in group activities----not sitting mindlessly as if they were watching TV and not disrupting the group.
Things like taking turns, sharing  materials, and staying in your own space (feet and hands to yourself!) can be difficult for some kindergarten children. But there are great benefits to learning in a group. Children can help one another and learn from each other.  They learn to navigate social situations and adjust to different personalities.
Each child has a unique contribution to offer to the group. And when all the students work together fulfill their responsibility, the result can be stunning.