I Get To Touch These Lives

Thought you might enjoy "meeting" some of the folks I hang with 

in my job as a speech language pathologist assistant

at 4 different public elementary schools in my area.

I call them my cookies and buddies.

When I began, 11 years ago this month,

I wanted to touch them for eternity,

for Jesus,

even though I couldn't speak His name.

I came up with this:

Tell them they are 

wonderful

at the end of our once a week

20 minute sessions.

I hang posters in each of my schools' small group rooms that say:

I am wonderful.

I can do it.

I ask them to say that before leaving.

Only a handful have resisted, and then only for a week or two.

After that, they remind ME that they need to say it.

I think it warms Jesus' heart to hear His little lambs say that!

Why do I get to work with these precious people?

Short answer:

They need to learn to articulate their sounds correctly 

and use language to express themselves better.

Some of them come to me pronouncing /k/ & /g/ 

like "t" & "d."

I love it when they say my last name which begins with a "G."

Others have lisps, or difficulty distinguishing /f/ and /th/.

Then there are those for whom the book

Hooway for Wodney Wat was witten,

I mean, written.

Without further ado, here are some of the reasons I get out of bed in the morning.

She made huge strides between kindergarten and 1st grade

learning to say /k/, /g/, and /r/.

And she has a fabulous wardrobe.

Wish they made red sparkly shoes in my size.

He gave me a quarter for Valentine's Day last year.

The Wodney Wat Fan Club.
I think they've grown 6 inches in 18 months.

Watched 'em lose 6-8 teeth each and then grow them back in.

Why don't I remember that with my own kids?

Worked with him from kindergarten to 6th grade.

He loved to beat me at Go Fish and board games.

Worked with her for several years at 2 different schools.

What a little lady!

And then there are the scores of devoted teachers and other assistants

who love on our students.

There has to be a special spot in heaven for them.

Yikes, this little crew keeps me hoppin'!

What a joy to hear them conquer their /r/ sound and 

learn to express themselves in grammatical sentences.

I keep data for each student in each session.

And then there's the lovely art work...

 

 which covers the walls and lifts our spirits.

Thank You, Jesus, for giving me this ministry.

Grace and peace to you!

Love,

  

Linking up with Java at

Never Growing Old 

for

Wonderful Women In My Life-Day #7 of Thanksgiving

Don't you just love daylight savings time?

Having lived far from our parents, brothers, and other extended family members for nearly all of our married life, I know we've missed a lot. 

We raised our own family with just us to celebrate

all of the stuff of family life

that needs to be celebrated:

birthdays, holidays, piano recitals, well-played tennis matches, soccer games, track meets, baseball games, family dinners on [whatever] night of the week, 

3 generation girls-only tea parties & guys-only golfing.

You get the picture.

It was just us 5.

What helped me find joy in life without extended family living nearby?

The wonderful women

of my church family!

They've invited me to be part of their lives for 17 years now. 

I've had the priviledge of watching their marriages mature, their children be born and grow up, go to college or other pursuits, get married, and become parents themselves!  We've walked together through the valley of the shadow of deaths and illnesses.  We've prayed each other through our shtuff [no, that's not a typo, it's a euphemism], sharing our joys and sorrows along the way.

I'm so thankful for them. 

I truly don't know where I or my family would be

if it weren't for those relationships!

But the Lord knew I needed to be in fellowship with other Christian women.

He provided me

with a large, available, salt-of-the-earth-precious network of them at my church.

As much as I often thought to the contrary [hehe],

He knew I didn't know it all!

But there's ALWAYS at least 1 girlfriend,

more likely several,

willing to give me Godly guidance and pray with and for me

to find the answers to my questions about life.

Have I taken these women for granted?

Yes.

But they show me grace

and always take me back,

no questions asked.

Only genuine concerns expressed.

Thank You, Lord. for these dear ones!

Today I want to share the fun afternoon I spent with about 15 of them.

Sunday morning was bright with promise.

What better to do than can apple pie filling with girlfriends?

So after worship that's just what we did.

'Course a girl's gotta have fuel for that. 

Robin fired up her crockpots and blessed us with her Dad's homemade chili.

And just for good measure, she brought brownies, too.



We are all still married to the husbands of our youth.



Below, Susan is teaching us the order of worship

[*giggle*we Lutherans love our liturgy]

what we need to do before we can can [couldn't resist] the apple pie filling mix.

Hint:  It involves knives and lots of crispy Jonagold apples .

Sherryl's son and my daughter, both 30, have been friends since middle school.

Nan and I worked together on the Women's Retreat committee this spring.
I'm so thankful I got to serve with her and the others. 
I was blessed by their willingness to share openly about themselves.

Jennifer and I have connected at Women's events several times over the years.

Sarah & I used to sing in the choir together.

I want to get to know Ruby better.

I love her quiet, gentle spirit.

In the last several photos, have you noticed these women's hands?
They have always used their hands,
as well as other gifts, in service to others.

Here's the game plan:

Here are the usual suspects:

Here's what gives the pie filling it's juicy yumminess:

30 jars, stuffed to capacity, awaiting their fateful hotwater baths.

Slavin' over a hot stove with smiles.

Multitasking-21st century homemaker style.

And lookin' good while she does it!

Mary decided this tool could be used for
more than lifting jars out of the canner.
Mary makes me smile
and her Bible studies help me grow in my faith. 

 Cutting the fabric for the fussy lid covers.

 Robin and I needed photos of each other.
I've been priviledged to work on many fun, girly events with her.

 Fussy labels for each jar.

 Installing the fussy lid covers and labels.

Don't the fussy lid covers, labels, and twine
look pretty on our finished product?
We will sell them at our Craft & Bake Sale
the weekend before Thanksgiveing.
The proceeds go to bring the Good News of Jesus
to missions around the world.

Yes, raising money for missions is a good, Godly endeavor.

But God also blesses the fellowship we shared this afternoon.

Cost: $0

Value:  Priceless 

Thank You, all you dear women,

for the richness you add to my life.

God bless you!

Love, Karen

Linking with
Dr. Laura for

and Alissa

They actually pay me to do this!-Day #5 of Thanksgiving

I love my job!
I've been doing it nearly 11 years and-most days-I can't believe they actually PAY me to do it!

I don't dread any day of my work week like some folks dread Mondays, for instance.

I get to work with some of the most interesting people I've ever known.

I get to smile, almost non-stop, all day.

Within certain parameters, I get to decide what I will do with my cookies & buddies.

I get to play roll & move games, bingo, and card games.

I get to read aloud to and with audiences that appreciate it and whose lives are enriched.

I get to hear personal stories, happy and sad.

I get to celebrate birthdays and holidays.
I get to enjoy the passing of time while watching people grow in knowledge and maturity.
I get to grow in knowledge and maturity.

I get to see their eyes light up when they "get it."

That's what gets me up in the morning!  

In case you haven't guessed yet, I am a teacher. 

I work as a Speech Language Pathologist Assistant in several local elementary schools.
I teach children how to say their sounds and use language to express themselves.

I don't have all of the "letters" behind my name,

so I'm supervised by Speech Language Pathologists.

Through the years, they've been great mentors,

always willing to help me learn new skills.

I believe God made this job just for me.

He knew I needed to learn better people skills

as evidenced in yesterday's post.

He wanted to bless me with a challenging, fun job

in which I can bless others

by being the hands, feet, and mouthpiece of Jesus.

He brings friendly, inspiring children and adults across my path every day.

He knew this season, with its financial challenges, was coming,

so He made sure I'm paid well and have health insurance.

God gave me the desire of my heart

and I didn't even know it when I accepted the job.

He gave me a new purpose, a new way to serve Him, when my kids left home.

I never dreamed I would love it.

Thank You, Lord, for providing my job!

By Your grace I will continue to work at it with all my heart!

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, 

as working for the Lord, not men, 

since you know that you will receive an inheritance 

from the Lord as a reward.  

It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Colossians 3:23-24

Are not 5 sparrows sold for 2 pennies?  

Yet not 1 of them is forgotten by God.

Indeed the very hairs on your head are all numbered.

Don't be afraid; 

you are worth more than many sparrows.

Luke 12:6-7

For we are God's fellow workers; 

you are God's field, God's building.

1 Corinthians 3:9

Delight yourself in the Lord 

and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4

Do you feel like your job has meaning and purpose?

Do you feel like you're serving God each day?

If not, ask Him to give you the desire of your heart.

If you do, thank Him!

Grace to you, dear ones!

Love, Karen

Me and 3 of my "buddies"

May God give you the desires of your heart!

Love, Karen

Linking up with Cooperating4Boys' blog hop.

Join us and meet some new friends!

<script src="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=56036" type="text/javascript" ></script>