far away so blue......

words of 2 very cute little two year olds:

"ms. phelia, I can't stop farting."

"ms. phelia can you help me? I have a big wedgie."

to both I replied....how can I help you? for that is the nature of my work.

while singing the barney song I received hugs and kisses from one of the rowdiest of the bunch.

as disobedient as these little stinkers can be, it cannot be denied that they are adorable. i guess you just had to be there.

here on earth......

be careful what you wish for cuz...you just might get it. That has somehow come true this summer. Of course with what we ask of the Lord, we can also rest assure that he will never give us more than we can handle. Such is the reality that I've been faced with these past couple of weeks.

As for today, instead of watching the toddlers during nap time, I got to chill with the 1st graders. They can be quite the rowdy bunch but much easier to work with than the lil 2 yr old stinkers...and I mean that literally. During gym, we played basketball. Somehow the teams managed to be divided guys versus girls. Unfortunately this future basketball wonder of a gal was stuck with me, aka cant shoot if her life depended on it. It was the two of us against four minature NBA stars. The kids seemed to have their own rules for the game which I initially failed to understand. Later I realized that dribbling wasn't necessary. It was the first time that I've ever played basketball where traveling was permissible and prefered by everyone. I think I like it better that way. One thing's for sure, if the basketball game I played today reflected the ways of life...life without rules would surely be chaos.

and so they say......


"Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone -- to have a deep soul relationship with another, to be loved thoroughly and exclusively. But God, to a Christian, says, "No, not until you are satisfied, fulfilled and content with being loved by Me alone -- with giving yourself totally and unreservedly to Me -- with having an intensely personal and unique relationship with Me alone will you be capable of the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you. You will never be united with another until you are united with Me -- exclusive of anyone or anything else, exclusive of any other desires or longings. I want you to stop planning, stop wishing, and allow Me to give you the most thrilling plan existing -- one that you cannot imagine. I want you to have the best. Please allow Me to bring it to you. You just keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things-- keep experiencing the satisfaction that I am. Keep listening and learning the things I tell you. You just wait. That's all.

Don't be anxious. Don't worry. Don't look around at the things others have or that I've given them. Don't look at the things you think you want. You just keep looking off and away up to Me, or you'll miss what I want to show you.

And then, when you're ready, I'll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any you would dream of. You see, until you are ready, and until the one I have for you is ready (I am working even at this moment to have both of you ready at the same time), until you are both satisfied exclusively with Me and the life I prepared for you, you won't be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with Me, and this is the perfect love.

And dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love, I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your relationship with Me, and to enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty, perfection, and love that I offer you with Myself.

Know that I love you utterly.
I am God.
Believe it and be satisfied."


- Author Unknown

I went sky diving I went Rocky Mountain climbing......

So it's been said that our lives should be an act of worship. We can give our talents, our money and our time. in each of our walks we have different ways to give to God. Why do we even want to do that? Out of love, yes. With the purpose to glorify God, yes. This past weekend I've realized another reason why I've kept myself so busy this summer. We use the gifts that God has given us to serve him. We serve him because these gifts are not our own, but God's. In serving, we're only giving back what is His and telling God that we are nothing without Him.

Bebo Norman - Nothing Without You

Take these hands and lift them up
For I have not the strength to praise You near enough
For I have nothing, I have nothing without You

Take my voice and pour it out
Let it sing the songs of mercy I have found
For I have nothing, I have nothing without You

Chorus:All my soul needs
Is all Your love to cover me
So all the world will see
That I have nothing without You

Take my body and build it up
May it be broken as an offering of love
For I have nothing, I have nothing without You

All my soul needs
Is all Your love to cover me
So all the world will see

But I love You With all my heart
With all my soul
With all my mind
And all the strength I can find

All my soul needs
Is all Your love to cover me
So all the world will see
I have nothing

Take my time here on earth
And let it glorify all that You are worth
For I am nothing, I am nothing, I am nothing without You

a quiet strength.....

I watched Beauty and the Beast yesterday. What a great movie. I've almost forgotten how wonderful Disney classics are. Although, I have to say...Belle's dress was pretty scandalous. When I was in kindergarten, Beauty and the Beast was my favorite movie...and I think it still is. I remember when I use to watch it...I could recite the entire movie....and I would count how many times a year I'd watch it. back in 1990 the count was 32.

Watching it now, I realize what a great message the movie presents. It connected well with the topic discussed in my sunday school class. On sunday our topic was gentleness. We talked about how gentleness means quiet strength, a means of self-control. This aspect of the fruit of the spirit was evident in the film.

Can you imagine falling in love with a beast? This movie teaches the importance of never judging one's character by outer appearance. After taking the time to get to know the Beast better, Belle's eyes were opened to his kindness and gentleness beneith the claws, teeth, and hairiness. When the town's people saw him, they assumed that he was a monster out to kidnap their children in the night. You know what they say, never judge a book by its cover.

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes." 1 Peter 3:3-4

Initially the Beast was so ill tempered and everyone was telling him to "control your temper." I find that the message here is to practice speaking gentle words because words are quite powerful, whether they are harsh or gentle. When the Beast asked Belle to dinner on her first night to the castle, he was yelling stuff like "that's not a request" "then go ahead and starve." Such comments proved rude and inconsiderate causing Belle to decline the command to dinner. In this situation, things might have turned out differently.

"Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone." Proverbs 25:15

And ultimately, this movie teaches us that gentleness isn't a powerful quality only found in women. Men should pratice it too...just look at the Beast...he landed himself in the arms of the woman of his dreams.

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." colossians 3:12

This past Sunday our key points on how to acquire gentleness were:
-clothes yourself with gentleness
-practice speaking gentle words
-build a relationship with God because he knows you

"I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve." Jeremiah 17:10