This week I have been taking time to notice the small miracles that occur daily. I have been amazed at all the beauty and goodness that surrounds me. I've noticed all those small thoughtful acts of kindness generated between the children and people I work with.
I thank Heavenly Father for my huge miracle that happened today. Such a trivial thing in the grand scheme of things, but somehow my car key fell off my key chain the Wal-Mart parking lot tonight not far from my car. I didn't notice it until I was leaving the store and went to unlock my doors with my car key and it wasn't there. Panic hit me. I didn't have a spare key on me, I had no idea where the key fell off, and my puppy was locked in my car (cold night of 40 degrees so nothing life threatening.)
I went back into the store and dug through my purse hoping it had fallen off inside the purse. It wasn't there. I walked up to the greeter and was wondering what to do with my bag of purchased items and where to start retracing my steps and I told him I had lost the key to my car somewhere in the store. He smiled and said one had been turned in not long ago. We went to customer service and thankfully it was my key!
I was soooo grateful to learn that a kind young teenage girl had found it outside in the parking lot and was honest enough to turn it in...all someone had to do was hit the panic button and the lights and alarm would have located the car and someone could have had a nice Toyota Rav4 with an adorable puppy inside....The thought of losing my pup, not the car, was what shook me up. Whew! Close call! I am soooo thankful for all the large and small miracles that we are all blessed with or observe others receiving daily!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
My Adopted Motto
"Take every opportunity to Love yourself. Not only will your body heal, but the outer world will immediately manifest that Love in ways that you could never imagine.
Love really does ‘heal’ all.
Remember…
Love manifests Love. And knowing that…then we also must remember that fear manifests fear.
Love yourself."
- Trish Withus
(There Is Only Love- see her blog on my favorites list!)
I met Trish Withus a few years ago and the message of her book, "There Is Only Love", made such a deep and long-lasting impression on me. So much so that I "stole" her motto and message and made it the "theme" of my classroom. I teach third graders and they are just at that perfect age of reasoning and accountability.
Typically, teachers have their students write a list of three to five rules for the classroom on the first day of school. I found that three to five rules are not very interesting or easy to remember for many kids. I decided to just have one classroom rule, "There Is Only Love" and then I added "And if it isn't love, it doesn't belong."
On the first day of school I have my students brainstorm a huge long list of rules. They are so very good at coming up with them! After all of their words are on the board I draw an umbrella with "There Is Only Love" written on it and ask them to select all the rules that fall under this idea. They are always amazed that all of their rules fit under this one theme. So, whenever there is a problem or conflict in our classroom, all that needs to be asked is "Is it love? If not, change it, fix it, or let it go because it doesn't belong in our classroom." I love the power of love when it comes to disciplining my class. I really don't do much disciplining, most of the time all I have to ask those who are misbehaving is "Is it Love?"
Just the other day, two of the little girls in my class were having a quiet disagreement about something when a little boy in my class sitting nearby leaned over and I heard him ask them, "Hey, is this love? Remember, there is only love!" I couldn't help but smile to myself.
On another occasion, I was fighting a headache and my impatience and frustration with the lack of attention my students were exhibiting was about to get the better of me. One of my students burped really loudly and I snapped at him. My students went silent in shock. They never hear me raise my voice (I just don't believe in it unless there is an emergency, but not out of anger) and here I had gone and broken the one rule of our classroom. I suddenly realized all the implications of my error and in that split second it felt like time had frozen still with all 25 pairs of eyes glued to my face trying to read my expressions and predict what would come next....suddenly a smile burst across my face and a collective sigh of relief came from my students. I started to laugh then and they joined in with me. I apologized for snapping at the student and they all said "It's ok Miss Sutton." Then one of my students said matter-of-factly, "Yah, if it's not Love Miss Sutton, you need to let it go!" Oh, the beauty and wisdom of children! Oh, the power of Love!
Love really does ‘heal’ all.
Remember…
Love manifests Love. And knowing that…then we also must remember that fear manifests fear.
Love yourself."
- Trish Withus
(There Is Only Love- see her blog on my favorites list!)
I met Trish Withus a few years ago and the message of her book, "There Is Only Love", made such a deep and long-lasting impression on me. So much so that I "stole" her motto and message and made it the "theme" of my classroom. I teach third graders and they are just at that perfect age of reasoning and accountability.
Typically, teachers have their students write a list of three to five rules for the classroom on the first day of school. I found that three to five rules are not very interesting or easy to remember for many kids. I decided to just have one classroom rule, "There Is Only Love" and then I added "And if it isn't love, it doesn't belong."
On the first day of school I have my students brainstorm a huge long list of rules. They are so very good at coming up with them! After all of their words are on the board I draw an umbrella with "There Is Only Love" written on it and ask them to select all the rules that fall under this idea. They are always amazed that all of their rules fit under this one theme. So, whenever there is a problem or conflict in our classroom, all that needs to be asked is "Is it love? If not, change it, fix it, or let it go because it doesn't belong in our classroom." I love the power of love when it comes to disciplining my class. I really don't do much disciplining, most of the time all I have to ask those who are misbehaving is "Is it Love?"
Just the other day, two of the little girls in my class were having a quiet disagreement about something when a little boy in my class sitting nearby leaned over and I heard him ask them, "Hey, is this love? Remember, there is only love!" I couldn't help but smile to myself.
On another occasion, I was fighting a headache and my impatience and frustration with the lack of attention my students were exhibiting was about to get the better of me. One of my students burped really loudly and I snapped at him. My students went silent in shock. They never hear me raise my voice (I just don't believe in it unless there is an emergency, but not out of anger) and here I had gone and broken the one rule of our classroom. I suddenly realized all the implications of my error and in that split second it felt like time had frozen still with all 25 pairs of eyes glued to my face trying to read my expressions and predict what would come next....suddenly a smile burst across my face and a collective sigh of relief came from my students. I started to laugh then and they joined in with me. I apologized for snapping at the student and they all said "It's ok Miss Sutton." Then one of my students said matter-of-factly, "Yah, if it's not Love Miss Sutton, you need to let it go!" Oh, the beauty and wisdom of children! Oh, the power of Love!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Miracles
I have a dear friend who told me the other day that she has finally decided how to use the journal my co-worker and I had given her. I was moved that she had waited for over a month to pondering and listening to her inner voice, waiting to decide what to use the journal for. She said she is going to use it to record the miracles that happen daily in her life. Wow! That really struck me. I thought how huge is it that she pointed out to me that miracles happen to us daily! So often we don't even notice! A few weeks ago I was impressed that what I focus on in my thoughts really determines my level of happiness and peace. How inspiring to focus my attention daily on the miracles around me instead of any negative things going on. What do we focus on in our mind on a daily basis? Are we focussing on the many many miracles around us?
A few months ago, I happened upon a book entitled "Seven Miracles that Saved America" by Chris Stewart and Ted Stewart. Very rarely do I find a book that really grabs me and pulls me in like this book did. I love American history! I majored in History at BYU and was accepted into a graduate program in History, but changed my mind just before graduating and went back to finish my Elementary Ed. degree to become a teacher. This book takes an interesting angle towards our history. The theme that weaves throughout each chapter is how miracle after miracle have saved this country. Interestingly, some of these miracles happened against all odd and when all hope seemed to be lost. It is interesting to me how often Heavenly Father lets us struggle to the very verge of hopelessness and then allows things to fall into place, so to speak. As I read this book, I drew connections and parallels to my life. Many times I thought about my ancestors who lived through many of the events written about and wondered what they thought and felt at the time. I love this book because it testifies of miracles, and of what a special and chosen country we are living in. So often we forget. It is so important to learn our past...so we don't repeat mistakes, so we remember the sacrifices that have been made for us, so we understand that some of our freedoms and liberties took time and sacrifice to come to fruition, and so that we understand our connection to those who came before us. I hope they write more volumes to add to this book.
I started watching the History Channel's series "America: The Story of Us" tonight and it is a wonderful visualization of some of the events written in "Seven Miracles that Saved America". I can't wait to watch all of the segments!
Here's an interesting web page created on CNN's site. It shows photos of specific places in the past and present day side by side (and sometimes merged together). Very cool idea! http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/04/09/past.present.irpt/index.html
A few months ago, I happened upon a book entitled "Seven Miracles that Saved America" by Chris Stewart and Ted Stewart. Very rarely do I find a book that really grabs me and pulls me in like this book did. I love American history! I majored in History at BYU and was accepted into a graduate program in History, but changed my mind just before graduating and went back to finish my Elementary Ed. degree to become a teacher. This book takes an interesting angle towards our history. The theme that weaves throughout each chapter is how miracle after miracle have saved this country. Interestingly, some of these miracles happened against all odd and when all hope seemed to be lost. It is interesting to me how often Heavenly Father lets us struggle to the very verge of hopelessness and then allows things to fall into place, so to speak. As I read this book, I drew connections and parallels to my life. Many times I thought about my ancestors who lived through many of the events written about and wondered what they thought and felt at the time. I love this book because it testifies of miracles, and of what a special and chosen country we are living in. So often we forget. It is so important to learn our past...so we don't repeat mistakes, so we remember the sacrifices that have been made for us, so we understand that some of our freedoms and liberties took time and sacrifice to come to fruition, and so that we understand our connection to those who came before us. I hope they write more volumes to add to this book.
I started watching the History Channel's series "America: The Story of Us" tonight and it is a wonderful visualization of some of the events written in "Seven Miracles that Saved America". I can't wait to watch all of the segments!
Here's an interesting web page created on CNN's site. It shows photos of specific places in the past and present day side by side (and sometimes merged together). Very cool idea! http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/04/09/past.present.irpt/index.html
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
As A Man Thinketh...
This past weekend was Easter Sunday. A time of renewal and rebirth. I found myself in bed nursing a cold most of the weekend, with plenty of time to read, ponder, and pray. I spent hours searching my scriptures, not really knowing what it was I was looking for...writing in my journal.... I learned a lot this weekend. I learned how important it is to be still...to be quiet...to listen.
When I was still, and quiet and listening, the one message that came to me repeatedly was "As a man thinketh, so is he." I had always interpreted this to mean if you think evil you are evil, and if you didn't than you weren't evil. Call me simple-minded! This weekend I really pondered what these words must mean in application to my life...and I learned, that what I dwell on, or think in my mind, is what either makes me happy or sad.
I am one who can think and rehash an event over and over in my mind to gain some sort of understanding of the whys and how comes of it all. Doing this can really drain me....and even get me depressed at times. This weekend just so happened to be one of those times where something had happened in my life that I just couldn't wrap my brain around and I kept thinking about it from every angle possible to try to understand it. Then those words "As a man thinketh" came to my mind and I thought about what I was spending so much energy and time thinking about. I wasn't thinking about something that was uplifting, but rather, I had been dwelling on a pretty negative and sad encounter I had had with someone.
I guess I had one of those "AH HA!" moments when I realized it was time to focus my thoughts on good, peace, love, and all that embodies these things, and let go of all the negative thoughts that were poisoning my heart and weighing my spirit down.
As a man thinketh, so is he....
When I was still, and quiet and listening, the one message that came to me repeatedly was "As a man thinketh, so is he." I had always interpreted this to mean if you think evil you are evil, and if you didn't than you weren't evil. Call me simple-minded! This weekend I really pondered what these words must mean in application to my life...and I learned, that what I dwell on, or think in my mind, is what either makes me happy or sad.
I am one who can think and rehash an event over and over in my mind to gain some sort of understanding of the whys and how comes of it all. Doing this can really drain me....and even get me depressed at times. This weekend just so happened to be one of those times where something had happened in my life that I just couldn't wrap my brain around and I kept thinking about it from every angle possible to try to understand it. Then those words "As a man thinketh" came to my mind and I thought about what I was spending so much energy and time thinking about. I wasn't thinking about something that was uplifting, but rather, I had been dwelling on a pretty negative and sad encounter I had had with someone.
I guess I had one of those "AH HA!" moments when I realized it was time to focus my thoughts on good, peace, love, and all that embodies these things, and let go of all the negative thoughts that were poisoning my heart and weighing my spirit down.
As a man thinketh, so is he....
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