Happy Birthday my sweetie

So I'll post just to say happy birthday to man I love most in this world.

Happy Birthday Bryan!

Giving up

I am not posting anymore.

Excuses part 2

I had 3 students give me notes that say their student is not coming to the performance for whatever dumb reason they have. I followed it up with this reply:

The students at Christian Heritage Elementary have been working long and hard on the Easter Program. The program has been on the calendar and advertised numerous times. All 4th, 5th and 6th grade students are required to attend. Failure to do so will result in a 0 in music class for The Easter Program. The Easter Program is 50% of the possible points in music class.

There are no opportunities for make-up for missing the program.



Mrs. Jensen - Music Teacher

Mrs. Erwin - Principal

Excuses

Dear Mrs. Jensen, my son will be out of town April 1st. We are heading to Florida for the April 5th Shuttle launch. Please excuse him from the performance.

Dear Mrs. Jensen Child A and Child B can't attend to easter play because they have to go to the imigration. Thank you.

Mrs. Jensen, My son will be out of town the night of the play. WHat can he do to make up for missing?

What little boys are made of

I don't check pockets when I do laundry. After washing Ethan's pants, this is what I found in his pockets.







Smarties wrapper
Gum wrapper (Thankfully, no gum)
a rubber band
a small rock
the corner of a love note
and.... it looks like a fire cracker.

Cool.

I need Blogger help

How can I make my blog show pictures? I have posted one picture, but now I can't do it anymore. I look up help and it tells me to

just click the image icon in the post editor's toolbar.

but I don't have an image icon anywhere! I'm not quite sure what do to. Is there another version I can use? How do I get to it. Help me, please else my post will be so boring and no one will read them - oh wait, that's how it all ready is!

You're invited

You invited to attend my Easter Play - A Piece of Easter.

April 1, 2010
6:30 PM
CHS High school

Who's coming?

ALWAYS PROOFREAD!!!!

This didn't happen to me, so it's funnier.

The teacher sent out a note to all parents:
"The Science Fair is on Thursday. Please wear Sunday best. Sunday best is slacks and a button-down shit for the boys and dresses or skirts for the girls."

Whoops!

Bach

I was doing a lesson in which I used the music from Johann Sebastian Bach's Sheep May Safely Graze. While introducing the piece I stated how Bach wrote music mostly for the Luthern Church. One little boy raises his hand and asks me if it was "Our Savior's Luthern Church in Roy."

Should Olympians sing the National Anthem after being awarded the gold medal?

Straight from my 6th grade class:

Yes

*Because they should show pride in their country.
*Because it shows they're proud of their country.
*Because the national anthem represents their country.
*Because it is good to sing the anthems.
*They should sing it. They should know it by then, too. But if they are like the Japanese skater who competed for Russia you might not know it.
*Because it would show they honor their country.
*So they can show pride in their country.
*Because it would be cool singing their anthem and listening to other's anthems.
*Because they're showing gratitude to their chrainess (sic) and their country. It also showing different cultures, and being a good sport.
*Because they are representing their country. I also think they should sing it because its the Olympics it only comes once every four years.
*Because they are representing their country and should represent it the whole time that the WInter Olympics occur even if they are so excited that they can't speak.
*To represent our country's song, it's not like it's only them singing it is everybody there. Just like us six graders in chapel we sing in front of all the other classes, but they sing with us. And that is why I think they should sing!
*Because they are representing our country and we want people to think we're a bad country.
* I think that they should sing in honor of their country. They are up on those stands getting a medal they should be happy and sing. Shawn White did the air guitar and that is kinda supporting your country. You should just get up there and have fun you honoring your country by getting a medal. Yes I think they should sing even if they have ahorrible voice it's okay.


No

*Because they might be a horrible singer and don't know the words.
*Because everyone doesn't sing well.
*Because they are so caught up in winning but at the end of the Olympics it would be cool if each country sang their national anthem.
*They should stay polite and reverent. The reason why is that when people sing their anthem, they are honoring the athlete's diligance and dedication. But, people like Shawn White should not be goofing off because it really makes them look childish and immature.
*Because even though they may be in a communist country they're still Americans which means they have freedoms so we can't force them to do something they don't want to do.
*Because they are possibly in too much shock.

"*It's their choice! Let them do what they want!"

I LOVE my workplace.

Yesterday I was making a new bulletin board for my new SingLympics theme. As I walked into the teacher lounge (which no one uses because our teachers have to have lunch with the students because we are so short-staffed for economic reasons) to make some diecuts. The lights are off (because no one uses the room) but the room is lit well enough because of the windows. As I walked in I saw Cheryl. She is one of my very favourite people. She always has a huge grin on her face - even when she's cleaning the bathrooms! I see the love of God on Cheryl everytime I pass her in the hall.

Cheryl was on her knees by the couch.

I stopped, frozen in my tracks. What do I do? Turn around and come back later? No, I walked over the the machine and quietly started my work. After several minutes Cheryl and got up and said, "I just heard that Mr. Erwin went in for surgery just now and had to pray for him this instant."

I love my workplace.

Great Loss

I had the perfect job. I could teach music, the love of music and using music to worship God to wonderful children. Last week our school board made the announcement that God has worked with them to help them out with financial issues.

A charter school whose charter is values based education and core knowledge curriculum would like to lease the elementary school building. Their rent would help pay off the mortgage of both schools. The hand of God has been evident in this.

This is not set in stone at this time. The charter school has been approved to open for the 2011-2012 school year but a plea to the state legislature to let the school open one year earlier. If that happens, next school year I'll be out a job.

So, God only knows what will happen with me next year. I'll keep you posted when He lets me know.

Thanks CHS for a great first year of teaching!

Christ the Lord is risen today!

Charles Wesley wrote this hymn in 1739. Orginally there were 11 verses! I would love to find all 11. The "Alleluia" was not included in the original text, but to make it fit the tune, Alleluia was added at the end of each line. Early Christians would greet each other on Easter morn by saying, "Alleluia, the Lord is risen!"

John 20:20
As Jesus spoke, He showed the disciples the wounds in His hands and His side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!


Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia!
All creation joins to say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, O heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia!


Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now your sting? Alleluia!
Dying once, He all doth save, Alleluia!
Where your victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids Him rise, Alleluia!
Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Note the second line of the first stanza, "All creation join to say" I have traditionally sung and heard, "Sons of men and angels say". Which do you like better and why?

Easter Program

I may be somewhat insane (aren't we all) but couldn't find a suitable Easter Program for the 4th, 5th & 6th grade classes. So, I decided to write/arrange my own. I found 3 CDs that had the split track so we could use that music.

Drawing inspiration from my Christmas play, A Piece of Christmas, the piece of fabric that was used throughout the Christmas story, the same fabric will follow Christ through the Passion Week. The narration will come from the Bible. Here is an outline of the story:


song: This is a Piece of Easter (same song from Christmas, slightly different words)

• Triumphant Entry - As Jesus enters on the donkey, the fabric is thrown down with the coats.

song: Hallelu, Hallelu

• Last Supper - fabric will be used as a towel when Jesus washes His disciples feet.

song: Let Us Break Bread

• Garden of Gethsemane - disciples will use it as a blanket when they fall asleep

song: I've Got a Feeling

• Carrying the cross - As Jesus stumbles, someone wipes his face with the fabric

song: Kum Ba Yah

• Crucifixion - Mary uses the fabric to weep into as she watches her son die

song: I See a Crimson Stream of Blood

• Burial - Joseph uses it to wrap Jesus' body

song: Oh What He's Done for Me

• Resurection - Christ has a new fabric as a robe when appearing

song: Christ, the Lord, is Risen Today
song: This is a Piece of Easter

I don't know what to say

I just found out that my school laid off 12 people this week. I've always felt sad when Bryan's company has had to go through lay offs, but not ever really understood. Today I have felt the sadness and emptiness of losing fellow co-workers. I don't know many of them, but I can't image the heart ache they are experiencing at this time.

God, please hold your people in your hands and show them your plan for them. Bless them so they won't have the despair that pushes You out of their sight. Help our school continue with the ministry of teaching the little ones your love and grace. Comfort us.

When I Survey the Wonderous Cross

Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved - through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.

When I survey the wonderous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ, my God;
All the vain things that charm me most -
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See, from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down;
Did e're such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small:
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.


This was the praise song I am having the school learn for this month. Surprisingly, just a few students have heard it before. What a great Hymn. It's so personal and praises God for our best gift!

Happy New Year

To the two, maybe three readers I have, thank you for taking a small glimpse into who I am, knowing that I still choose my words in a guarded manner.

May you 2010 be filled with the grace of God.

Christmas gift exchange

For our faculty meeting today we had a lunch and gift exchange. The tradition is a $10 gift that girls would like. (We're all girls on the elementary side.) I went shopping and couldn't find anything I wanted to give, so I made something, I cut it out last night and sewed it this morning.

The exchange was the pick a present or steal a present game. A gift could only be stolen 2 times before it froze. My gift was one of the frozen gifts!

Yes, it's reversible. Isn't it fun? Makes me just wanna start baking. Yum.

melt down

Today during the one and only full rehearsal, i had a melt down. I think I almost walked off the stage to go home, hide in a corner and never come out.

Good thing I didn't. I finished it out, found some good helpers to be up on stage so I don't have to be everywhere at the same time and now am feeling better.

It's hard putting it all in God's hands because I know I need to do my part. When does my part end and God grab it and go?

I know the kids did not see me melt down, it was mostly an inward feeling.
God give me the eye sight to see what I need to do. Give me the man power to get it done. May the glory of tonight be for You.

Into God's Hands

I've given the program to God. It's in His hands now.