Great night

I took over for Jessica tonight. I only had Nathan. So about 1/2 through the service, I took him for a walk around the church. We even went into "big church" for a few moments. I loved seeing him walk. He has this sort of a cross between a skip and a walk. I tried to do it too, but that's a bad idea with my age, weight, lack of coordination, etc.

New Friend

Terri bought a new friend to us tonight. She's 5 years old and the "regular" room had too much activity for her. Her name is Ella and she's cuter than a bug's ear.

I think I have a new sweetie.

Short night

I found out the hard way what one of our kids had for supper...or didn't have....
I won't go into detail, let's just say it made for a short night.

More Blessings From Blake

Last night I went to church for the first time in about 2 weeks. I've been out of town for Christmas.
I popped into the Won by One room just in case I was needed, though it was not my week. Blake came in and at first he appeared to have some sort of medical issue [we almost thought seiziures] so I stayed.

Blake was ok, they weren't seizures,though we're not sure what they were instead. But, Blake was our only friend their that night. Blake built a box of some sort out of some toy blocks. He then jumped over them.

He pulled Miss Jessica over and pointed. He wanted her to jump too. Then he pulled me over. Mr. Roger is just 2 - 3 weeks shy of 40, short, out of shape [well maybe round is a shape] and extreamly uncooridnated. I didn't jump inasmuch as I stepped over it. Blake took me back and made me do it again.

The cool thing was that Blake gave me and Jessica high fives for our attempts. He is still practicing [for want of a better term] selective mutisim. His mom is learning ASL and Blake has learned to sign yes and no. He signed those for us and I taught him how to sign the bible verse for the day which was Jn 3:16.

When Jessica pulled out her guitar and was trying to tune it up before making up a song to go with the bible verse, Blake walked over and started "helping" by strumming. Jessica just let him do so while she tuned and sang.

Not only is Blake a blessing but so is Jessica.She's a music therepist and she loves these kids. I love seeing her interact with them using music as a bridge to reach through the haze of autisim or whatever the condtion may be,

I missed Ernest Smith delivering his first message but I know it had to be awesome. But I sure did not miss any blessings being with my friends in Won by One.

The Nutcracker

This is NOT one of my Purple Plastic Piano People, but this was so cool, that I wish she was.

http://spotlight.news.yahoo.com/v/11076595

I just wish I knew how to post the video instead just the link

A Christmas Story

First, Merry Christmas to all of my fellow Christians
Second, Happy Hanukkah to any Jewish Readers
Lastly, GOOD LUCK TO ANY ATHIEST READERS.

That said, let me tell you a Christmas story.
A few years ago, Maggie and her then 8 year old daughter were running errands. They stopped somewhere and after getting her daughter out of the car, Maggie turned to get a few items. When she turned around her daughter had disappeared. Maggie's heart stopped. Where is her daughter? She was 8 years old AND she has Down Syndrome. This was not good.

Praise God. Maggie found her daughter within seconds. She had climbed over a fence and into a Nativity scene that was set up nearby. In fact, she was sitting by a ceramic lamb and eating her Mickey D's fries. Maggie's daughter is named Grace. I call her Amazing Gracie. She is now 10 years old and is in the Won by One class at Seacoast, where I have the honor of being her teacher. Maggie also works in that ministry.

I tell you this story to tell you this: Gracie stepped into a Nativity scene and sat by that ceramic lamb and ate her fries. Had it been a real lamb, I know that Gracie would have shared her fries.

2000 years ago, God the Father and Creator of all of us stepped across the span of time and space and he stepped into the very first Nativity scene. He gave us—His lamb--the gift of His Grace by giving us His best, his McDonald's Fries so to speak, by giving His Son.

Thank You Lord for the Gift of Your Son,
In Jesus Name, Amen.

David

I don't update the PPPP blog too often. I need to share this even though it's not related to the PPPP.

One of my oldest and dearest friends is named David. David works with kids at our church. David is sick right now.

I need to take time to tell anyone and everyone that may read this that David is just one of the best and purest people that I know.

He loves Jesus and he loves kids. That's all that matters to him. And that's really all that needs to matter. His capacity to love kids is so great that it's amazing. David has been told by some that men don't work with children. Davd knows his heart is different. He knows his heart is one that was created to love children.

David has cancer. When he was diagnosed and was in the hospital, he apologized to one of our kids leaders for not being there there weekend.

He has EVERY RIGHT to be just a little self centered here. He has every right to say "Hey! It's my turn to be taken care of!" But he still thinks of the kids first. What a man of God.

Jesus once told a bunch of kids to come over to him. The 12 tried to shoo the kids away. Jesus told them to mind their own business and to "Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children." Mark 10:14

When Daivd was told that men don't work with kids, his response was much like Jesus response. David knew he had to do it.

I wish we all knew what God wanted us to do. I wish we'd all do that task with David's sense of convition. If we could do that, we may just survive this place we call life.