I've No Idea How to Title This Post!

I often decide on my post title before I ever write a word of the post.  An idea comes to me about what I want to write and so I put the title down and start.  The funny thing is, I frequently end up surprised at what my topics really turned out to be.  That happened yesterday.  My post was just to be about the little kids I taught this week and the fact that most of them gave me a sweet hug as they left class.  Somehow, though, I ended up focusing mostly on the kids I taught some years ago in New Mexico.  I had to go back and change the title, something about sweet hugs,  AFTER I'd already published my post.  That is not the first time that has happened! 

Those of you who blog, do you experience this as well?  It's like the words take on a life of their own and I'm no longer in charge.  I started a novel some months ago and I find that I am often surprised by the direction that story takes me.  It's kind of fun, almost as though I am reading a book instead of writing it, but it also disconcerting.  Shouldn't I be in charge of the things I choose to write?

This post, for example, was to be about the fact that I have an interview today.  After I put the title up, though, I decided maybe I shouldn't tell everyone that I have an interview.  What if the job isn't offered to me?  Won't I be embarrassed to have to tell you all that I wasn't selected for this position that I think I really want? No, I don't want to write about that.

Then I thought maybe I'd blog about why I am in the position of job-hunting in the first place.  I could tell you more than you ever wanted to know about an illness that grabbed me last year and shook my life up for months, robbing me of my job, my confidence in my own body, and sometimes even my dignity.  No, that seems too heavy.  I don't want to do that right now.

So, I really have no idea what I want to talk about today.  I guess I will just leave it at that!

The Joys of Teaching Sunday School

I am a Sunday School Teacher and I have been most of my adult life.  In fact, I first taught Sunday School when I was still in high school.  I love it!  Are any of you Sunday School Teachers?

When we moved to Southern New Mexico I was asked in the Spring to finish out the year for another teacher.  Her's was the 2nd and 3rd grade class, with most of the kids being in 2nd grade.  When September rolled around I said I would teach whichever class the other teachers did not choose as it didn't really matter to me.  Well, I was again assigned the 2nd and 3rd graders so I had most of the same children I'd taught in the Spring.  That was great as I'd enjoyed them a lot.

When the next September rolled around, and every year therafter I always asked the current Sunday School Superintendent to assign me to whatever class the other teachers did not choose.  Would you believe that EVERY year I was assigned to that original group of 2nd graders as they advanced through the grades?  Eventually I was teaching the high school class!  I'd been with the same core group of children for 9 years!  I'd watched them from the time they were growing into their permanent teeth through the time they were discussing college and future careers.  They became so very precious to me!  I cherish my memories of them. 

I remember Nathan, who in 2nd grade kept interrupting me as he always had such interesting things he needed to say RIGHT NOW.  He'd quickly follow with, "Sorry, Mrs. S..., sorry Mrs. S..." as he hung his head.  He was so cute!  I remember Elena, a beautiful little girl with the great laugh.  She often asked me deep theological questions, well beyond her years.  And then there was Nick, the quiet one who gave me a sweet smile during church before he quickly looked downward.

As these kids were becoming teenagers I had asked the church council to allow me to teach a sex education class from a Christian perspective.  As I was preparing to do that, Nathan's Mom caught me before church one day and asked me to hurry to get that class going.  She said it was an emergency; Nathan had a girlfriend!

When my husband accepted a call to Wyoming it was time to say good-byes.  I cried as I left those kids. Good grief, I am tearing up even now as I write this and it has been more than 7 years since we parted! 

Well, Elena, Nick, Nathan and the others are adults now.  Most are married and well into their careers.  Their lives have had some bumps, just like all of us, but I know they are beloved children of God and a gift to those lucky enough to be part of their lives.  I am so very grateful for the years I had with them and count them among my most satisfying blessings!

For the last several years in Wyoming I have been teaching a 5th and 6th grade class.  I love that age group!  This year, however, I was asked to teach the little bitty kids, ages 3-5.  That would  not have been my first choice but I was ok with the idea.  I have a teaching partner so we are alternating months, allowing us each to be part of the adult class when we aren't teaching. 

With  my first teaching month being October, yesterday was my first day with those little people.  I had 7 little kids arrive.  I knew all but one of them from church but most didn't really know me.  They were apprehensive for about 5 minutes and then they were over that!  They are fun little characters who like to learn and do crafts.  As they left after class most of them came and surprised me with a hug.   They were so sweet!

With this class I inherited a large binder with lessons done by the ABC's.  For each lesson the previous teacher had already compiled a large choice of activities she'd found on the internet.  She's already done most of the work so it is easy!  We were on the letter "D" and our lesson was on Daniel.  We talked about how God protected Daniel from the lions.  We talked about prayer and we all got down on our knees and prayed that way.  We also talked about how sometimes we pray in our own heads and so no one can ever stop us when we want to pray.

Our craft and snack were one, a lion's face...

I double checked with each parent to be sure I knew of any allergies. I gave each child a paper plate, a caramel rice cake, a plastic knife with a glob of peanut butter, crunchy chow mein noodles, mini marshmallows and a roll of Smarties.  I think string red licorice would be a better choice for the mouth but this worked.  

I'd like to hear from other SS teachers.  What works for you?  Any fun stories to tell?  Any particularly cool ideas you want to share?  Let me know!

Sam and the Coyote

This is a picture of a coyote in a little zoo where we used to live in New Mexico.

It is kind of a sad picture because the coyote is fenced. I'm not posting this picture to make you sad, though.  I want to tell you something about this coyote. 

At least, I think it was this one.

If so, it is a story from this coyote's youth.

Ok, I really don't know that, but it IS the same enclosure for sure.

Sam was pretty young when I used to take him to this little zoo frequently.

He was never a loud or rambunctious child, at least not in public.

He was respectful and calm around the animals.

He liked to look at them all but this coyote was a favorite.

Why?

Because this coyote seemed to know Sam.

They had a special bond.

He anxiously waited for Sam's arrival.

OK, maybe that isn't true... but maybe it is.

I took this photo on a visit back to New Mexico, a few years after we'd moved away.

Sam wasn't with me this particular day; I'd gone to the zoo just to have a place to walk around while visiting with an old friend.

When we approached the coyote's enclosure, he just sat there like that.  He didn't do anything more than just throw a bored glance our way.

That wouldn't seem unusual except that when I used to bring Sam there the coyote would get all excited.  His body language was not aggressive but playful.  Then, Sam would start running, back and forth.  If anyone were watching I expect they'd be a little startled at what they saw because the coyote would actually play with Sam, chasing along beside the fence.  Sam loved that game and would run back and forth along the cement sidewalk over and over while the coyote mirrored his run on the other side of the fence.  Sometimes that would go on for quite awhile!

I always felt pretty mean when I announced we needed to move on.

On a side note I'd like to say that I know this little zoo was known to save injured animals and birds, creatures that would not have been able to live in the wild.  I don't know if that is the story behind Sam's coyote, but maybe it is.

Anyway, I like to think of Sam as the "Coyote Whisperer."