Ms. Banana

I love to read, love to learn. I have a passion for and find my purpose in teaching, hanging with and just loving all of the children that come my way. I take great interest in all things ECE and Early Childhood Mental Health. I don't know how much of this blog is going to be "original", I'm mostly here to "follow" some blogs I enjoy:)

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The timeless and playful polka dot gets its name from a dance, so what better way to sport its fun & flair than on a pair of cute dancin’ shoes. Vionnet stepped it up this season with colorfully embellished sandals that bring new meaning to the term eye candy…now it’s your turn get inspired and dip into some dots!   

To create, find the perfect pair of blank ballet flats. Follow the curve and lines of the shoe as you use puffy paint to dot a design.  Step out in style as you DIY your way into your own personal dotted heaven! 

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7 Creative Ways to Serve FRUIT!

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All you had to do was ask.

Key verse: "Do not be anxious anout anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6

  How many times, while growing up, did you hear, "... All you had to do was ask..." I know I heard my share of it. Much hasn't change since then. We are afraid to ask for help. We are afraid to ask for an extension on that paper. We are afraid to ask for time off at work. We are afraid to ask. But why? Why are we so afraid to ask for these simple requests? Are we afraid of the answers? Or are we afraid of the people that hold the answers? Living in fear is a type of bondage like few others. If left untreated it can hold us and paralyze us until we just stop living. Sure we keep on going through the motions of life but are we happy? No. Do we enjoy it? Heck no. And the weight of all of our unasked questions continues to grow heavier and heavier.

  Recently I went through this season of that same paralyzing fear. It started off small, like missed appointments. And ended up big, like hurt relationships and resentful hearts. While I was going through it I had no idea why I was there and what I was supposed to learn from it. But, as I look back I can see how all of the little questions I was too afraid to ask evolved into heavy rocks of resentment, that I ended up carrying. Questions like, Can I take a few days vacation? or Can I have some help in my classroom? These rocks became very heavy as I wasn't just carrying the rocks from work alone, but also from home, ministry, friendships, you name it. And boy was I letting that sack of rocks get bigger and bigger.

  Over time I began facing some of that fear that we were talking about, and it felt good. I didn't realize that the people holding the answers to my questions could be as understanding as they proved themselves to be (once I gave them the chance;). Although I was experiencing some freedom from that fear, I hadn't learned my lesson yet. There was Someone who I was forgetting to ask. Someone who really wanted me to ask Him for help and to meet my needs. And what does He do when we just aren't getting it yet? Well, I'll tell you...

  A room mate of ours informed us that he'd be moving out, leaving us in need of a new room mate. Finding a new, compatible person to live with is no easy task, and we didn't have any candidates. And time was flying by. We were now two weeks away from being short on our rent or eating ramen because we had paid the difference. Two grueling arguments later my husband and I were left feelling frustrated and helpless. It wasn't until a quiet drive back home from a saturday morning outing when I took a few minutes to quietly pray to God about our need. I prayed specifically for the kind of room mate we wanted and that we would find them quickly. As Steven parked our car I picked up my cell phone and saw that I had a missed call. It was a friend, who was also an old room mate of ours. My heart leaped! I quickly called her back and she quietly asked for the details in regards to the room we were renting. As I began to recite them to her she interupted me and began crying, saying that she would take the room. Wow! that was fast!! Without going into too much detail it was perfect timing for her as well. After the immediate excitement settled Steven and I sat on our couch. We soaked up the joy that we were experiencing because our need had finally been met! And when we had finally stopped gushing about our relief and when the room became silent I felt God very gently whisper to me, All you had to do was ask... All you had to do was ask...

[glamour]

[msooey]

When I become old habits, I lose my authenticity. When my actions are not in accord with my expressed values, I lose my integrity.

Tom Drummond (via msooey)

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FRUSTRATED!  I am still having trouble adding pics to my blog posts - so while Margaret continues researching, I will - for today - link you to the NOTE on Facebook, as it is the same post!  enjoy!  comments welcomed!

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with INTENTION...... Love this!

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Trying this tomorrow mornin'

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I need to do a project!

…said Katelyn. At 4:30 pm. So I set out paint, paper, tp tubes and empty masking tape rolls and many of the children joined Katelyn in her “late afternoon it’s almost time to go home printing painting project.”

I honored requests for MORE PAINT PLEASE...

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A woman after my own heart

[msooey]

Although I was not aware of an epidemic of preschool teachers running en masse to their local tattoo parlors, it seems as though the latest sound bite on the battlefield of “professionalism” is no more visible tattoos and/or piercings. Mind you now, it’s the folks in the offices and...

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Me too!

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Me three:)

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sweet little baking charm from my sweet steven <3 early birthday gift, so sweet!

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agreed. (Taken with instagram)

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experimenting with Jake.

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Wilton Cake Decorating Course 1, class 2:) (Taken with Instagram at Michael's)

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so guilty of being that 1%

[bubblywubblydubbly]

FOOD PORN: Jello-oranges!

Directions: Cut an orange in half. Then take out all of the “meat”. Fill it with jello mix. Place in fridge. Once hardened, cut the halves into quarters! 

So cool!!!

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Cute.

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LOL!