Tales of Mom Ellis

Sunday, September 30, 2007

Seasons...

Oh how I love the change of the seasons. The cool, crisp air of Fall, the leaves slowly changing colors, the smells that it brings: apple crisp baking in my oven, Frech stew in the crockpot! And the change always renews my spirit in a way of new beginnings. This Fall is different from any of the past thirty one " Fall seasons" that I have enjoyed in my married life, because my nest is truely empty. With Laura's wedding last December, and Charissa studying in Budapest this semester, things are different. The amazing thing is that God in His great Love and Mercy has truely prepared me for this time in my life. I am teaching little children " Full time", something that would have been very difficult with more responsibility at home. Don and I have more time to talk, take walks with our little doggies, I can take an aroebics and pilates class two times a week, so I am in no way " bored " but quite busy and enjoying it, because God has "prepared these good works beforehand that I could walk in them" Eph. 2:10" Thank you, Precious Lord for this new season of Life! I am so thankful that your Holy Spirit has guided me and brought me to this new place!

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

School days, school days...

Well, I began a new " marathon" this week as I began a new year with close to sixty little students in my classes. ( I teach 4 classes of 15 each) Believe it or not, it has been a great week! How can this be, you ask? I think truely it is the Grace and Loving mercy of our Great God that we serve. Even though I have been teaching for fifteen years, I am still learning new things that are bringing improvement to the classroom. For example, I learned at our school retreat in August that the first day, and week are the most important time because you are setting up routines that will carry on throughout the year. God gave me a great idea in how to assign seats for the little ones at our circle times and it keeps peace and order! Another thing that I am trying is to have a 10 minute" table time" as the children arrive and when most of them are there, we ring the bell, clean up and have a circle time and I give instructions for the day! They are so much more attentive to my voice first thing in the morning. The Bible says "The prudent woman sees the evil and hides herself" and these little "changes" have already shown good fruit in my little friends. I am so grateful to God for His Precious Holy Spirit who leads us, guides us and teaches us in new ways, so that God can be glorified in every area of our lives!