Lords and Ladies

I can't believe I get paid to hang out with the 23 most entertaining, beautiful, and joyful people in my life each day. I am contunually falling more in love with my students and learning profound things from their simplicity.

We have been reading a book called "Sir Galahad" that is about one of King Arthur's knights. The kids were particularly interested in this story and adopted a very lofty sounding, slightly brithish, accent for the week. I feel like I walked around with little lords and ladies for the last few days. Luke announced after "turning a card" (basically it is a system that monitors behavior, changing the color of your card is not good) that it wil "be my last!". I was quite thrilled at his confident declaration but we will see how that pans out...history has a way of repeating itself.

When the student helpers do the morning routine they have the option of praying themselves, or selecting a volunteer who wants to pray if the helper is too shy. Today Ayden announced "I will stand! I will pray!". My what bravery! Then at recess the boys decided that I was the Hydra and they were going to "imaginary slay" me...as David put so gently. Then he plunged an imaginary sword into my loin (vocab word they learned that I think they really would have been fine not knowing ha ha) and I fell backwards in anguish. : ) Later on they are telling the teacher what they did at recess and David says, "Oh you know. Played some soccer, ate some snack, slayed a Hydra..." as he looks at me with an elated face.

I love that they love to get a rise out of me and want to be recognized for their cleverness. I love even more that this week they took pride in pretending to be noble and valiant. They really are so valiant. Over the last few years I have seen them conquer all of their math facts, read books far too advanced for their age, learn kickball and football, befriend the outcasts and lonely, share their snacks and lives, learn about being virtuous, memorize scripture, and live as brave children of the Lord. I am so proud of them. Again, I am so very proud of them. I cannot wait till I meet them years later. The hand that coud barely hold a pencil will one day write poetry and prose and minds that struggled with addition will contemplate the great mysteries of this life. I pray that Luke will be victorious over things he'd like to change, that Ayden will stand and pray for all of his days, and that David will triumph over many thing that stand in his way. Their valiance will cetianly have stories to tell that are equally as impressive as anything King Arthur achieved.

Spherical Grace

The flesh has taught me things that the truth has not. Doubt ought not take hold where hope should prevail. Grace is not one dimensional…it is a perfect sphere that is spinning and swaying over me constantly.

I found myself in the Savior’s arms the other day. Although He was using the body of another human to hold me, it was very much the Lord’s own extension of Himself that I felt most strongly. As I rested there, in a state of gratitude and amazement, a thought so loud and blasphemous entered my mind and tried to take residence.

“This is not real. This is not a gift. You are too full of sin and filth to receive this. You will find this cannot last and you will be hurt…again. Don’t rest here in these arms, they will leave you go any second now. You just wait.”

I want to look Satan in the eyes one day and say to him, “No! You just wait. Your time is coming soon!” He has no place in my head! I have a promise and a hope. I have the way and the light. I have a Savior who cannot fail. One day every valley will be lifted and every mountain be made low. He will come riding in and we shall see the King. And all my hope, each time I rested in grace, and each time I accepted a good and perfect gift will NOT prove to be in vein.

My God cannot lie, but Satan and my flesh can. They can tell me that the cross was not enough and that my trespasses have far exceeded the crimson price He paid for me. They tell me that I am not worthy of blessings even though my Father looks on me with compassion and deems me beautiful.But grace is not one dimensional. It is not circumstantial. And it is not to be undermined. The grace of the Lord is overflowing and never-ending. It always comes full circle.

This Christmas

Washington is beautiful! My family is beautiful! I just wanted to share a little bit about my trip, funny family things that have happened, and what I have been learning.
1. We have seen snow! But, we had to drive about 25 minutes up into the mountains. The weather reports have been promising snow for days now and all we have seen is ice. Ice is slippery and often fun, but not snow. When it says it will rain, it rains. We are still glued to the window in anticipation. Maybe tonight is the night!

2. Sisters are wonderful. They can also be a curse : ). I am joking about that last part. I don't want to get too emotional but I will say this...I am so proud of them. I had to accept that they might not be exactly who I wish they were or think it would be best for them to be. But they are who the Lord desires for them to be and I trust Him. They have made the best of a new town and are becoming Godly and wise (well wiser ha ha) young women.

3. I will never forget this Christmas Eve. We went to the service at my parent's wonderful church and the pastor reflected on the Lord's beauty and what a gift it is that we can see it. I came to a very important conclusion: His beauty is ALIVE! The Lord's beauty is like the many faces of a diamond. He turns and moves and His light reflects and shines a new facet of His glory. I am contunially learning new things about Him and His ever present beauty.

4. Christmas morning was a blast. Allison has mentioned nothing for the last few days but the IPod Nano that she wants. Really, if my parents hadn't bought it for her I would have done it myself...just to shut her up. But we did get her one and decided to wrap it in about 6 boxes. It was so fun watching her got more and more irritated as she opened it. My Dad (always trying to be funny) said that he has something much worse than wrapping it multiple times.
"Like what?" Allison asked.
"I will tell you in a minute." He said.
"That means he will tell you when he thinks of something." Abigail piped in.
Classic Thomson moment. Dad trying to be funny and getting called on his bluffs. We then sat down to eat our traditional Christmas breakfast: cinnamon rolls and "little smokies"...delightful.

Cheers and Hisses

Theatre during the middle of the 20th century was not complete without a man holding the cue cards. The audience was instructed when to laugh, boo, and make all sorts of reactive noises. When the villain would enter, the crowd needed no cue. They would erupt with cries of displeasure.

I had a similar experience in my first grade classroom the other day. We have been reading the original story Pinnochio for a few months now at the last 10 minutes of every day. It is much more extensive than the Disney version and Pinnochio's inner struggle to choose right or wrong actions is painted much more colorfully. He is continually in situations where he has the ability to do good, be responsible, and follow through on the word he has given. Yet, he almost always does the opposite of what he should.

We came to a point in the story where he has been on a right and proper path for quite some time. He is behaving, going to school and studying hard, obeying his father, and making good decisions. The Blue Fairy has finally promised that if he can behave for five more days...he can become a "real" boy! Pinocchio is elated and promises to not dissapoint. The inevitable has an ugly face that hides in crevices that are much shallower than we wish they were. Along comes a caravan of wild boys and dancing stage coaches. One of the masters asks him to come along to Fantasy Island where dreams com true and life is easy and good. Pinnochio's struggle is illustrated for a few paragraphs until he finally gives in and joins the parade.

The reacion of my first grade students when we reached this pivitol moment in the book was priceless. The room was filled with "nooo!s" and "awe man!s" and sad faces. They were so disgusted and let down by his decision. It was suprisingly moving and as tears welled up in my eyes (I was not sure why this was so emotional for me) I started to think....

Deuteronomy 7:26 "Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. Utterly abhor and detest it, for it is set apart for destruction."

I love the wording in that verse, "utterly abhor and detest it". We are called to turn from evil and do good (Psalm 34:14, 37:27). To be able to distinguish between good and evil is a sign of maturity and being brough up in the "meat" of he Word of God. The six and seven year olds that I work with daily see things through beauiful eyes. Children have the amazing ability to see simple things that adults complicate. Love what is good and hate what is evil. Cheer for the heros and boo at the villains. They longed for Pinnochio to just do what was right.

I desire cheers, excitement, and joy to overflow from my heart at the things that are good and to passionately hate and be disgusted with evil.

1 Corinthians 13:6 "LOVE does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth."

As Ayden, one of my precious students, prayed...may we "love the Lord with all that we do." May we love Him with all that we desire and all that we detest.

Pencil sharpening LEADS to many things...

I was sorting through papers at my desk today and Monet, complete with her missig two front teeth and new glasses, walked up and mentioned to me that her pencil was not "writing very well". I looked at the dull tip and smiled as I asked her "Well, would you like me to sharpen it for you?". She smiled, thinking that I had played into her little game.

The pencil sharpener is literally called "The Turbo", and its name is no overexaggeration. I believe it to be the king of all pencil sharpeners, the Benny "the Jet" Rodriguez, if you follow. In seconds it will transform the most lifeless tip into a lean-mean-wriing-machine. The kids in my class love it and know that it is not to be used all day long. Only by a professional (Mrs. Gillett and I), and only when they are lucky.

I knew Monet was hoping that I would offer to take care of her pencil for her. I did not expect the line of six-year-olds that followed soon after. I think I sharpened just about everyone's pencil this morning. Only about half were actually dull : ) but I would look at the already sharp ones, smile at my excited student, and give it a whirl anyway. They get so giddy, and it makes me feel lucky to bring them a little bit of joy. Even if it only consists of them watching the lighting speed sharpener.

My favorite part of the day was this: the smile and look Monet gave me as the kids continued to line up. Complete with her missing two front teeth and new glasses, she smirked and giggled...quite proud that she had started a movement in the classroom.

And so, being analytical, the wheels in my brain began to turn. Monet knew that I might have referred her to the small, manual sharpener on the shelf. However, she saw that the sharpener was out on my desk and took the opportunity. Even if she was trying to manipulate me with her cuteness, she took a risk. She encourged others to do the same, and many followed.

A leader is not so hard to find. It is not always that they are appointed or above everyone else, it is sometimes that they are simply willing. They take action, they physically move and walk across the room. Sometimes they walk across the world. Sometimes others follow, and they change the world.

Thanks for getting up today Monet. Thank you for moving and for taking a risk. I am daily taught lessons by my students and reminded of things that I will never forget.

Homeless

About an hour ago I answered the phone to hear Sammi on the other end of the line...in tears. She moved to San Marcos this year and her parents moved to Coranado. She was sitting in front of her old house just crying. "That is emotional suicide," I warned her as I got in my car and headed over to join her. I was greatful that she didn't want to go to my old house to give me an opportunity to fall apart too.

I don't feel like I have a home. I avoid driving up my old street because that house means nothing to me without my parents and beautiful sisters inside of it. Washington is where they are but still not home to me. My house is wonderful, alive, and full of roomies that I deeply love. But it is still not home.

I know there is a lesson in this. This is not a "transition period" or an "odd time" of life. This is my life. Where my feet are is where the Lord has me. I know His heart is my home and I desire to abide there constantly. I do not need the tangible. I need the truth.

I am a stranger here. I will never be at home on this earth. I am a citizen of Heaven and temporarily here where I have to opportunity to further His kingdom. Thank you Lord for the current circumstances that remind me of this! You overwhelm me with your timing!

"I've always known this wasn't home." -Bethany Dillon, in the song "Aimless"...listen to it!

For Sofia (She is leaving my classroom and leaving quite a void.)

You smile at me as if you have a great secret.
And I, in all my years, might be too wise to see it.

You're pure potenial while I have expired.
While you seize the day, I fear I've grown tired.

You're love is fearless, you're courage is bold.
I know I have cowered and let things grow cold.

Yet you look at me as if my knowledge is deep.
Though I am concinved you have lessons to teach.

You find me lovely, when you're the golden child.
I'm humbled and privleged you're warmed by my smile.