Heart to Heart with Cheri
Whenever I can, I go to a place of incredible
beauty—the Arboretum in Dallas, Texas. On the 66
acres of flowers, trees, walkways and ponds
overlooking the lake my family picnicked at when I
was a child, burdens gradually seem to melt away in
the light of God’s stunning creation. The sun is
shining and it’s only 75 degrees, cool for a
September morning in Texas. Groves of crepe myrtle
trees are still filled with scarlet and purple
blooms. Mounds of hot pink impatiens and raspberry
verbena border the walking trail. Butterflies
flutter over the Pentas and swoop down on the
lavender Angelonia blooms. And the yellow
“Esperanza” (meaning hope) bushes remind me
of all the reasons to keep hoping and believing even
when there’s bad news broadcast nightly on network
or cable TV.
You can already probably tell I’m a flower lover and
why this botanical garden is one of my favorite
places on earth. No matter what was on my mind
before my trek began, after walking through a few of
the garden plots, thanksgiving begins to flow
naturally. I’m grateful for the many gardeners and
volunteers that plant, water and tend the flowers
here (and thank them whenever I can), but my
thoughts turn to the One who made it all for us to
enjoy. “God, You are the One who thought of these
azaleas before we ever saw them,” I say, quietly so
people don’t think I’m an absolute nut.) “Your
brushstroke painted these ‘Knock-out Pink’ roses (so
labeled by the sign) and dazzling orange and yellow
hibiscus. Somebody constructed the waterfall, but
you created the water and are behind all of these
gorgeous flowers in bloom. This riot of color is
only a fraction of Your beauty and glory, but thanks
for the glimpse today!” His book says He is
the giver of every good gift (James 1:17). My soul is refreshed and my
step is lighter as I leave an hour later, looking
forward to returning for the chrysanthemum and Great
Pumpkin festival only a few weeks away.
Maybe there’s not a botanical garden like Arboretum
in your town, but you could walk to a nearby park,
sit on a bench and read a Psalm aloud to God as your
praise (try it; it will bless your socks off). You
could jog beside a lake or hike a rugged trail.
Autumn offers its own kind of changing color and
beauty. Let me encourage you to find a place and a
way that helps you connect with and enjoy the
Lord—instead of being boxed in by prayer rules like:
be in the same place, during the same period of
time, using the same posture. Quiet time alone
sitting in a chair is great, but there are so many
ways to experience and enjoy God. You may connect
with Him best through music or serving others or
journaling your prayers. Sitting out on your patio
and listening to the birds sing and the breeze blow
through the trees can refresh your spirit. Focus on
the blessing and invitation to draw near to God, and
the promise that when you do, He’ll draw near to you
(James 4:8). It doesn’t matter whether you’re
strolling around the block or sending prayers
heavenward while rocking a baby or during your break
at work, in the middle of the night or early
morning, the important thing is God wants to hear
from you, His child, and bless you with His gracious
gifts—first of all, the Gift of Himself and His
presence. And if you’ll quiet your heart and
listen, He will speak to you in surprisingly and
wonderful ways (see Jeremiah 33:3) that will enrich
your life.
Let’s stay in touch! I’d love to hear from you, and
until next issue, be blessed!
Cheri Fuller
Contest Winner
The Winner of School Saavy Kids
contest is Lori Homeyer. See Lori's entry
below:
The best thing
that I have ever done with any of our kids has to be
with our youngest daughter. Maddie is
internationally adopted and special needs. After
being in the school special needs program for 3 or 4
years, and listening to them tell me over and over
again how she can’t learn – she can’t read, she
can’t do math, she can’t function in the “real”
world and so on, that I decided last year to start
homeschooling her. Guess what?? She CAN read. She
CAN do math and she CAN do so many awesome things. I
really thank God everyday for her and the blessings
that she bestows on me, but this was a very hard
choice to make. CAN I do this? Over and over again I
asked myself that question…well Thanks to GOD, I CAN
do this. We are in our 2nd year of
homeschooling – and thanks also to a very supportive
husband – we are moving mountains. She is learning
about the Bible, she is reading easy to read books,
we are working on sight reading (because Maddie does
not understand phonics) and we are doing more and
more with math. One of the most important things
that another mom said to me was “Lori, you know your
child better than anyone.” And she was right. I know
when to push harder and when we have had enough for
the day. I know when we can do more hands-on stuff
like baking, painting, go outside for a nature walk
or whatever the case may be. My daughter is actually
the one who taught me – not just the other way
around – she taught me that it’s okay to take that
tough step because with God’s help – Nothing is
Impossible – even homeschooling a special needs
child.
Below are more entries that I wanted to share.
You ladies have wonderful ideas!
We were blessed in
2004 by giving birth to twin boys at 26 weeks
gestation. Park weighed 1 lb. 11 ozs., and Payton
weighed 2 lbs. Both were tiny and faced many
challenges. The Lord took Park home after only 7
months and 6 days on this earth with us, but
Payton continued to grow healthy and strong.
Because Payton was a preemie he faced many
developmental challenges. Doctors told us often
that it would take many years for him to catch up
developmentally - if ever at all.
At 10 months of age
Payton began having physical and developmental
therapy in our home. A few months later speech
therapy was added, and we then were having therapy
five days a week.
As mommy, I was very
attentive to the therapist and what my husband and
I needed to do to continue his development even
after the therapy sessions were over. For months
we repeated everything he did, talked about every
color on the videos he watched and kept him moving
so that he would continue getting stronger and
learning. We learned to celebrate the small
things. My husband and I were Payton's
cheerleaders.
Through God's
miraculous power just a couple of weeks after
Payton turned two he tested out of therapy - no
more therapy was needed. He was and still is a
living testamony of the power of prayer. Payton
is now 3 and is already reading and writing. He
is constantly wanting to learn something new. He
is our encouragement!
Since I am blessed
to be a stay home mom, I have time to be a parent
volunteer in my kids schools (4) which has proven
to be more of a blessing than I could have
imagined.
My kids are "proud"
to have me at their school helping out with not
only their teachers but anyone that needs a hand.
It has given me an opportunity to put a face of
the names of other kids that they spoke about to
me and of course lifted their self esteem.
When my oldest son
went into Jr. High I didn't think that he would
want me to volunteer there, you know how they get
about their parents being seen, but he asked me
when I was going to work at his school so I
contacted one of his teachers and continued my
volunteering there and he was thrilled. I was
happy to do so and it told me alot about how he
felt about me being present at his school. It was
a good in many ways. Not only was it a testament
from him but it also gave me a "heads up" on
possible trouble makers that I should gently steer
him away from.
I know that they
were proud of me or would not have wanted me
around and I thank them for that complement.
When my son was in
1st grade, I realized that he was gifted and was
not being challenged in school. I worked with his
teacher to allow him a separate spelling test
based on the list of words the kids were expected
to be able to sight-read by the end of first
grade. I also created an afterschool program at
home that would challenge him without making him
feel like he was doing extra work. I found books
and kits with science projects and we would do one
or two projects per week. I also found some MENSA
for kids cards with logic problems on them and
we would do a few cards per week. Workbooks were
also a great activity to keep him thinking. Some
were academic in nature and some were focused on
building his faith ("How to Study Your Bible" was
one of the titles). It was also fun to give him
an opportunity to be creative with his writing. I
bought him a spiral notebook and wrote ideas of
things to write about on many of the pages (such
as "If I could change one thing, it would be... or
My favorite time with my grandparents was...).
Throughout the next several years I continued to
work with his teachers to find ways to challenge
him in the classroom and activities to do at home
that were fun and interestingl. Overall, I just
wanted to help him to be challenged in a way that
didn't push him too much but developed a sense of
curiosity and accomplishment.
I have encouraged my
child with TIME. I am single mom now, he is only
eight. I am working two jobs and building a home
business so spending time with him is difficult at
the moment but precious. He is learning that when
he helps me around the house that allows more time
for us to have fun, fellowship and just be together
besides cleaning! He also is realizing the benefits
of receiving a paycheck himself when he helps me.
So in the midst of our crises he is learning how to
save, work and have fun at the same time.
My kids have starting their own businesses at ages 9
and 11.. and even though I sometimes feel this can
be an inconvenience to me with the shopping and the
cooking and the deliveries it is something they
have created and feel good about and learn about
income and expenses along with a great
accomplishment and sense of pride. It is myself
taking a step back and showing that even though it
is not an activity that I would do.. I need to let
them live out their goals and ideas.
The best thing
that I've done to encourage my kids' learning and
helped them achieve more is to pray every morning on
the way to school in the car. We pray that they
will glorify God in the way they are students and
friends - "to do their work as unto the LORD". We
pray for safety and favor and whatever or whoever
else God reminds us to pray for. When it is test
time we ask Him to help them put what they know on
paper and be full of peace. We ask for God to give
them the teachers they need even if sometimes it's
not the teacher they want. We ask Him to help us
trust His plan over our plan for our day. God is so
faithful to answer! He is the best encouragement!
My girls are 13 and 15 now. The best thing I did
for their education was to READ to them EVERY night
from the time they were able to sit on my lap and
pay attention for even a few seconds to a chunky
style; cardboard book. My 13 year old reads college
level and the 15 year old has always been in
accelerated classes. Both of them are excellent
readers and spellers. I have never pushed them to
learn they just do it!
We have
asked our daughter what she thought about the
subject, whether it was vegetable, mineral or
animal.
Quotable Quotes
|
Enjoy
the little things,
For one day you may look back
And realize they were the big things.
--Robert
Braul
|
|
Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles.
It empties today of its strength. |
|
Seeking
the face of God in everything, everyone, everywhere,
all the time, and seeing His hand in every
happening—
that is contemplation in the heart of the world.
--Mother Teresa
|
Movie
Review
Freedom Writers
When friends get together for “book and movie talk,”
sharing what our favorites are, I encourage them to
check out the DVD of one of my favorites this
year--“Freedom Writers,” starring Hilary Swank and
Patrick Dempsey (aka Dr. McDreamy). Set in the tough
environment of Long Beach, California in the 1990’s,
this movie was based on the true story and
best-selling book The Freedom Writers Diary
by Erin Gruwell and her students.
Swank plays feisty, determined Erin Gruwell, a first
year English teacher at Wilson High School assigned
to what the school termed “unteachable, at-risk,
disadvantaged” kids who are so racially divided that
class times easily turn into fight time. With no
support from the school or department head, Erin
embarks on a mission to inspire her students instead
of giving up on them as others have. Through
introducing her kids to books like Anne Frank:
The Diary of a Young Girl, The Odyssey, and
Zlata’s Diary: A Child’s Life in Sarajevo, the
students write their own personal diaries during the
course of the year, chronicling their tumultuous,
violent lives and broken families. After visiting
the Holocaust museum, their teacher treats the
students to a hotel dinner with Holocaust survivors
(who actually play themselves). And the elderly
woman who hid Anne Frank and her family during the
war, Miep Gies, is their special guest.
“Freedom Writers” is full of reality and truth but
infused with hope and inspiration. It’s well worth
an hour and a half of your time. Great for your
teenagers or college-aged kids to see with you as
well, it provides some dynamic role models and helps
them realize they can overcome obstacles and make
something purposeful of their lives. The movie can
stimulate a good discussion about social and racial
issues and what doing the right thing can mean in
every day life.
Connecting with Cheri
Below is Cheri's speaking schedule. If you
live nearby and would like further information about
the events please
contact us.
2007
September 19-23
St. Simons Island, Georgia
October 1-3
Tri-State Bible League Women’s
Retreat, Delevan, Wisconsin at Lake Geneva
October 13-15
Women’s Retreat at Rock Spring 4H
Conference Center, near Junction City, KS
Nov. 9-10
ChristChurch Plano, TX Women In Christ
Retreat, “Empowered By His Presence”, Tanglewood
Resort at Lake Texoma, TX
November 19-20
ACSI (Association of Christian
Schools International)
South Central Educator Convention Hyatt Regency
Dallas at Reunion, Dallas, TX
2008
January 31-Feb.1
ACSI Educator Convention
Moody Gardens Hotel and Convention Center
Galveston, Texas
April 4-6
Christ Chapel Bible Church Women’s Retreat
Marriott in Las Colinas, Texas
April 11
Northwest Bible Church, Dallas, Texas
Mothers of Preschoolers
