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KiDS DECEMBER NEWSLETTER!
Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the
key to success.
If you love what you are doing you will be
successful. - Albert
Schweitzer
DATES
OF MEETINGS FOR 2002/2003 SCHOOLYEAR-
We're
having a cookie exchange at Pat Graves house on Dec. 5! It's a blast; be
sure to come...
PRESIDENTIAL QUOTE OF THE DAY:
The brave man inattentive to his duty, is worth little more to his country than the coward who deserts her in the hour of danger." Andrew Jackson
Born March 15, 1767-Died June 8, 1845 7th President, 1829-1837 (Democrat) America's Sunday Best
First Flight 93, now the sniper: Bible teachers save the day. BY BRENDAN MINITER Monday, November 4, 2002 12:01 a.m. EST Did God have a hand in the capture of the Washington sniper suspects? For Ron Lantz, the 61 year-old truck driver who found the two men now charged with the string of murders, this is more than an academic question. He wasn't the only one to phone in finding the 1990 Caprice parked at a Maryland rest stop two weeks ago, but he takes it as a matter of faith that the Lord led him to that car. Mr. Lantz offers us a simple but powerful story, one that reveals an underlying strength in American society that the media often neglect: Religious character matters. It's no coincidence that the best defenders of our domestic security are also turning out to be some of our most upstanding, moral citizens. Mr. Lantz's story begins five years ago, when he promised his dying adult son that he would commit his life to serving God. Until then, he wasn't a religious man. But, according to pastor Larry Dillon at the Central Church of Nazarene in Fort Wright, Ky., since then Mr. Lantz has tirelesslyworked for the church. He brings food to the hungry and serves as director ofthe church's men's ministry. On Sundays he teaches Bible classes. During the week he hauls cargo from Kentucky to Maryland. On the trip, he listens to talk radio. Like everyone else, he was horrified at the newsof each sniper attack. On one recent trip he decided to do something about it. He got on the CB and announced he'd be leading a prayer service at a truck stop along his route. At least 50 truckers and as many as 200 others, in all manner of vehicles, heard the call and came to pray with him. They prayed for the sniper victims, but before disbanding another prayer was added. They asked for God's help in catching the culprits. The following Wednesday, Oct. 23, Mr. Lantz was called into work even though it was his day off. During the drive he heard a description of the snipers' car and the suspects on the news. It is rare for Mr. Lantz to be pulled over by the police. On this day, he was pulled over three times. Each time delayed a few minutes, as the cops double-checked his paperwork. He wasn't ticketed. On his return trip, he pulled into a rest stop on Interstate 70 in Frederick County, Md., and immediately recognized the Chevy Caprice the police were looking for. Inside the car, John Allen Muhammad was sleeping. John Lee Malvo was resting on a park bench. Mr. Lantz quickly called 911 and then he used his rig to block the exit. He got on the CB and asked another trucker to block the entrance. Fifteen minutes later the area was swarming with cops. The police used a flash grenade to disorient the suspects before smashing the car windows and grabbing both men. All of this happened less than 30 miles from where Mr. Lantz had led his trucker prayer service. Mr. Lantz is a humble man. But on the following Sunday parishioners at his church hailed him as a hero and, as his pastor describes it, he "gave testimony" of his experience. He begged off the hero treatment, saying he "only done what anyone would do." Mr. Lantz, of course, isn't just anyone. He shares something in common with Todd Beamer, the man who famously said "Let's roll" before leading a rebellion aboard Flight 93. We all know how that flight ended--in a field in Shanksville, Pa. Beamer and his compatriots may have saved the White House or the Capitol and only God knows how many people. We also know that Beamer said a prayer before uttering his now famous line. What is less well known is that Beamer was also a Sunday school teacher. The prayer he said was much more than simply God help us. Although, in a pinch that would've sufficed. No, Beamer chose the prayer that Jesus gave us the words for, according the gospel of Matthew, the Lord's Prayer: "Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen." Perhaps there's a reason that again and again it is the Sunday
school teachers
who are helping deliver us from
evil. THERE
ARE TWO AWESOME LOVE LANGUAGE TESTS. ONE FOR HUSBANDS AND WIVES AND ONE
FOR
CHILDREN AT WWW.GFI.ORG THIS IS FROM GROWING FAMILIES
INTERNATIONAL AND IT'S A FREE DOWNLOAD. WE LOVE OUR SPOUSES AND
CHILDREN. IF WE SPEAK THEIR LOVE LANGUAGE, THEN THEY WILL FEEL
LOVED. THAT'S A POWERFUL THING. THE CHILDREN'S TEST IS NOT FOR VERY YOUNG
CHILDREN. THEY GENERALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE LOVE
LANGUAGES-
SCHOLASTIC
BOOKS WAREHOUSE SALE
CUSTOMER APPRECIATION
WAREHOUSE SALE
Books,
Software, and more.
Up to 50% off
the cover price.
Friday,
December 6, 11:00 am-7:00 pm
Saturday,
December 7, 9:00 am-4:00 pm
Mon-Thurs.
December 9-12, 11:00 am-7:00 pm
Scholastic Book
Fairs
8619 S. 117th
Street
La Vista,
NE 68128 One mom has found that keeping a daily mom's journal
has helped her focus
and make more progress with her family; home; and
other commitments.
She's excited about the simplicity of it all.
She keeps track
of her goals; how things are going; and then refocuses
accordingly. She's
able to relax and enjoy her family more,
because she's seeing progress and that's a great
thing!
QUESTION OF THE MONTH:
HOW
DO YOU ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILDREN TO WAKE UP EARLY AND GET THEIR DAY
GOING?
WE ALSO STRUGGLE WITH THIS. I HAVE TRIED MANY DIFFERENT THINGS AND
SOME HAVE WORKED BETTER THAN OTHERS. ONE THING THAT WORKED WITH THE YOUNGER KIDS
IS A CHART AND THEY CHECK IF THEY WERE UP BY
THE SET TIME. DAD CHECKS THIS AND IF WE AREN'T GETTING UP ON TIME HE MOVES THEIR BED TIME UP. IT IS GREAT INCENTIVE TO BE UP ON TIME. ANOTHER IS SAVING THE LEAST PLEASANT CHORE FOR THE LAST ONE UP. IT WORKS!!! I HOPE THIS HAS BEEN HELPFUL. -CINDY NORTON TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN TO CLEAN THEIR ROOMS-
Give
yourself and your children some simple things to do-
Children love routines, Even two year olds and do a simple routine with pictures. Help them cut out pictures or write out their routines on paper and put in a sheet protector with a dry erase marker so they can learn to check things off. Or make a chart so they can put a star by it when they have finished their routines. Break your child's room up into zones. Draw it out for them on a piece of paper. Bed, Desk, floor, bookcase, closet. You get the
idea. Spend two minutes on each zone every day. That is only 10 minutes.
Children love clean and clear spaces to play in. Help them declutter their rooms by boxing up toys they don't play with often and putting them in the garage to get out after the holidays. I'll bet they never ask for them again. You will be so surprised at how much they smile when they can walk in their room without tripping over things. Let your children use your timer. 15 minutes is a long time for a child, but set it for 3 and see how many toys they can pick up. Put on some fun music and dance as you clean up; Every hour at the top of the hour, do the pick up and put away game. You will find that your children will beg you for a timer of their own. They will being to use it for homework and computer time. Why because
they see you do it.
When you help them set up their morning, after school and before bed routine, remember to keep them small. 5 things is enough. Make it fit your child. Here is a simple example-Keep it fun!-from the flylady at www.flylady.net Good
thoughts are no better than good dreams, unless they are executed. - Ralph Waldo
Emerson
We have a new email list where we're going to get political
updates from Kathleen McCallister especially prior to election times.
She's busy and will not send out many emails; just a few to give us some
insights to help us vote with wisdom. Kathleen
is a conservative Christian and holds political office. Her husband is on the police force. She also has specific encouragement to pray for our city
and state. Email Gretchen at
wards@5pillars.com if you'd like to get on this
list.
WE
ARE GOING TO VISIT FLORENCE HOME ON 30TH ST. ON DEC. 21 FROM 1-2PM FOR OUR
KEEPERS OF THE FAITH CLUB. WE'LL SING CHRISTMAS CAROLS AND HAND OUT
COOKIES & SMILES TO THE OLD FOLKS THERE.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO JOIN US-THIS IS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR FAMILIES
YEAR.
PLEASE RSVP TO ASSURE ENOUGH SONG SHEETS
-JUST CONTACT GRETCHEN WARD AT WARDS@5PILLARS.COM OR
451-8932 FOR MORE INFORMATION.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
We need volunteer ushers to help us with our production of The Nutcracker at The Orpheum! Here are the shows that are involved: Thursday December 5 @ 10:00 am Thursday December 5 @ 7:30 pm Friday December 6 @ 10:00 am Friday December 6 @ 1:00 pm Friday December 6 @ 7:30 pm Saturday December 7 @ 2:00 pm Saturday December 7 @ 7:30 pm Sunday December 8 @ 2:00 pm Ushers need to check in 1 hour prior to the performance. You are allowed to stay for the performance on a standing room only basis. You will also receive 2 complimentary ticket vouchers for shows at The Rose! If you'd like to help, contact Lindy at The Rose at 345-9718 ext. 120 or e-mail boxoffice@otcmail.org Happy Holidays When I
heard of a Hindu family who had not eaten for some days, I took some
rice to them. I had hardly given it to the mother when she divided the rice into two portions and took one half to her next-door
neighbors, who
happened to be a Moslem family. Then I told her, "You will have very little now with only half the rice, there are ten of you for so small an amount." The mother replied, "They have not eaten either." This is greatness. -Mother Teresa -submitted by Sandy Hawes
A
SPECIAL EVENT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
GINGERBREAD ON PARADE
"THROUGH THE EYES OF CHILDREN"
Open 9am-9pm daily
November 23-Dec 23, 2002
MORMON TRAIL VISITOR CENTER
3215 State St.
Omaha, NE
North Omaha-Florence
NO ADMISSION CHARGE
Consists of approximately 200 Gingerbread houses/villages
mady by Nebraskans and Iowans.
We love to visit the Gingerbread Houses... and go every year; we do avoid
the mormon evangelism and the movie.
PRESIDENTIAL QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"It is weakness rather than wickedness which renders men unfit to be trusted with unlimited power." (One mom says that this quote encourages her to make sure she teaches
her children to be strong
in the Lord and do right for Him; as well as fleeing the things that
are wrong.)
John Adams Born October 30, 1735-Died July 4, 1826 2nd President, 1797-1801 (Federalist) Mike Farris from HSLDA: Christine, I've seen many homeschool parents suffering from what can only be called "burnout." What suggestions and encouragement do you have for these frazzled moms? Christine: I think the key here is learning how to manage our personal resources. And while homeschooling is difficult, I don't think God asks us to do any more than He equips us to do. I think balance begins with accepting our limitations. We can't do everything. We need to focus on the work the Father has given us. And for this season of homeschooling, it's a ministry of motherhood and teaching. And when we can keep that in perspective, we can surrender our need to control every aspect of our daily lives and see ourselves instead as instruments through which God can work. When you're asked to make a new decision, submit it to a three-part test recommended by Dr.James Dobson. Ask yourself,
Submit it to
this scrutiny. Lots of the things that we do will fall by the wayside when you
see that they don't fall into what God's will is for your life. -from HSLDA
Newsletter
CONTACT
PEOPLE:
Pat Graves
551-3120
Sandy Hawes -
Treasurer/Phone Tree/E-mail
455-6595
Gretchen Ward -
Newsletter
451-8932
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