Teacher Survival Kits

Last weekend, the kids and I put together Teacher Survival Kits for their teachers. There are many ideas and options floating around on the Internet and Pinterest.

Here’s what our kits included:

Two Via instant coffee packs from Starbucks

Two tea bags of green tea

One package of dry erase markers

Post-it Flag-plug highlighter with post-it tabs

Post-it notes

Gum

Lipgloss

Some cookies and crackers

Custom-made bookmark, decorated by the kids

I used the templates for the bookmark and envelope note here. I printed them out, glued the note to the outside of the envelope, and had the kids decorate the bookmark. After they decorated the bookmark, I used self-laminating sheets to laminate the bookmark.

 

It’s a fun idea for the first day of school. Unfortunately, I was about two weeks late for Sienna’s first day of school. Still, early or late, the teachers seemed to really like it.

I like to be a blessing to teachers, especially those working in the public school system. Teaching is a tough job. I know I could never do it. And, unfortunately, it seems too many parents make the teacher’s job harder, instead of easier.

Plus, I like this idea because it gives the kids a chance to appreciate their teachers, too.

"Let us decide on the route that we wish to take to pass our life, and attempt to sow that route with flowers."

— Madame du Chatele

Beating the Back-to-School Blues

It’s been a BIG few days for Little Miss Sienna. She’s hitting milestones outta the ballpark. I’m really quite proud of her.

First hurdle was her very first violin recital. She’s been taking violin lessons for about seven months and she’s starting to feel more confident with playing the instrument. Still, when she was asked to play in the upcoming recital, she was a nervous wreck about it. She even said she was going to make herself sick so she wouldn’t have to go! When she figured that wasn’t going to work, she kindly suggested that Bill and I go out on a “date night” that evening and we could all skip the recital. I don’t think so, kiddo. The good news is, she found her internal strength and put on a great performance that evening. I was super-duper proud of her! 

Next hurdle: starting second grade!!

Honestly, I can’t believe it’s already time for her to go back to school! Our summer went by much too quickly (the fun stuff always goes too quickly, huh?). All last week, we were both a little bummed knowing that summer was almost over. For her, it was nervousness about a new teacher and new grade. For me, I know the ‘marathon weeks’ of homework, school, extracurricular activities, etc. are beginning again.

I had to get us both “pumped” for school!

To celebrate the last night of summer, I told the kids they could stay up until midnight. You would have thought I’d told them they’d won a million candy bars! We made beds for them on the couch and they chilled out and watched the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. Needless to say, they didn’t make it to midnight. Still, I won some major brownie points and the kids were beyond thrilled. It will definitely become a "goodbye to summer" tradition for us. 

Then, yesterday, I had the kids create and decorate posters with their name, grade, and their teacher’s name on it. I also had them pick a theme for the year. Sienna picked learning and fun as her theme and Grant picked excellence. We were all starting to get excited about what the upcoming year would bring us. 

Then, this morning, it was go time…

Second grade or bust! 

Advent

Today is the first Sunday in Advent. I only know this because last year we started the tradition of an Advent Candle Wreath. I’m always looking for ways to add meaning to the season of Christmas (and Easter, too). I found this idea in “The Adventure of Christmas” by Lisa Whelchel. (On a side note, it's such a great book! It has festive and colorful pages with many meaningful craft and baking ideas for the Christmas season. If you have little ones, I highly recommend it.)

Advent Candle Wreath

What you’ll need

3 purple candles

1 pink candle

1 white candle

a mirror stand

any variety of evergreens, holly, pine, ornaments, bells, etc. to decorate around the candles

Arrange candles on mirror stand. Put the white candle in the center since it’s the last one lit, on Christmas Day, and represents Jesus, with the other candles in a circle around the white one. The circle represents God’s love that lasts forever, it has no beginning or end. Then add decorations as accents around the candles.

The first purple candle, the Prophesy/Hope candle, is lit on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, and represents the hope we have in Jesus.

The second purple candle, the Bethlehem/Peace candle, is lit on the third Sunday before Christmas, and represents the Prince of Peace born in Bethlehem.

The pink candle, the Shepard/Joy candle, is lit on the second Sunday before Christmas, and represents the good tidings and great joy of the Christmas story.

The final purple candle, the Angel/Love candle, is lit on the Sunday before Christmas, and represents the heavenly hosts and their glorious message.

And finally, the white candle, lit on Christmas Day, represents that love has entered our world through the birth of Jesus Christ. 

We all had fun picking out and putting together this Advent Wreath. And what a great visual reminder of the meanings behind Christmas.

Some use the Advent season to prepare their hearts for the Christmas season and maybe to find new meaning and a renewed gratitude for the gift we didn’t deserve. I came across this prayer recently in “The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions” (another awesome book!) and thought it was beautiful, timely, and worth sharing.

The Deeps

Lord Jesus,
Give me a deeper repentance,
a horror of sin,
a dread of its approach;
Help me chastely to flee it,
and jealousy to resolve that my heart shall be thine alone.

Give me a deeper trust,

that I may lose myself to find myself in thee,
the ground of my rest, the spring of my being.

Give me a deeper knowledge of thyself as Saviour, Master, Lord, and King.

Give me deeper power in private prayer,
more sweetness in thy Word,
more steadfast grip on its truth.

Give me deeper holiness in speech, thought, action,
and let me not seek moral virtue apart from thee.

Plough deep in me, great Lord, heavenly Husbandman,
that my being may be a tilled field,
the roots of grace spreading far and wide,
until thou alone art seen in me,
thy beauty golden like summer harvest,
thy fruitfulness as autumn plenty.

I have no Master but thee,
no law but thy will,
no delight but thyself,
no wealth but that thou givest,
no good but that thou blessest,
no peace but that thou bestowest.

I am nothing but that thou makest me,
I have nothing but that I receive from thee,
I can be nothing but that grace adorns me.

Quarry me deep, dear Lord, and then fill me to overflowing with living water.

 Amen.

Meal Plan: Part 4 and General Housekeeping

Happy Monday everyone! 

Hubby will be missing several dinners this week (back to "real" Army life!) and when it's only me and the kiddos I don't need to cook as much. Still, I'm trying to remind myself I don't have to live on chicken nuggets and pizza when he's gone. So, here's what's cooking this week at our house: 

Lemony Tuna and Olive Oil Pasta

Frito Chili Pie 

The Frito Chili Pie recipe reminds me of high school (in a good way). We used to make something similar to this with the cafeteria food. It was one of the only cafeteria meals I could stomach. I had a sophisticated palate even then! Anyway, I'm sure this recipe will be worlds better!  

And for our sweet tooth: 


Cinnamon Roll Pumpkin Vanilla Sheet Cake (say that five times fast!) 


As I read this blog, I know God is working on my heart in this same area, the need to let go and accept the chaos of my house and the messes. The breaking process is so hard for me! I still want that perfect - and clean - house! When my house is in order, I can concentrate, when it's not, I can't. I've actually always considered that a personality "plus" but more and more I'm seeing it's a personality flaw. The kids won't remember the clean house. And on my death bed, I won't wish I had spent more time cleaning. Trying to find a balance....


And finally, is anyone else READY for Christmas?! I am. And from many of your Facebook status, I know you are ready, too! I found these two cute ornament crafts, a perfect use for those random ornaments that I've inherited over the years, and they seem to be crafts that I can actually do. (I'm a bit craft-challenged) 


Odd Ball Ornament Chandelier 

Ornament Window Hangings


Click through the slides for more creative ideas. 


Have a great week!