Don't you wonder . . .

. . . what your pets do while you're gone during the day?

Well last week when I was home for Thanksgiving break I got to see what our little Punkin does all day! Since it's been colder in the mornings, she has been cuddling up beside us underneath the covers! So cute!

Can you see the little bump? lol Well, since i got to sleep in that week, I got to see how long she stays underneath the covers! One morning I woke up around 10am, and she stayed under there until 2:30pm! And that was only after I realized that I hadn't seen her all morning! So I went and found her a took a picture. Then she finally got out!

What a silly kitty!
But such a cute one! She is always making us laugh, and I'm so glad we have her! :)

Psalm 36

"Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,

your faithfulness to the clouds.

Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;

your judgments are like the great deep;

man and beast you save, O Lord."

Psalm 36: 5,6

This verse brought me peace this morning. Our God is so great--he is above all things--he alone has the power to save. Thank you Lord, for taking all my wretched sin away. Thank you for cleansing me with your love and amazing undeserving grace.

The Giver

I have begun reading The Giver with my 7th graders. This is the first time I have taught this book but am really excited about it. We are taking it very slow because this group if students have not read through a class book like this and because it is filled with so many great things to discuss. Though we started reading it this last Monday, I already have a handful of students who finished the book! (This is very exciting to a teacher :) )

If you are not familiar with the novel, it is about a community that is totally controlled by a group of people and they have ridiculous rules that everyone must follow. My students and I have already had some great conversations as to what those rules and orders would look like in our communities and homes today. One of the rules is that each "family unit" must share their feelings of the day with one another. The family then calmly talked through each feeling and made their best effort to resolve issue and make that person feel better, or to encourage if things were going well that day. So, I encouraged my students to go home and try it.

I realized in order for them to attempt this "rule" that would mean their family would have to first, be sitting around the table having dinner together- herein the first issue. SO little of my students have this time with their families each night. I can't tell you how many students responded with- "we never eat dinner together," or "I have to get my own dinner every night," or "we never talk like that." Ouch! My heart sank. Even with the business that I grew up with, my mom did her best to sit us together for dinner. This is so not a priority in so many families today.

But, there were the small handful of students that do partake in family meals and decided to try the "rule," and those responses were great! One girl said when she asked her mom has she was feeling, that her mom talked for an hour! Another girl said that she felt it really drew her family closer that night and that the next morning, her and her sister were much friendlier and had fun in the car to school together. One girl is one of 8 children and she went down the line and told us what each sibling said- so sweet! Several students said they wanted to try it again.

I am so glad I challenged the students with this. I learned a lot from it, and it was so interesting to hear their responses. Though, I am continually saddened by how many broken families we have at out little "private Christian school." I realized this week, i can not assume any longer that their families are whole. This breaks my heart but also stirs me to continue to pray for these students.

Praying that God would restore families and that my students' hearts would be opened to the gospel and have the opportunity to see what God hopes for a healthy "family unit" centered around Him.

Halloween 2010

I know this is a bit late, but I think they are really cute pictures so I still wanted to share. For Halloween this year, each of our small groups got together in several neighborhoods in Riverside and Norco. Our group was in Norco. Unfortunately, we didn't get any trick-or-treaters but we enjoyed time together. Brandon and I went as Peter Pan and Wendy!

And here's one of my besties Saskia and she was a Lost Girl!

Pocahontas and John Smith!

Ariel and Prince Eric!

Brandon and Little Conan the Tiger!

Our good friends Scott and Stephanie who were in a different who decided to go with the Peter Pan theme as well!

Pan off!

The gang! (minus Brendon)

My girls!

The beautiful Sarah!

A fun and enjoyable night!

Reading for Instruction

Our church has begun a series on Ephesians. Pastor Jeff says we will be in this book for for a couple years! This is exciting because after a few weeks I already feel like I am understanding the book so much better. As we have been reading through this great book, I keep stopping at these passages written by Paul:

"14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Ephesians 3:14-20

This has continued to remind me that my knowledge and love for Christ is so much smaller than I desire it to be. God is so infinitely powerful and strong-everything is done according to His will, and He has allowed us to be a part of it. I have been in awe this week of His awesome power and love.

Pastor Jeff also taught the other week that we need to be reading the word on a daily basis for instruction of living NOT simply a daily devotion. The devotions we read each day need to give us more than a little "pick-me-up." Really, they should remind us of our unrighteousness and ability to do anything good without the Lord, and thus challenge us to live for Him, and rely on Him, trusting Him in ALL we do and say. The Bible is here for instruction of living. These commands do not simply apply when they are convenient in our lives--they are meant to be lived out daily and consistently. This often means that we have to make hard decisions, but they are ultimately decisions that are good and honoring to our Lord which should always be our goal.

I am thankful for all that I, as well as what Brandon and I are learning together through this series. Meeting Wednesday night with our house group has been just an enjoyable and edifying as we flush out these truths.