For all of my little friends over at Widmeyer Elementary, Mrs. Caliente will sure miss you guys! Watch this and remember... music IS everywhere! From a Brazilian Carnival to Austria's "Sound of Music" --We had some fun over the last couple months.
For all the teachers, administrators, and families of my little friends, thanks for putting up with me! It was indeed a privilege to spend time with you and your students over the last nine plus weeks. Thanks for enduring the loud singing, dancing, and yes, even sax playing coming from the music room. (Mrs. Hott sure sings "terrible"! LOL!)
I will never forget the words from RESA 8 substitute teacher trainer, Peggy Hause, "As a sub, you have just a short time in the classroom with these children. Make the most of it. YOU could be THE sub to change a child's life." Well, let's just say sometimes it is just one student, just one... that changes the sub. For all my little friends, thanks for the hugs and know that Mrs. Hott will be remembering you all in my prayers. (And, thanks for reminding me daily how "young" I am!)
Finally, for Mrs. Davisson -- give me a call anytime you have another baby! I'll be there - me and my sax!
Hott off the press, Mitera Magazine has just published my article called "Holy Boldness Batman!" Please check out the cover (with a teaser to my story!) then go to page 13! This story was deep in my blog from two years ago and the editor asked to republish it in her new magazine. Please link to other parents you know. Praying that "Holy Boldness Batman" helps a student somewhere... maybe even yours!
Throwing a few punches praising, of all things, PD, in this week's column! Hummmmm... funny thing, right? Here's the link: http://momsoffaith.com/2012/09/pd-praise/
Earlier this summer, Lisa Chan's marketing folks asked me to preview her new film series called "Be Still" here on my blog. Inspired by her husband's book Crazy Love, I was thinking this was pretty cool to get to preview a film before it was released. A first for me as a faith based blogger, all I needed to do was watch the video, include a link to the series, and blog about it.
Easy as pie, right? Wrong! Attempting to watch a video called "Be Still" on our intermittent internet service was like trying to have my 7 and 8 year old boys read War and Peace! I would see about 45 seconds of film, wait... and then another 45 seconds! This 23 minute film took me 2.5 hours to watch one day when all the kids were finally in school. Be Still? Are you kidding me?
As I am engaging in her story, I was also finding myself resentful. Seriously! Early on, I watch Lisa as she unloads groceries from her car to her home. In one trip, she manages to bring in all her bags. I don't know about you other moms, but I never am able to complete a shopping trip in one load! Then, we follow Lisa inside her home and, immediately, I am feeling uncomfortable.
Seeing her modest environment neat and orderly, I begin to glance around my own home. Kitchen piled high with dishes, mountains of kid shoes and dirty socks by the door, toys scattered around the living room, how can I begin to "Be Still" and watch this video? I don't have time to Be Still! There is way too much to do around here. Be Still? Who is she kidding?
But I continued to watch. I continued to listen. Forgetting for a moment all the tasks around me, Lisa talks about Mary and Martha. Immediately, I am reminded to make myself sit and, not just listen to what this other mom (not so unlike me) has to say, but to just be.
This is what Lisa is sharing with us in her new series "Be Still" -- to just be in God's presence. Once we allow ourselves to "be" at His feet, then we can discover the overwhelming peace Lisa describes. And you know what? God doesn't care at all about my messy house or chaos, He just wants to fill me with His peace in the midst of it all.
And it works! I recently found myself in the middle of a serious situation. Close to a panic, my breathing became irregular and, rather than "be still" at all, my hands began to shake. The notion to be still seemed impossible. Where was God in this situation? How could He be present in the mess I was faced with? Could God really be a part of other's evil pressed on my faith based life as a mom?
Want to know what happened? In the midst of the turmoil, I heard God whisper to me "Excuse me, can I tell you something?".... just "be still... and know that I am God."
Lisa Chan's series "Be Still" is available here: https://flannel.org/products/true-beauty-be-still
If you would like more info, let me know and I can forward you Lisa's bio and press info on "True Beauty: Finding Your Identity in Jesus"
I hope you will explore her teachings. The marketing folks said that they will provide a free copy for me to distribute to a reader. So, let me know if you are interested in a comment and I will pass your request along. It looks like such a cool series and may be a rewarding opportunity for moms, a group of friends, or your study group.
The Hott brothers get so anxious about the least little change in the weather! Do your children react this way? Or, are mine the only ones having tummy aches every time the sun disappears behind a cloud or a tree begins to bend in the breeze??????
No one seemed to be singing the blues at our house today! It was, thankfully, a pretty smooth send-off. How did it go for you? The boys are sporting their new Nike sneakers. Violet got up early to "wand" her hair. Me? Well, I'm watching anything but Adventure Time while doing laundry... "loads of fun"! What about you?
I think the 2011-12 6th grade class of Warm Springs Middle School found it! I am really excited to share the work of film artist, Shamus Cleveland, as he shared with 30 students in an Art Integration's film and technology class in May 2012. The video you will see is created by his students as they used the entire class of approximately 160+ students!
Thanks to a new program of the Morgan Arts Council in collaboration with Morgan County Schools, these students were able to express how "love" and tolerance is the answer to bully situations encountered by middle school students across our nation. Art Integration, sponsored by the WV Commission on the Arts and the Eastern W. Va. Community Foundation, was able to teach basic film techniques to assist teachers communicating student values and individual worth (a WV Content Standard and Objective).
So, if you missed the premier at the Morgan County Fair, well, here it is! So, sit back, relax, and enjoy WSMS collaborative presentation of "Where is the Love?"
And spread the word! Share this link with your fellow classmates, friends, and families! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iywyj6kSbKQ&feature=youtu.be
It's super cool... I promise. Then, get ready for more fun creative classes from Art Integration.
Still having a hard time comprehending some recent happenings over here in the W. Va. hills! Have you ever encountered anything like it? Please see today's "Hott Flashes" on Moms of Faith here: http://momsoffaith.com/2012/08/love-thy-neighbor/
And... please share my prayer concern. Thank you, dear God, for your love and protection. Please help me to be an example of your kindness by showing love, not matter what. Amen.
“... ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” – Matthew 22:37-39
"Excuse me, can I tell you something?" The entire contraversy between Chick-fil-A and the LGBT community is making my head spin.
Since our Hott family has been home on a “staycation” this summer,
I have not missed much of the media hype, unfortunately, over Chick-fil-A’s support of the Biblical definition of marriage
between man and woman. Since I ended up
avoiding the lines and bomb threat to our local Chick-fil-A on August 1st, Caity brought me my
chicken and pickle sandwich later!
Yes, you heard me. We missed the lines on
appreciation day, thankfully; but, our local restaurant in Martinsburg,WV,
experienced a bomb threat. This Chick-fil-A was shut down – all due to
hatred.
Not only is my head spinning, but my heart is hurting even more
over this craziness. Can you just imagine what God must be
thinking!? A conflict of differing opinions; a disagreement between the
views of an American corporation and those of more liberal philosophies; a
media frenzy over Chick-fil-A’s Biblical foundations and the Lesiban, Gay,
Bisexual, Transgender/Transsexual community.
This recently turned 47-year-old-grey-haired-Christian-hott-mama-of-four also has a
heart forallpeople,
regardless of their belief. You see, although the Bible may define
marriage one way; it also talks about choices and teaches us to “love one another” -- a perfect example of tolerance, accepting all people regardless of their differing beliefs.
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your mind.’ And the second is like it: “Love
your neighbor as yourself.’”
Matthew 22:37&39
...including LGBT's alike! Sure, we can disagree about our beliefs; but love for my neighbor remains!
In fact, I encourage families to teach tolerance and diversity; and, I prefer this to be taught in a home without hatred!
Both are needed to achieve a peaceful world,
right? I don't agree with the school mandate requiring tolerance education because it will force these issues and raise questions long before truly
necessary for children. Formanyreasons,
I believe this should come from parents. (For more info, check out Focus on the Family's new website at www.TrueTolerance.org)
But here is what bothers me; here is what I find difficult to
deal with: How does a mom explain the Chick-fil-A controversy to
children? My kids only see that people are angry at Chick-fil-A!
You see, for a kid, a child, it really doesn’t matter what the argeument is all
about. Not.at.all.
Through the eyes of a 7 year old (or perhaps younger…I say this
because my Levi is 7), one only sees that this fun restaurant with nice people
and cool kid prizes is coming up everywhere when the radio or television is
on. For many, this Chick-fil-A with the goofy cows everywhere represents
a safe place to go out with mom and dad where they hear that the food
selections are healthier than others. Let’s face it, Chick-fil-A is a
family friendly environment to go out to eat.
Kinda like Disney World, right? Family-friendly-fun!
Why not then, while we are at it, attack Disney World for promoting fairy tales
that have male and female couples; kings and queens; Cinderella and her prince;
Alladin and Jasmine; Nala and Mufasa; Lady and the Tramp; Snow White; Peter Pan
and Tinkerbell; The Jungle Book; Sleeping Beauty; to Micky and Minnie…. So why Chick-fil-A? Why now? Someone please tell
me…. Why?
Quite frankly, it is adults exacerbating a situation that force
moms like me to have to explain all about tolerance and diversity long before I
am ready to or even need to, for that matter.
For me, I would prefer to keep the fairy tale just a little
longer please. Wouldn't you?
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