And so went the evening and the morning..........

(This is a picture of our classroom-I took this last year.)

Well, we made it through the first night and morning fine.
Mom and Dad missed their flight last night because they were unable to get through customs fast enough. So they did not actually get here until after the morning session was over.
Besides what I teach each morning they have their own sessions.
So I went ahead and taught my Esther session that I was not supposed to teach till Wednesday.....good thing I had taught it before and know the story. We found out last night about 10:00 that they would not make it in in time......so just as I was about to panic at a schedule that would now be messed up......my level headed husband said, You know the story and you know you are ready to teach--just go to bed.
And, so I did. :)

This morning went fine.
My object lesson was on the fact that man looks at the outward appearance
but God looks on the heart.
I used two vases-- one plain and the other fancy. I asked the children if they were a flower what vase would they prefer to be put in.
Then after they made their choices I added water to each vase.
The small plain one filled up with clear water while the fancy one ended up with black looking water. (I had added food color to the bottom of the fancy one before class)
I then talked about the fact that we might look at ourselves and think we look great compared to another---but God is not as concerned about the outside as He is the heart and what is found there. And of course we were reminded that the Bible says, All have sinned and so our heart looks to God like the dirty water in the vase.
Then I talk about how God chose to give us a solution to the problem of our sin---if we choose to take it. I then added a little bleach to the water as I talked about the death of Jesus and the price that He paid for us. When the bleach is added the water turns a royal blue...pretty cool.
But then we talked about how our lives are still not perfect...we need help living this life for God. And so God sent the Spirit to live in our lives...at this point I added two Alkaselzers(s.p)...and with the Spirits help -God begins to clean our lives so that we then lead lives pleasing to God.
Of course the tablets stir the water mixing the bleach around and the water is once again clear.
It is a good visual for the children.

After snack time and bathroom time I got to teach Esther. I actually got almost an hour (50 minutes) since Mom and Dad were not there. It was nice. And it is amazing how you can keep 19 2nd-5th graders spell bound for that long with just words and a picture book.
I really love this time.
Usually I would have only had thirty minutes.....so I was able to really brings some truths home.
I love looking out at their little faces as they realize what cool things are in the Bible.

Did you realize that Haman in the story of Esther was a descendant of the people that
King Saul was supposed to have killed?
And because King Saul didn't kill the king right away after the battle as well as his wife....the wife escaped-pregnant. She passed along a huge hatred for the Jews to the generations to come.
Now we know why Haman hated Mordecai so much.

Well, I guess that is enough for now.
We serve such an amazing God.
He looks down from heaven for hearts that are open and willing to be used by Him.
He does not look for the strongest person with the greatest earthly beauty......He just wants hearts that are true blue.
We are a generation that needs to humble ourselves before the Lord.
We will either pass a huge love for our heavenly Father to the next generation.....or we will pass along a desire to follow the world and its master.

Love you guys!