Tag Archives: Love

Cupcakes and Lemonade!

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In the Gospel of John 15:12, Jesus teaches, “This is My commandment that you love one another as I have loved you…”

At our Thanksgiving cupcakes and lemonade fundraiser, you could truly feel that love. Our class was so blessed with everyone who joined in to help make this fundraiser possible. This was from the baking and awesome gifts donated for our raffle, to the impeccable support and help of all who gave of their time.

 Through the pouring rain, and the second class session canceled due to no heat in the building, God truly blessed us. We raised $1,027.97 in two hours. Some of the children  there wanted to help even more, and set up another bake sale for two days later, and they did. After receiving a text, “Round 2 and doing well!”, the second session brought in $205.66!

It is a privilege to be able to lend a helping hand. The money we raised will be put towards meals and helping others this Thanksgiving season. It is my prayer that we may all put aside time to give thanks for all our blessings. As Hannah wrote in her journal, “Thank you for all that I have learned today. Thank you for my family and friends. I love you God with all my heart and soul.”

Millard Fuller, founder of Habitat for Humanity International said it so well, “I see life as both a gift and a responsibility. My responsibility is to use what God has given me to help His people in need.”

 Wishing you and your family a very blessed and beautiful Thanksgiving!

 Deanna Danielle

Cupcakes and Lemonade! "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16

Cupcakes and Lemonade!
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

 

Words Written with Love

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Along the coast of Mexico stood a beautiful villa. A sign in front read, ‘Rooms Available’. A man driving by needed a room, so he check in. After putting his bags down, he decided to go for a swim, since it was a glorious, warm day. After beginning to swim, he noticed a sign which read ‘No Swimming — SHARKS!’ He got out of the water, using unkind words, he kicked and tore down the sign, and left the villa in a fury.

Again, the ‘Rooms Available’sign was posted. The next gentleman to check in, unpacked, and went for a stroll. He, too, decided to go for a swim. As he stepped into the water, he caught sight of another sign that read “No Swimming — SHARKS!’ With his heart pounding, he quickly returned to shore. When he approached the rocky beach, he knelt down and prayed, “My Lord and my God, thank you for letting me see this sign, for you rescued me today from being eaten by the sharks.” As he looked out over the water, many moving shark fins were visible. He again thanked God for saving him. Upon his return to the villa, he shared his story with everyone.

This is the story that I shared with my class. After reading it to them, I asked, “Do you think the sign, ‘No swimming — SHARKS!’ were words written with love?” Looking at their expressions, as they answered, “Yes,” you could see there was no doubt amongst them. I now held up a sign with the 10 commandments written on it. I explained, “These, too, are words written with love, by the hand of God.” Exodus 31:18.

With the opportunity to share with our class the differences, between harboring anger and nurturing love within ourselves, I could clearly see that this class is ready to be the reflection of the Ultimate Love.

Some great kids have been added to our class lately. They are Gianluca, Joseph and Frankie. This was Frankie’s first class with us. Here are a few of his written words of love, “Today our class learned about the Ten Commandments. We also learned about being happy for each other and to love everybody.”

As Nancy Spiegelberg once said, “Lord, I crawled across the bareness to you with my empty cup, uncertain in asking for any small drop of refreshment. If only I had known you better, I’d have come running with a bucket.”

Many Blessings,

Deanna Danielle

Words written with love!

Words written with love!

 

 

You’re Perfect for This

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We’re off to a great start. 201 Boulevard, 4th grade class of 2015, is on its way. After starting our class with prayer, we had a one-to-one icebreaker. We had the privilege to learn a little about each other. Molly, Gabriella, Zachary, Cecilia, Hannah, Alessia, Madeline and James, consist of the smallest group of students I have ever had, by far. They are a great group of kids!

During the summer, my friend invited me to her church. During the homily, the priest invited the children to come to the altar. He presented them with a beautiful gift bag and said he had something special for them. He pulled a cookbook out of the bag, and asked them, “What is this used for?” Then, he pulled a Bible out, and again asked, “What is this, used for?” His questions blessed me with a great idea to do the same for our first day of class. So, that is what I did.

I brought to class a large shiny, gold Vince Camuto tote bag. They all saw the bag, and with great curiosity, they wanted to know who it was for, and of course, what was in it. Before opening the bag, I told them the greatest gift was in it. It was a priceless education in the love that our God has for us through His living word. I then pulled out the Bible.

Along with a few other things that I pulled out of the bag, one of them was a shape-sorting block. All of the pieces were in tact except one. I explained how this one missing piece makes this toy incomplete, and that is what life would be like without them. I also shared with them, that it is impossible to put the square in the circle, and the circle in the star. In the same way, God has a very special plan for each and every one of us.

God made no two fingerprints alike. We read in Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” In the same way as the shape-sorting block, we were made to fit perfectly into our own space. A young man named Christopher Coleman once quoted God’s words to him, “You’re Perfect for This.” Life would not be complete if it was any other way.

    Christopher Coleman’s story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qu0yjJgKU0w

Many blessings,

Deanna Danielle

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The Sound of Music

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As my class has gone on summer break, I am excited to write once more, until we start up again in September. In addition, I am even more excited to write about such a wonderful subject. Dads!

Dads come in all different shapes and sizes, with many different personalities, careers and hobbies. As I think about the word Dad, I know I’m very blessed to have one who is such an awesome reflection of our heavenly Father. My dad has always been there for me, showering me with the greatest gifts of his love. Throughout the years, he continually brings me peace. He is a great protector, and his wisdom and sense of humor has always filled me with a joyful heart and laughter.

When I was a teenager, my dad would often come home and knock on the locked side door. It only drove me crazy because he walked past the front door which was open, and now I would have to stop what I was doing, to get up and open the door. One day, a friend called. She told me that the night before, her Mom and Dad were at a wedding, and her dad had a heart attack on the dance floor and died. She was very sad, knowing that she would never see him again. As we hung up, there was that knock at the door, only it sounded so different this time. It was now the most beautiful music I ever heard. There was my dad at the door.

Each and every day, our heavenly Father knocks on the door in the same way, waiting for us to get up, open the door, and let Him in. In the book of Revelation 3:20 we read, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Jesus taught us in Luke 11:2, that when we pray, we should open our prayer with, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.” He also asked a question in Luke 11:11-13, “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, sinful people, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

 It is my prayer that this Father’s Day, we all open the door to the most beautiful sound of music we will ever hear. That is the sound of our heavenly Father who loves us more than we could ever imagine. The One who cares for us more than we ever could deserve, whose words are true, faithful, and trustworthy. The One who made all the delicate, inner parts of our body as He knitted us together in our mother’s womb, as said in Jeremiah 1:5, “I knew you before I formed you in the womb,” Our Father in heaven is all deserving of our praise and worship. Holy is the Lord God Almighty. Yes, the earth is filled with His glory. So, open that door, and together let us celebrate a Happy Father’s Day!

Blessings always,
Deanna Danielle

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All Hands Are In

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The greatest love anyone could ever know, is to know God’s awesome love for them. This is why it brings me great joy to teach about our faith. As my class and I gathered around in a tight-knit circle, I held Noah’s Arc puzzle flashcards. I believe working together makes life a little easier and more enjoyable. So, with teams of two, I gave every team a piece of the puzzle.

I shared with our class the story of Noah and how God called him to do what no one had ever done before, and that was to become the first major shipbuilder. God told Noah to go into the ark with his whole family and take with him seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and one pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate. He also took seven pairs of the male and female of every kind of bird. It rained for forty days and nights, as Noah, his family and all the animals sailed on to a place where only faith in God could take them.

I shared with our class how Noah did everything just as God commanded. Reflecting upon this story, I thought about how it took a team, God’s team, to bring about this fresh new start. Keeping that huge ship clean and orderly could only work with everyone giving it their all by working together; cleaning up, feeding the animals, collecting eggs, and tending to all the needs that took place. We even get a glimpse of how the raven and the dove helped out, by seeing if the water had receded from the surface of the ground. As I share the meaning of these beautiful scriptures with our class, it is important to me that I show them the joy of working together. With a piece of the puzzle in hand, along with team work, they put all the pieces together. From the unknown to the beautiful, all hands were in. They all had fun working together.

 Mother Teresa of Calcutta put it best, “I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.”

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

May God bless you always,

Deanna Danielle

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Through a Child’s Eyes…

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 Looking back at our last class blog, I cannot believe it was in the month of November. Since then, we’ve celebrated Christmas and entered into a brand new year. As I reflect upon our classes that have passed, I ponder thoughts for upcoming sessions. Lessons on how to keep the kids engaged and enthusiastic, in learning about our faith.

From coloring, to our workbook, working on a project to role playing, or watching a movie to telling stories. All the kids have their favorite activity. However, the two most sought-after requests, besides being a class helper, that I am asked are: “When are we going to pick out of the treasure chest?” and “Are we going to have a snack today?” Seasons may come and go, years may pass; nevertheless, human nature has always remained the same. Seeking out the treasures in life and filling our bellies, have always been a top-priority.

Through a child’s eyes, there is so much we can learn. Being a teacher and a mom, I have to say that “I may prepare a lesson, or provide the meal, but somehow, I always leave with the treasure.” Whether it’s something astonishing that a student shares, or the simplicity of when my little girl says, “Hey mom, this spoon has a happy face…”  You know it could only be God’s grace touching the heart.

So, let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. ~ Hebrews 4:16  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. ~ Ephesians 3:18

And, if I may say so myself, “That would even make the spoon smile :)”

Blessings always,                                                                                                           Deanna Danielle

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We’re Thankful For…

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Little hands, colorful paper, and thoughts of what we are grateful for, helped to make our Thanksgiving turkeys this year.  As we prepare to celebrate this festival that began with the Pilgrims back in 1621. I asked our class to share what they were grateful for. For Alexa, it’s God and Jesus; Lucas, his garden; and Ryan, his house. Dominic, Chase, Nick, Joseph and Annabelle are grateful for family. Adrienne is thankful for the earth; Lily, for oxygen; and Mark, for his faith.

Today, our program also had its annual Thanksgiving food collection.  All the items went to our church’s food pantry. This will help feed many people here in our own home town this Thanksgiving. Together, all the students filled 100 bags! So, I like to say; Way to Go! Great job!

At our prayer service, I had the privilege to read  beautiful scripture of Jesus feeding over five thousand people. Matthew 14:13-21, “When Jesus heard what had happened, He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed Him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick. As evening approached, the disciples came to Him and said, ‘This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.’ Jesus replied, ‘They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.’ ‘We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,’ they answered. ‘Bring them here to Me,’ He said. And He directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.  The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.”

This reminds me that Jesus was truly the One who taught us about Thanksgiving. He not only preached this, but lived by example. Whether He was feeding four thousand, five thousand, or God only knows how many more not listed in scripture. We see our Lord’s divine ability to completely meet the needs of all the Earth. This, in itself, is an awesome  blessing to be grateful for. Ephesians 5:20 says, “Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

So, this Thanksgiving, as we’re thankful for all the wonderful things in our lives, may we join together to pray for the poor, the homeless, the orphans, and the widows. Let us pray for all the needs of others and the needs of ourselves. May you be blessed with peace, happiness and great health this Thanksgiving season and always!

Deanna Danielle

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

There is no love greater than the Creator

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Does love get any greater then its Creator? In the spring of 1980, I met with the school counselor to prepare for High School. He asked me about my future plans and the classes that I would like to take. I told him I wanted to prepare myself for becoming a teacher. He said he did not recommend that route for me. I asked him what he thought I should do, and his response was, “Do what your mom does.”

So, I went home and watched her cut and style hair. I had no idea what she was doing. However, God blessed me with the thoughts of “Apples don’t fall too far from the tree.” As I shared my thoughts with my mom, she prepped me with some great advice. She said; “First, I want you to get a job this summer, working in a salon, to make sure it’s what you really want to do.” That’s just what I did. Thanks mom, for always giving me great advice. You are truly the best!

Every time I share this story, most people respond with; “ How dare your counselor tell you that.” The truth is, I feel like he was an angel in disguise. His guidance opened the door to a great adventure, from traveling to seminars as far as Spain and Africa, along with many destinations in between. Also, to having my work published in international magazines and runways. My favorite was “We girls can do anything,” a fashion show that brought in a new line of clothing for young girls.

I’ve been blessed in this industry. It has given me the opportunity to meet many wonderful people while bringing up a family. Along with some time to write books, produce videos, volunteer, and teach religious education to some awesome kids.

In Luke 12: 6-7 we read “Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.” So, I conclude with, there is no love greater than the Creator. May we enjoy each day, for every day is a gift. That is why it’s called the present.

Many Blessings,

Deanna Danielle

 

Where Everybody Knows Your Name

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“Making our way in the world today takes everything we’ve got. Taking a break from all our worries sure would help a lot. Sometimes we want to go where everybody knows our name, and they’re always glad we came…” Just a little change to the words in the television theme song ‘Cheers’. Our class this week reminded me of the lyrics to this unforgettable melody, stressing a sequence of notes that is musically satisfying.

A smile that says, ‘it’s you!’ A quick, long wave like a puppy dog’s tail that conveys, ‘I’m so glad to see you.’ A hug that expresses, ‘You mean something to me.’ Priceless. With that being said, I thank my 1st grade class of 2013 for that warm greeting. Just like all of them, It was very special. They have all grown so much since last year. It was so great to see them.

As our class is coming together this year, it is wonderful to see them with that same little wave and smile. As they look around to see if all their friends are in the room, I hear a little voice ask, “Where’s Cathrena.”(Cathrena, Ben & Mark are our class helpers) We are very blessed to have them with us. What a beautiful feeling that was. I wanted to call Cathrena on the spot and tell her that she is missed already, and it is only our second class!

I once read a small article that left an impression on my heart. It stated how we all need friends who will stick close, listen, care, and offer help when it is needed — in good times and bad. The article shared how it is better to have one true friend than dozens of superficial acquaintances. Also, how instead of wishing we could find a true friend that we should seek to become one. There are many people who need our friendship. Then, we should ask for God’s guidance to them, so we can take on the challenge of being a true friend.

While I prayed one day, I asked, “Lord do our hands really know how to love?” I looked down as my hands came together. The left hand made the shape of the letter ‘L’ and my thumb and fore finger formed the letter ‘O.’ The rest of my three fingers on that hand spread into a very clear ’VE.’ All I can say is, God is forever blowing me away with His awesome love.

As I conclude this week’s blog, I want to thank Ryan for bringing in his rock collection, and treating our class to our first Show and Tell. It made a perfect ending to planting pumpkin and flower seeds, and talking about how important it is to take care of all God’s creations.

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” – Matthew 7:7

Deanna Danielle

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Baptism

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Our first day back to class, after being off for three weeks, was a great adventure. A first grade teacher’s absence brought our class size up to 27 sweet little faces. I thank God for blessing me with wonderful teacher’s assistants. They are Dominique, Kristen, Hope & Juliana, I could not have done it without their dedicated support! Thank you, girls…

Baby dolls dressed in white, water, bucket, sea shell, oil, candles, and some cute lil’ couples, we are ready to roll. Our first couple up was Gianluca and Samantha. They chose the godparents, and they named the baby Jackson.  (For me, it is very important to bring the children as close to the moment as possible when teaching them, because we all do not learn the same way. Auditory learners learn best by hearing. Visual learners learn best by seeing, and the kinesthetic learner commonly known as “do-ers” need to touch it.)

 We started off with a blessing, the feeling they received when they first entered the church. Everyone had a partner and they placed the Sign of our Lord’s Cross on each other’s forehead. Aidan and Jack reenacted when our Lord Jesus Christ instituted the Sacrament of Baptism, by being baptized by John the Baptist in the River Jordan, and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form like a dove. And a Voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased.” Luke 3:22. We talked about people getting baptized into the Christian faith and the promise to live in a Christian way, and how a baby obviously can’t make any promises, so the parents and godparents make the promises for the baby. I showed them oil, and shared how holy oils are used for anointing. Then they all lined up, excited to have that feeling of when water was poured on their head. They must all do well washing their hair, because their heads went straight back while the small sea shell dripped a little water on their foreheads. And last, but not least, holding a candle, we talked about how they are a light in this world. And when the Lord Jesus said, “Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or a basket, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?” Mark 4:21. As I asked them to close their eyes, then open them, I shared how they are all a light in this world that has its eyes shut. The smiles on their faces, let me know that they knew that they are all very special.

Baptism is the foundation of the whole of Christian life. It is the gateway to life in the      Holy Spirit. Through Baptism a person is reborn as a daughter or son of God. It is through Baptism that an individual begins his or her relationship with Jesus Christ and the Church.

Of course, they were all to young too remember the day they were baptized, except through pictures and stories that are shared with them. So, going through auditory, visual and a kinesthetic steps. It is my prayer, that they will always remember and embrace the beauty of being baptized.

“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19

Wishing you all a very blessed New Year!

Deanna

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