OYB Reading 12/23/2010

The edited words of my heart poured out a year ago this day.  Praise be to God as they lift me up again.

Zechariah 4:1-5:11

Revelation 14:1-20
Psalm 142:1-7
Proverbs 30:21-23

Zechariah 4

4 I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”
5 He answered, “Do you not know what these are?”
“No, my lord,” I replied.

(I have great peace from seeing how these mighty men of God hear word for word from the mouth of God yet were so bold to question and admit they did not know what God was talking about. I will continue to ask till I understand and praise be to God with no shame.)

6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.

(Infuse me with your Spirit Lord.)

Zechariah 5
6 ... He replied, “It is a basket.” And he added, “This is the iniquity[b] of the people throughout the land.”

(I never realized how much of Revelations was already spoken of in the minor books of the old testament. I am curious and would like to to have better understanding of of the meaning of prostitution and wicked women is to be interpreted in scripture. I need to read more about these women in the basket. I laughed rather than felt the wickedness the writer spoke of. The imagery of winged wicked women in a basket. Lord please show me what I need to see.)

Psalm 142

2 I pour out before him my complaint;
before him I tell my trouble.

(Praise God that He never grows weary of our sorrow. As the turmoil of my life has not passed by quickly I am often concerned that my friends will grow weary of me. Praise God that I can come to you every minute of every day in pursuit of your wisdom and grace. Lord please create a habit in me that I seek you for every step, not moving to the right or the left, just waiting on you, yes even in the good times. For without your leading even the good is done in vain. May I do your will because I have spoken to the Father, not because I think I know it.)

Christmas Crafts 2011: Kids Houses

Petra

Sherman



Kay



Christmas Crafts 2011: Twin Super Capes

This was my 2nd attempt at making capes.  Many years ago I made a read cape for Reye.  Yet it wasn't all one piece and the seams kept breaking with play.  The strap at the neck also needed continual reinforcement.  So I cut this cape from one piece of fabric and left the edges raw.  No seams to unravel.  The neck strap has been reinforced with some felt at the neck.

Can't wait to see my boys flying come Christmas Day.

Advent Day 4 & 5

December 4- Hebrews 11:1

December 5: John 3:16-17
 
Yesterday was so busy we just didn't have time.  Reye found the verse for the 5th 1st and didn't want to be bothered with opening the Bible as he knew John 3:16.
 
I did the treasure box under a pile of coats that they found super easy.  no candy today as it was late.  I had a Christmas story inside. 

Advent Day 3

December 3 - Luke 1:26-38

Today they had chocolates and Christmas color sheets.

Christmas Crafts 2011 - Petra's Ornament

Petra and I had a great time picking through Grandma Sterling's crafting supplies to decorate her ornament for school.

Advent Day 2

December 2 - Isaiah 7:14

They were so excited.  I put 3 chocolates, 3 green pipe cleaners and 1 red in the box.  They had to make a tree and decorate with the red.  I loved watching them work together and be patient with Petra.

Advent Day 1

December 1 -  Psalm 51:10-12

Almost forgot.  It was 9:15 and the kids had just been put to bed.  Yet we hadn't done our new advent adventure.  The kids hunted the tree for the verse, looked it up, and Reye read it to everyone.  Doesn't get much better than Psalm 51.  One of my all time favorite songs by Keith Green.  I hid our box of treasures.  Gave the clue - Kay's room.  They were off and running.  To their disappointment it wasn't hidden very well.  a chocolate nugget for everyone in the box.  When everyone was finally back in bed, Reye asked that we eat our chocolate in the morning as he was all wired.  Who are these sensible kids I have?  I assured him I would give him his treat earlier so he could sleep for the rest of advent.

Advent Adventure

How do you manage the Advent Calendar with 5 kids?  Do you get them each their own chocolate calendar?  A neighbor ruined my kids last year with just that treat.  Petra has been pining for a new advent calendar.  Yet times are tough.  So this momma had to come up with a plan.  How I love the challenge. 

1st I looked the WEB for inspiration.  All those tiny boxes, drawers, etc. just weren't going to cut it for this LARGE  family.  So I combined a few ideas.  We now have a scripture tree made from cardboard, old Christmas cards and verses for each day. 

They read the verse,  I hide the Advent Box, and then they get to try and find it with clues.  I will put different things in the box every day.  I would love some ideas.  Mine so far are:  Chocolate, Christmas stories, a game, pictures from Christmas past, a craft, etc.What fun.

Planning on using this site:  http://www.thrivingfamily.com/Features/Web/2010/dec/advent-calendar.aspx

Here are the verses for our tree:

December 1 -  Psalm 51:10-12

December 2 - Isaiah 7:14

December 3 - Luke 1:26-38

December 4- Hebrews 11:1

December 5: John 3:16-17



December 6 - Mark 15:17

December 7 - Deuteronomy 32:7

December 8 - Psalm 19:1

December 9 - Luke 2:8-14

December 10 - Luke 2:15-18

December 11 - 1 John 4:7-12

December 12 -  Romans 5:1-2

December 13 - John 12:45-46

December 14 - Psalm 126:2-3

December 15 - Psalm 37:23-24

December 16 - Psalm 98:1-6

December 17 - Matthew 2:1-12

December 18 - Philippians 2:5-11

December 19 - Isaiah 9:6-7

December 20 - Luke 1:26-38

December 21 - Luke 4:18-21

December 22 - Luke 2:7

December 23 - Mark 16:15

December 24 – Psalm 33:20; Luke 25-32

December 25 – Luke 2:1-20

30 Days of Thanksgiving 2011

Day 24: Thanksgiving Day! I am thankful to the Klepetko Family that does such a beautiful job at preparing the Thanksgiving meal and setting such a pretty table. I am beyond blessed. Lake McQueeney is a wonderful place for all the kids to laugh and play. Thanks Rayla-Jeanne Klepetko.


Day 23: Yesterday I was thankful for a day at home to mass produce flowers for the Black Friday Sale Donna Legender-Hofmann' house. I am having way to much fun with all this crafting. What a blessing.



Day 22: Yesterday I was Thankful that my husband wanted to go to the zoo and my Dad's Christmas money was able to buy the annual pass. We had a great time. Everyone laughing, pointing, and being amazed.


Day 21: I am thankful for sleep and I am grateful that I have such a wonderful big bed. I am holding my eyes open till these little ones are ready to be tucked in. Kay is ready the story.


Day 20: Yesterday I was thankful that my all my kids could play independently so I could sew my 1st masterpiece. I call it my masterpiece because I added all the finishing touches such as double stitching around the pocket, hand gathered ruffle and so much more. I am more of a whip stitch girl and this time I made sure the inside looked as good as the inside.

Day 19: I am Thankful for all the fun and exercise the whole family get's at SPECTRUM. We all went swimming yesterday.

Day 18: Yesterday I was thankful that Christ is giving me confidence and strength. a verse I read yesterday was:

Ezekiel 2:3-7

New International Version (NIV)

5 And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6 And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people. 7 You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious.

Ezekiel 3:7-10

New International Version (NIV)

7 But the people of Israel are not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate. 8 But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. 9 I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.”

Day 17: I am Thankful for ALL the ways that God is providing for us in this season. More importantly I am Thankful for the lesson of Faith it is teaching me. For in times of plenty we don't see the hand of God caring for our every need. Yet in this season friends like Tonya Swetman, strangers, and even crazy circumstances have allowed us to keep keeping on.

Day 16: I am thankful for the trusty old scream in clean. Learned this from a friend of my mom's when we lived in Florida when I was 13. I scream and you clean.

Day 15: I an thankful for the journey God has me on and the joy, peace, self control and excitement for life he has placed in my heart. I especially praise Him for the smile that meets me in the mirror and in the eyes of every person I see.

Day 14: I am thankful that Game Truck is doing well and that we will soon be seeing a return on that investment in our pockets.

Day 13: Yesterday I was Thankful for answered prayer. Selling the puppies was a double blessing.

Day 12: I am Thankful that my oldest daughter's heart breaks for a friend that feels unloved and misunderstood by her family. I pray that she always feels as loved and understood by me as she does today.

Day 11: Thankful for our freedom.

Day 10: Yesterday I was thankful for the reminder by a friend. Children are still being molested at an alarming rate and it is up to us as parents, friends and grandparents to be educated and to educate our children so they can "tell" at the earliest stage possible.

Day 9: I am thankful that I stay home with my kids. To hear all the stories they tell, squeeze in between them to mix baked goods, help with the homework, be the 1st to hear about their day, teach them how to ..., laugh with them, read to them, take them EVERYWHERE, and apologize to them.

Day 8: God's word reminded me that I am very Thankful to my neighbor's. Not a one do I share FB with. For I see them in my driveway. Smiles, waves, friends, playmates for my children, a shoulder, walking partner, and recipient of my baking.

Day 7: I am Thankful that our family has remained committed to making all of our Christmas gifts the past 11 years. It stretches me every year to come up with something new. My creative side needs this discipline.

Day 6: Thankful for all the wonderful things we got from Randy's grandma. I have many lovely clothes and a mixer that I got to use to make Randy's B-day cake.

Day 5: I am thankful for cooler weather that let's me cosy up in blankets and my favorite valor jogging suits.

Day 4 : I am thankful that the big kids can work together and help clean the house and that the twins can sleep/play quietly in their room.

Day 3 : I am thankful that I am surounded by a great cloud of witnesses, Carole Lightfoot, Tonya Swetman, Cheryl Heinrich Oechsle, Ivette Cotter, Charlie Barnes, Sean Azzaro, Amber Roo, Matthew Rohr,Ray Touw, Shannon MacLaren Touw and many more. For each of you have helped me along the way in my Faith. I pray I have done the same for you.

Heb 12:1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

Day 2 : I am thankful for God's Word. I love discovering my favorite verses among my daily reading. Hebrews 4:11-13

11Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Day 1: Today I am thankful for free fabric and the use of a friends sewing machine. I am just in love with the Snoopy and Raggedy Ann prints Patti Evans Beasley.

Christmas Crafts 2011 - Ski Mask

I just found a picture of this on the web and copied it.  I love the idea of him being able to wear it as a mask or pulling the whole thing down around his neck.  This was very easy to make.

Christmas Crafts 2011: Sock Arm Warmers

These were great fun to make.  See Pinterest tutorial.

Source: iammommahearmeroar.blogspot.com via Christy on Pinterest

Christmas Crafts 2011: Vintage Childs Apron

Christmas Crafts 2011 - Fabric Flowers

This was the 1st of my flower making days. I do not have the contraption they used to cut the perfect circles so I printed circles on paper and glued Velcro to them. I can cut pretty good circles this way and my pattern stays put.

Here is the Pinterest tutorial:

Source: stampwithtami.com via Christy on Pinterest

Christmas Crafts 2011 - Wine Bottles

I have definitely had a love hate relationship with this craft. I just loved the idea of lace decoupaged on the wine bottles. I 1st was going to make lights but didn't want to have to drill a hole in the glass. So I decided that it would be fun for folks to be able to fill the bottle with what ever they like (dish soap, olive oil, plant watering can, etc. Yet this has posed another obstacle as I want the bottle to be able to be at least wiped down if it get's dirty. So my cheep project of bottles and Grandma Sterlings lace became expensive with Modge Podge and Triple Thick Brilliant gloss.

Then trying to get the lace to stay put around the bottle left an ugly seam. The roses purchased for $3.50 a yard were definitely needed.


Here is the Pinterest inspiration.

Source: urbancomfort.typepad.com via Christy on Pinterest

Christmas Crafts 2011 - Baby Maze

This was another supper easy craft for the twins. I plan on bringing these along to DRs. appointments, etc. Who wouldn't love pushing a bead around in some cossy fabric.

Here is the Pinterest tutorial:

Source: servingpinklemonade.blogspot.com via Christy on Pinterest

Christmas Crafts 2011 - Leg Warmers

I really liked making these for Petra. They were super easy. I also love how my mistakes turn into my creative repair. I sewed one of the top ribbing on the wrong way so that is what encouraged me to add the ruffle. Nothing like a little mistake to prompt inspiration.

I made a hat from this fabric last year.

Here is the tutorial from Pinterest.

http://crochetncrafts.com/sewing/sewinglegwarmers.html

Christmas Crafts 2011 - Snowmen

Painting these snowmen was one of my favorite. I just can't wait till all 5 of my kids are old enough that I can just enter into the dreamy place called artistic expression for more than a moment. Yet even with interruptions I am learning how to stay in the flow of my artistic design. I had such fun adding the shading, texture and depth of color.

These little guys were so inexpensive to buy that I would like to plan even FURTHER ahead next year and paint some BIG ones to sell. Maybe Randy and I would work together on it. The neighbor use to make these. I could easily draw the picture to be painted. Just need the wood cut.

No Pinterest to post on this one.

Christmas Crafts 2011 - Stretchies

Wow. This craft was much more difficult than I expected. Yet once I bought the fabric for $15.00 for the 2 gifts I couldn't turn back. My problem was how slippery the bathing suit material was to to keep together. I tried everything. Then after sew a few of these it just worked. Some how I figured out how to give the fabric just the right tention to keep those edges together. Kind of like riding a bike.

Then for the cute little bag these "stretchies" come in. I made them out of the legs of an old pair of Kay's jeans, a few beads and the strap came from Grandma Sterlings stash of crafting goodies.

Here is the craft as found on Pinterest.

Source: thismamamakesstuff.com via Christy on Pinterest

Black Friday Market Day

Black Friday Market Day

Host:
Patti Beasley
Phone:
2108822750

When:
Friday, November 25 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Where:
2626 Pebble Way, San Antonio, Texas 78232

Come put a dent in you Christmas list with beautiful hand crafted gifts. Some examples: jewelry, men's custom neck ties, jalapeño jelly, brittle, quilts, hot/cold packs, fabric flowers, purses and many other beautiful gifts. Get something for yourself too!

Christmas Crafts 2011- Hot/Cold Packs

I made a bunch of these hot/cold packs using every grain I had in the house. I started out with just rice but when that ran out I used lentils, barley and even a few pinto beans. I scented most of the bags with lavender and a few with eucalyptus.

I was determined to NOT spend any money on this project. I used all fabric that I had on hand or was given to me. Once you get sewing it is quite tempting to want to make your crafts flashy using the latest material, but times are tough, and I believe that God will bless my thriftiness.

I really loved this craft found on Pinterest. I used the tutorial listed bellow.

I am hoping to sell a few at a craft fair for $7.00. The fair is the day after Thanksgiving.

Source: brassyapple.blogspot.com via Christy on Pinterest

Teach Your kids about Molestation

My heart is to teach parents how to teach their kids about predators. The majority of kids molested will be at the hands of a trusted family member or friend. We need to STOP teaching stranger danger. I teach my kids that NO one is beyond reproach. I put myself right in the mix. If mamma does something that hurts you or makes you uncomfortable you go right ahead and tell on me. I would rather myself be called into question so my kids know they have permission to tell on anyone.




I also teach them about all the pre-molestation tactics. Most kids won't realize they are being molested till they are being touched. By then it is to late. A molester will often groom a child for 6 months. I tell my kids to tell me

1) if someone shows them a picture of naked people (cartoon or real),

2) if anyone like a teacher or coach tries to spend one-on-one time with them,

3) if someone undresses in front of them,

4) if someone touches their own privates in front of them,



I also teach them about the "dirty pleasure" feeling. I tell them it is like being on a roller coaster you can't get off. One minute it may feel good, yet when you want off you can't. Drawn by the adrenalin rush you may even come back for more even though it made you sick to your stomach. I want my kids to know that God created those parts of their body to feel pleasure, yet when an older person awakens that part of them they are robbing them of finding that on their own. Yet their is no shame for having found pleasure in it. God made you that way.



Two key reasons kids don't tell. They are confused by how arousal triggered participation. 2nd they are shamed into thinking their parents or family won't love them.



By the way I majored in Crimes Against women and Children in College. Kind of my life's mission. Thanks for giving me a voice for what I am most passionate about.

Spiritual Gifts

Christy Klepetko

Share the Spiritual Gifts Analysis with others:

Spiritual Gifts

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Strength
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Evangelism 12
Prophecy 15
Teaching 19
Exhortation 19
Pastor/Shepherd 18
Showing Mercy 16
Serving 9
Giving 6
Administration 12

Your dominant gifts are Teaching, Exhortation



The results of your Spiritual Gifts Inventory indicate that your number one dominant gift is TEACHING! The Greek word for teacher "didaskalos" means master, teacher or doctor. As a teacher you are one who communicates knowledge, guides, makes known or relays facts. You are likely more in-depth than the average Sunday school teacher. You have the Spirit-given capacity and desire to serve God by making clear the truth of God's Word with accuracy.

As a teacher you live to learn and teach (or perhaps write if you teach through the written medium). You should learn to teach in two manners which may be contrary to your nature. The material must be simple so students can understand it, and it must be practical. The pastor/shepherd, the prophet, and the exhorter (those with speaking gifts) usually rely on your resources to help fulfill their responsibilities.

You love the Word, enjoy reading, may be a little shy of strangers, are creative and imaginative, and prefer teaching groups over individuals. You are generally confident, self-disciplined, and sometimes technical. You probably love charts, graphs, and lists. You would sometimes rather just do research, but "must teach" because others would not teach it the way you would. The use of a verse out of context upsets you and you question the knowledge of those who teach you. You are organized and enjoy studying. You are so concerned with accuracy that you often dwell on the trivial, giving others the feeling that you give too many details. Some may even think you are boring.

Be careful that you are not critical of people who differ with your doctrine and that you do not measure other people's spirituality by their amount of Bible knowledge. Be willing to listen as well as talk. Don't hesitate to read directions and work on developing tolerance for others' mistakes.

If you score high in the gift of teaching and very low in the gift of shepherding, you probably won't make a good Sunday school teacher or group leader. Your tendency will be to relay knowledge and not shepherd or minister to the other needs of your students. People who use the gift of teaching in vocational service usually become teachers of teachers, professors, authors, or in-depth researchers.


HOW CAN YOU USE YOUR DOMINANT GIFT? You do not necessarily have to teach the Bible to be a help to the church ministry. Although you can help with interpretation or teaching teachers and others, you may teach in areas such as education, business, finance, or computers. You may enjoy writing and developing curriculum. You would probably serve well as a Bible institute teacher or a correspondence course instructor. Your gift also lends itself to the mission field where you could serve as a missionary/teacher. You may want to teach a basic doctrine course to newcomers or new Christians or host quarterly small group studies on different topics. You may enjoy doing research for the pastor or others who teach.

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The results of your Spiritual Gifts Inventory indicate that your second dominant gift is EXHORTATION! The Greek word "parakaleo" means to admonish, to encourage, to beseech. You are a "how to" person. You have the Spirit-given capacity and desire to serve God by motivating others to action by urging them to pursue a course of conduct. In a teaching position, you are able to explain how to apply God's Word. Your goal is to present material that enables the Holy Spirit to promote change in the student's life. You reach out and help Christians become more mature.

As an exhorter you are a very practical person, a good counselor, tolerant of others, serious-minded, orderly, and usually impulsive. You are expressive in a group setting; the group listens when you speak. You are comfortable working one-on-one or in groups. You are enthusiastic and talkative and enjoy encouraging others.

You are burdened to show how Scripture relates to conduct and have a desire to unify people by using practical rather than doctrinal issues. You likely place great importance on God's will and believe that His Word has the answer for every problem. You tend to make decisions logically rather than on feelings and are very orderly.

Be careful not to interrupt other people; your enthusiasm sometimes makes you guilty of this. Others may think you don't use enough Scripture in teaching because you tend to use Scripture to support what you are teaching rather than starting with Scripture.

Unlike teachers, you have the willingness to teach the same material again and again, updating and perfecting it as you do. As a counselor you usually have the ability to leave other people's problems "in the office" rather than letting them drag you down.

Beware of Satan's attack on your gift. He may cause pride in your motivational abilities. He may influence you to lose sight of people because of program emphasis. Don't become discouraged when results are not evident. Be careful not to encourage others to do the wrong things through your persuasive abilities.

HOW CAN YOU USE YOUR DOMINANT GIFT? You may use your special gift in many areas. You may want to be a leadership trainer. You could certainly serve as a counselor in church or in a counseling center. You could teach in church training or seminars or even small groups. You would make a good telephone ministry worker and would be a tremendous volunteer to follow up with new converts. You would work well as an encourager with those who are discouraged and as a counselor in a drug or alcohol program, rescue mission, poverty program, half-way house or runaway ministry or in a shelter for abused women and children. You could also use your gift in organizing or serving in a Men's or Women's Ministry.
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Building an effective team in your church depends on putting the right people in the right places. The best way to determine what place each person belongs in is by determine everyone's spiritual gifts. But, just discovering your spiritual gift is not enough.

Here's the real challenge. Many Christians are asking the question, "What is my spiritual gift?" When in reality they need to be asking, "What is a spiritual gift?" They do not understand the relationships of spiritual gifts. That is, they don't understand how a spiritual gift relates to their life, how it relates to the will of God for their life, how it relates to the lives of those around them, how it relates the local church, or how it relates to the body of Christ as a whole. To give John J. Christian an additional name and make him John J. Exhorter Christian is only doing him an injustice. Having a new name or title does not make you a more effective, more fulfilled, or a better Christian, nor does it give you any more understanding of yourself or those around you. Most contemporary material written on spiritual gifts does an adequate job in helping you recognize, discover, and define what your spiritual gifts are. Also, many do a fine job of teaching on the individual parts of the body, but few complete their teaching by assembling the body, thus showing how church members can work as complementing, effective, and efficient team. Thus, teaching a person only what their spiritual gift is without teaching them what a spiritual gift is, is like giving someone a new tool without giving them the operator's manual. They will never understand it fully nor will they be able to use it to its maximum potential. The same is true with your spiritual gifts.

Faith, Doubt & Reason

Have you ever had someone accuse you of being a person of great faith? Well my daughter and I were talking and she concluded that it was easy for me to have faith and believe God because he has done so many amazing and miraculous things in my life.


Well that got me thinking about doubt, faith and reason. I honestly shared with her that despite all that God has done in my life, and those around me, that I still question, just like she does, if this is all a big story. Not every day or every minute but when faced with the fork in the road I question. Yet I always come back to reason. Even if this is all a grand myth, my life is better for it. Never have I walked away from prayer, reading the word, or fellowship with believers ready to do something more selfish or stupid than when I started.

She also got me thinking about faith. She concluded that because God had done great things it would be easy for me to trust him for the next trial. I had the great revaluation that to walk in faith in a new situation never gets any easier regardly of how many times you have put your trust in God. I can know that God will come through but the need for faith in and of itself says you are in a terrifying, unknown, unpredictable, situation that is completely out of your control. The building blocks of past victories through faith help us to stay the course resting assured that His ways are higher than ours but they in no way decrees the challenge of walking in blind obedience.

Yet I bring it full circle for it is in those places where blind obedience is needed that I trust full well that God's plans are wise and will keep me and those around me from harm. For doubting and walking away from His plan is only birthed in a desire to satisfy my immediate selfish wants that even in the eye's of the world will eventually show my foolishness.

So I stay the course for doubt, for faith, for reason and in the midst of it all I find myself in God's presence glad that I trusted his plan for my life. Praise God, for faith is but needed for every NEW situation.  Once that new path is cut I can walk that one again.  For my garden use to be a wild uncut field.  Yet each new journey of Faith I walk cuts a new trail and brings more of his light to every new path he sets my feet to walk.

I thank my sweet Kay for asking me the hard questions and bringing me this great new revaluation on the cycle of doubt, faith and reason.

4th Grade Spelling Homework

You may play games on "Spelling City" only if you have time after all homework is done.

Monday

1)Spelling city - Teach Me Word-by-Word
Trace the word once before moving to the next.

2)Read/dissect words/find tricky sounds/record #syllables/Make it fun

Tuesday

1)Read/Hold up fingers for syllables/recall tricky letters/close eyes and spell

2)Trace/copy/recall

3/Written test using spelling city/Check work

4)show mom

*If you have missed less than 6 you may stop.

*5) Read missed words/Hold up fingers for syllables/recall tricky letters/close eyes and spell
*Keep doing till you spell all word correctly to yourself.

Wednesday

Study only words missed yesterday
1)Read/Hold up fingers for syllables/recall tricky letters/close eyes and spell
2)Trace/copy/recall
3/Written test using spelling city/Check work
4)show mom
*If you have missed less than 3 you may stop.
*5) Read missed words/Hold up fingers for syllables/recall tricky letters/close eyes and spell
*Keep doing till you spell all word correctly to yourself.

Thursday
1)Read/Hold up fingers for syllables/recall tricky letters/close eyes and spell
2)Trace/copy/recall
3/Written test using spelling city/Check work
4)show mom
*If you have missed any word continue.
*5) Read missed words/Hold up fingers for syllables/recall tricky letters/close eyes and spell
*Keep doing till you spell all word correctly to yourself.
6)Test by Mom or Dad

Childcare cover letter

August 15, 2011

Beverly J Perkins
Center Director
Kinder Care
8110 Lone Shadow Drive
Converse, TX 78109


Dear Ms. Perkins,


Thank you for taking the time to speak with me on Friday August 13, 2011 regarding the lead teacher position you currently have available. I have worked with children from a very young age and have continued to throughout my life. I started out baby sitting and had day camps at my house at the age of 11. I had my 1st experience in a daycare setting in High School. I started out as an afternoon teacher to a young 3’s class. Then that summer I worked as a teacher for a 2 yr old class.

It was working with these kids that set me on my path in college. I desired to combat child abuse and neglect. I majored in public relations but minored in crimes against women and children. I took Child Abuse Prevention, Crimes against Women and in a Lobbing class emphasised in the area of more legislation to protect exploited children.

My heart was to help parents and caregivers understand the social and emotional development of children to better be able to parent them. This education may not appear to be early childhood development but it covered many of the same basic developmental elements.


I continued on my journey to help children by running a group home for behaviorally disordered teens. The children you could say were stuck in the mind of a 2-3 year old. I believe that many of the skills and training received by this organization are invaluable to working with young children.


As much as my heart longed to continue to work with small children it was imperative that I begin to work in a field that had real earning potential. It was for this reason that I went into an administrative position in the health care field.  I stayed in this field for 14 years.  Some of the transferable skills to a childcare center would be my ability to assist you in the office.  I managed multiple projects and varying time lines.  I managed budgets and maybe the most valuable would be the interpersonal skills I learned.  On a daily basis I was faced with Doctors, nurses and department heads that were less than excited about following the rules and complying with deadlines.  I was able to sympathize with them and bring them around to what needed to be done.  All the while doing it in a way they felt respected and appreciated.  This season of my life allowed me to earn a maximum salary while working part time from home.  This was most crucial as my heart was to put motherhood 1st.  I had 5 children in 7 years.

I continued to work directly with others children during this season at our local church.  I  have been the lead teacher in the 2-3's room for many years, overseeing upwards of 20 kids.  I was the one that could hold them captivated during interactive story telling.

I have not been working for the past two years due to some restructuring in my position at the hospital and my desire to pore into my kids lives.  Now that my twins are almost four I would like to return to the work force.  I see this as a win, win for this season in my life.  My children are at the age where socialization at your facility with other children and receiving direction from another loving adult would stimulate their growth.  While my working close by and continuing to develop my skills in caring for children would be personally gratifying.

I appreciate the time you take to review my application and look forward to future discussions concerning this position. I can be reached at 210-637-1245. Once again, I thank you for your consideration.


Sincerely,




Christy Klepetko

Ice Cream Cup Cakes

My girls are going to a cheer leading sleep over. I made chocolate ice cream cupcakes. I like that they shouldn't be as messy to eat. Yet my cupcakes overflowed. The twins sure enjoyed them.

Invisible Mother

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'

Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more! Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this??

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude -but now, they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!?

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England . Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe . I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof, No one will ever see it. And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does.

No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become. At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for 3 hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'You're going to love it there.'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Great Job, MOM!

Posole Soup

Posole
3-4 lbs of pork roast( or tender meat)( Beef sirloin center cut is very yummy) cut very small
garlic salt
season salt
...2, 15oz white & yellow hominy
1 onion
2 stalks celery, chopped
4 carrots or 1 can carrots (del monte select)
1, 13oz chicken broth
1, 4 oz can chopped green chilis
dash oregano, cumin
1 lb mild mexican velveeta or velveeta w/one can diced rotel tom
1 c milk
*Spray soup pan with pam or a little oil. cut meat small and place in and cook. Drain one can hominy and add and then add other can hominy with broth from can. add everything else but milk. boil then simmer. I have melted the velveeta in the microwave with the rotel, like queso, and then add it to soup. add milk then simmer after cutting back heat.
Make some homemade bread on side:)

Day to Day/Ordinary

Just finished putting everyone to bed.  Well mostly.  3 yr old, Grant is up asking for water even though he has some in his hand.  Now he is saying his sticker is gone and he wants more water in his cup.  3 yr old, Sherman was hilarious.  When I came into their room he announced that Reye was swimming.  Now Sherman is out wanting to know if he can eat a pickle.  Up from my chair they are all running for their beds.


Nothing remarkable happened today.  What a blessing.  For our life is far from ordinary.  I'll take boring any day.  Kids were good, no one painted the walls, well except for the chair with the white crayon, forgot about that.  Now one got in trouble at school, oh ya.  I did have to run Petra a new outfit at 7:15 this morning.  She spilled milk.  No one broke any bones or went potty in the living room.

We just ate breakfast, spilled our milk, went to the gym, had a pickle and soup, wouldn't take a nap, fought with our brother and so on.

Sunshine

Had a great day with the kids. Best part is starting it off with God. We have new neighbors and they have a little girl just right for Petra to play with. Hooray.

I am so thankful for my work out buddy and all my friends at the gym.

Had a brainstorm of an idea for Children's ministry at our church. Hope to talk with Robbie soon.

The weather was awesome so we made it down to the duck pond. The twins were edging up to all the fisherman. Need to get them a pole.

Closed out the night with the movie "Wall Street" with Randy. OK flick but kind of dragged on in the end.