Isaiah and short-term ministry

So much has happened lately - it always does (or so it seems) when one is learning more and more daily to trust the Abba.

I have about 115 hexagons sewn together, and about 25 "flowers" (hexagons sewn into groups of 7) finished and waiting for a bit until I can attach them to the quilt top.  I am shooting for 2,000-3,000 hexagons total, and I want to have a scalloped edge (made from the hexagons). It might take forever, but I've had a few easier sub jobs of late that make the sewing-of-flowers part happen.

:) 

nb: I've been reading through Isaiah with David on the nights that school hasn't whelmed us, and it's been good to have someone to bounce a Major Prophet around :)   Isaiah's been one of the books I've wanted to read, but always seemed to muddle up in my head, so *the very day he asked me out!*  my darling boyfriend gave me a book on Isaiah (Weirsbe's Be Comforted) to read with him.  It's been so good! Reading about Emmanuel in chapter 7 was good, and not just because there is a real hope for Israel, but also because God is with me today because of Christ's work! It is such a blessing to have a man in my life who treasures my heart and is loving me the way Christ loves the Body!!

Yesterday I was subbing at Lowell MS and one of the dear 6th graders (from the middle of the room) said, "Miss Johnson, you look young. Can I guess how old you are? ...*(paused)*  I'm going to guess you're 22."
    oh, children.

David has helped me to see that substitute teaching is an acceptable ministry opportunity - even though I've pondered this before, it helps to have another human tell me it's okay that I may only ever see some of these kids once in their lifetimes. God can still use those one-or-so-hours to bring Him glory by how I interact with these children. 

Talking with Kim Walburg has also helped me to see something else:
    The kids that maybe are the naughtiest in the classroom (the ones that I end up scolding quite a bit during the day) are usually the ones that, at the end of the day, come up to me with a huge hug and tell me I'm the best teacher ever. ....  and this may simply be because I am trying to enforce proper discipline procedures when their own classroom teacher may have given up because of the naughtiness.

Herein is my hope -
 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.

Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

...the Lord along will be exalted in that day.

THE LORD OF HOSTS IS EXALTED IN JUSTICE, AND THE HOLY GOD SHOWS HIMSELF HOLY IN RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

note from a first grader

By mss. Johnson

I love that suBsutut Be coues she is niys and Denzel said a cus wrld and i got on pink an thay got low and we all most didtin go to recss Be coues thim oley me and Juleyn Be coues we wint to the Bathroom I was grat and I was Good and I was Good and Jakiya said the bitth wurd.
The End.

[on the other side of the paper]: love mrs. HOEKSTRA


my translation: [mind you, this is written by a first grader in a class of 22 where almost all of them are very, very little self-control, even for first graders...]

I love that substitute because she is nice and Denzel said a cuss word and I got on pink *[the teacher has a behavior system of colors, and pink is the highest] and they got on low *[this being, many of her classmates were quite naughty] and we almost didn't go to recess because of them*[maybe she thought this because I threatened they would be missing recess and working on sitting quietly - per their teacher's request!] only me and Julian because we went to the bathroom *[insert amazing self-esteem, or spelling practice?] I was great and I was good and I was good and *I'm not sure where this girl heard all the swears, but apparently I missed something in all the chaos they'd presented] Jakiya said the bitth [probably naughty] word.
The End. 


it was either written for me or the teacher, but it was on top of my stuff, so...
:)

student quotes

I've been subbing at the same middle school relatively often these days. . . During my first day with one of these classes, after I'd been talking for a bit, one of the girls asked me if I was a flight attendant...
because

"you sound like a flight attendant," she answered to my "why?"

:D I had to crush her hopes.  sad day.

eharmony

Today I subbed for a class of fifth-graders. Overall, they were amazing kids, even if a large number of the school was out sick; However, there was one thing that... I have to share. Because it was one of those times that - as a teacher - laughing at the moment is unacceptable. Such as this.

The students are sitting at their desks, working on copying a Hallowe'en Poem onto a piece of paper. Sam finishes early, and starts pestering other students. I walk over to see if I can find something for you to do.

Sam: "Mrs. Johnson, are you married?" (It's either hit or miss with my name (no pun intended)... I only stress "MISS" (not Ms. or Mrs.) on occasion)...

me: nope.

Sam: "are you single?"

me: yup

Sam: "have you ever dated anyone?"

me: yup (if one can count a junior high romance...)

Sam: "You should go on eharmony."

me: hmmm... Are you ready to work on your newspaper project now? [while internally dying of laughter]

...a few minutes later, one of the girls confided in me "Miss Johnson, Sam wasn't being very nice earlier. He said you should go on eharmony..."

[commence internal laughing]

me: Well, it's ok... mumblemumble...