The Lady who was Not Afraid of Anything

Every week, we choose a children's book that will help the kids in our classroom meet their language goals and build a fun theme around it. Last week, in keeping with Trick or Treat, we read the book, "The Little Old Lady Who Wasn't Afraid of Anything".

 

 

 

 

 It's a fun book about a little old lady who prided herself on not being afraid of anything. She went for a walk and soon realized she was being followed... by a pair of old shoes that clomped (and she wasn't afraid), then there was also a pair of pants also following her (and she wasn't afraid), then it was a shirt also following her (and she STILL wasn't afraid). But finally, it was one too many spooky items  and "The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything" was feeling overcome by fear. Ultimately, she conquered her fear when she stopped looking behind her and remembered that she really wasn't afraid of anything. So she put the things she feared where they belonged- out in the field, scaring crows.

 

 All week long, the kids made me smile because they kept saying that they weren't afraid of anything, either! Spiders? "No!" Snakes? "No!" Monsters? "No!" And as funny as it was to hear them brag about their bravery, it got me thinking about fear. We all have our issues, I suppose, and well, one of mine is definately fear. I don't mean fear of the dark or crawling things or being alone at night. But when I think about all the possible things that could happen... the "What Ifs" in my life, I can get VERY afraid. It's sort of a default I go to in times of trouble and it can stop me in my tracks. From doing the things I know I should. From enjoying the day to day moments of life. I would LOVE to be able to boldly say, "I'm not afraid of anything!" like the lady in our story. But is it possible? I never thought it was.  But I'm changing my mind.

 

How many times in scripture does it say, "Do not fear"? Dozens! After speaking during a simulcast event in September, the Bible teacher, Beth Moore, posted a long list of the 'Do Not Fear' scriptures online. I don't just want to read them, be encouraged for a day and set them aside. I want the truth of the scripture to change how I think, so my default in the future isn't 'fear'. It's confidence in the God who is who He says He is- and can do what He says He can do.

 

 

Here are a few of the "Do Not Fear" scriptures that mean the most to me.

 

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; you will lie down, and your sleep will be pleasant. PROVERBS 3:24

 

I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. PSALM 34:4

When I am afraid, I will trust in you. PSALM 56:3  
Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrifed or afraid of them. For it is the LORD your

God who goes with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. DEUTERONOMY 31:6  

You do not have to fight this battle. Position yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD. He is with you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Tomorrow, go out to face them, for Yahweh is with you. 2 CHRONICLES 20:17  
The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom should I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?  PSALM 27:1

 
Do not be afraid of them, for the LORD your God fights for you. DEUTERONOMY 3:22
 
But God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love and sound judgement.             2 TIMONTHY 1:7 

There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears has not reached perfection in love.  1 JOHN 4:18

 

Above all, be strong and very courageous to carefully observe the whole instruction My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go. JOSHUA 1:7

 

SO I TOOK COURAGE because I was strengthened by Yahweh my God.   EZRA 7:28

"The leaves are falling down..."

There are certain songs that get stuck in your head. You know what I mean. Like the one we've been singing in my preschool class the last few weeks. "The leaves are falling down... the leaves are falling down... hi-ho it's fall I know... the leaves are falling down." Then, with the other verses, we sing "The leaves are turning red... "etc, etc with every verse another fall color. You get the picture. They LOVE it and I hear it in my sleep. (they sound so sweet singing it, though!) The leaves are halfway gone from the trees around our house! Fall swept in while I was busy.

Rebecca has kept us busy. Play practices, middle school volleyball practices and games, praise band practice (she plays bass guitar), her middle school Bible study group meets at our house (we just provide the snacks and a family room), and, oh yeah, school... homework... projects.

Here are some signs of our Fall...

Barboursville Fall Fest... An empty field turns into a crazy carnival and two tiny blocks turn into booths of crafts and food.

 



 

Covenant School (at Christ Temple Church) got a seriously nice playground makeover!

 

A few last hydrangea blooms before the frost. I LOVE hydrangea. Its such an old fashioned flower.

 

 

Middle school Bible study at our house... I'm sure the duct tape thing had a spiritual message. (?!) And the 'Zombie Finger' cookie was Louie's snack idea. Um... some of the kids ate several... and some of the kids gagged.

 

 

With 2 empty bedrooms, we talked about moving Becca into Hannah's basement bedroom. There are several things that need to happen first, and so we're taking steps in that direction- it's a work in progress.

During the work in the bedroom, we unearthed one of Garrett's old Legos. It was his bedroom when we moved into the house- he was in 6th grade. He LOVED Legos and always had a bucket of them, or Knex building toys. Can't believe he 'builds' things in a college science lab now!

 





 

 

 One Saturday, Becca and I had the privilege of working with some great people from 5 different churches on service projects in our very own neighborhood. I cleaned gutters along one house, painted trim, and Becca hauled a lot of shrubbery. The neighbors we helped were people who simply couldn't do all the home maintenance they needed to and needed a hand. Plus, I got to know a few people from other Churches through an organization called Christ Together for the Tri-State.

 

The Communication Disorders department at MU where I work, in Smith Hall, got a new sign and for the first time, my name is listed among the 'professional staff'. I'm feeling so valuable!

 

 

It wouldn't be fall without going out to the Booth family farm for a tractor ride and homemade ice cream. These are moments I miss Garrett and Hannah- they aren't out there among the other kids!

 

Lou, Becca and I got to spend a few days with Hannah, visiting campus and checking up on our girl.

 

Louie and Becca had to check out her room- she is Miss Organized.

 

Just off campus, there's a BCM building with full time staff. We got to meet Hannah's small group leader and one of the BCM director's wives. They have open doors most all the time for students to hang out, study and play. It reminded me of the MU Campus Christian Center. They have a chapel, too, where they have services. She auditioned for the Praise Team and sings once a month (sometimes twice). They engage with the student body in lots of ways including playing intramural sports like volleyball.

 

This cracked me up- when she wears her boots, and doesn't have a pocket... she tucks her phone in her boot. Hey, it works.

 

That's her dorm in the background. (It'll be closed next year for renovations) I refuse to blink... if I do, Becca will be a freshman in college. Yikes!

 

 

 

She's gotten to do some cool things- a friend of her grandpa gave her and her room mate tickets to good seats for the Georgia home game. They stayed up all night in a field with BCM friends so they could be on ESPN Game Day- a show filmed live the morning of a big game.

 

Our big games were all Middle School volleyball. But- they were exciting! If you were there, you would have no doubt based on my shouting ( yes- I shout for my team!) and my daughter's looks that say it all "Mom... that was SO loud... Mom... don't say my name... Mom...pleeeease don't take another picture)

 

I've never posted video in a blog before... I hope this works!!! It was about 1 1/2 minutes of Becca serving from our last game. She served a bunch of nice overhand serves in a row!

 

Another upcoming 'event' for Becca: braces. Again. We knew she may need a second phase and it's a sure thing. Oh, well. Eighteen months can seem like absolutely forever but hopefully a beautiful straight, uncrowded smile as an adult will be worth it!

 

This is our week. Practicing for 2 months has come down to one very FUN long weekend. I haven't been 'allowed' to see it all yet and I can't wait. It's going to be SUCH a cute show!!

 

 

This is a picture of Fall on our street. It's in full swing- we'll be covered in trick-or-treaters before long. But it also means that before long it'll be Thanksgiving Break- and I can hug all 3 kids at once!

 

Meanwhile, there are some good things while we wait. Louie had a stress test recently to check on his heart and found out that his by-passes from 9 years ago are all still working great- no problems! This week he celebrates his 43rd birthday.

 

Another good thing is the growth I see in the people in my Sunday school class. I teach Sunday school to an awesome group of about 18-20 adults of all ages and stages of life. I'm humbled and just floored and can't believe every week that they show back up! I'm probably not qualified to lead, but I love the Lord and I love them... and in reality, they teach me something every week as we study scripture together and seek to know Christ.

 

One more good thing is that everyone is doing ok so far this fall. I mean, I hoped they would... but they are. Hannah is getting good grades and making friends and settling into a campus of 22,000 and figuring out how to live in a small space with a room mate. Garrett seems to have hit his stride his 2nd year of college- working his schedule better, managing studying (and there's a LOT of that), and taking a leadership role. In the parent-teacher conference last week, Becca's teachers described her as 'matured', she got good grades on her first report card including Algerbra which has required effort, she's got a lot of friends and her acting in this play is really good!

 

Now, I don't want to give a false impression that 'everything is perfect at the Gaunch household'. There are plenty of things that could be better, things that are always in the back of my mind causing me to be afraid or worry, and ways we each need to grow up. 

And for today, I'm going to choose to Thank God for all of it- the imperfections and the good things going on.