Sunrise School Thanksgiving 2012

It's the most wonderful time of the year!  Here at Sunrise School we have been having a blast learning poems, making costumes, watching Charlie Brown specials, and being THANKFUL.

 

In the spirit of tradition, here is Sunrise School's second annual Thanksgiving video.  (The first year's is here.)  If you are wanting to see high quality cinematography, you will be sorely disappointed.  Lower your expectations considerably and you will be pleasantly surprised at the wit and ways of preschoolers.

If that didn't make you smile, check out the Daily News board.  Many outstanding events are happening in these kids lives.

Still not smiling?  Then I can't help you.  Sorry.

7.3.1 Waste Not

7 Experiment: based on the book by Jen Hatmaker

3rd Month: Mutiny Against Waste

1st Post: Waste Not

 

Sarah Grace Photography

You know those people?  The crazy environmentalists?  The people who compost dinner scraps and newspaper, save butter containers, and dig through trashcans searching for recyclables?  I think I am becoming that person.

 

I used to think those people were just wasting their time.  Like the moron in the stupid starfish story.  What difference does it really make if I recycle or save energy or compost?  The world is still going to end up like Wall-E.

 

But then this Bible verse...  "The Earth is the Lord's and everything in it."

 

Dang.

 

I'm thinking this means the stuff I do or don't do for the Earth matters.  Sure was easier living before I read this.  But I will say, Super Husband does take out the trash a lot less, now.

 

We've implemented many new waste reducing practices.  Through this I have found some things are more cost effective while others are not piggy bank friendly.  But I think it all comes out in the wash.  And by "in the wash" of course I mean in eternity.

October at Sunrise School

Since having kids, time has become my constant enemy.   I am convinced that the births of my girls sped up the rotation of the earth. This mommy doesn't ever seem to have enough time! Can I get a witness?  Captain America expresses how I feel about it already being November.

 

Sunrise School was a hoppin' in the month of October.  We studied fire safety and took a field trip to the Montgomery fire station.

 

The firefighters were awesome!  They let the kids climb inside the trucks, handle equipment, and even try on safety gear.  These kids thought they were hot snot.  And they were.

 

One of them suited up and gave high fives.  Most of the kids were brave.

 

Afterwards, we went to the Montgomery library where one of our sweet girls found a truly fabulous book.

 

And here we all are for our Halloween party.  Nine preschoolers who bring joy and messes to my life everyday.  They are some kinda fun.

Now we interrupt this blog post to bring you late breaking news.  This stuff is earth shattering, people.

But no matter the news, dear folks, have no fear.  One small band of children has united to chase away bad dreams and help clean up blueberry vomit.  They are the few.  The brave.  The delightfully destructive.  The Fabulous Four.  Boogie Monster beware!  (And maybe Mommy, too.)



7.2.2 Goodbye October

7 Experiment: based on the book by Jen Hatmaker

2nd Month: Mutiny Against Possessions

2nd Post: Goodbye October (Yes.  I know it's late.  My excuse = 9 adorable toddlers)

 

 

Give clothes to those without clothes?  Check.  Easy.  Feels good.

But what if God didn't mean just clothes and food?  What if God meant for His children to share everything they have with those who are without?

That God.  Always expecting us to actively love everyone.

Isn't He great?  And wonderful?  And challenging?  I'm glad that my God expects things of me.  And you, for that matter.

This month was a bit harder - finding seven things every day to give away.  Now, I could find seven pieces of junk to give away.  I could probably find double that amount of broken, old, unusable, or outdated items.  But I doubt that is keeping with the intention of this verse.

October was spent prayerfully looking for things to intentionally bless others.  Do I truly require 18 place setting of my flatware?  Five different sets of cups?  My home is overflowing with excess.  I can't even find room for all my stuff.

That God, again with His timing, also had me serving with Family Promise.  This ministry is AWESOME.  They give homeless families meals, shelter, and love in area churches.  My sister's family and I were able to cook one night for two of the families.

Our children and their children laughed and played.  We sat with the ladies and talked.  They were real and honest and funny.

The ladies spoke of the culture shock homelessness has been for them and their families.  One lady admitted that much of the shock was from the love shown to them by "rich white folks."  She said she had been raised to believe, and saw, that "rich white folks" hated them and didn't care about them.  But now that she had been in Family Promise she was seeing that this is not all true.

My heart was breaking.  And what could I say?  She's right.  Most rich white Christians do not love the poor.  Or anyone outside their realm.  They say they do.  I say I do.  But is love without actions really love at all?

This experiment for me is about opening my eyes.  Seeing people.  Seeing needs.  Meeting them.  Breaking down the walls in my heart.

Three of the families were "graduating" from the program.  They have been approved for housing and will be moving into a home of their own.  A list of needs was sent out.  My garage full of donations was just waiting to go to them.

My cup overflows for a reason.

(If you like this, you should read this girl's blog.)

Three Reasons I Love My Job

1.  Nap time. 

Little feet finally at rest.  Here we have a wee darling who fell asleep reading.  Apparently, learning never stops at Sunrise School.

 

2.  The imaginations of children.  

 

Beware the jaguar.  Yes, those are claws made from gardening rakes and shovels.  We must often cower beneath the roars of a ferocious T-Rex, or run for our lives in Princess, Lawn Mower, Bad Guy.  Planks of wood become surf boards.  Trees are named Smartie.  The party never ends.

 

3.  Daily News. 

 

One day this past week, my nephew was the leader.  I wrote his name, but he made me erase it and write his "real" name.  Some days he goes by John or even SiahJohn.  Love that kid.

 

7.2.1 Nine Tenths of the Law

7 Experiment
2nd Month:  Possessions
1st Post

 

Mr. Observant Husband found out I was doing this on the 10th of October.  At that point I had already given away 70 things.  That's how much we have.  We being me.  We being my family.  We being pretty much anyone reading this blog.

The point of this experiment is not to de-clutter my house or get more organized, though that is happening.  It's not about a checklist, but I do love a good list.  This is about intentional reduction to bless others.

1 John 3:17-18 lays it out pretty clear for Christian-folks.  "If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?  Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."

Let's lay this out my favorite way - in a list.  Yea!

#1  "If anyone has material possessions"  Um...Check.  I have an insane amount of possessions. In fact, at halfway through this month, I have given away 126 things, and it hasn't affected me in the slightest.  I guess the husband is more observant than first assumed to be.

#2  "and sees a brother in need but has no pity on him"  Well, I know if I saw a brother in need, I would help.  But here is the problem that Shane Claiborne and I share, "...the great tragedy in the church is not that rich Christians do not care about the poor but that rich Christians do not know the poor..."  (Insert slap across face.)

On Sunday we talk about which of our two cars to take to our church in the middle of suburbia.  We have playgroups with people just like us.  The families we hang out with seem to be an eerie copy of ours.  I do not see brothers in need.  Surely this does not please the Lord.

As I step back, I can almost see the walls constructed by wealthy Christians in America.  Maybe I did not build the walls, but I am doing nothing to tear them down.  God, give me a wrecking ball. 

#3  "how can the love of God be in that person?"  I say I love God, but does it show?  I know my faith is not based on works.  I am confident of it.  But the love of God is wider and deeper than my heart can ever hope to contain.  If His love is not overflowing from my heart, my claims of having His love seem hollow.

#4  "Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."  I long for this.  To turn this experiment, and thus my life, into one of action.  Words and good intentions flow freely from my heart in a nauseatingly unfulfilled sort of way.  Actions.  Truth.  Make these things mark my love for Jesus, and therefore my love for His people.

Shane Claiborne speaks my heart again, "...I truly believe that when the poor meet the rich, riches will have no meaning.  And when the rich meet the poor, we will see poverty come to an end."

Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.  Begin with my heart and my actions.

7.1.6 Yestermonth Reflections

7 Experiment
1st Month
6th & Final Post

 

I love it when the kids teach me useful words.

 

Yestermonth I started my own Experimental Mutiny Against Excess.  Procrastinating perfectionists like myself usually begin with the easiest task and slowly move to the more difficult.  Since I'm not much of a clothes horse, purging my clothing seemed like the logical choice for the first month.

 

Giving away some items were hard, but quotes from her book like this spurred me on:

 

"...all together, we've spent enough to irrevocably change the lives of a hundred thousand people. What did I get for that budgeting displacement? Closets full of clothes we barely wear and enough luxuries to outfit twenty families."

 

So, looking back, how did I do?  Pretty well, but I do have two major happenings to confess.

 

The first occured when my oldest daughter found a dress of hers in the garage that I had added to the give away pile.  I does not fit her, and it has to be ironed.  The latter makes it nearly certain that she will never wear it in public.  Upon finding this dress that has been on her body ONE time, she launched into a wailing fit.

 

I remained calm and explained to her what we were going to do with the dress.

 

Tears flowed.

 

Still attempting to use reason, we talk about all the children who need clothes.

 

Sobbing reaching epic proportions.

 

Trying a new tactic, I explain to her that it DOES NOT FIT, it is all wrinkly, and Mommy does not iron.

 

Sorrow so great that Daddy, the Hero, rushes to rescue us out in the garage.  He takes in the situation with questioning eyes. 

 

I haughtily explain to him, not too patiently or kindly. that our daughter wants to keep this dress that she NEVER WEARS and WON'T give it away to the poor kids!

 

You see, Haughty Pants Hannah thought Daddy the Hero would be on her side.  The look he gave me ripped off my haughty pants, which were somehow covering  my eyes.  I saw my child.  Shame washed over me.  Hero Daddy was right.  Broken-hearted daughter was right.  It was not mine to give.

 

Epic parent failure.

 

One more reason why children need to be raised by two parents.  Sometimes Mommy needs to be pantsed by Daddy.

 

After that confession, the second won't seem so bad. 

 

I took back the cowboy boots.

 

Just couldn't do it.  But I did replace them with another pair of shoes.

 

Next step: finding homes for all these clothes...before daughter and I slowly bring them all back in from the garage.