I just made some note cards to help me memorize the first 8 verses of Proverbs 3 - I thought I would share. I don't know about you - but I need it in my soul today:)

Yesterday my sweet husband took me on a date to the HIGH museum of art in Atlanta! So sweet and fun! It also marked the one year anniversary of when we started dating last year - and one of our first dates was to the HIGH - can you tell which picture is from this year or last?!

There were a few "give-aways" - like the current exhibition with Andy Warhol prints in the one from this year, and if you can read the dates on the stickers! Anyways - it was awesome! The current exhibit is titled, "From Picasso to Warhol" - basically - a road to abstraction. It included 14 artists including:

Giorgio de Chirico (which Ben was particularly interested in!)

Jackson Pollock (I am always especially drawn to the energy of his extreme process - driven pieces - Ben thought they were pretty ridiculous!)

Warhol, of course:)

Alexander Calder (I am teaching first grade about them right now!):

Constantin Brancusi:

Henry Matisse!!!!! SOOO COOL!!!

Of course, Picasso:

Ben got a little frustrated with the taking of the pictures!

I thought it was so cool they let you - I don't think I have ever been to a museum where you were not only allowed to take pictures - but encouraged to do so! They had an "app" you could download to your phone - and then when you took pictures of the art, your phone would tell you about the piece! Crazy! Pretty amazing what technology can do today!

There were also works from: Mondrian, Duchamp (this was THE most interesting to try to explain to Ben- ha!), Miro, Leger, Bourgeois, Jasper Johns, and Romare Bearden! For more info: http://www.high.org/

It was pretty awesome to see all these works together. Our one big criticism was that there wasn't a clear path through the exhibit - we doubled back several times to find certain things we wanted to see and then once we were out - realized we had missed the whole Calder room! Altogether - we would both highly recommend going to see the exhibit - just make sure to check off all the artists you are suppose to see before leaving!

When Christ is our focus - and He is filling our hearts - peace, love and joy erupt from within. The love and grace Christ has given us was given to be shared.



"Present grace COMPELS joy. Future Grace, our hope in heaven, ALLOWS for present joy." - Gary Spooner


"Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him." Psalm 98:1

Ahhhhhh! (The Scream)

Second grade is learning about Edvard Munch's "The Scream" this week! We are discussing things that make us scream...So I took the opportunity to show them something that makes me scream!!!!!!!! Ha!

It's a messy art room:) We are also discussing diagonal lines and how they create "drama" and lead the viewer to the subject of the painting!

FYI - got some more wedding pics! If you are interested:

http://tothegathering.blogspot.com/

http://www.stephendevrieschronicles.com/

In need of a Savior!

I am studying Esther and Ruth right now - and learning TONS about being a girl! Go figure - I am 28 yeras old - and just now learning to be comfortable in my feminine skin! I am trying to unpack exactly why – and mostly I think it’s just our culture. Our culture tells us to be tough and independent and that I don’t “need” any help; I can do it all myself.

I am learning, now – that God didn’t create us to be independent – or to do life by ourselves. He created us to be in relationship with Him – to ask for and rely on help from Him. The whole point of life is to learn to life in relationship with Christ – our PERSONAL savior – who knows us completely and loves us unconditionally.

And, all of our Earthly relationships reveal something about the way we are called to relate to Christ – and I think marriage is an especially awesome blessing in this respect! I am already learning from my marriage relationship about the deep LOVE that God has for each of us. I am also learning that relationships REFINE us! Each person in your life is there to “chip” something away – or “sheer” off some of the “wool” that is keeping us from a full relationship with Christ.

God is showing me that admitting my need (for anything and everything!) is the first step to having an authentic conversation with Christ. So – I need help – but my help comes from above – so that I can in turn help and love the precious people in my life. Thank you Jesus, for showing me how much I need you!

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." – Hebrews 4: 15-16

So...

I've been a little MIA because I have been planning a wedding - but I hope to get back to blogging soon:) Here are a few pictures friends and family have sent from the day:

The day was pretty perfect - God is so good and so faithful. Ben and I are blessed - the whole experience was overwhelming - I am still marinating in the bliss! Thank you, Jesus for precious friends and family and for the A-mazing sunset on October 1, 2011!

- Mrs. Benjamin Dwight Duncan

Evan:)

Sweet Evan, I will miss you.

Please keep the Thomason family in your prayers.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/evanthomason

Whoa! I needed this today:)

As I rolled into school, with a flat tire and a million "things to do" - I was blessed by this:

"So do not loose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Thank you, Jesus:)

Very inspiring story!

http://vp.mgnetwork.net/viewer.swf?u=40a18a7ca647102ea6fd001ec92a4a0d&z=VTM&embed_player=1"

God of THIS city

My first graders are drawing the most amazing cityscapes - and I can't help but sing Chris Tomlin's song "God of this City" as I teach and encourage my kids to create - so I wanted to share some of their creations - with the words to the song (look for the crosses!)

You're the God of THIS City

You're the King of THESE people

You're the Lord of THIS nation

You are

You're the Light in THIS darkness

You're the Hope to the hopeless

You're the Peace to the restless

You are

There is no one like our God

There is no one like our God

For greater things have yet to come

And greater things are still to be done in THIS City

Greater thing have yet to come

And greater things are still to be done in THIS City

 

There is no one like our God

There is no one like our God

 

For greater things have yet to come

And greater things are still to be done in THIS City

Greater things have yet to come

And greater things are still to be done HERE

There is no one like our god

There is no one like our God

 

Greater things have yet to come

And greater things are still to be done in THIS City

Greater things have yet to come

And greater things are still to be done HERE

Balance in the Abstract

Third grade is learning about Wassily Kandinsky.  He is pretty fun to teach about - because he painted music! So - we get to listen to lots of different styles of music and try to draw the sounds and rhythms we hear.  Here is an awesome video I found that really shows how the different lines and shapes in a Kandinsky painting sound:

THE KANDINSKY EFFECT from Manu Meyre on Vimeo.

Pretty cool.

Teaching the kids about balancing their abstract composition is teaching me about how God balances ALL THINGS in this world together perfectly.  Even though all the pieces don't always seem to make sense to us - God is putting it all together in beautifully balanced abstract composition:)

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

Back to School!

...and hopefully back to blogging! Maybe with a set schedule - I will be able to make the time! This is my new bulletin board - with our school's theme - "Saddling up for Success!" If you can't tell - it's a horse created with all different art mediums - it turned out pretty cool!

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. - Isaiah 53:6

I just started reading a small book by a lady in Birmingham, Alabama titled, "All we like sheep."  Throughout the Bible we are compared to sheep and Christ as our shepherd.  In the book, she goes into a deep explanation of how we are like sheep - something that is hard for me to grasp because in order to admit I am like one - I also have to admit that this list of characteristics of sheep describes me as well:

1. timid, fearful, easily panicked 2. dumb stupid, gullible 3. very vulnerable to fear, frustration, pests, hunger 4. easily influenced by a leader, by the shepherd 5. stampede easily, vulnerable to mob psychology 6. little or no means of self-defense; can only run 7. easily killed by enemies 8. the shepherd is most effective, calming influence 9. jealous, competitive for dominance 10. constantly need fresh water, fresh pasture 11. have very little discernment in choosing food or water 12. best water source is early morning dew 13. perverse, stubborn - will insist on their own way , even eating poisonous plants or drinking dirty water 14. easily "cast" - flipped over on their back, unable to right themselves will die of starvation if not turned over by shepherd; helpless 15. frequently look for easy places to rest 16. don't like to be sheared, cleaned 17. too much wool can cause sheep to be easily "cast" 18. creatures of habit; get into "ruts" 19. need the most care of all livestock 20. need to be "on the move"; need a pre-determined plan, pattern of grazing 21. totally dependent of shepherd for every need 22. need "rod and staff" guidance

I like to think of myself as fairly intelligent and able to find my own way.  But - according to the Bible - and when I am really honest with myself - we are all just like sheep.  Realizing my "sheepness" reminds me of one of my favorite hymns, Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing: we are truly "Prone to wander...Prone to leave the God (we) love." But Praise God for His son, our good shepherd who "sought me when a stranger, Wandering from the fold of God; He, to rescue me from danger, Interposed His precious blood!"


Admitting my "sheepness" brought be to a deeper understanding of a truth I learned a while ago - that I need to "Let HIM be Lord." So often - I think I have things under control, and tend to be "lord" of my own life - but I don't and can't.  I am learning to Praise God that I am a wondering sheep - that I need to rest and look for His guidance - because He is my shepherd! 


So today let's give up!!!  Let's admit we are sheep, in desperate need of a shepherd every minute of every day - and allow Christ to guide us:)

Prayer for today...