my very own Amelia Bedelia

This week at lunch Mrs Baumann was telling the 1-6 graders about our next fundraiser. She told them that we are going to be selling magazines. Later that evening I found Jacob collecting up all my magazines I had laying around the house. He said, "Mom, we need to sell all these magazines to get money for our school!" I tried to explain that Mrs. Baumann meant you buy a subscription to have magazines sent to your house or you get your friends to buy subscriptions. He said very seriously, "Mom I went up to Mrs. Baumann and said,'So you want us to sell magazines to other people and she said Yes." I was laughing so hard by this time that he started laughing and said "your laugh is making me laugh!" What a funny kid...you never know what there little minds are thinking when you are telling them something. They think so literally.

A Saturday at home

I am loving being home today. It has been cold and rainy since Wednesday. I haven't had a whole day home in about two weeks. So today was cleaning day. I love the feeling of a clean house, coffee is brewing, cookies are in the oven...life is good. :) This week flew by for me...not sure why. I am getting ready to take Katelyn and her friend to go visit Cedarville University next week. We will be driving out Thursday afternoon, leaving school around noon. They have a science fair at school that day so we have to wait until after that to leave. Hopefully, we won't have any car trouble. Pray for us if you think of it. We went to a college fair a couple of weeks ago in Philadelphia and talked to their representative. His sister goes to The Kings Chapel in West Chester, Ohio...the same church I went to during my summers in college. We had a great conversation about all kinds of stuff. I feel like I have said all this before...hmmm. Anyway, we are going to visit his church as well to see if that would be a good church for Kate if she ends up going there. He said there are two good reformed churches in the area.
Yesterday, I drove to Philadelphia with Mary Ellen's class to go the Philadelphia Museum of Art. We had a tour guide who was very smart and brought out so many points about different art that I wouldn't have known....very interesting tour. I was so proud of our students and how they engaged with her, answering her questions, asking questions and making good conversation. She asked me if I was a mom and I told her I was but I also teach at the school. She said, "They are really smart!" :) I confess, I had a little proud moment...even though I don't teach any of those kids. They were great and so polite and kind. I want to go back because there was so much we didn't get to see. I think it is free on Sundays in Jan. or Feb...I bet Jeannette knows.
A funny thing happened in first grade about a week ago. I was beginning my Bible class and one child says, "Mrs. Stover, what's wrong with your hair?" You gotta love first grade....brutal honesty. You would never get that in the older grades. Of course, then they all had to comment, "Yeah, it's kinda big." another says, "like an afro"....no one has ever said that to me. The other teacher in the room just cracked up....definitely a first grade moment!
If you pay any attention to sports you know that the Phillies were in the World Series again this year. One of my first graders is one of the most devoted Phillies fans I know. We were working on a project, making a book about the life of Joseph. I was helping him with some of the cutting and glueing. As I looked closely at his Joseph and Jacob characters, I noticed something unusual about them. I asked him, "Grant, are Jacob and Joseph Phillies fans?" He replied proudly, "Yep, and one of Joseph's brothers has a Phillies tattoo!" Teaching is never dull! :)

opening day and other things

I really need to post some pictures on here. The new Chick Fil A store opened this past Thurs. It's in the mall (about 2 minutes from our school). David is one of the managers there and one of our students is working there too. We are getting to know all the Chick Fil A people around here and enjoy them so much. I told David I feel like having them all over for dinner and get to know them better. Kate and David work with some really wonderful people. I'm sure they are kinda sick of seeing us hanging around all the time.
Saturday Mary Ellen, Jonathan, Jacob and I went up to Newtown Square, PA to see our friend Nathan Taylor in his middle school play. He was Smee in Peter Pan and did such a great job! He is such a great kid...love him! He and Jonathan have been friends for awhile. We stayed with him for two weeks while his parents went away on their 25th anniv. trip. He got to find out what it is like to have a little brother and big sisters to pester! :)
Sunday we were back up to PA for church. We made a whole day of it. Left the house at 7AM and got back at 7pm. We had a baptism service in the morning and an ordination service in the afternoon. Our friend, Peter Doerfler was ordained into the PCA. Both services were absolutely wonderful. God once again reminded my weary soul that it is ALL him. His gentle proddings of grace and love warmed my heart as we sang and heard the stories of God drawing His children to himself. One young man said, "It was like I was wandering around not knowing what direction to go and God just reached down and took my hand and said, 'This is way to go. Come with me." I thought that was so beautiful because isn't that how it is with all of us? God reaches down and rescues us from ourselves, takes us by the hand, shows us the path of life, and walks with us.

November!!

It's November already!! I am at home this morning for the second time this week. I just pulled some pumpkin scones out of the oven to have with my coffee and share with my friends at school. I put this yummy spiced glaze on them. They are so good. David took the kids to school or should I say the kids took David to work and then Kate drove over to the school. They have to leave a bit earlier than usual (is that spelled right??....looks weird).
It's almost time for Christmas music!!
It is a beautiful fall day and I am so thankful for the opportunity God has given to me today to enjoy Him and His beautiful creation.