What kids are saying

Here's a funny convo of stuff said in the Kindergarten room yesterday.

Aubrey (Devine): My last name is Devine.

Me: Do you know what divine means?

Kids: Noooooo

Me: It means "wonderful". As in, THIS CHOCOLATE CAKE IS SIMPLY DIVINE!

Another girl: I want chocolate.

Lisa (the teacher, Noah's mom): Get used to it honey, you're a woman. You'll want chocolate your whole life.

Other girls: mmmmm I love chocolate. I want chocolate too!

Noah: I don't get what the big deal is. I like chocolate, but not as much as all of you.

* Laughter*

I just thought it was so cute!

I was also TOTALLY surprised when Noah first came up and started talking to me when I first entered the classroom-he's never really opened up to me before or wanted to talk at all!

Showing up is huge! Laughter, fun, learning life together! You have to be there to have a relationship!

Psalm 23

Who would have thought that when we choose Psalm 23 as the scripture for January that it would touch so many individuals’ hearts. A mom asked her 2 grade son, what was his favorite part of Psalm 23. The kid said where it says, “even if you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” When the mom asked her son why that verse was important to him, he replied, “because when I’m afraid, I know that God will be with me.

Another family just began coming back to church after the death of their mother/grandmother. Psalm 23 was her favorite verses. Another young girl just lost her uncle, and another family just lost their dad/grandpa.

Even though I don't like to have Psalm 23 associated with death and funerals it has a way of speaking to those who are hurting. It provides hope! and that is a good thing.

Beyond 1000 is Westwinds’
ongoing mission initiative
that gives
wwKids Journey
$1000 per quarter to creatively invest in our community
- beyond the walls of
1000 Robinson Rd.

Whenever we do this type of outreach-Beyond 1000, the wwKids volunteers work real hard to help the kids understand why we do these things and that they can shadow God and help heal the world.
Matthew 25:37-40 (The Message) “Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’
We give to others because hurting people matter to Jesus. He cares that little kids are hurting and when we help others we make our love real to Jesus. We want the kids to participate in giving to others.

Beyond 1000 - First quarter initiative

1Q wwKids’ Beyond 1000 Initiative - video systems and games for the kids at the Aware Shelter.

WHAT: We need gently used video games and systems to donate to the families at the Aware Shelter. We are looking for Game Boys DSs, Playstation 2’s, Playstation 3’s; XBox; Wii, V-smiles, etc.
WHEN: We will collect these items through February 28. Depending upon the types of donations received, we will purchase additional items.

Several things to share with your kids:
1) Describe the Aware shelter’s purpose. The Aware shelter, located on W. Michigan Ave., provides a safe place for moms and kids to temporarily live. Some times because of violence and abuse, moms have to leave the place they are living it so they can be safe. Most of the time they have to leave very fast and leave a lot of their personal things behind. NOTE: As a parent you know best what kind of information your kids can handle. Share what is appropriate and what you are comfortable with.

2) Ask your kids if there is anything they can do to help these moms and kids who have left everything behind. See what the kids come up with. This can be an amazing time as kids share from their heart. This type of discussion can happen in the car or around the dinner table.

3) Remind your kids about how blessed they are to have all their needs met as well many of their desires (page 56, Heart of Gold*, gratitude and appreciation)

4) Invite your kids to sort through their things (page 58, Heart of Gold, combat hoarding) so they can bless someone else who would enjoy these items. While you can do this with any of their toys, for Beyond 1000, we are suggesting you do with exercise with their electronic toys. Perhaps they have a couple of games that are very similar and would be willing to give one away. Perhaps they have received a new game that they didn’t care for or perhaps the game is no longer age appropriate. Ask your kids if they would be willing to give to another boy or girl. NOTE: Your older kids may be aware that they could trade in their old games at Game Stop or sell them on Ebay. This is another time to help your kids be aware that they “lack for nothing” and perhaps they could give to someone who has nothing.

5) Enlist your kids help to package up the items they will give away. Make sure all the wires and accessories are included. As you work together, perhaps you can pray for the kids that will receive the game.

6) Bring the donation items to church and drop them off at the main wwKids checkin table by February 28. OR as a family take your donation directly to the Aware shelter and then share that experience and story with us at wwKids. We are always looking for stories that will encourage others in our community.

Thank you for participating in this Beyond 1000 initiative. If you have questions contact me at lori.tate@westwinds.org.

Heart of Gold: The Joy of Living Generously, by Dr. David McDonald. Available at Sound Words and also through amazon.com.

Connection Studio - Abram & Sarah

During our story presentation we asked the question to whether God would stay with them or not, some of the kids spontaneously responded yes or no. This was encouraging.

For response time, several kids worked with the new story of Abram & Sarah. They used the wood figures and move them through the "desert" re-telling the story. It was interesting to observe them.

Connection Studio

. . . one of our teachers shared. My 3-year-old daughter has been in the Connection Studio each week. She has never been great with taking care of things. However just the other night in the bathub I caught her folding her wash cloth and saying "this edge can go to this edge and this edge to this edge. . ." (This is how material is put away in the Connection Studio) I've also noticed that my daughter's artwork is changing. Before her art was not recognizable, but lately I've seen her drawing images that represent the stories she has heard in the Connection Studio.

What we are doing is sticking with our kids. I see it everyday with my daughter. Thank you, all of you for working so hard to bring God and Jesus into our kids' lives. You are awesome!

. . . another teacher said, "my 3-year-old daughter did a painting (at home) and then said, 'now we need to think about God and look at it.' She wants to bring the painting to church and 'think about it'!

Ganton Center

When I asked my elderly parents to watch the kids one day, I was hesistant to tell my 9-year-old the news. How many little kids like to hang out with old people, not a cool 40 or 50-year-old grandma but an old 80+ grandpa? Much to my surprise and joy, when I told Jeff he was going to spend the night at my mom and dad's, he immediately asked, "Can I tell Allie (his little sister) the good news?"

Going to the Ganton Care Center has made a difference in my kids' lives. Old people are individuals with whom they can have relationships. Grandma Ruth, Grandpa Vern and Mike, all of these people enjoy and look forward to seeing the kids. This is one small but impactful way kids can make a difference.

Allie posing with Grandma Doris, the winner of the Pretty Pretty Princess game.

The second Tuesday of each month wwKids visit the grandmas and grandpas at the Ganton Care Center. We play games, sometimes they play with us and sometimes they just enjoy watching the kids. Unfortunately our visit was canceled today due to illness at the center. We'll try again next month!