Someone talked me into teaching Sunday School this tomorrow. I hate little kids in large groups! But being the sucker I am, I agreed and so I proceeded to sit down today and organize everything for tomorrow morning. The lesson is on God healing Naaman after he bathed in the Jordan River 7 times, as instructed by the prophet Elijah. In summary, “God heals us” both when we’re physically sick and through Baptism He heals our souls.

Not that out-of-the-box programs aren’t good and useful…but in my personal experience they really…lack…would it be horrible to say that they suck (much of the time)? I am especially not fond of CPH. (oh, sacrilegious Lutheran!) Sorry, but they really need new ideas…I think I remember half these lessons/crafts/games from 20 years ago when I was in Sunday School! I know the Bible lessons can’t be changed – but the way they are presented can be changed…

Anyhow, because this is for the little-little kids class, and I am nervous about teaching kids so little, I stuck to the planned lesson. But they have this really lame craft with a paper plate and a pop-sickle stick with a dot sticker for a head.  The plate is supposed to be cut halfway and the pop-sickle stick with the dot sticker head inserted in the cut, to be Naaman in the river – so the pop-sickle stick can go up and down through the cut in the plate like Naaman washing in the river.

LAME!  So, always having this issue with making things better, I spent over two hours drawing, tracing and cutting out little person figures to color and glue on the sticks. Then I did use the paper plate idea, but rather than a slit all the way across form the center, I did a piece in the middle, so the Naaman puppet can go up and down and side-to-side, but not come out to easily. WAY BETTER. Still goofy, but better. It’s for 3-4 year olds…so hey.

Picture to come tomorrow, with a complete report of the scary event of teaching small children! lol

Thus begins the journey of what I hope becomes an outlet for my frustrations, joys, and memories as a wife, mother, and individual (yes, moms are people too). Maybe I can help inspire other moms too.

My little piece of heaven (or hell) consists of my husband (of 6 years) Jon, two sons Micah (3y) and Ben (8m), and our overly-needy and medically-exasperating dog Delilah.

Hell? Well, yes, more often than not life is a bit overwhelming and chaotic, but this is nothing unexpected as a mother of 2 (sometimes 3) boys. “They” say things will calm down as the boys get older and become more independent. Well, I’d like to know just who “they” are and why everyone always quotes “them.” Did “they” forget I have 2 BOYS and there are more horror stories about boys than you could hear in a life time?!

So, when I go to get my 3 year old up from his nap and he’s all hot and sweaty laying on top of one of his stuffed animals (oh yes, apparently boys start young), do “they” have any helpful little sayings for THAT? “Boys will be boys” does not even BEGIN to cover it!