Busy, Busy, Busy

The holiday season is now here in full swing. Christmas lights are hanging on the street corners as the colors of red and green fill the air (aka the store windows). During this season there are many opportunities to teach your children about loving others. Yesterday at church the preschoolers learned about how Issac showed kindness to people, Genesis 26:12-33. Isaac obeyed God and received many blessings and even though the Philistines were trying to hurt him, he continued to show kindness.

During the next several weeks many charitable organizations will have opportunities for people to give to others in the spirit of Christmas. This is a great opportunity for you to show your preschooler how to share and be kind to others.

Some Tips:
Choose a child close to the same age as your child/children. This will help them identify with the person they are helping.
Have your child help pick out the toys, clothes, food, etc. they will be sharing.
Try to find a way for your child to feel a sacrifice of giving during this time. For instance, instead of going to McDonalds make a sack lunch and use that money to buy presents for another child.

As the business of the season consumes our daily lives sit down with your spouse and make a plan for teaching your preschoolers about Christmas. What special things will you do as a family this year? Do you have a child-friendly nativity? Do you have a Bible story book or other books to read your preschooler about the true meaning of Christmas? Will you family do advent devotions together? It is important to make a plan, because the other "stuff" can quickly become the unintended focus of Christmas.

I pray this holiday season will be a time when you grow closer as a family as your family grows closer to God.

Giving Thanks

This weekend was our 3rd Preschool Family Campout at Huntsville State Park. A cold front blew through the area and there were 8 very cold preschool families. I am one of those few people who prefers hot weather over cold weather. I was miserable. Last night I laid in my bed, and although I was thankful to be inside, I was still complaining in my head about how cold I was. As I laid there I felt a conviction about being thankful for what I have. Even though I was cold in the outdoors, I had a nice car with heat to drive home in, a nice home with heat and plenty of warm clothes and hot meals. How quickly we become selfish when things are not going our way.

As Thanksgiving approaches we should take this opportunity to teach our children about being thankful and the blessings we have. The holiday season is also a good time to teach them about giving to other children and families who don't have the luxuries we have.

UBC is participating in a Habitat for Humanity project. It teaches children to be thankful for their homes and has a nice built in plan that includes praying to give thanks for your home, for the people who don't have homes, and ways to give money to Habitat. The Connection Cafe at UBC has more information or you can contact Kristin at kristin.wood@ubc.org.

Operation Christmas Child and Lighthouse of Hope are two ways your family can learn about giving to others. Include your preschooler in the buying. Find a way to have them feel the sacrifice of what you are giving. Instead of going to McDonalds or Chick-Fil-A one day pack a picnic lunch and spend the money on gifts for other children. Explain to your preschooler about how we are giving up something extra in our lives to help others.

Yesterday at church the preschoolers learned about David Thanking God, 1 Chronicles 15:1-4, 11-12, 14-28; 16:1-43. Look for some specific things your family can thank God for this week. Is there something your family has been praying for that has finally happened? Do you get to visit some far away family members for the holidays?

Friendship

Finding friends can be easy for some people and very difficult for others. Some people have lots of friends and some feel more comfortable with just a few close friends. Today our preschoolers learned about two men, David and Jonathon, who were very close friends despite the obstacles in their way (1 Samuel 14:49; 18:1-4; 20:4, 17). David and Jonathon loved one another and they were committed to building a great friendship.

This week as I studied the story of David and Jonathon there were several things I thought about.
1. During this Thanksgiving season what are some ways I can show my friends I am thankful for them? (write them a card, have coffee together, etc.)
If your preschooler has a close friend this would be a great time to teach them about being thankful for friends. Talk to your preschooler about their friends. What do they like about them? What do they like to do with their friends? Make a card or plan a playdate during this season to say thank you for being a great friend.

2. As a parent do you foster friendships your children make or do you stand in the way. Saul caused strife between David and Jonathon. As your children begin to develop their own personalities and characteristics it is important to allow them to choose their friends. Yes boundaries have to be set and monitored, but as preschoolers allow them play with different people as they learn how to cooperative, share and work together. Setting playmates with your friends is fun, but make sure your children have opporutnities to develop friendships as well.

Family Matters

The holidays are fast approaching and the craziness of baking, shopping, wrapping and decorating will consume our lives. I have always looked forward to holidays and the traditions I get to experience with my family. As we have grown up and life has moved on our family traditions have changed. Family members have passed on and new people have joined our family through marriages and new babies. When my family gathers for the holiday I have a choice to make to be happy with the time I have with my family or sulk because everyone will not be there when we decorate the Christmas tree.
Yesterday the preschoolers learned about Joseph's love for his family (Genesis 45:1-11,16-28; 46:26-34; 47:1-11). If anyone has ever had a "right" to choose not to love his family it was Joseph. He didn't get caught up in the wrong his brothers did to him, but looked at the ways he could serve and love his family. He rejoiced in their reunion.
I pray that as the holidays approach that my attitude is love. I pray that my focus be on ways I can serve those around me and rejoice in the time we have together.

As Thanksgiving approaches we will have many opportunities to teach our preschoolers about loving the people around us.
Make serveral cards or turkeys with your preschoolers.
Have them pick important people in their life to give them to for Thanksgiving.
Ask them why they love them and write it for them on the card or turkey.
This is a way they can think about reasons they love their family members and why they are thankful for them. It will also give your loved ones a chance to see how important they are in the life of your child.

Some Thanksgiving Craft Ideas:
http://www.perpetualpreschool.com/holiday_themes/thanksgiving_art.html
http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/preschool-fall.htm
http://www.makingfriends.com/fallcrafts/turkey.htm

The B-I-B-L-E

Yesterday our preschoolers learned about Paul and Silas teaching the Scriptures to all people (Acts 17:1-4, 10-12). Paul and Silas were teaching that Jesus loved all people, not just Jews. Paul traveled from city to city telling people about Jesus. We can learn from Paul's perseverance in teaching the truth of Scriptures to all people. It is important that we teach our children about the truth of Scriptures.

Teaching Idea:

• Talk with your children about Paul's Missionary Journeys and how he went from city to city telling people about Jesus.
• Have you been on any trips? Other cities, states, countries?
• Talk about some places you will visit during the week (grocery store, park, school).
• Make a simple map with your child using stickers or drawing pictures (orange for the grocery store or grass for the park).
• Talk about some ways you can show Jesus' love to people at these places throughout the week. (Help an elderly lady at the Grocery Store, Share with your friends at school, etc.)

God's Word

This week your preschoolers learned about King Josiah. People had stopped going to church and the temple had become worn down. King Josiah had the temple cleaned up and repaired. While they were cleaning people found Bible scrolls hidden. King Josiah and the people were excited to read God's word and learn about what God wanted them to do. (2 Kings 22:1-2)

As I sit here at my desk I can count 3 different Bibles within arms length of me, but it becomes very easy for them to get lost under piles of paper and to do lists. Do you ever feel like the Bible gets lost in your home? Do you run around on Sunday mornings looking for the place you dropped it off the week before?

At only 8 years old King Josiah found a love for God's Word and wanted to share the excitement with the people around him. I encourage you to "find the Bible" this week. Have some family devotion time. This time doesn't have to be 30 minutes of teaching, but can be reading a simple story from a Bible Storybook and praying together.

This Saturday, October 18, UBC Family Ministries will be hosting a FamilyLife weekend with Dr. Mike Mynatt. We will meet for breakfast in the Fellowship Hall and the conference will be held on the 3rd floor from 9:00am-12:00pm. The cost will be $10/family with breakfast and childcare included. This weekend will be about revoluntionizing our homes to be a place of spiritual influence in the lives of our children.

Trusting God

So many individuals and families from UBC have stepped up to help in the recovery process as we deal with the effects of Hurricane Ike. Many people are in situations out of the ordinary for them as they search for ice, water and electricity. Although we will return to a life of normalcy, schools will re-open, grocery stores will have milk and bread, and traffic lights will function again, the memory of the storm will not soon go away.



Yesterday our preschoolers learned about how Jesus Fed the People, John 6:1-13. As I listened in the hallways yesterday and visited with the preshcoolers they had stories to tell about the evacuation and Hurricane Ike. They see remnants of the storm at their playgrounds in their yards and covering the streets of Clear Lake. The people listening to Jesus on the mountainside that day were hungry, but they trusted that Jesus could care for their needs. I pray that during this time we trust God to care for our needs and be ready to help care for the needs of others.



Although our children are probably not going without food or water, there are still many children without electricity standing in line for hours in search of nourishment. Families lost their homes, their clothes, their toys and their lives. This is a time we can teach our preschoolers about serving. We are going to postpone our scheduled Preschool Family Mission Project and work with hurricane relief.

Preschool Families Hurricane Relief Project

Wednesday, September 24

6:30-7:30

UBC - LC 226-227

We will be packaging Pinto Beans and Rice for Interfaith Caring Ministries.

Parents please plan to stay with your preschoolers and participate as a family.

*They are also accepting used toys, personal hygiene items and other household items.

Interfaith Caring Ministries Hurricane Relief Center

231 W. Main

League City, Texas

Check out this link from the National Association for the Education of Young Children: http://www.naeyc.org/families/disaster.asp

The Rainbow

Last Thursday morning I left for Livingston to "hunker down" with my family during Hurricane Ike. This was my very first hurricane experience ever. As I sat there with family and friends I had an overwhelming array of emotions to deal with. I had good moments and freak out moments. I am sure you and your families experienced the same feelings.

Your preschool children may be having problems understanding what happened during the past week. Sharing the story of Noah with your child could provide a sense of comfort. God promised to never flood the earth again. We may have rain and storms, we may lose some things we have at our house, but we know that God will protect us. Talk to your child about what the rainbow means. God sent us the rainbow as a reminder of his promise to us.

Make a rainbow with your child and write down some things you are thankful for during the hurricane. Maybe they are thankful their favorite toy was not hurt or their pet or bike. Pray with your children about their feelings. Use words they understand and allow them to pray what they are feeling. Be sure that prayer time with your children is not a time to add stress to their lives. Your children are probably not thinking or feeling the same emotions you are. If you pray about those things in front of your child it may had stress to their lives.

If your family is going to help friends and neighbors with food, clothing or yard work you can have your preschooler make some rainbows to include. They could also make cards with rainbow pictures. You can explain what the rainbow means to people as you share with others around you.

UBC is sending out crews of people to help those people affected by Hurricane Ike. They have crews of people helping with yard work and helping serve and prepare food. If your family would like to help call UBC and get on the volunteer list.

This Sunday, September 21, UBC will only be having a 11:00 service. The 9:30 service and Sunday evening activities have been canceled. We will be providing Preschool WBS during our 11:00 service.

If your family has any needs please be in contact with UBC staff members. We want to help you during this time.

Differences

Last week I had the opportunity to take some vacation time. I enjoyed a nice visit to College Station. For two years I worked as a Nanny in College Station for a family with 4 girls. Even though there was a set of triplets in the mix each girl has her own personality. I got to enjoy watching one dance, while another showed me her artwork, and yet another wanted to show me everything she had learned since she last saw me. Each girl has her own strength and own personality that makes her an individual.

Yesterday our preschoolers learned about two special sisters, Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42). Martha wanted to make sure the house was perfect for their special guest, Jesus. Her priority was the food and the appearance of the house. Mary just wanted to spend time with Jesus. She wanted to learn more about who He was and strengthen her relationship with Him. Jesus encouraged each personality trait in the sisters. He knew Martha's "hostess" role was important, but did not want to squelch Mary's love of learning.

This week spend some time thinking about your child's personality. What activities do they enjoy? What makes them tick? How can you encourage them to use their personalities as you seek to build their relationship with Jesus.

For example:
If you have a child with a "Mary" personality spend time reading a Bible story with them during the day. Ask him questions about what the story means. Make a part of the story applicable to your child's life.
If you have a child with a "Martha" personality go shopping for some canned goods for the Clear Lake Food Pantry or make some food for a sick neighbor or friend.

God created each child for a purpose. Don't make their time learning about Jesus a time that is not enjoyable for them. Create opportunities they enjoy and show them how to make Jesus a part of that time. This will help them learn to make God a part of their everyday lives and not just for Sunday mornings.

DID YOU KNOW:
Did you know that Lakeshore Learning has free crafts for children 3 years old and up every Saturday? Check their website for more information. www.lakeshorelearning.com

Fresh Start

There is something about the start of school that excites me. I have a desire to go buy new pencils and pretty folders. I feel like anything is possible and I have a fresh start to what lies ahead for the year. Even for those of us who are not bound to the public school calendar the first day of school still affects our lives, for instance, the speed limit is different getting to work in the mornings. In the world of Preschool Ministries we start new classes and train new teachers during this time of year.
As we begin this new year please know that I am praying for your families. I look forward to the year ahead of us. The calendar is packed full of fun activities for your families.
Each Monday, in theory, I will post a new blog about what is happening in the Preschool Ministry. I will also include information about the week’s lesson and give upcoming events in the Houston area. If you have any questions please feel free to post a comment or e-mail me at kristin.wood@ubc.org.

Weekly Lesson: The Good Samaritan
Luke 10:25-37

I have heard “The Good Samaritan” story more than fifty times in my life, but as I read the story this week I was encouraged to think about the “hurt man”. I was challenged to think about my neighbors and family members who may be healthy, but emotionally hurt during this time. I took the time to write some cards to a couple of friends just to say I love you and I am praying for you.

I encourage your family to take the time to bless someone this week.
-Have your preschooler make a card for someone. Pray for that person with your child.
(If they are too young include their hand print or foot print.)
-Make cookies with your preschooler to share with someone hurting.
-As a family buy school supplies for a local charity organization.

Did you know?
Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Research Center
4700 Avenue U
Galveston, TX
(409)766-3670
www.galveston.ssp.nmfs.gov
Hours: FREE tours are give on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 10:00am, 11:00am, 1:00pm and 2:00pm.

Families can experience one on one interaction with the turtles. There is no glass between you and the animals. You can also learn about ongoing research and about different turtle species. Parties of 9 or more need to make an appointment.

Have a good week!