I'm bringing this blog back. I recently started a new classroom blog and began reading posts from this old blog. And in reading I realized that I missed blogging! So welcome, new and old readers. This blog will not only keep track of my class (my "23" blessing) but also the daily goings on of my life. Look for Europe posts to emerge soon, I certainly have a lot to say about that amazing trip!
Excited to return to the blogosphere,
Amanda
Friday, July 19, 2013
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Unconditional
This is a blog that I posted on the Shores blog page that I wanted to share here as well:
This week Bunga told us we had one word to remember - unconditional.
A lot of our campers come from unbelievable homes. They are blessed with parents who love them and friends who support them.
Other campers come from difficult home lives and they have friends who do anything but support them.
Regardless of who people are or what their background is, we are called to love them. Love God, love people. Two commands of seemingly simple proportions. All we have to do is love, right?
However, how often does our love become conditional? Even if we don't think it is, when looking back, we might notice that some of it is. We have the opportunity here are camp and in life to offer and show unconditional love to others. Not of ourselves, but of the Lord. He is the only One who can provide us with love even when we are not "feeling" it.
I am reminded of a quick story. I teach 2nd grade throughout the year and a student of mine did just about anything and everything he could to make sure he never followed the rules. One day he did something that took the cake and it brought me to tears in front of my class. I was hurt, and that's putting it lightly.
At the end of the day when he was packing up I walked over to his desk and knelt down. I said to him, "You know what? I love you. Because I truly know there is nothing you can do that would make me love you less. I love you, and I want you to know that." He looked up at me and then immediately started crying. I tell my kids I love them all the time, but to him, hearing that I still loved him even after his poor behavior was something different. Unconditional.
LOVE. It is powerful. Showing unconditional love is not easy. As humans we fail. We get angry and can hold grudges. But when all is said and done, love can prevail. The Lord will give you the heart to love His people. How incredible is that? We get the opportunity to love His people when so many others do not.
As we have these kids at camp we should love them unconditionally. I love that they get to see a picture of unconditional love and that they can get a small glimpse of the Father's love for us. Praise Him for that.
A lot of our campers come from unbelievable homes. They are blessed with parents who love them and friends who support them.
Other campers come from difficult home lives and they have friends who do anything but support them.
Regardless of who people are or what their background is, we are called to love them. Love God, love people. Two commands of seemingly simple proportions. All we have to do is love, right?
However, how often does our love become conditional? Even if we don't think it is, when looking back, we might notice that some of it is. We have the opportunity here are camp and in life to offer and show unconditional love to others. Not of ourselves, but of the Lord. He is the only One who can provide us with love even when we are not "feeling" it.
I am reminded of a quick story. I teach 2nd grade throughout the year and a student of mine did just about anything and everything he could to make sure he never followed the rules. One day he did something that took the cake and it brought me to tears in front of my class. I was hurt, and that's putting it lightly.
At the end of the day when he was packing up I walked over to his desk and knelt down. I said to him, "You know what? I love you. Because I truly know there is nothing you can do that would make me love you less. I love you, and I want you to know that." He looked up at me and then immediately started crying. I tell my kids I love them all the time, but to him, hearing that I still loved him even after his poor behavior was something different. Unconditional.
LOVE. It is powerful. Showing unconditional love is not easy. As humans we fail. We get angry and can hold grudges. But when all is said and done, love can prevail. The Lord will give you the heart to love His people. How incredible is that? We get the opportunity to love His people when so many others do not.
As we have these kids at camp we should love them unconditionally. I love that they get to see a picture of unconditional love and that they can get a small glimpse of the Father's love for us. Praise Him for that.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
Monday, August 1, 2011
I'm back!
Truly, what an incredible summer. The Lord is ever faithful in my life and I am so beyond blessed.
One of my favorite things is learning to be refreshed in the Lord, an active rest (Matthew 11:28). Camp is by no means slow-paced. It is busy. We get up early, we stay up late, and we are active all of the time. However, I am more rested and refreshed than the lazy days I spend at home watching movies. Praise You, Father, for your rejuvenation.
I am also going to be transferring my blog to Posterous at some point...so bear with me in that!
Have a wonderful day!
Truly, what an incredible summer. The Lord is ever faithful in my life and I am so beyond blessed.
One of my favorite things is learning to be refreshed in the Lord, an active rest (Matthew 11:28). Camp is by no means slow-paced. It is busy. We get up early, we stay up late, and we are active all of the time. However, I am more rested and refreshed than the lazy days I spend at home watching movies. Praise You, Father, for your rejuvenation.
I am also going to be transferring my blog to Posterous at some point...so bear with me in that!
Have a wonderful day!
Saturday, July 23, 2011
I know it has been AGES since I've posted on here - but I have been updating another blog.
This summer I am serving as the Social Media Coordinator at the Pine Cove Shores in Tyler, Texas. It is an incredible ministry - one that I am truly passionate about. It has been a huge part of my life and I have loved having the opportunity to serve again for one last summer. That is a wonderful blessing of being a teacher, I have free weeks to serve over the summer.
So, if you would like to keep up with the goings on of the Pine Cove Shores please check out my updates at:
http://www.pinecove.com/staffblog/author/abutts/ (my blog page)
http://www.facebook.com/pinecoveshores (Pine Cove Shores Facebook page)
http://www.twitter.com/pinecoveshores (Pine Cove Shores Twitter account)
I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer and is staying as cool as possible!
Serving at the Feet of the Father,
Amanda/Sweet Cheeks*
*We have camp names at Pine Cove and so I am known as "Sweet Cheeks" there. Just for the clarification :)
This summer I am serving as the Social Media Coordinator at the Pine Cove Shores in Tyler, Texas. It is an incredible ministry - one that I am truly passionate about. It has been a huge part of my life and I have loved having the opportunity to serve again for one last summer. That is a wonderful blessing of being a teacher, I have free weeks to serve over the summer.
So, if you would like to keep up with the goings on of the Pine Cove Shores please check out my updates at:
http://www.pinecove.com/staffblog/author/abutts/ (my blog page)
http://www.facebook.com/pinecoveshores (Pine Cove Shores Facebook page)
http://www.twitter.com/pinecoveshores (Pine Cove Shores Twitter account)
I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer and is staying as cool as possible!
Serving at the Feet of the Father,
Amanda/Sweet Cheeks*
*We have camp names at Pine Cove and so I am known as "Sweet Cheeks" there. Just for the clarification :)
Friday, June 3, 2011
The Last Day
And it's OVER.
Not gonna lie, my kids were CRAZY today. Who wouldn't be, you know? They're getting out for summer, and as a kid, there was nothing, I mean nothing better than those 2 free months. Then again, as a teacher, I feel the same :)
I thought I was going to make it without crying. I was rushing around right before the dismissal bell rang and I thought maybe the preoccupation would keep me from crying. However, as I was walking down the hall to the outside doors to wait for the carpool line (I was doing fine at this point - no tears) one of my girls whom I've had for 2 years turned around, red-faced, tears streaming down her cheeks. I lost it. Completely. I started bawling almost immediately. This was at 1:25. I went back inside at 1:48 and was still crying.
Every time I would tell my kids goodbye, I cried. When I told them to make sure to visit me next year, I cried some more. When I told them to listen to the CD I made them when they missed me this summer, I cried. And when their little faces were buried into me to hide their tears, oh boy did I cry. I LOVE these kids. If I've said it once, I've said it a million times, I just adore them. I cannot imagine my life without them.
But let's backtrack a bit. I said my kids were crazy, which was true; however, I'm pretty sure I caused it. Let's see:
- 7:45 (school starts)
I had their end of the year gift on their desks. That certainly riled them up - I knew it would. I just wanted it to be a fun-filled day from the start, haha.
- 8:15 (donuts and orange juice)
I bought donuts and orange juice for my kiddos this morning. Nothing like starting off with some sugar - nothing says add to the craziness of the day quite like donuts.
- 9:00 (play outside)
My 2nd grade teammate and I went outside with our kids and let them free play. I bought them some stuff that they were dying to play with. So, they had a lot of free time to just play - a rare occurrence.
- 9:35 (popsicles)
What do you add to sugar? More sugar of course!
- 12:55 (cupcake, Capri Sun, popcorn party)
Yup, what's one more time of eating?
The day ended at 1:25 and the tears started flowing from both boys and girls in my classroom. Honestly, I'm tearing up thinking about them right now. I will miss them so much! What a year.
The verse that I meditate on daily is "Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work that you have been given and then sink yourself into that." Galatians 6:4-5 MSG. I pray that I succeeded in this. It's a big charge, but that is my daily prayer. Bring on the next 32 years. I love this career :)
Making carful explorations,
Amanda/Ms. B
Not gonna lie, my kids were CRAZY today. Who wouldn't be, you know? They're getting out for summer, and as a kid, there was nothing, I mean nothing better than those 2 free months. Then again, as a teacher, I feel the same :)
I thought I was going to make it without crying. I was rushing around right before the dismissal bell rang and I thought maybe the preoccupation would keep me from crying. However, as I was walking down the hall to the outside doors to wait for the carpool line (I was doing fine at this point - no tears) one of my girls whom I've had for 2 years turned around, red-faced, tears streaming down her cheeks. I lost it. Completely. I started bawling almost immediately. This was at 1:25. I went back inside at 1:48 and was still crying.
Every time I would tell my kids goodbye, I cried. When I told them to make sure to visit me next year, I cried some more. When I told them to listen to the CD I made them when they missed me this summer, I cried. And when their little faces were buried into me to hide their tears, oh boy did I cry. I LOVE these kids. If I've said it once, I've said it a million times, I just adore them. I cannot imagine my life without them.
But let's backtrack a bit. I said my kids were crazy, which was true; however, I'm pretty sure I caused it. Let's see:
- 7:45 (school starts)
I had their end of the year gift on their desks. That certainly riled them up - I knew it would. I just wanted it to be a fun-filled day from the start, haha.
- 8:15 (donuts and orange juice)
I bought donuts and orange juice for my kiddos this morning. Nothing like starting off with some sugar - nothing says add to the craziness of the day quite like donuts.
- 9:00 (play outside)
My 2nd grade teammate and I went outside with our kids and let them free play. I bought them some stuff that they were dying to play with. So, they had a lot of free time to just play - a rare occurrence.
- 9:35 (popsicles)
What do you add to sugar? More sugar of course!
- 12:55 (cupcake, Capri Sun, popcorn party)
Yup, what's one more time of eating?
The day ended at 1:25 and the tears started flowing from both boys and girls in my classroom. Honestly, I'm tearing up thinking about them right now. I will miss them so much! What a year.
The verse that I meditate on daily is "Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work that you have been given and then sink yourself into that." Galatians 6:4-5 MSG. I pray that I succeeded in this. It's a big charge, but that is my daily prayer. Bring on the next 32 years. I love this career :)
Making carful explorations,
Amanda/Ms. B
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
Tomorrow begins the last week of school for the year. I cannot believe it. 3 and a half days left. That is it. My goodness, how this year has flown! I'll sure miss these kids.
It's weird to think how long ago I wrote this. I didn't know all of my kiddos at this point, I wasn't a part of their lives and they weren't yet a part of mine. And in 9 short months, my life has been forever changed by them. It has been a great year - looking forward to many more :)
Thankful at the feet of the Father,
Amanda/Ms. B
It's weird to think how long ago I wrote this. I didn't know all of my kiddos at this point, I wasn't a part of their lives and they weren't yet a part of mine. And in 9 short months, my life has been forever changed by them. It has been a great year - looking forward to many more :)
Thankful at the feet of the Father,
Amanda/Ms. B
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