A great Valentine's Day, Amen

On Friday, I gave my students a choice of several Valentine's Day prompts to write about. I'll share with you some excerpts. I promise this is verbatim (with just a few spelling and grammar corrections).

Make a list of ways you can show love for your family members. 

Saying thank you for the meal to your mom, put away your laundry without being asked, wash the table with a table cloth, draw a picture for them that says Happy Valentine’s Day! 

Make a list of people who love you and tell how you know they love you. 

I can tell when they kiss, hug me, tell me that they love me because they care and that they do what is best for me so that is the only, only, only family I will have. 

Describe the best Valentine's Day you've ever had. 

This Valentine’s Day is the best… Things couldn’t be better. And besides, I’m eight now, what could happen?

Tell what this verse means in your own words: "Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." -1 Corinthians 13:7

God never fails on us. And his love never leaves us. And he will never leave our side. 

It means love lasts forever and ever. Love from God helps us to know him better. On Valentine’s Day we celebrate love and how powerful it is. So if you love God you will have a great Valentine’s Day, Amen.

And I'm not quite sure which prompt this little guy was answering.

I can be thankful for my food that I have because my mom makes pretty good food! The only thing I don’t like about my mom’s food is that she doesn’t make the stuff I want but what you usually eat, cheese hot dogs. And they are really, really good because they are from John F. Martin. Last night she made tacos which I don’t like. But the one night she made pretty good chicken with beans, noodles, and baked beans and it was pretty good. And then she had really good ham steak with all kinds of stuff. The end. 

And of course I have to share a few pictures of our adorable, overflowing creatures.

Problem solving

After our short snow week, this past week we were able to get back into our normal routine. However, the boy who predicted three feet of snow has since been praying for more snow.

I have concluded that at least 25% of a teacher's job is problem solving.

I can't find my February calendar.
My magnet isn't on the board.
I can't find my packet.
I can't get my clementine peeled.
How long should I put this in the microwave?
I don't have a spoon in my lunch.
I accidentally put glue on the pattern.
I lost my sticker chart.
I don't know where my coat is.  

I would love to say that I always respond patiently and helpfully. However, there are times when a sigh escapes my mouth, and times when I walk away without immediately answering, and times when I stare blankly, thinking, "What would you like me to do about that?"

I only have one sandwich in my lunch.

One day this week, one of the girls asked me if she could tell the class something. I agreed, and she proceeded to ask the class how many of them would like to take a ride in an airplane with her dad. I told her that she better talk to her dad about that before she starts making plans. The next day, she says to the class, "My dad says he can't take you for a ride in the airplane. He sends his apologies."

The class was doing a good job yesterday, so I said, "I'll give you some marbles" (in the marble jar).

Student: Seven!
Me: No, I said some.
Student: My sister says some means seven.