A "4-H" kind of Mama...

Today is a trial day for my "new" way of life.  My daughter went back to school yesterday (Sniff, sniff), and we got word last night that my son was accepted into the kindergarten of our choice at my daughter's school (double sniff!!  I mean, yay?   My emotions are so mixed!!!).  Today there is no school, so they are at an amusement park with their grandparents to usher in the new school year, so I am solo for my first day.  Everyone seems so worried that I won't have enough things to fill my day while the kiddos are gone, but I am looking around my house thinking, "Seriously??  They think I'll get bored?!"   I am hopeful that perhaps I can finally get a handle on this thing called housekeeping, as it is NOT one of my talents! :)   I am also looking forward to the chance to serve my local congregation in ways I have been unable to before.   And, there is always the "room mom" thing. :)

All that being said, I am awfully tired this morning, and I can see how tempting it could be to allow laziness to take over during my "free" time.   As a result, I have created my "4-H" daily goals.   I am laminating this sheet so that it can be dry erase, and I am going to TRY to make a daily habit of choosing one goal in each category to help shape my day and keep me from wasting precious time.  I want to be a good steward of the time and talents God has blessed me with, so I am hopeful this will help!  If you have suggestions for ways to improve it, I am all ears!  Also, if you think it would be helpful for your life, feel free to use it/edit it/whatever!

My 4 "H's" are:

Heavenly goal:   What am I going to do today to improve my and my family's efforts to get to heaven?  It could be as simple as carving out an extra 30 minutes of prayer time, developing a lesson for my kids or my class, listening to a sermon podcast from a faithful Christian, etc. 

Health goal:  What am I going to do today to better my or my family's health?  Try a new healthy recipe?   Take a nap because I was up all night with a sick kiddo?  Take an extra long walk?   Make sure we all get in our water for the day?   Plan family fitness activity after school?  Walk to pick the kids up instead of driving?

Household goal:  What will I do to improve our home today?  Laundry?  Iron?  Mop?  Sweep?   Grocery shop?  The possibilities are endless...


Happiness goal:   What will I do today to improve someone's happiness?   Will I send a card?  Will I surprise my kids with a lunch visit?  Will I plan a family game night?  Will I take some "me" time to refresh my energies?  Will I plan a date night for my husband?  Will I visit a shut-in?  Deliver a meal?   Bake fresh bread for a neighbor?  Babysit for a tired mama? 

Here is my template for my goals...

Daily Goals

Kindergarten Bible Class "Syllabus"

(Mostly) Chronological list for kindergarten Bible class

Introductory Unit – The B-I-B-L-E (& Basic Facts)

1.      God Made Me Special

2.      What is the Bible? (Josiah)

3.      Respect the Bible (Ezra)

4.      The Bible is the Best Book! (Basic Bible Facts)

Genesis

5.      Creation/Adam and Eve

6.      Noah and the Flood

7.      Babel

8.      Job

9.      Abraham and Sarah receive the Promise

10.  Isaac & Rebekah/Jacob and Esau

11.  Jacob’s Dream and the Promise

12.  Joseph

Exodus

13.  Baby Moses & Miriam/Burning Bush

14.  Plagues and Passover

15.  Red Sea, Quail, and 10 Commandments

                16.  Balaam

Joshua

17.  Joshua & Caleb are faithful spies

18.  Joshua and Jericho (and Ai)

Judges

19.  Deborah (introduce “cycle” of judges)

20.  Gideon

21.  Samson

22. Ruth               . 

I Samuel/II Samuel

23    Samuel & Hannah and “Speak, Lord”  Even a Child

24. Saul – We Want a King!

25.  David – served God even as a child!

26.  Ark of the Covenant/Dagon

27.  Solomon wisdom, temple

Kings and Prophets

28.  Split kingdom/made God sad!  What is a Prophet?

29.  Prophets – Elijah and Mt. Carmel/ravens

30.  Prophets – Elijah and the chariot

31.  Prophets – Elisha and Naaman

32.  Prophets – Elisha and widow’s oil (Even a Child)

33.  Hezekiah

34.  “Boy Kings” (Josiah, Joash, Manasseh – Even a Child)

35.  Jehoshaphat

36.  Bad Kings

37.  Major Prophets - basics

38.  Minor Prophets – basics

39.  Daniel and his friends refuse king’s food

40.  Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego

41.  Nebuchadnezzar eats grass!

42.  Esther

Prayer

43.  Prayer – What is it? - Nehemiah

44.  Prayer – Daniel – pray even when against the rules!

45.  Prayer – Jonah – pray anywhere and everywhere

46.  Prayer – make flip books

Armor of God

47.  Armor of God – name the parts/talk about soldiers

48.  Armor of God – make pieces of armor

49.  Armor of God – finish armor and booklets

Allow 3 weeks for review, make up, snow days, etc.

50.  Review

51.  Review

52.  Review

Promotion

We promoted our Bible school classes last Sunday, so I have a new group of kindergarteners with whom to share God's word!   I am always excited for a new group to come to our class.  I feel like we get a "fresh start" each and every year.  This year I have EIGHT sweet kiddos in my tiny, tiny room.   If Sunday is any indication, this is going to be a wonderful class!   I also have my own little boy, which could be an adventure.  :) 

My goal for this year is to get all of my lessons posted on here.   I am going to do my very best!   I have changed the order of the lessons to make them (mostly) chronological in the Old Testament, along with a few additional units thrown in.  Our elders have a specific curriculum of "must be covered" topics, but because the kindergarten class is a relatively new one, we share curriculum with the classes before and after, so most of the topics are somewhat up to us.  

The first two lessons are already blogged on here.  

Lesson one:   God Made Me Special

Lesson two:  Josiah/What is the Bible?