My sweet husband's birthday is today and mine is right around the corner! This year, we're celebrating in a different way. We're asking our friends and family to take any money that they might have spent on birthday celebrations for us (babysitting, eating out, dessert, cards, gifts, etc) and donate it to One Day's Wages and their Horn of Africa Relief Fund. We've set up a Birthday for a Cause page which you can find here. Please check it out to learn more.
"The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." Psalm 24:1
Friday, August 12, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Back to School
We recently got a letter in the mail from Jonah's school.
Killing me. Someone forgot that the principal is your PAL.
Jonah's first day of first grade is tomorrow! I can't believe it. But he's ready, and I'm very ready to have him back in a more structured routine again.
Tonight we went over to the school to see the class lists posted up on the office door and to find his new classroom. It's not at all what I was expecting! At our school, you can request a teacher so last spring, I briefly toured each of the three first grade classrooms and met the prospective teachers. In the end, I really didn't have the foggiest idea who I should request for Jonah so I just put down the teacher that all of the other parents were requesting. And I kinda believed that we were going to get her (wishful thinking or presumption?). But, we found out tonight that we did NOT get the teacher we requested. They added a fourth first-grade classroom because of high enrollment and Jonah is with the new teacher. It feels a little strange to have NO idea who my son is going to be spending 7 hours a day with for the next 9 months. But, the good news is that his class only has 21 kids in it! (last year, he had 29 in kindergarten). I'm sure that number will go up over the next few weeks, but it sure was nice to see tonight.
I was also thrilled that he is going to be in a real classroom, rather than a dinky portable (the other three first grade classrooms are in portables). I am hoping this means that he will have a little bit of room to move around and be creative. As strange as it sounds, physical space is one of my main concerns for Jonah in regard to school. So, tonight's information was not at all what I was expecting, but I'm hopeful and excited to meet the new teacher tomorrow.
Kindergarten is long gone, but at some point, I'd still like to sit down and write about last year and what it was like for us to enroll Jonah in our neighborhood school. There were many highs and many lows and they both came at unexpected turns. I fully intended to write about our experience that first year, but it seems that the things that are closest to my heart, such as education, my kids, and my neighborhood, take the most time for me to sit down and process. So, maybe soon....
For now, we're looking forward to a new year with new friends and new opportunities to use our gifts as a blessing to others. Maybe this year, I'll volunteer to proofread the letters that go home from the office staff.
Killing me. Someone forgot that the principal is your PAL.
Jonah's first day of first grade is tomorrow! I can't believe it. But he's ready, and I'm very ready to have him back in a more structured routine again.
Tonight we went over to the school to see the class lists posted up on the office door and to find his new classroom. It's not at all what I was expecting! At our school, you can request a teacher so last spring, I briefly toured each of the three first grade classrooms and met the prospective teachers. In the end, I really didn't have the foggiest idea who I should request for Jonah so I just put down the teacher that all of the other parents were requesting. And I kinda believed that we were going to get her (wishful thinking or presumption?). But, we found out tonight that we did NOT get the teacher we requested. They added a fourth first-grade classroom because of high enrollment and Jonah is with the new teacher. It feels a little strange to have NO idea who my son is going to be spending 7 hours a day with for the next 9 months. But, the good news is that his class only has 21 kids in it! (last year, he had 29 in kindergarten). I'm sure that number will go up over the next few weeks, but it sure was nice to see tonight.
I was also thrilled that he is going to be in a real classroom, rather than a dinky portable (the other three first grade classrooms are in portables). I am hoping this means that he will have a little bit of room to move around and be creative. As strange as it sounds, physical space is one of my main concerns for Jonah in regard to school. So, tonight's information was not at all what I was expecting, but I'm hopeful and excited to meet the new teacher tomorrow.
Kindergarten is long gone, but at some point, I'd still like to sit down and write about last year and what it was like for us to enroll Jonah in our neighborhood school. There were many highs and many lows and they both came at unexpected turns. I fully intended to write about our experience that first year, but it seems that the things that are closest to my heart, such as education, my kids, and my neighborhood, take the most time for me to sit down and process. So, maybe soon....
For now, we're looking forward to a new year with new friends and new opportunities to use our gifts as a blessing to others. Maybe this year, I'll volunteer to proofread the letters that go home from the office staff.
Summer Slide Shows
After eight weeks packed with fun, adventure, and love, our Summer Day Camps at The GreenHouse wrapped up last week. Below are a few of the highlights:
1. Having a staff of eight people (including three full-time AmeriCorps VISTAs at no cost to The GreenHouse) was a huge blessing. Everything ran so smoothly and there was plenty for everyone to do! I'm really not sure how we used to do the exact same programming with a staff of four. I think we were a little crazy.
2. The "Passport to the Promised Land" theme for the elementary camp was a great springboard for Bible stories, memory verses, crafts, games, and even field trips. Lots of fun and loads of learning.
3. New relationships were established and old ones were strengthened. We enrolled a lot of new kids this summer. With a staff of eight, I was determined to keep our enrollment numbers as high as they could possibly go facility-wise. It was great to have so many new faces in our programs. We enjoyed getting to know each and every one of the kids and teens and can't wait to continue those relationships in the fall through our after-school program. In addition, we were able to strengthen relationships with the youth that have been around awhile. A few of our long-timers took on new leadership roles this summer which was awesome to see!
4. Kids coming out of their shells and having a blast on the field trips is always a highlight.
5. Parent involvement was at an all-time high this summer. Our end of the summer closing ceremony was packed out with parents - so great to see.
And, as is usually the case, summer also brought with it some heartache. News of two teen pregnancies (one of them with twins) and another very hard situation with one of our families brought us to our knees in prayer throughout the summer (and will continue to into the future...)
For a recap of the summer in pictures, check out the slideshows that we showed on our last day of camp. Have I mentioned that I heart Animoto?
Adventure Zone (Elementary Students)
Liquid (Teens)
Another first for this summer was that we enrolled Jonah in our elementary day camp. As a first grader, he's finally old enough to be part of the program. I haven't decided if having him there this summer was a "highlight" or if it should be added to the list of "things that were hard." I think a little of both. I will say this...it is challenging to have your own child in a program where you work (particularly when he is not meek and mild)! I had never experienced that before. It brought up all kinds of issues of pride and control for me.
But, I also loved that it brought us one step closer to "we" and one step further from "us and them." Having my child in the day camp caused me to consider the quality and safety of the day camp in a way that I never had before. It's the "felt- need concept" described by Dr. John Perkins and CCDA. As the schools become our schools and the neighborhood becomes our neighborhood and the programs become our programs, we can listen, learn, and love in a much deeper way! I can better understand the hopes/dreams/needs of the parents (and vice versa) because our children have experienced something together. And, Jonah had the benefit of making a whole new set of friends this summer.
1. Having a staff of eight people (including three full-time AmeriCorps VISTAs at no cost to The GreenHouse) was a huge blessing. Everything ran so smoothly and there was plenty for everyone to do! I'm really not sure how we used to do the exact same programming with a staff of four. I think we were a little crazy.
2. The "Passport to the Promised Land" theme for the elementary camp was a great springboard for Bible stories, memory verses, crafts, games, and even field trips. Lots of fun and loads of learning.
3. New relationships were established and old ones were strengthened. We enrolled a lot of new kids this summer. With a staff of eight, I was determined to keep our enrollment numbers as high as they could possibly go facility-wise. It was great to have so many new faces in our programs. We enjoyed getting to know each and every one of the kids and teens and can't wait to continue those relationships in the fall through our after-school program. In addition, we were able to strengthen relationships with the youth that have been around awhile. A few of our long-timers took on new leadership roles this summer which was awesome to see!
4. Kids coming out of their shells and having a blast on the field trips is always a highlight.
5. Parent involvement was at an all-time high this summer. Our end of the summer closing ceremony was packed out with parents - so great to see.
And, as is usually the case, summer also brought with it some heartache. News of two teen pregnancies (one of them with twins) and another very hard situation with one of our families brought us to our knees in prayer throughout the summer (and will continue to into the future...)
For a recap of the summer in pictures, check out the slideshows that we showed on our last day of camp. Have I mentioned that I heart Animoto?
Adventure Zone (Elementary Students)
Liquid (Teens)
Another first for this summer was that we enrolled Jonah in our elementary day camp. As a first grader, he's finally old enough to be part of the program. I haven't decided if having him there this summer was a "highlight" or if it should be added to the list of "things that were hard." I think a little of both. I will say this...it is challenging to have your own child in a program where you work (particularly when he is not meek and mild)! I had never experienced that before. It brought up all kinds of issues of pride and control for me.
But, I also loved that it brought us one step closer to "we" and one step further from "us and them." Having my child in the day camp caused me to consider the quality and safety of the day camp in a way that I never had before. It's the "felt- need concept" described by Dr. John Perkins and CCDA. As the schools become our schools and the neighborhood becomes our neighborhood and the programs become our programs, we can listen, learn, and love in a much deeper way! I can better understand the hopes/dreams/needs of the parents (and vice versa) because our children have experienced something together. And, Jonah had the benefit of making a whole new set of friends this summer.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Month of Prayer
The GreenHouse's board of directors and staff are making August a Month of Prayer. We will be praying for our leaders, youth, vision, facility, and neighbors. We'd love to have you join us in praying for these things! If you'd like a copy of our prayer calendar, with specific things to pray for each day, send me an email or leave me a comment and I'll email you one. I think it'd look great hanging on your frig!
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