give me five ...

way up high.

.........................

have you received or given a {high five} recently?

for a job well done?

for a project complete?

for a {I'm glad you're on my team} acknowledgement?

for anything?

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Sometimes we forget that we need to thank the people around us ... for the little stuff (and the big stuff) that they do to make our world a better place.

So find someone in your world {big or small} and give them that acknowledgement that they deserve ... and maybe even slap their hand.

Just make sure you check it for {dirt} first.

wordless Wednesday.

kneeling down.

it's something I do almost every day in my classroom.

kneeling down to tie a shoe.

kneeling down to see eye to eye.

kneeling down to pick up the scattered papers and pencils strewn.

yes ... I kneel down a lot.

but...  the more I ponder God's grace and mercy and unending love ... the more I realize that my kneeling down can be so much more than what it is (or what it has been).

 ................................

kneeling down  ...  a reminder to cry out for help.

kneeling down  ... a reminder to ask for forgiveness.

kneeling down ... a reminder to worship.

kneeling down  .... a reminder to pray.

kneeling down ... a reminder to love.

.....................

so as I catch myself kneeling down over and over and over again each day ...

in my classroom,

on the playground,

in the bedroom of two little boys I love so much ...

mopping up spills,

cleaning the grime,

putting clothes away ...

wherever my knees may take me,

may I always and easily remember the power a minute or two {down} really has.

In my life...

may the God that gives me life ... be lifted high.

Hillsong Chapel, Yahweh ... Came to My Rescue
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196. rest ... despite the wind-shaken house.

199. tired students = oddly calm students = not always a good thing.
200. “how-to” videos from Joe B.

202. 100 ear tags for Mason’s 100th day of Kindergarten.

204. feet rubbed, hair washed and lotion applied to soften the skin … and the heart.
205. a jewel in His crown – made just the way He wants me to be. No more – no less … perfect!
Isaiah 61:10-11
206. singing yourself to sleep – dreaming of adventures with friends . Oh to be 6 again.
207. Dr. Seuss hats in every mix and match of color.
208. having to wait for an answer.
209. vocabulary lessons that mean more about my attitude than those of my students.

212. dinner out for under $10 – and leftovers to bring home.
213. friends that get me, love me, dream with me, hope with me and pray for me.
214. the way Mack’s nose “smells” everything and anything – all the time!

217. a name drawn and a new book won.
218. a stereo to drown out the whining and grumbling – an opportunity to cry out to Jesus for help and hear peace over the roar of the storm.

"When you pray, tell Me what you need and then thank Me. Thank Me for listening. Thank Me for answering. And thank Me for the chance (the opportunity) to trust Me more. You see, I use your tough times to make you a better, stronger person."
Jesus Calling, March 1

220. knowing when to say enough is enough.

222. the shadows lit up … shining into and over words of hope, words of trust, words of valor.

224. one less morning passenger and a hard lesson learned.

226. a contract renewed.
227. pajamas. lots and lots of pajamas.

231. 38 years shared by my parents.

233. a new blog to follow and a life to pray over.
234. rain drops and a little tongue sticking out to catch the drops.
235. Chinese take-out and phone calls to Nebraska.

237. another month updated in Quick books.
238. Mason’s teacher.

240. windshield wipers washing the exhaustion of the day away.
241. understanding technology and trying new things.
242. sharing Jesus with co-workers.

244. test results … and positive ones.

246. bookshelves and their potential to change things.
247. good writing, creative writing … attempts at getting thoughts from here to there.

250. pride, potential changes and positive thinking.
251. clothespins, coupons and creativity hung.
252. rolling dice with friends and the power it has to roll the worries and stress of a day away.

255. a new stove and oven – beautiful in so many, many ways.
260. air-popped popcorn at 8:30 in the morning.

264. dinner prepared by Ian.
265. a box from Cabela’s and pick up seats saved from any further damage. hopefully.

267. fresh sheets.

269. Mason’s love of looking the part of a rancher.

271. no room for worry worms.

273. a washing machine that works and a dryer too!
274. dirty little boys with imaginations that soar.

275. lunch trays and a meal enjoyed outside.
276. quiet. lots and lots of quiet … with a few moo’s in the midst.
277. I love you high … I love you low … I love you deep … I love you wide.
278. sunshine, shadows and slow moving clouds.
279. a green t-shirt and a bit of Irish blood.

281. a clean comforter.

287. steaks on the BBQ … beginning to smell like warmer weather.

290. I love you Lord, and I lift my voice … to worship you … oh my soul, rejoice. Take joy my King – in what you hear. May it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear.

292. 3+ hours of productive work at school.

295. homemade clam chowder and full stomachs.
296. time to think.
297. tired legs and feet = we didn’t sit down much today.

300. early to bed … early to rise … another busy day is only hours away.
301. a listening ear.

"Make friends with the problems in your life … and don’t forget to thank Me for them either. I use every single problem to teach you something … I can use your problems to chip away rough bits of stubbornness, pride, and selfishness to reveal my masterpiece – You!
I may not take your problems away, but I will make something good come out of them."
Jesus Calling, March 5

302. soft moo’s calling goodnight with little barks in the midst … the ranch whispers the day away.

{5} on friday.

{1}  it's been one of the busiest weeks my little world has seen in a while.  filled with goodness, but so, so busy.  looking forward to a weekend at home just trying to get caught up.

{2}  we have a new stove/oven ... and it's beautiful.  in fact, I think I'll make a batch of cookies in it tonight while I cook on the stove top!

{3}  my classroom is in complete disarray and I'm ok with that because if it wasn't ... I would have to wonder what I've been doing all week.

{4}  I'm already looking forward to my class next year ... and there are a bunch of kids and parents that are too.

{5}  I bought Jesus Calling to start doing with Mason, but the funny thing is, it's speaking directly to me. 

Matthew 11:28-30
"Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out ... ? 
Come to Me.  Get away with Me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest. 
Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. 
Learn from the unforced rhythms of grace ... keep company with Me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."  ~ Jesus

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May you find time to walk with Him this weekend.

this journey ... called life.

Sometimes, this journey isn't easy.

Oh really - who am I kidding?

It's never easy.

And if it is, well ... I was once told by Mac Bledsoe that if you've had an "easy" day ... you weren't teaching, or living.

............................

Most of the time you don't end up where you thought you would.

In fact, a lot of the time, the twists and turns and detours are as far from where you think you should be than you ever dreamed possible.

But every corner, every road, every path ... it's your journey.

...........................

Some of us are waiting for a phone call.

That one phone call that might possibly change everything.

Some of us are fighting for life.

A life without pain, disease or suffering.

Some of us are searching for truth.

Truth that takes away any doubts or fears.

Some of us are planning for, hoping for, praying for a child.

A child that will rely on us for everything.

Some of us are praying.

Praying for a miracle, a chance, test results that are positive, test results that are negative, a sign from God.

Some of us are reading.

Reading about grace and faith and the life of Jesus and His followers.

Some of us are learning.

Learning that life is a journey.

• Traveling from one place to another.
• Passage or progress.

 ... and without our past, without the wait, without the planning and preparing and praying, without the trust  ...

then we're really not on a journey.

And as difficult and hard as parts of our journey may seem - they are our story. 

They're the chapters in our book of life.

................................

So, go ...

Start searching for those glimpses of God written on your pages.

Start uncovering those hidden treasures as you start another chapter.

Quit trying to make the story go your way.

Quit trying to fix everything.

And maybe, just like Mack, you'll begin to anticipate the turning of the next page, the change of characters, the hidden, but yet, ever present Hero of your story with excitement, with joy, with trust.

It's yours to live, so live it well.

wordless wednesday.