A Dozen Brothers

There were a dozen and then there were eleven. 

So the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat played in the city. What an amazing wonderful time. The band of brothers were truly inspiring.

Gifts - they are all amateurs from different walks of life. In 7 months they are transformed to a musical, harmonising in song and dance troupe. Worthy of any west end musical.

Story line - from jealousy and attempted murder, to repentance and self-sacrificing love. They captured the emotions so well, drawing from their own experience despite their young age.

Acknowledging that favouritism can cause much division and ill-feeling. But also recognising how only God, and He alone, can enable release of forgiveness, deposit hope in hopelessness, bring about redemption, and an amazing beyond-all-imagination future.

The first time this was produced, my third Arrow was in the children's choir.

The Littl' 'Un

We finally got around to getting Arrow #3 a smartphone. Touch screen no less. A simple model. Slightly smaller than mine. Suits her well because her hands are even smaller than my small hands!

Now she can whatsapp her friends and family for free - when there is wifi around. Cuts her cost down. At least that is the plan!

It can also update calendar entries so we can keep in touch! Now that's a high tech family for you!

On the other hand however, it can be a source of distraction. That has to be checked.

So the littl' 'un will find Big Mmmmommmma checking on her phone periodically. That's part of being in this family.....

Wait

It was one of those weeks. Tiring meetings. Sapping weather. Difficult circumstances. 

Misunderstood. Misinformed. Mistaken more than once.

I had to keep reminding myself to stay focused.

Then on the way home with Arrow #3, we saw this.

Amazed that I managed to catch a shot of it. Delighted that it was flying repeatedly overhead. Humbled by the reminder the Lord had sent.

Isaiah 40:31But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Voila!

First a layer of white. The original walls were purplish. This meant that it took a while to get a good even layer of white.

Then masking tape had to be placed. Accurately.

After that, the chosen colour, in this case, pink, is painted on.

Finally when that is dried, the extra touch is put in.

A moustache on the bathroom door (reminds her of Dad she says). More difficult to apply are some swirls above the door adjoining our room. I have to help her with these. Some Scripture verses and important thoughts near the foot of the bed completes the final touch.

All in all, it is a good few days' project. Interacting, imparting, sharing, struggling, learning, understanding, observing, working alongside each other for a mutual goal. More than one goal achieved in the end.

Put to Good Use

Finally got around to using the machine properly! It's been ages since we got this curtain-thingy that Arrow #3 wanted hung at her door. I think it has had to be months actually. One busy day led to another busy day. Even holidays and days off didn't see this as a priority.

Until one day. Arrow #3 and I decided to embark on a project. A fairly big one too. We decided to re-decorate her room.

We started with giving the walls a coat of white paint. The next day, whilst Arrow #3 put masking tape on the wall, I did this. Sewed some velcro to hang the curtain up with.

Part 2 coming up after next.

So You Love the Lord?

I knew it.

But it was as if I didn't know it.

Not until it was pointed out... and I am so grateful that it was pointed out.

‎"And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father Davd, except that he sacrificed and burned incense at the high places" 2 Kings 3:3

It is possible to love the Lord and still have idols and practice wrong things....! Scary but realistically true!

1 Kings 11:2 talks about how Solomon clung to these things. But in Jeremiah 13:11, the Lord says to cling to HIM. HE says to cling to HIM and not to the idols of our lives.....

More in the next post....

Lessons from Mr Balloon

First he was used as a visual aid to a lesson about integrity, character and how that is far more important than performances.
Then he was taken into the Toddlers' Room.

And that was when near pandemonium happened.

Lesson learned - listen to an experienced mother who has gone in to see her children in a toddlers room with many other toddlers holding enough goodies for her own children but not for the rest.

That's a definite no-no.

Sure enough, he was asked to leave.

And Mr Balloon ended up stuck here instead - on the window blinds....

I wonder how long before he gets taken away.... and who knows? Perhaps another lesson from the whole experience!

Teaching the Child

Excerpt from: The Heart of a Teacher
by Paula Fox

The child arrives like a mystery box...
with puzzle pieces inside
some of the pieces are broken or missing...
and others just seem to hide

But the HEART of a teacher can sort them out...
and help the child to see
the potential for greatness he has within...
a picture of what he can be

Her goal isn't just to teach knowledge...
by filling the box with more parts
it's putting the pieces together...
and creating a work of art

The process is painfully slow at times...
some need more help than others
each child is a work in progress...
with assorted shapes and colors

First she creates a classroom...
where the child can feel safe in school
where he never feels threatened or afraid to try...
and kindness is always the rule

She knows that a child
can achieve much more
when he feels secure inside
when he's valued and loved...
and believes in himself
...and he has a sense of pride

She models and teaches good character...
and respect for one another
how to focus on strengths...not weaknesses
and how to encourage each other

She gives the child the freedom he needs...
to make choices on his own
so he learns to become more responsible...
and is able to stand alone

He's taught to be strong and think for himself...
as his soul and spirit heal
and the puzzle that's taking shape inside...
has a much more positive feel

The child discovers the joy that comes...
from learning something new...
and his vision grows as he begins
to see all the things that he can do

A picture is formed as more pieces fit...
an image of the child within
with greater strength and confidence...
and a belief that he can win!

All because a hero was there...
in the HEART of a teacher who cared
enabling the child to become much more...
than he ever imagined...or dared

A teacher with a HEART for her children...
knows what teaching is all about
she may not have all the answers...
but on this...she has no doubt

When asked which subjects she loved to teach,
she answered this way and smiled...
"It's not the subjects that matter...
It's all about teaching the CHILD."