Friday 22 February 2013

Going to have a HOOT of a year...


Before I begin to put any photos up and tell you about my amazing classroom I have to give a huge shout out to schoolgirlstyle. They are amazing in all things design and I adapted a lot of their ideas in order to suit my room.


Okay so this year I have decided to have a HOOT and go all things owl in my classroom.  I absolutely love how my room is turning out and although we are already 4 weeks into the year, I don’t want to say I’m finished. … just still on my way.  So head over to my tab “Classroom décor” and check out my pics!

My February RAK

I actually did my February RAK a couple of weeks ago but am only getting around to blogging about it now.  Some of you may know that I am a Prep teacher.  I absolutely love teaching my little kids but the start of a year can be an extremely tough time as the little Preppies have to settle into a new routine.  For some of them this is harder than others, and it is also the time that I do the most talking of the whole year!

This year I have a beautiful new Teacher Aide in my classroom. Well she is not new to teacher aiding, just new to Prep and new to my classroom.  She has been doing an amazing job and I wanted to let her know this in a fun way. So one morning I left a little surprise on the classroom kitchen bench with her name on it.  It was a packet of lifesavers and I had attached a little note with a ribbon saying 'Thanks Kristy for being my lifesaver these first couple of weeks'.  Of course I forgot to take a photo of the finished product but you can imagine what it looked like. Just as I wanted her reaction was priceless!!

Monday 11 February 2013

Reflections


flickriver.com

Have you ever been been staring at something to realise that you have completely missed the beautiful picture that was hidden within?  The other week I was sitting out the side of my house having a break from moving pavers and I was just staring at this puddle of water on the table next to me. This staring went on for several minutes before I realised that I was missing the beautiful reflection this puddle of water held.  It was a reflection of my palm trees overhead surrounded by a beautiful blue sky with tiny, tiny ripples going across the water.  This amazing reflection was there the whole time and I very nearly missed it because I was focusing on the surface level - the water - the immediate problem (a puddle of water on my table).

How many times do we look at our own lives and the circumstances in our lives and only focus on the surface level and totally miss the amazing picture/reflection God has placed in the middle for us??  I know I have certainly missed some beautiful reflections and quite often its hard to look past the problem we are facing. But still it makes me want to try to stop more, stress less and look more closely for the beautiful reflection of God that I know would be there.


Saturday 9 February 2013

The dream... and a blown-up sewing machine!

My dream is to have my own business - a decorating/design one.... and I even have my business name chosen. But the hard part is working out how to get my things out there. So I have decided to start with what I have already - my classroom resources I have designed.  Not exactly what I was wanting to do but at least its a start and you have to start somewhere right?  Considering my sewing machine has decided to, well not exactly blow up, but it may as well had. And to top it off its not even mine to kill - its my husband's grandma's. So considering I can't sew and begin my dream, this will have to do for now to satisfy that designing crave within me.

Anyway check out my stuff in my classroom decor page.  There are links on that page where you can download my resources.

Friday 25 January 2013

heartaches and blessings...

I never expect blessings. Don't get me wrong, I know blessings will come my way - I just don't expect them.  If you expect to be blessed and have that expectation is it really a "blessing" when it comes along? Or does it then just become an expectation that you think you have the right to have?  I think I'd rather the feeling of being "blessed" and the heart whelming feeling that follows; that unexpected joy of knowing that God is thinking of you and in turn someone thought of you at exactly the right moment (with God's guidance obviously).

So where am I going with this? Today I was blessed. Unexpectedly but at the perfect moment. After a heartbreaking morning, I walked into my classroom to continue to set up for the start of school, when I came upon a beautiful canvas on my desk with a simple note that said "RAK. To Amanda."  I couldn't believe!  The thing God placed on my heart to do has been returned to me.  Someone was prompted to bless me and I am so thankful they listened and followed through with it. It's a beautiful thing to know that before my day had even started God knew I would need some cheering up and organised it all beforehand. This just reminds me that no matter where I am or what I am going through God is constantly before me and also with me ready to walk me through it.

I still don't know who it was from (though I have my suspicions) but it was a brief joyful moment in the midst of a heartbreaking day that I am truly thankful for.  

Monday 21 January 2013

My January RAK

This year I have decided to commit myself to do monthly Random Acts of Kindness (RAK). Genuine kindness seems to be lacking in the modern day culture and it really makes me sad. I haven't made a list as such on who I want to bless but rather I will wait and see how God directs me and who He prompts me to bless.

Last week saw my first RAK created and delivered. A beautiful family that I know has struggled this past year with their little baby boy having several health concerns that saw them travelling to Brisbane alot! They are an amazing Christian couple who has battled through the past year with no complaints, no grumbles and never wavering in their faith.  They have inspired more than they probably realise.  I really wanted to bless them so decided that they would be my first RAK recipients.

Thursday 17 January 2013

The adventure begins...

I've decided to start a blog and this is my first posting!  Wow! A friend of mine suggested I should as I love to decorate and design and what better way is there is learn from others and display my own creations.... at least that is what she convinced me of. So here I am - in a big, scary, unknown world called Blogspot embarking on a brand new adventure.  Let the fun begin!!

So a little about me then - I am a prep teacher by trade (love my kids!) but a decorator at heart. I have the most fabulous husband - but then again I must think that as I followed him to this side of the outback! Family is everything to me and I miss them dearly, going from seeing them weekly to now mostly on holidays and occasionally in between if I'm lucky. And at the centre of my heart is God. So there it  is - a slight and small insight into my life.... and I'm sure there will be more to share as I go along.

Looking forward to meeting all of you out there in the Blogging world as I share some of my love for designing and decorating with you!
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