Inside the Proverbs 31 Woman's Kitchen? Maybe so!

Maybe it is....maybe it isn't, but I like to think it is.  I like to think that in order for the famous passage about the Proverbs 31 woman to be written, her kitchen often looked like this:  All messey and looking like a tornado might have hit!

Each year, during the first part of May, the Tipton PTO celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week by providing meals, snacks, and treats for our school's teachers and faculty.  Because we're a small school, we treat not only the elementary school teachers, but the junior high and high school teachers and faculty, as well.

I realize some of this mess could be dealt with more efficiently by taking care of it while I work on things, but for some reason, I don't think in those terms.  I just make the mess....then later clean it up. But it occured to me last week, in the midst of the mess, that this would drive many people crazy!  So crazy that they might not take the opportunity to cook for others or help with PTO or other events, because it might mess up their kitchens.  It seems a little far-fetched to me, but maybe it's not.

So I began thinking about the Proverbs 31 women, and the good she did.  Don't you think that at times she made messes?  Her hands got dirty?  She got of off her own schedule to help others in need?  I believe she did!  You see, a Proverbs 31 women musn't be perfect and always have everything perfect in her life,  but she must use what God has given her and serve others as best as she can.  Don't you agree?  Me, too! 

So, on this GRATITUESDAY,  I'm grateful for the messy kitchen, but I'm also grateful when it is all cleaned up.  But I believe I should be more grateful about making those messes because it means I'm doing something - often for someone else.  Perhaps it means that I'm being a servant to others - just like the woman of Proverbs 31.

To see what others are grateful for on this GRATITUESDAY, visit Heavenly Homemakers!

(Note:  I had some "clean kitchen" photos to share when it was all cleaned up, but I can't download them at the time.  You'll just have to use your imagination! :) Lori)

You Color Our World!

This week the Tipton PTO is celebrating "Teacher Appreciation Week" by treating the teachers and faculty of Tipton Public Schools to meals and snacks.  (In case you're wondering, we usually celebrate it a week later than it's "officially" scheduled due to conflicts.) 

(Crayon crowns for the elementary teachers & staff)

Although our PTO is primarily an elementary organization, our school is small and everyone helps everyone, so all of the schools gets this special treat.

The only difference in the special celebration is that the elementary workroom gets decorated for the week or few days.  This year's theme is:  You Color Our World!.  It's a school/crayon theme and most of the items were purchased online from Oriental Trading.

Because I like to decorate and rent/loan some of my decorations, I buy them myself.  It's not with PTO money.  I say that not to brag, but so everyone knows.  I certainly don't think it's right for anyone to help fund my "obsession" with decorating!  It's my thing so I take care of it.  The only one that I usually get approval from is my husband!  He's so good to let me rent a storage building for my many, many totes!  He was also kind enough to help me decorate at the school late last night and go early to get donuts for the teachers for this mornings' breakfast!  Thanks, Joe :).

On this GRATITUESDAY, I am grateful for our teachers and all of the staff of our school.  They work hard to teach our children what they need to know to be successful in life, but the also care about each of them as individuals. Thank you for what you do for our children and for all of us!

Join us for GRATITUESDAY at Heavenly Homemakers!

Teacher Appreciation Week 2010

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week.  Are you grateful for your teachers and for your child's teachers?  Take the time to tell them so this week! 

By the end of the school year, after working hours and hours on curriculum, lesson plans, giving tests and grading papers, the teachers are as ready for summer vacation as the students (and many parents - like me!).

For the past 10 years I have been priviledged to "head up" our elementary PTO.  I say "head up" because we don't have an "official" PTO, so we don't elect officers.  We did for a few years, but it was only a few showing up for the meetings, so we stopped that and just kept doing the work.  It's a blessing to be able to serve our school, the teachers, and the students.  Yes, it would be great if more parents would be involved and support the organization, but that's an issue in all groups/clubs all over the world - it's nothing unique to our small community.

During this week, the PTO decorates the elementary workroom, concentrating on a certain theme.  This year's theme is "Jungle Safari".  Even though the elementary workroom is the only one that gets the special decorations, all teachers and staff from the Pre-K building on up to the high school building, get feed something each day. 

Monday was breakfast.  Some of the recipes used for the breakfast were from my family recipe blog (click links for recipes), such as Breakfast Pizza, Breakfast Muffin Cups, Very Berry Breakfast Parfaits, and a new one - breakfast calazone, which will be posted soon.

Today's menu was Honey Teriyaki Chicken (also will be posted soon), Splenda-d Green Beans, fingerling potatoes with olive oil, Creamy Banana Pudding, and Strawberries and Cream Twinkie Cake.

Tomorrow will be snacks and sweets.  Thursday is a meal of some sort - I'm not sure yet!

On this Gratituesday, I am GRATEFUL for our TEACHERS!  Thank you for what you do!

Gratituesday: One Girl Heavenly Homemakers: "Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!"