Most

Sunday, I sat in service thinking about the wonderful sacrifice God made in sending His Son Jesus. Every year, it is my desire to have a fresh revelation of what this means. It's easy for me to mentally ascent to the great sacrifice God made for me. At least until our church showed a movie entitle "Most". In this short film, a polish man takes his son to work with him at a drawbridge. The movie switches scenes between the father and son, who clearly love each other very deeply, and a train full of people who are oblivious to what is going on around them. The father places the son in the grassy area just in front of a window where he is watching the bridge. As a boat comes, the father raises the bridge to allow it to pass through. After checking briefly on his son, he goes to check the machinery. Just then the train comes. The boy noticing the train, yells for his dad- but realizing he is unable to reach him, he runs to help the train himself.

As the father returns, he realizes the train is coming and then he notices his son is missing. He watches with horror as his son falls into the bridge pit and he is left with a anguishing decision-leave the bridge up while others may die, or lower the bridge and sacrifice his son.

This movie reminded me that the greatest expression of love is sacrifice. God loved us so much, that He was willing to give us His greatest and best...His only begotten Son. What an amazing sacrifice. I pray we will never be dulled to the beauty and depth of God's love.

Countdown to Nightcrawler Trip 2011

It's that time again. It's time for our first graders to take their first overnight field trip at the Heiskell School. Are they ready? Are YOU ready? Over the next few weeks you can check our blog for updates, tips for preparation and interesting facts that will aid you in preparing your child for the trip. The "Nightcrawlers" will arrive at school Thursday, May 12th at 5pm and return the following morning at 10:30am. You can begin now by helping your child learn to roll their sleeping bag and stow it away. We're looking forward to a wild animal adventure.

Hope for Haiti

Dear Parents,

Many of you have heard about the devastating earthquakes that have shaken the international community within the past year. The journey towards reconstruction is a long one, and is not easily trod without the help of those around you.

Some of our Junior High students have a wonderful opportunity to visit Reformation Hope in Haiti in just a few short weeks. Would you consider helping them by making a donation? For those of you parents who would like a special night out, there will be a parents night out fundraiser for the Junior High this Friday from 6pm-10pm. Please consider lending your support.

Counting Money in First Grade

Counting Money in First Grade, a set on Flickr.

We've been counting money in class this week. It's been lots of fun. We may even have a class store. How can you practice at home? 1. Create a store at home. Have your child make price tags for items around the house and count money to purchase those items. Don't have real coins to use? Why not make them! 2. When grocery shopping, have your child calculate the total of certain items, then help you to pay at the check out line. Happy Shopping!

Happy Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is here again and what I am most excited about is the wonderful opportunity we have to share love. Jesus shares with us that the most important thing we could ever do is to love God, to love others and to love ourselves. One day, someone asked Jesus what was the greatest commandment. His response...to love.

"'Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?' Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

How are you demonstrating love today?

Focus on the Family offers a great "recipe" for Valentine's Day. I hope you enjoy.

Valentine´s Day: Show-and-tell

Mealtime Prayer: Thank God for the many ways He shows His love to you. Give examples.
Thank Him for the people who love you and for those you love.

Appetizer: Have each person tell the other family members one thing he or she loves
about each of them.

Main Course: Valentine’s Day is a special day to let others know we love them. What did
you do today to show your love for someone? What tells you you’re loved? What are other
ways that we can show our love for one another? (For example, ... give
breakfast in bed, clean the kitchen.)

Table Talk:
• How does God show that He loves us?
• Why do you think God wants us to love one another?
• How can children show love to their parents? How can parents show love to their
children?
• How can we show our love for God?

Vitamins and Minerals: “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.
Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7).

The Hundredth Day of School

Hurray! We've made it to the Hundredth Day of School! WHA-HOO! We brought in a hundred things and we even aged to ONE HUNDRED YEARS OLD overnight. Oh what fun it was. We even went on a Hundredth Day Parade!

Paper Making

Have you ever made paper? Did you know there are three things that are needed for something to be considered paper? Well we learned a lot at the Robert C. Williams Paper Museum at Georgia Tech. Thanks to our paper guides Ms. Amanda and Mr. Juan for helping us to learn both the history of papermaking and how to make paper. We had a wonderful time as we looked at the history of papermaking from bark, to animal skin to our modern papers. (Ask your child what is the name of the Japanese paper about which we learned. (Hint...it starts with the letter "W") Answer below.)

If you've never gotten a chance to see the Paper Museum, check out our pictures! You may also check out their website: http://ipst.gatech.edu/amp/education/museum_virtual_tour.htm.

P.S. The answer is "Washi"