Third Graders

Today I started helping out with the third graders @ Avocado Elemtary school. I was in Mrs. Leibernicht's class and it was great!

What was I doing in there you ask? Haha, glad you asked (Okay, so I was going to share with you anyway).

My favorite thing.....reading!

Children had storeis they had read and were to anser questions they were to answer aabout what they had read (reading comprehension, ugh!!!)Did a lot of helping students pro

helping students with language
(some ESL students too :)
correcting papers

ran into a teacher whom I went to church with @ CABC

Alehe was a big hit after school while waiting for my dad to pick me up.

So starting Friday I will be working with two classrooms. The second one being a special education kindergarten class! YaY! I can't wait to go back!!!!

My Time @ Gage

Today was my first day with the k-2nd graders since my surgery, and what an AMAZING day it was! I came into the classroom and heard each child gasp as they realized I had returned. Phenominal feeling! They were excited to be working with me again (or was it the dog, Idk. lol!) Today definately was a mood lifter.



Teachers tells me today one of her students asks her every day- "Is today an Alehe day?"



TOday: Had a volunteer luncheon @ Gage Elementary. Received a t-shirt, volunteer pin and a certificate. Had the most hours of any volunteer. Nominated for volunteer of the year. One teacher I volunteer for gave me a nice gift and her students each hand made me a card. So blessed! I love Love LOVE what I do!!!!!! (Allie even received a box of dogbones :) )


Fifteen minutes left into my day with the second graders the teacher asks which student would likke to work with me on beginning their homework assignment. At least fifteen hands go up. She chooses one, fourteen whiney "awwwwww"s follow. LOL! I love it!!!

Last day of the year and 2nd grade teacher tells me she hopes I will be back in the fall

Life Since Surgery

Eeghad when will I learn to spell-check before I post!? HaHa

My last two appointments the doc has asked me if it was worth it all in the end. My answer - "Sometimes a blessing, sometimes a curse!" lol! That's usually when the tube gets pulled (OWIE!!!!) or the blasted thing gets disconnected from the bag (grrrr!) But yes, it has definitely caused me to be a bit more independent and I have more time in my day for things I enjoy. (Not to mention a slight boost in self-esteem)

Post op appointments have been great though. The healing process is going as expected. The last appointment things were supposed to be changed, but the doc said we could wait another month. They swore me off of Tylenol saying it was bad for my liver, and instead said to take Ibuprofen. Ohmygoodness! :D Way better! I was taking three Tylenol at a time, sometimes a couple of times a day because two were doing nothing for me. I can take two Ibuprofen and be fine the rest of the day. Very rarely do I have to take more than that. The first time I took it and I was thinking I may have taken too much because I just felt TOO good! But now I have not had pain in weeks and now just use the Ibuprofen when I have a headache. (and that's a WHOLE other ballgame!)

I am back at our ladies Bible Study faster than expected. In fact, I think I only missed one study since surgery. The leader as well as those at our table were quite surprised to see me so soon.

I am also back at Gage Elementary as a teachers aide once again. Which is great because the downtime was leaving me emotionally drained. My first day back was so totally awesome. I come wheeling into the classroom where you could hear 25 second graders *GASP* with excitement when they turned and saw Alehe and I. And when I called them back one by one to do some reading assessment with me you could hear them exclaim as they headed my way, "YES!". I SO love my volunteer job!

Speaking of job, my dad said something cool to me just the other day. He picked me up one afternoon and says to me something like " you know, you DO have a job. It's just that you're getting paid by the government (meaning my SSI).

The Church of the Open Door

Revelation 3:7 - 13
(really only touched on vs 7-8)

The Church of the Open Door (Opportunity)
(the faithful church)

The POWER of an open door (faith)
Rev. 3:8 ; IICor. 2:12 ; Col. 4:2-3 ; Acts 14:27
God is the one who opens doors, pray for the doors to be opened

The PRODUCER of an open door
Rev. 3:7 ~ the one who is Holy, True
He opens, He closes
The One who is holy
Rev. 3:7 ; 1 Peter 1:15
The One who is true
Rev. 3:7 (Genuine)

The PERMANENCE of an open door
Rev. 3:7 ; 1:18 ; Isaiah 22:22
NO man can shut
NO man can open
......but God
"Lord God, help me see the open doors for witness today".

The PROBLEM with an open door
Opportunities are often disguised as problems
missed open door
I may not have seen an open door if the door was not closed
Opportunities are time sensitive
sometimes they don't come at convenient times
Opportunities are often tested by opposition
1Cor. 16:8-9
usually territory held by the enemy
Best evidence we have it is the will of God
Opportunities are usually missed because of fear
Rev. 3:8 ; IICor. 12:9 ; Gen. 11:4
I cannot do this on my own strength
(His strength is made perfect in weakness)
If God opens a door, He'll help you walk through it

Eph. 5:15 - 17
.....making the most of every opportunity

ON YOUR OWN
God ordained opportunities
Gen. 12:1-9
Esther 4 &5
Luke 18:18 - 30
John 4: 1 - 26
Acts 9:10-17
Acts 16:6-10

Open doors rarely come to us at a time when we are prepared to walk through them. Many times, we are so caught up in attending to our normal every day lives that we are a little disrupted when a truly miraculous and extraordinary moment presents itself. How has God interrupted your life in a miraculous or extraordinary way? How was His timing?
Moving to Montan when I thought I had life figured out
teaching sunday school
meeting RA
moving to CA
Skyline to Shadow Mountain when I thought I was being led to Skyline and mom said she'd go where I wanted to )
teaching Sunday school Special Needs ministry

There may be inner resistance to where God is leading you
(me falling in love with Skyline church, mom and dad going to Shadow Mountain and because I don't drive having to go there instead. Me wanting to go back to Skyline, but then the Special Needs ministry popped up.)

God, Yer SPOILING ME! :D

2nd graders
In this class, I am helping wherever needed, whether its housekeeping (paperwork) or having children read to me, even sitting by one child and helping them out while we do a class assignment. Today the seond graders graciously asked if they could pet Alehe. They have EXCELLENT memories!!! If I tell them not now but at such and such a time....they don't let me forget! LOL!!!! As is the case for one child today. I talked to her during class on Monday saying she could pet her on Friday at the end of our day. One little girl (Joaquin, pronounced ha'keen) loves the fact Alehe is there. searches me out just before we go to luch and again at the end pf our day to talk to me.... all the time. She and I talked today about why I was in the wheelchair. I wrote names on childrens packets today and stapled papers together, even put together booklets that children can order books from. THAT was a daunting task. Especially when all teh pages start looking alike after the third or fourth one! I think I wasted fifteen twenty minutes trying to figure out the order of pages! then it was time to go to our assenbly put on by Wildlife Rescue here in SoComing back from lunch I passed by a seond grader "You're a great teacher!" It's only my THIRD day :D
I learned something new from the assembly today regarding birds that fall out of nests. When I was in school we were taught NEVER to pick up a bird if it had fallen out of its nest. Apparently, this is not the case anymore. it used to be that if the mother bird smelled human on teh baby bird, said baby bird would be rejected. Now, it is advised that if you can reach the nest, to go ahead and put the baby bird back into it. If the nest is too high to reach, find a small container, line it with something soft and put the baby bird back in. Then put the container as high as you are able to reach. The Mamma bird will still feed their baby this way.


Kindergarten/1st grade
Ohmygoodness I never thought sitting and listening to children could be so daunting! Reading is one thing...but reciting numbers by ones, fives, tens, and two's, and all to 100?! It was really a learing experience in teaching young children. I was having fun in a way.....
I was surprised that counting by ones, fives, and tens was easier than counting by two's. here is where most struggled. Some children i had to help more than others, had to exxplain to them to take one number (two for example) and add two more (four). What do you get when you add two to that number (six!). it was interesting to me tha counting by two's from, say, twenty-eight to thirty, thrity-eight to forty,forty-eight to fifty, and so on and so forth was a bit difficult for one child.

I can't wait until Monday!

Alehe is Back to Work, Finally!

"GASP, She brought her dog!" children said excitedly. Yes, today was the first day I was able to bring Alehe to Gage Elementary school in San Carlos, CA. I had been in the kindergarten/first grade class for a few months now, and just today started in the second grade classroom after that. I was worried about passing by the preschool classroom this morning, but thankfully none of those children spotted me. But I was assured on my last day in that class that there is always next year.
I wheeled into the office to sign in on the volunteer sheet as I always do and the Secretary ooo-ed and ahhh-ed over Alehe. I then proceeded to my first class of the day, kindergarten and first graders. They had been well informed of my bringing Alehe, her duties while she is with me, and that they are not to pet her unless I give them permission to do so. A few told me about their dogs at home. The children did an excellent job while working with me. A few kept peeking under the table at her whole with me, and one boy I had to tell repeatedly to pay attention to his teachers up front because he would not stop looking at her and talking. One child I have difficulty with not wanting to work with me was a tad more cooperative today. I was able to get two answers out of her. Which was a lot for her. She is usually really shy around me. I am hoping the more Alehe is there, it will bring her out and we can become more comfortable around each other.
The second graders also did an excellent job, and cracked me up in the process; they were almost relentless in asking me when they could pet her. I finally told one girl that "possibly Friday" I would let her. I talked about Alehe a bit before class and showed them a thing or two what she could do, and they raised their hands and started talking about all of their dogs. So cute! As they were lining up for lunch today, I did manage to allow them a quick pet as they were leaving. I went to the break room with the teacher and had lunch with her, a substitute teacher, and a few others. Yeah, they couldn't keep their hands off of her either, lol! Even my morning teacher was there.
I cannot WAIT to go back on Friday! In the meantime, I am still waiting on the Salvation Army to call me so that I can set up a time on Wednesdays to volunteer there.

What A Day!!! :D

Wednesday was the frst morning in at least three weeks that I had been to JUMP Preschool. After so many times as a volunteeer to see if I liked it, they require a background check before you return. It could take weeks for this to go through (ugh!). The director said she would call me when this happened.
Weeks go by and I haven't heard anything, but I resist the urge to call. She said she would call me when everything was okay'd. One day last week I finally went with the urge and called her office. She was glad I finally called as she had erased the message on the answering machine that had my phone number. Besides, the background check came back a-okay after only one week. Was I ready to start that Wednesday? HECK YEAH!!!!!
Immediately upon my arrival into one of the classrooms one little boy rushed right over to me (kind of a hop/jog sorta) and gave me a great big bear hug! Three more children from another class also did the same. I was so glad that they remebered who I was!!!
There were only three two-year-olds in their class today. 2 of the two years olds were actually interested in me, and cracked me up! (The third being sick and sleeping on teh couch). One of the little girsl was blabbering away, abotu what you had no idea as you could not understadn a WORD of what she said!!! (Oh how i WISH I could!) And LAUGH!!! Oh I love hearing the laughter of children. I would laugh at what they did which made them laugh....which made ME laugh even harder! AT onbe poin you hear me saying "alright!" as I was LOVING teh interaction with them. Before you know it, I had a little copycat. "AWIIIGH!", two-year-olds version of "ALRIIIGHT!") And both of them would not stop smiling at me :D the entire time I was with them.
My mother, cousin and I are in a new biblestudy - Beth Moore's study on Esther, "It's Tough Being a Woman". We missed the first three weeks of it, but last night being our first and I was rivetted. I got sooooooo much out of it! I took notes like a mad woman, along with filling in the information in our workbooks. Afteward, i got to thinking, "If this is how its going to be every week, I am in for the ride of my life!!!" I LOVED it!

Kindergarten/ 1st Graders

This past Friday was a looong day for me, but so TOTALLY worth it! I spent the first part of my day with the usual preschoolers, sadly half of them were out sick :( but we had one preschooler who was having a VERY bad day, so unfortunately he made up for it! lol!)
It was also my first day as an aide for a kindergarten/first grade class, and I LOVED it!!! The teacher, Mrs. Ferris, and I got along very well (thank you Lord!). We talked a lot, me sharing how I got into teaching in the first place (haha God!), abotu individual children in her class. WE even had a few similarities in how we got into the field.
Its assessment time at Gage Elementary, and parent/teacher conferences are starting next week. I have been helping in the area of assessment, pulling students aside one by one and testing their reading and science abilities. And to tell you the truth it is an incredible learning experience for me. I tried hard not to help the students as it was testing what they knew,, boy was it HARD! I wanted to give them pointers, tips, hints,answers--- anything to make it easier for them. We discuss my time with the children at the end of the two hours and I am learning a lot.
The children were extremely helpful too, offering help if and when I needed it because I was new in their class. And I think they love the fact that someone new IS IN their class. A touching moment happened today when I was outside with my preschoolers. I was interacting with one of them adn the preschool teacher caught my atttention with "Hey Tryna, I think you have a following!" I looked over as a large group of the kindergarten/1st grade class was yelling my name, trying to get my attention and say "Hi!" And it's only my second day in that class!!!

GO GOD!!!!

Journey

God has been taking me on an interesting journey these past few months since being back here in Southern California. Looking back on life since May, its been unbelievable the things that have transpired. From utter confusion as to where my life was going , loud protests as to where life was taking me adn where I thought it should BE going, I now find myself falling on my face in total surrender, asking Him to lead the way.
Even though I have not had success at finding a place of my own yet, life at my cousins has been great, and God has met me there too. We've been a tremendous encouragement to eachother. She's been helping me find things to do; volunteering at various preschools, getting involved in the singles group at church, I help watch her three-year-old neice, and we watch my 2nd cousin play football on Friday nights at my alma mater, Granite Hills High School (GO EAGLES!!!)
SKyline Wesleyan church is where I am going on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. I have visited in times past; a childhood frind invited me to her wednesday night childrens ministry, we would watch the Livign Christmas Tree put on by the Skyline choir. Even thougth it is a Wesleyan denomination, I have found it similiar to Christiam Life Center, an Assemblies of God (what i was born andraised in). I have visited churches I went to in the past, even the one I was born and raised in, but diddnt feel either was for me anymore. As the Good Lord wills, I long to become moreinvolved in the childrens ministry, possibly the choir sonewhere down the road. The Wednesday night singles group is going through a 'Boundaries' book series. When I first started, the topic/book was 'Boundaries in Dating'. Wasn't sure what to think of it at first. After all not having ever dated (except maybe a blind date set up by two mutual friends, Awekward!) I wasnt quite sure if it was something God had for me. Now we seem to have put that aside and are going through the first book of teh series 'Boundaries'. I am getting more from this one, although I wouldnt mind continuing with the other one too (sheepish grin). The pastors messages have been a true blessing in this season. One series was on Story, while now He's preaching on the Covenant.
Identity. its a word that has been sticking in my mind for some time now. I guess I have been rying to find out who I am. Since three years ago when my world was turned upside down by numerous circumstances and so may people trying to tell me what they saw best for me---and getting frustrated in the process, hurting people along the way because i could not adequately describe what was going on in my head, so it came out in anger and confusion instead. Gods grace is truly amazing. I have been truly leaning on Him for strength a I get through this rollercoaster of a season I find myslef in. And little blessings are popping up everywhere! Communication with family members has been fairly smooth (whoa!, it could still use some work, but its a growing process. A Montana friend (if your reading this you know who you are, a HUGE THANKYOU!!!) gave me an encouraging word about identity, and it has blessed me immeasurably. I go back and read his fb comment often :).

One final note, those poppers I made for biblestudy a few days ago? Yeah, HUGE hit! At least eight comments.
Pictures soon!

A Giant Leap of Faith ---

There was a flier in Sunday's church bulletin. Upon reading it during our meet and greet I immediately filled it out without giving it a second thought. At the conclusion of second service I went straight to the imformation booth to turn it in. Leaving the sanctuary and heading to my van I thought to myself, "What did I just do!?"
I had just signed up to be a teacher in KidZone, Christian Life Center's children's Sunday school. It is set up so there are more than one teacher in a classroom, and so teachers rotate on who would give the lesson for each week. A lesson for November would be in the mail shortly. I am so excited!
Noel called me on my cellphone as I was leaving Wal Mart. I only had a few things I needed to pick up. She and I are in christmas choir rehearsals together and she has heard me talk about my job woes and my enthusiasm for working with young children. I had marked on the sheet of paper the spot for the intern, and she persuaded me to forgo the internship part and be a lead teacher instead. I tried to start out as a helper and work my way into the lead teacher, but she felt this was a God thing of my getting involved and her thinking of me. I decided to take a giant leap of faith and accepted the challenge.
What is God up to, if anything, I am beginning wonder. The job prospects in the secular jobmarket are proving to be futile (although I haven't given up hope just yet). Even some of the volunteer opporunities have been limited it seems although I am volunteering now at the Missoula Boys and Girls club (it's okay, not a blast, but it's okay). What is interesting is while at chi Alpha one evening we had a Missoinary speak that night and on the table were books to give away. The Title? "Out of the Comfort Zone".
My first teaching experience ever was shortly after moving to Montana, when both my mother and I were talked into becomeing Missionettes teachers. That was when I felt lead to pursue it as a profession. Then I became involved in a fourth/fifth grade classroom grading papers, helping with seatwork, and prep work for some of those lessons. I became even more interested in education.
I became interested in doing therapy dog work with Alehe, and that didn't even last very long. I think I went to the hospital maybe twice, if even that. There was just no room for me at the time I thought it would be most convenient.
I couldn't help but wonder if God is not more involved in this trouble with finding work, paid or otherwise, and if He isn't preparing me for something else. Would gettin involved in KidZone have come up had I not gotten involved in either Community Hospital's Pet therapy program or Boys and Girls Club?


Now I've got a Carman Song stuck in my head -
Taking a step, taking a step of faith
Walking out on, the Promises God made
Taking a giant, leap in the air
Stepping out on nothing to find something there
Telling the doubt to wait (echo: wait wait wait)
Taking a step of faith

God, renewing my confidence in teaching young children?

Missoula Boys and Girls Club

I started volunteering at the Missoula Boys and Girls Club a few weeks ago. They have an after school program from 330 to 530 and so far I am there two days a week, on Mondays and Fridays. Friday afternoons I learned were strictly movie days, and so after spending a Friday there, one of the other workers there said that I was okay to change days if I wanted. Since the days I picked were occassionaly gym days, I decided I'd swich at least one of those days. I might swing in on a Friday here and there. Who knows.
I have a packet of infornmation about the boys and girls club as well as a wide variety of activities to do with teh children. i don't know of what purpose that serves at this moment because we don't seem to be using any of it. Right now its just doing homework if they want to and then playing on the playground.
Feels more like glorified babysitting. However, on occassion I do read a book with a younger child, and they do enjoy having Alehe in the room. Why, one day a middleschool girl gkot a kick out of Alehe giving them "high five"'s (a modified version of the command , "shake".