So, I went to the store today and noticed all the people grabbing the clearance wrap, bows, tags, trees and ornaments.  Since I was there to get a plastic tree storage box, I couldn’t possibly understand having anything else to store.  I mean, my bins are already full.  But, wondering the aisles made me stop to realize, that although the tree is down, the stockings are empty, the treats are gone and the holiday life is nearing an end, Christmas is never really over for the Christian.

Christ came to earth on Christmas Day.  Ok, well maybe it wasn’t the exact date but that is when we have chosen to celebrate His birthday.  The Lord of Lord, the Prince of Peace, Emmanu-el, God with Us came to earth so we might believe in Him and have eternal life.  Most of my presents will be outgrown, broken, out-of-style or discarded in a few years.  However, the true gift of Christ at Christmas never goes away, no matter whether I stop to celebrate the fact or not.

May you feel the gift of Christ each and every day in your life!

Tomorrow, some of the staff from DUMC are attending a conference in Raleigh by the key staff of Granger Community Church, the fastest growing United Methodist Church in America.  I can’t wait to see what wisdom they give to us as we try diligently to make the Gospel alive and free.  How do we take the message of Christ and share it with out current society?  To pretend we serve the same people even 10 years ago makes us unable to relate.  How can we best glorify God?

Hopefully, we can gather new insights into communication of the Message.

Did You Know 4.0

Thanks to this great video by XPlane.  Can we really bury our heads in the sand and pretend the world has not changed?  Are we willing to change our perspective to meet today’s generation?  If not us, then who?  If not now, then when?

I’m headed to the Church of the Resurrection’s Leadership Institute in Kansas City this Wednesday through Saturday.  Today I really got excited because I looked up the descriptions of all the workshops I actually signed up for and got into.  Here’s the lineup:

The Children’s Ministry Boost

Creative Design, Liturgy and Leadership in Worship

Children’s Ministry Essentials

Elementary Sunday School

I can’t wait to see the exciting things God will show me this week as I try to make Denver UMC a fun place for children K to 5th grade to see the face of God.

Do I include every day or the days to complete the subject?  Answer:  Days to Complete the Subject.  So, using the Sememster Planning Form on DonnaYoung.org, I began today to schedule “Exploring Life” Biology for my rising 9th grader.  I scheduled all 36 weeks but the top is labelled “A, B, C, D & E.”  Thus, if we miss a day, which we will inevitable do at some point, I can pick up where we were and continue on with the schedule.

I also went through the first 9 weeks of the Lab Manual and ordered the supplies I need.  OK, one subject down.

Every year during this time of the year, I spend an enormous amount of time cleaning, sorting and organizing. I mean I really go through all things. I just can’t stand to plan a new year with all the old stuff sitting around. I want it organized and tidy. I have figured out a few things along the way though like:
* If I haven’t used it by now, get rid of it. There is a reason it doesn’t appeal to me anymore.
* Even if I like it, if it hasn’t been successfully used by now with one child all the way through then it has to go.
* Some things, though great for others, aren’t my style so they have to go.
* One curriculum choice is not going to ruin my children forever.

I’ve been homeschooling for 9 years now so I am beginning to get the hang of this thing!! LOL. I have been keeping lots of things around for “one day” but they are all going this year. Nope, if I haven’t found a way to use them by now, probably never will. Got to have some margin here for the things I do plan on using.

My plan is to organize then plan. Organize then plan. OK, I’ve got it now.

I have been reading Susan Wise Bauer’s books called “The Well-Trained Mind” and “The Well Educated Mind.”  As my oldest will be entering high school this year, I am setting up a plan with the end in mind.  I remember reading that by Stephen Covey years ago and, now, here I am.  Where do I want him to be academically, socially, athletically in 4 years?  How am I going to lay out our high school experience to deliver him to that point.

Of course, education is something all my kiddos will have to do for themselves but don’t they deserve to have it challenging and …gasp…fun?  I am trying to get there.

Kristi

As an official participant in November is National Novel Month, this blog will represent my next great novel.  Hope you enjoy and don’t give up until it is finished.