A Brave Mama: Linda’s Story

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Paige Givens

I was born with a seed. It was the seed of music. It was passed down from my parents, whose seeds were passed down to them from their parents.

I think we are all born with a special seed of some kind, and they are all different, which is a beautiful thing.

And there are special people that are in our lives that are placed there by the Lord to water and cultivate our seeds at certain times, just when we need them. These people also teach us how to water and cultivate our own seeds.

When I was in the eighth grade, the Lord sent two very special seed-cultivators my way. Our church called a young new youth minister and his wife to come and teach our high school students. His name was Thomas Hyche, and his wife was Linda.

Thomas and Linda arrived with watering cans and Miracle Grow for sure!

Thomas taught our youth group what it meant to have a daily personal quiet time with the Lord. He taught us the importance of digging into the scriptures, talking to God, and listening to His voice. I wrote my first song when I was 14 and it came to me during my personal quiet time.

I remember the first time Linda sang at church. She has always exuded a grace that I admire. She floated onto the stage and opened her mouth to sing, and I was mesmerized. I can’t even use words to adequately describe Linda’s beautiful singing. And it’s not just the sound—when Linda sings, she sings wholly and completely to the Lord, for His glory.

Linda quickly took this shy, awkward eighth grader under her wing and we quickly realized that we loved all of the same songs and singers. When I was at home, I would practice for hours trying to sing a song the way Linda sang it. One time when I told her this, she said I didn’t need to sing songs the way “Linda” sang them; that I needed to sing songs the way “Paige” sang them. She always had a word of encouragement for me, and her words stayed with me, even after she and Thomas were called to another church to preach. Even now, sixteen years later, I hear her words and her song. She is a picture of how the Lord keeps us singing as we go, no matter where our journey takes us.

This is Linda’s story…

Linda has always had a melody in her heart. Whether she is singing it or living it through her actions, her song reaches the souls of those around her. She’s had plenty of times in her life that she could’ve chosen to stop singing, but her Father has kept her singing.

One of those times started in the fall of 2012, after a series of events that are not all that uncommon for women, which led to a hysterectomy. Linda recalls being tired, drained, nauseated, and in severe pain in her stomach, legs, and back off and on for several years before 2012. She and her doctor decided that a hysterectomy was in order to alleviate these symptoms. Once the surgery was completed, Linda’s doctor told her everything looked good, but that they were going to send samples to pathology, as was routine for these surgeries.

The following Sunday, Linda was with her brother, Scott, when she noticed that she had a message from her doctor saying that she needed to come in immediately the next day and that the receptionist would send her straight back. Linda knew this wasn’t good. She began to cry. Her brother called Thomas home from church. Thomas got her Bible and her best friend Amy read Psalm 103 aloud.  Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities; Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit; Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle. (v. 1-5)

 Linda says “I was scared but at the same time I had this peace. It’s hard to explain. It’s like when you’ve been walking in soft sand for a distance and finally make your way onto a big flat rock, you feel stable, grounded, solid. Thinking about the Lord and hearing and reading His word, that’s what it did for my heart and my soul. He helped get me through the night.”

The next day, Thomas and Linda were quickly rushed into the doctor’s office where the doctor informed them that Linda had cancer in both her ovaries and that there was a possibility the cancer had originated from somewhere else. “We all cried and she hugged me and told me that she had been praying for me and that she was totally shocked,” Linda said. “She led us through a back hallway to a gynecologic oncologist at the hospital. I was 43 years old. My daughter was 9. Our journey with cancer started.”

Linda’s doctor, Dr. Mack Barnes at Brookwood Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, developed a plan right away to fight the cancer. The first procedure that Linda underwent was to have a port put in.

“I was told that they wouldn’t give me general anesthesia but I would be put into a twilight sleep. I would be kind of awake but would remember nothing. I told them not to count on that!,” laughs Linda. “I asked what Dr. Barnes was like during surgery and his nurse said that he loved to sing and listen to country music, so naturally I let them know that I loved to sing also. They asked me what I liked to sing and I told them that I loved to sing worship songs. They were pushing my gurney down the hall and asked me to sing so I did. The song in my heart that day was “What Love Is This” by Kari Jobe. I continued to sing as I moved from the gurney onto the operating table and even still as they put my arms out away from my body, which most people don’t remember. I stared at those huge bright lights above my head as they got me ready and I sang…

When I’m afraid, You calm and still my beating heart

You lead me to the cross

What love is this that You gave your life for me and made a way for me to know You

And I confess You’re always enough for me You’re all I need

Jesus in your suffering You were reaching, You thought of me. You’re always enough for me.

(“What Love Is This”-Kari Jobe)

“Dr. Barnes told Thomas that I had a great voice—thanks, Dr. Barnes!– That’s great, but Jesus was with me in my heart and soul and I wanted everyone within earshot to know that we were all in the presence of The Most High God, in the presence of Christ and the Holy Spirit. I’m small in this world but my God is big and He is always here.”

Linda continued to feel God’s holy presence throughout her grueling trial with treatments even though there were times during the surgeries, chemo, tests, and sickness that she was very afraid. “I am so blessed that God gave me Thomas. He hugged me, prayed with me, prayed for me, cried with me told me that I was beautiful even when I had to wear a cap over my bald head and had no eyebrows and eyelashes. He helped me and cleaned up after me when I was sick, which was a lot!”

A few days after Linda’s first chemo, she was hospitalized for 10 days due to complications and sickness from the chemotherapy. Side effects of chemotherapy can be brutal and hers were. She recalls that her bones hurt to the point she was worried that cancer was in her bones. “There were a few nights that I said to Thomas that I just couldn’t do anymore, to which Thomas would say, ‘Yes, you can and you will.’ The plan was aggressive but I wanted it to be because I knew all too well about cancer. I watched my own Mother die from brain cancer and my aunt, Mom’s sister, die from what they think began as uterine cancer. It’s no joke, it’s tough, and I wanted to live to grow old with my sweetheart and raise my daughter and have the grown up friendship with my daughter that I missed out on with my Mom.”

Linda says that the Lord ministered to her through His word and His people. The Psalms were and still are so very important to her. Her church family donated meals, money, and helped in any way needed. Her best friend, Amy, took over the planning of her daughter’s tenth birthday party in order to make it an extra special day. She even had wonderful friends who helped her with a most traumatic event…losing her hair.

“Lori Evans shaved my hair off for me after it started coming out. She cut it to neck length first, then days later came to my house and buzzed the rest off. It was extremely traumatic. My hair was really long. I knew it would be hard because, as a dear older friend would tell me, your hair is your crowning glory… I had some pride in it and a lot of my self-esteem and identity was in my hair. The loss of my hair was one of the most difficult things that I went through and I shed many tears over it. My hairdresser friend who is a breast cancer survivor, along with another friend, helped me pick a wig out. I called Jennie and Jenny from a wig store crying hysterically! They came immediately and helped. When we all realized that the first wig was just not me, we talked about looking at some others. Jenny called me while I was in my chemotherapy recliner (I so dreaded this recliner where I had poison pumped into me, where Thomas was NOT allowed to stay with me, where I had to stare at a sign telling me all the things cancer COULDN’T do–oh, how I hated that sign– after all, cancer seemed to be doing a lot to me) telling me that she was in another wig store in Birmingham and that they had some really pretty long hair there. She texted pictures to me and I told her which one I liked and she bought it for me. It was beautiful and made me feel so much better about myself. A good head of hair isn’t cheap! I was grateful beyond words!”

Perhaps one of the most meaningful ways that Linda’s family and friends helped her was through prayer.

“I had a strong faith in The Lord from the time I was young, I knew He cared for me. As a teenager with a sick parent, my faith only grew stronger. I began to really be burdened to pray for others. I would feel so strongly about praying and fasting for others that I couldn’t run from it if I’d tried. The strange thing was that I never felt as if I had anyone to really pray for me. I was always so shy. I could sing in front of anyone as a teenager but to walk into a crowd and really talk about my feelings, I just didn’t do it. Not at church, not anywhere. I prayed about it but never really talked about how hard it was to watch my mom dying and to know that my sweet daddy didn’t know The Lord. So I would try to act like I was fine and I guess everyone always thought that I was. This is how my life went. When God brought cancer into my life, I had days that I was too sick to pray for anyone, much less myself. But God began to show me through His people that when I could do nothing but vomit and could no longer hold my head up, He had someone lifting me up to Him. People were actually praying, really praying, for me.”

Linda is a brave mama.

Linda is a brave mama.

Linda’s journey with cancer is a testimony that no matter what you are going through, God can keep your head up. He still whispers a song into your heart when you walk through life’s darkest valleys. And when you feel you can’t walk another step, He carries you. I’m so grateful for my friend and precious mentor, Linda Hyche! And I’m so glad to use her story for good! If you are reading this and  you feel like life’s circumstances have stolen your song, take it back, friend! God will pick you up, carry you through, and give you a new song!

As Linda said, cancer is not a joke. You must be your own health care advocate. Ovarian cancer is known to be a silent killer and there are no screening tests for it. A Pap smear does not test for ovarian cancer. Know the symptoms, know your body!  If you feel you have symptoms of ovarian cancer but aren’t getting answers from your doctor, talk to him/her about ovarian cancer. If you still don’t get the answers to explain your symptoms and they persist, go to another doctor who will listen. You can visit each of the sites below for information on the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer.

Laura Crandall Brown Ovarian Cancer Foundation

National Ovarian Cancer Coalition

The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance

He Keeps Me Singing, Adapted by Paige Givens, 2014

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A Brave Mama: Becky’s Story

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Paige Givens

My dad grew up as the third in line of five children to my grandparents. He and his two brothers and two sisters can keep a person entertained for hours with their stories from the growing up years. There are hilarious stories about haircuts, jokes, and mishaps. There are horror stories about lost toes and lawn mowers, and getting locked in trunks (even though they all laugh now when they tell those). There are heartwarming stories of their love for their mother, who is in heaven now, and her love for them, which spilled over onto all of the grandchildren.

When I think about this very large side of my family, one that at this time includes my grandfather Raymond, the five children, their spouses, fourteen grandchildren, many of those with spouses, and thirteen great-grandchildren, I think of music, laughter, and celebration. We are a musical family for sure. We love to celebrate just about any holiday or function with singing and music, whether it’s real singing, lip-synching, or doing a dance number (all ages…yes, all ages). I’m not kidding!

Once we settle down, the stories usually begin. Because there are so many of us, we share stories that have gone on in our lives during the past year since we don’t get to see each other very often. You may hear fifteen different stories going on at once. But on many occasions, and especially at Christmastime, we all quiet down at some point and listen to some of the old stories. The ones we already know. We know how they will end; whether we’ll be laughing hysterically or crying softly by the end. We know the people, the events. But our hearts are warmed by hearing the familiar stories of our family’s trials, struggles, and victories.

Here is my Aunt Becky’s story. She is my dad’s older sister, one who takes care of the details of our get-togethers and functions. She’s one of those who are in charge when we are together. This is her story of a time in her life when she was totally out of control of her situation, but God was in control. This is her story of how cancer was not the end of her…

This story began in the hot summer days of 2003, when Becky started having a shooting pain in her right breast. She did a self-examination at home and felt a good-sized lump under the right breast. Having had benign cysts before, Becky and her husband Rodney assumed that this was the cause of the shooting pain. Still, she called her doctor, who quickly scheduled a biopsy for mid-July. The biopsy revealed dreaded news that so many are given each year. Becky had breast cancer. “Cancer…me? It was a very aggressive type of cancer so I would be treated very aggressively. This was one of the darkest days of my life. All I could think was, I am going to die. It was almost as if I was in a tunnel while the doctor spoke to me. I heard him talking, but I didn’t hear what he was saying.”

Becky’s sister Amanda began to pray scripture over her. “She stood at the end of my bed and started quoting Psalm 118:17… ‘You will live and not die and will declare the works of the Lord’. I remember thinking to myself, You can say what you want, but I’m going to die. The doctor has just given me my death sentence.”

Becky spent the next several weeks in doctor appointments, having tests and making decisions. She spent many of these days crying, thinking her life was ending. Then one day, things changed. “I had been reading my bible and praying. I listened to a lady on the television who said ‘Sometimes our lives get in such a mess that we don’t know which way to turn. No matter what your situation, you need to turn this mess into a message and this test into a testimony.’” Becky knew that this moment was just for her. She was on this journey, on a path she didn’t choose, one she had no control over. She decided right then and there that while she couldn’t control the situation, she could decide how she was going to handle it. “I said, ‘I’m going to take this bull by the horns and I’m going to tackle him down and win.’ This mess will be my message, and this test will be my testimony. I started repeating the scripture that my sister had given me the day I was diagnosed… ‘I will live and not die and will declare the works of the Lord.’ And along would come another scripture, and then another. I felt such a peace.  A peace that passes all understanding.  I thought, ‘This is a win/win situation.  If the Lord wants me to join him in heaven, I know I’ll have a beautiful place and I’ll get to see His face.  And if he sees fit for me to stay here awhile longer, I’ll get to see my sons and their wives build beautiful families. I’ll be surrounded by my family and friends who love me. Wow! I can’t lose!’”

Becky needed this peace to fill her and uphold her as the aggressive chemotherapy began to take its toll. As the weeks and months passed, the sickness and tiredness weighed her down to the point that there were times she thought she wouldn’t make it. Her strength was robbed until she could hardly walk from her bed to the restroom, struggling for breath with every step.

“When we are so weak and down, the enemy will try to creep in and take over,” she says, “And if we’re not careful, that’s exactly what he will do.  It’s completely up to us.  Attitude plays a big role in survival when you are traveling on any difficult journey. The most important thing is to realize that you need to turn it all over to the Lord and let him handle the situation. You have to put your complete trust in the Lord. Trust in the Lord with allYour heart.  Not part, but all.”

Becky recalls one point when she was especially low and weak. The Lord whispered a message to her soul that let her know she was not alone. “I was lying in bed and I was so weak that it frightened me. I started singing in my very trembling and weak voice…

‘Til the Storm passes over, ‘til the thunder sounds no more,

‘Til the clouds roll forever from the sky,

Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand,

Keep me safe ‘til the storm passes by.

-‘Til The Storm Passes By, M. Lister, 1958

“As I finished singing the song, I lay there and prayed and thought ‘Oh, Lord, I just don’t think I can go on.’ And then a presence in the corner of my room appeared.  It was as if it were an angel.  And the message I received within my spirit was ‘Hold On.  Don’t let go.  I have promised to be with you and I am here and will be with you every step of the way.  In My word I tell you that I will be with you and never forsake you.  Just take hold of my hand.’  At that moment I felt a fresh breeze blow across my face.  I knew then that everything was going to be okay, I was going to be okay and this test would turn into my testimony.”

After 12 chemo treatments, 36 radiation treatments and two other different chemo pills taken by mouth for 6 more years, Becky has been cancer free for 11 years. She has been married to her husband, Rodney, for 40 years and says, “We are still going strong! He was a solid rock during this journey and I could not have been more blessed to have him in my life.

“We have three sons and three beautiful daughter-in-laws. And the grandchildren that I didn’t have at the time of diagnoses…I now have SIX!!  God has been so good to me and my family. And family and friends are very important during a time like the one I went through. They are there to help you with chores, cook a meal, or just to sit while you cry a little.  And you should let them. This is very important for the healing process.  Sometimes in our life we have to just sit back and let others help out. And we have to let go and let God be God. ”

Becky’s story is a true testimony to the peace, the courage, and the strength that God will give us–no matter what journey we are on—if we will put our complete trust in Him. He can take a story that the enemy tried to intercept for a tragic ending and turn it into one the sweetest story of our lives. It is truly so sweet to trust in Him.

Becky urges others to become educated about breast cancer. The information is readily available. Go to:

http://www.cancer.org

http://ww5.komen.org/

“I would also like to encourage every woman to do self-exams on a monthly basis. Be sure and talk to your doctor about when to start getting mammograms.  Early detection could save your life,” she adds.

In Loving Memory of Mary Faye Muncher…

Becky writes, “My mother was my biggest prayer warrior.  She was diagnosed with breast cancer five years after me.  She had a double mastectomy and we opted for no treatment due to her age and her health at the time.  She did take a chemo pill for five years.  Mother lived a good long life.  She and Daddy were married for 62 years with five children and their spouses, fourteen grandchildren, and thirteen great- grandchildren.  Mother went home to be with our Lord on December 2, 2013.  We miss her terribly but have comfort in knowing we will see her again one day.”

Becky is a brave mama. My dear Granny was a brave mama.

Becky is a brave mama. My dear Granny was a brave mama.

What A Friend We Have in Jesus Adapted by Paige Givens and Tim Muncher (my dad, Becky’s brother), 2014

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A Brave Mama: Hannah’s Story

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Paige Givens

Matthew 14: 22-31

“The boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I.  Don’t be afraid.”

 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.”

The disciples had a plan.  They planned to get in a boat and take a nice, uneventful ride across the Sea of Galilee.  After all, Jesus had sent them on ahead of Him alone. And surely He wouldn’t send them into a storm, right? Their plan certainly didn’t include roaring wind, pounding rain, and battering waves. The plan didn’t include a ghost-like figure coming at them on the water.  Peter didn’t expect to walk on water. God’s plan, however scary and confusing, ended up being so much better and fulfilling for Peter and his faith. His ways are not ours. They are bigger, they are better, and they are perfect.

We make our own plans all the time. I’m a huge planner. I make to-do lists almost every day, and lots of times the last thing on my list says “Make tomorrow’s list”. I’ve always said that I trust in the Lord, that I believe He is in control, and that His timing is perfect. I’ve thought that I believed that, but I had never really been tested in that belief…until my sister had a storm of her own to face.

This is Hannah and Jayson’s story.

Our family is so close, especially the three sisters. Amy was eight and I was five when Hannah was born, and we always “helped” take care of her. When she was a newborn baby, Amy “helped” with her all the time—moving her and picking her up at crazy angles. When she started school, I “helped” her learn to read and do math problems during the long summer days. I also took it upon myself to use my own invented method of teaching her to play the piano. I wrote numerals on her fingers and taped numerals on the piano keys and then numbered out songs for her to play.  I couldn’t understand why she didn’t  enjoy it and catch on as quickly as I thought she should, and I soon gave up on her becoming a Mozart.  Amy fixed her hair (and got kicked in the shin), I pulled the raisins out of her Raisin Bran, and, although we had our regular sister-spats (Mama, she ate the last pickle and she knew I wanted that pickle!), we all three grew up to be best friends.

Chris and I had the first grandchild of the family. We weren’t expecting him, but Parker was a delight to the whole family. It was like he had three mamas instead of just one. Amy and Hannah fed him and held him and played with him and loved him like he was their own little boy. Not too long after Parker arrived, Amy and Brian had their first little boy, Tanner, who was quickly followed by our second son, Peyton. Now, my parents, who had three daughters, had three grandsons! The “Three Musketeers”  had three loud, boisterous, playful years before Amy and Brian had “Baby Jacob”. While all of these boys were growing and thriving, Hannah and Jayson had gotten married, built a beautiful house, and decided that they were ready to add a baby to the mix of happiness. We all agreed. Yes, this was a great plan. And, what if it was a girl? Happy day! A girl would be a perfect addition to all of those boys!

Our plans are not His plans. Our ways are not His ways. One month turned into two. Two months turned into three. Three months turned into a year. Time went on but no baby came. Doctors, nurses, and specialists all had plans. But their plans didn’t work. Hannah, the baby who we’d “helped” take care of, the sister who had loved and taken care of our babies, didn’t have one of her own. Yet. You see, our plans are not His plans.

After some time, Jayson and Hannah felt like the Lord was leading them to adoption. We all braced ourselves. We wouldn’t get too excited. If Hannah and Jayson had a possible lead, we’d pray about it and be supportive, but we wouldn’t get in over our head with emotion and anticipation, just in case the situation fell through. And we had several leads…and each time, we clapped and squealed and hugged and thought to ourselves “This is it. Their baby is almost here!” And each time the situation didn’t work out, we were devastated. Most of all, Hannah and Jayson were shattered every time.

After one particular time, when I just knew that a situation was “the one”, and it didn’t work out as we’d planned, I remember saying to the Lord “I don’t see why this is happening. If You knew she wasn’t going to get the baby, why did You let these people contact her?” I wasn’t mad. I was genuinely confused. But His plans aren’t our own. You see, His plan for Hannah and Jayson was so much better than the one they’d planned for themselves. It was better than what we’d planned and dreamed for them.

His plan was Baby Carter.

One afternoon, Hannah came home from work and answered her ringing phone. When she heard the adoption agency worker’s voice saying “Congratulations, Mrs. Sparks, you’re having a baby!”, she sat down and cried. Not just a little. She cried tears that she’d been waiting for years to cry. It’s the happy, scared, excited tears that come when a mom hears the doctor say for the first time, “Yes, you’re expecting a baby.” They soon found out the baby was due in July and that it was a boy. Another boy in the family!

I prayed so hard that the birth mom wouldn’t change her mind. I prayed for this every time I thought of Carter or Hannah or Jayson. “Please, Lord, don’t let her change her mind.”

I didn’t even think about praying for a safe, complete pregnancy.

When evening came…the boat was already a considerable distance from the land, blown by the waves and wind.

Late one Friday night in April, Hannah and Jayson got a call that Carter was going to be born via emergency c-section due to the birth mother’s dangerous blood pressure. He was 29 weeks gestation. Hannah and Jayson, along with our parents, dropped everything and raced to Jacksonville, Florida, where he was going to be born.

The night was pitch black and stormy. It rained—hard—the entire nine hour drive to the hospital. My mother said it was like being in a black tunnel and not being able to see an end to it. Hannah said they prayed the whole way. We prayed at home too. I didn’t have many words. I couldn’t think past “Please let him live. Let him live.”

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

It was hard to see the Lord’s hand in those moments. It was hard to understand His plan. But His plans are better than ours.

Carter Ray Sparks was born on April 19th. He weighed 2 pounds and 5 ounces.  He was fourteen inches long. He was a tiny perfect miracle.

You know, going back to the disciples in the boat, I don’t know that I would’ve been like Peter. When He realized that Jesus was not a ghost, his fear turned to a kind of longing. I imagine his heart started pounding from desire to be with the Lord instead of fear. “I’m really gonna do this. This is it. Getting out of the boat…”

“Lord, if it’s You,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

Then he got out of the boat and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

Hannah and Jayson had to step out of their comfort zone and get out on the water and trust Jesus. They went in the hospital, actually had to meet total strangers, and say, “Yes, we’re the ones who are going to be the parents of the child you just gave birth to.” They were first time parents and they took one look at their baby, who had tubes coming from all over, who could fit in their palm, who would later be on a ventilator and have a battery of tests and procedures, and knew that he was their son. He was the reason that God had planned for them to wait for so long. They hadn’t waited for years for just “a baby”. They had been waiting for Carter, their son. And now he was here. Earlier than we’d planned, but just on time with God’s plan.

But when Peter saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, cried out “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and saved him.

Carter stayed in the hospital for nine long weeks. Those weeks were full of ups and downs, like waves on a stormy sea. He went back and forth on the ventilator and had tons of poking, prodding, sticks, and tests, but overall he did great. He’s a fighter! There came a time where everyone else in the family had to go home and Hannah had to stay at the hospital all by herself in a strange city. Jayson had to go home for work. His house was empty, with no wife and baby yet. The storm was raging and the noise was pounding. Like Peter, I’m sure the noise turned their heads from Jesus a few times and they felt like they were sinking. But as soon as they called out to Jesus, He immediately reached out His hand and saved them. It may have been a good report from the doctor, a prayer with friends, a note in the mail, or just a calm assurance that He was there and He was in control.

When the disciples were out to sea and the storm was beginning to blow in, they were afraid. They couldn’t see Jesus through the storm. But guess what?

He could see them. He knew exactly where they were. And He was with them, just like He was with Jayson, Hannah, and Carter.

To be completely honest, I couldn’t figure out why God allowed Carter to be born so early after all that Hannah and Jayson had been through. There were times when I couldn’t see Him, when Hannah and Jayson couldn’t see Him in the situation, but He could see them. And He had a plan that was so perfect.

In our plan, we worried over Hannah not getting to have a baby of her own. We hated that she wouldn’t know what it was like to carry a baby, to feel it kick her tummy. In our plan, we worried and agonized when Carter was born so early. We worried when Jayson had to come back home to work. We worried about Hannah being alone. But God had a plan.

Day after day, Hannah held her little baby against her tummy when he would’ve been in another’s tummy. She got to feel him kick her ribs and her belly each day in a special time that was just for mother and baby. He got to hear Hannah and Jayson’s voices and prayers when he was only at 29 weeks gestation. Now, he turns his head to find their voice even when he’s in a room full of people. God’s plan for Hannah and Jayson was Carter, and what  a perfect plan it was!

Hannah is a brave mama.

Hannah is a brave mama.                           

“I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” 1 Samuel 1:27-28

God’s plan is so much better than our plan. Yes, it’s confusing and fearful and even painful at times. And there are some things we will not understand until we reach Heaven. But for those things, it is so comforting to know that even when we can’t see Him in our noise and storms, He can see us. And His way is better than ours.

Note: This was an older post from July 2014. Carter is now a happy, healthy, thriving one-year-old ray of sunshine who brings nothing but joy to those around him! We are so thankful for God’s plan. 

Walk To You Paige Givens, 2014 (BMI)

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A Brave Mama: Donna’s Story

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Paige Givens

When I was a child, I went to Mission Friends, and then to Girls In Action, and then on to Acteens as a teenager. Now I am in Women on Mission at my church.  These are missions curriculums that teach about missions, encourage a heart for missions, and guide prayer for missions. I learned early on who a missionary is, and how their different purposes fulfill God’s plan to take His word to a lost world.

Because I grew up in a church with a heart for missions, now I pray for missionaries. I give to missionaries. I teach about missions. And I admire missionaries. Missionaries leave the comforts of home; lots of times the comforts of a modern society. In the case of my region of the world, they leave the “Bible Belt”, where there is a church on every corner, to go and plant churches and seeds of God’s love into the hearts of people worldwide.

That takes guts, people!

So here enters Donna Carr and her story of how God called a 66-year-old mama, grandmama, and now great-grandmama to the mission field in China.

I remember being struck by Donna’s story a few years ago as she talked about how she had always had an identity of sorts. Always. She was a wife, and not just any wife! Donna was a preacher’s wife. She was a mama. And she was a kindergarten teacher (oh, my heart!).

Donna recalls a moment in 1988 when her church had a special speaker, who was a retired teacher. “She was on her way to teach in China. I thought to myself about how wonderful that would be for me to do (with scant hope of it really happening).”

This moment would come back to Donna’s heart later on as God worked on her in a marvelous way for His purpose.

Fast forward 14 years. Donna’s identities were starting to fall away one by one, she felt.

“I retired from my twenty-nine years of teaching kindergarten and my husband and I found our retirement home.” No longer called “teacher”.

“We moved on October 28, 2002, so excited to have our own home–a lifelong pastor’s wife’s dream! My husband was to retire in June 2003. On January 7, 2003, my husband of 45 and a half years entered the hospital for a heart operation to ease his constant Angina pain. After surgery, he suffered a heart attack and went home to be with His Lord.” No longer called “pastor’s wife”.

Her children were grown and had houses of their own, and even though she knew she was Mama, Donna wasn’t needed as “Mama” every single minute of the day.

“Well, here I was, in a new community, with no job. No husband to grow old with. Four children who had lives of their own to live. I felt as if my life were over, with not much left to live for. But…I had left a large part out of this sad equation…GOD. Little did I know what He had in mind for me!”

Donna continued to worship at her husband’s church without him. This was very painful to do, and she shed many tears on the ride home each week. “God led me to a new church in Corner, Alabama, five miles from my house. It was such a warm, welcoming fellowship, and I felt at peace again.”

“I was introduced to a Sunday School class as a retired teacher. It was then I met a short steamroller named Laura, who was also a retired schoolteacher. She told me of her trips to China and said I should pray about going myself. Well, I began to do just that.”

There is no such thing as a coincidence!

“God’s time is not our time, and in January 2005, I heard Him say ‘Go to China.’ Now…to tell my family. No small feat in itself, especially my 85 year old mother!”

But God provided. He provided grace for Donna and her family in the”telling” and He provided the money, and just like that, 66-year-old Donna Carr was off with Laura to Wuxi, China. How brave is that?!?

“What a summer it was–I was as close to God as I had ever been and felt I was doing His work. I left China in tears.”

“When I arrived home, Mother told me she hoped that I had that ‘nonsense’ out of my head. But I told her God had called me and until He uncalled me, I would go to China. I was priveleged to go to China four more times! My last year was in Mongolia, to which my daughter said ‘Is that as far away from home as you can go?!?'”

Donna thought she had lost her identity as a teacher, but God was using her as a teacher in China. She thought she had lost her identity as a pastor’s wife, but she has continued to carry on the legacy of the gospel like her late husband did, even as far as Mongolia! She thought she wasn’t needed to mother her offspring anymore, but she enjoys a full and busy life with her sweet family as a mama, grandmother, and great-grandmother. And now Donna has a new identity. She is called missionary as well.

She is  a brave mama! We can be brave, too, moms, no matter how old or young we feel. Donna ends by saying, “My point in this story is that God has a plan for every life, even as we grow older. God can still use us. I actually aged out of China trips recentlly but I know God has not “uncalled” me from service to Him. I will continue to listen for His word about what I can do at age 76 for His kingdom. ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord. ‘Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.’ Jeremiah 29:11”

Donna is a brave mama!

Donna is a brave mama!

Tis So Sweet Adapted by Paige Givens, 2014

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A Brave Mama: Jill’s Story

Posted on May 4, 2015 by Paige Givens

Mamas are brave. Let’s admit it…it takes a whole lot of courage to take a newborn baby out of the safe hospital into a big, scary world. It takes courage to take the little, tiny being into a public place full of germs and people and touching and noise and newness. It takes courage to bring a toddler (or two…or three) to the grocery store with you–sometimes alone–and fill your entire grocery bill, knowing that at any moment they could turn into that scary, crazy stranger toddler that screams and hollers for unknown reasons! And you’re like who is this kid?!? They were just patting your face and cuddling in your lap, and now they’re mad because they’re not in the front of the buggy!

And teenagers? It just takes courage.

It takes courage to raise up your children in the fear and admonition of the Lord in a society where “that type of raising” is becoming unpopular.

Sometimes we don’t even recognize the courage that our Maker has placed within us, mamas. But it’s there, tucked away, ready for when we need it.

One of the biggest fears for mamas is to be out of commission for some reason. We feel like we can’t get sick. We can’t take a day off. We must be available for our children, our husbands, our family. But sometimes God calls us to a journey that makes us relinquish our “glue” that we feel is holding our family together.

And letting go of that mama-glue takes a whole lot of courage!

My friend Jill is a very brave mama. She has traveled a journey that involved a Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis when she was a young mama of two preschoolers. Guess what Jill said when I asked her to write about being brave?

“But I’m not brave.”

What a humble spirit she has. I know many of us moms don’t think of ourselves as brave. But the courage is there, mama. He’s given you a special bravery, and He will give you the grace to reach deep down and pull it out just when you need it the most.

Jill is a brave mama!

Jill is a brave mama!

Here is what Jill has to say about bravery.

Bravery…what does it mean to me? 

I’ve never been a daring person. I was always afraid to be. Afraid that I would hurt someone’s feelings.  Afraid that I would get into trouble. I would always hide behind situations or people. 

I’ve had to learn to have courage, to stand tall, to face things a young mom should never have to face. 

Ten years ago I was diagnosed with MS and I was so afraid! Multiple Sclerosis is when your immune system attacks your nervous system. MS causes a lot of bad things to happen inside your body. There is a chance of paralysis and becoming blind, among many other things. 

I didn’t have time for this! I was young with a young family! God has given us two children, and at the time of my diagnosis they were two and five years old. The only person I knew that had this disease had passed away. How could this be happening to me?

Afraid? You better believe I was afraid! I felt the total opposite of bravery. I had moments of despair, anger, sadness, denial. Those feelings will just drag you through the valley of the shadow of death. 

I remember praying God how can I do this? Will I die? Will I get to see my children grow up? I had a lot of questions and a lot of things to work through, but I mainly just wanted to give up.

But after days of prayer and reading God’s word, along with encouragement from my praying family and friends, I came to this turning point. I realized that I had been placed in a battle, and like David faced his giant, I would do the same. 

Like a knight who puts on his armor to go into battle, so did I. I realized that God had already equipped me for this journey. It wasn’t the easiest thing to do, but God helped me put on my armor a little bit at a time.

You see, every single day of my life is a battle, and my battle may be different than yours, but we all fight one. 

Living life one moment at a time is a hard thing to do. You can’t do it alone. I found that out very quickly. Every minute of every hour, and every hour of every day is dependent upon my God and how He directs me. It’s a difficult journey but it’s my journey, with His armor protecting me.

No, I’m not perfect. I still don’t feel brave, but through Him I can be brave. 

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

To learn more about Multiple Sclerosis, visit www.nationalmssociety.org.

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What Do You See When You Look at the Cross?

Posted on April 2, 2015 by Paige Givens

It’s a thing of beauty, the cross. It symbolizes our freedom from ourselves. It was a necessary tool used by a skilled Carpenter to build a bridge from us to God.

We see crosses everywhere, especially during Easter. They are decorated, they are displayed, they are worn on our clothes and around our necks.

What do you see when you look at the cross? This thing of beauty is also a terrible thing. Our Savior died a cruel death upon it. The cross wore all of our sin.

There was a moment when God in His holiness could not even look at the cross. “Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?” Matthew 27:6 

God looked at the cross and He saw His Son dying. He saw His Son suffering. But He also saw us. He saw our sin. In the loss, He turned away.

It’s overwhelming to think that because of Jesus and the cross, God no longer sees my sin. When He looks at me, instead of failure, He sees success. Instead of a mean spirit, He sees gentleness. Instead of mistakes, He sees perfection. Because He sees me through the blood of Jesus, the Perfect One.

Hallelujah!

cross free

So when I look at the cross, I see Jesus. I feel sadness for what He went through, this precious Jesus. I feel anger at the unfairness of the Pharisees and the crowds who shouted “Crucify Him!” I feel shame as I realize that I put Him there.

But I also feel victory. Because of Him, I have a future. Because of the cross, sin has been defeated! Because He died, I now have life.

I pray that I never focus on the things of this world instead of looking at the cross.

I found this song in an old hymnal a few weeks ago. The lyrics just reached out and grabbed my heart and wrung it out! If you have a moment, study these words and let them speak to you the way that they did to me. What do you see when you look at the cross?

I Saw The Cross of Jesus, Frederick Whitfield (1829-1904): Public Domain                              Music written by: Paige Givens, 2015

1 I saw the cross of Jesus,
When burdened with my sin;
I sought the cross of Jesus,
To give me peace within;
I brought my soul to Jesus,
He cleansed it in His blood;
And in the cross of Jesus
I found my peace with God.

2 I love the cross of Jesus,
It tells me what I am–
A vile and guilty creature,
Saved only through the Lamb;
No righteousness nor merit,
No beauty can I plead;
Yet in the cross I glory,
My title there I read.

3 I trust the cross of Jesus,
In every trying hour,
My sure and certain refuge,
My never-failing tower;
In every fear and conflict,
I more than conqueror am;
Living, I’m safe, or dying,
Through Christ, the risen Lamb.

4 Safe in the cross of Jesus!
There let my weary heart
Still rest in peace unshaken,
Till with Him, ne’er to part;
And then in strains of glory I’ll sing His wondrous power,
Where sin can never enter,
And death is known no more.

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He Is Making All Things New

Posted on March 24, 2015 by Paige Givens

Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it?   Isaiah 43:19 HCSB

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

“The tree is waking up.”

Peyton pointed at the once barren-looking tree in the school yard. During the winter months, its branches had been empty, unadorned with offerings of beauty.

It seemed like overnight, the tree changed. We left school at the end of the day, not even pausing to glance at the tree, believing there was nothing there to see. Day after day we passed the tree, thinking about ourselves and our circumstances. Day after day the tree stood, lifting her arms to the heavens, even though she seemed empty. And I walked right by, not seeing the miracle in the tree.

The miracle was that even though the tree looked empty, there was life on the inside. God wasn’t through with the tree. He was at work, ready to make her new. We came back to school one morning to find that the “sleeping” tree was now covered in beautiful blossoms, announcing to the world that spring has arrived.

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God had given the tree a coat of spring. He makes all things new.

Do you ever feel like the winter tree? Barren, empty, exposed? Nothing to offer, no beauty for others to see? Do you remember times when you were full of life and long for those times?

God has a promise for you, friend.

“Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming.”

You may not see it coming.

“Do you not see it?”

He is making all things new.

The seasons, the times, the trees, the flowers, and yes, even you.

Lift up your branches! Get ready to bloom! He is ready to make you new!

I am working on a new song that I can’t wait to share with you! He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Psalm 40:3

He makes all things new!

How is making you new?

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Are You Martha or Mary?

Posted on March 17, 2015 by Paige Givens

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”Luke 10:38-42 (NIV)

Are you a Martha or a Mary? I can see both of them in myself sometimes.

Recently, I was part of a team that planned and prepared a women’s retreat for 63 women. When we arrived at the site of the retreat, we had a sound system to set up, materials to set out, rooms to prepare, crafts to make ready, food to arrange, and the list just went on! When the team got off the bus and got started, it seemed there was a flurry of activity as each woman set out on a mission to fulfill her task. And me? I sort of stood there for awhile…turning in circles, clasping my hands, wondering what I should do. I can take charge of a room of five-year-olds in no time, but when it comes to adults? I need to be directed! I spent a whole lot of minutes doing a bunch of nothing while these soldiers of preparedness marched away to conquer the “set up”. In that moment, I was not a Martha, though I was surrounded by women who possessed her greatest qualities!

I think Martha sometimes gets a bad rap from the story of old.  I would never disagree with our Lord when He pointed out her need, but I don’t think He did it in anger or with condemnation.

Martha was the picture of hospitality. The Bible introduces her in the most wonderful way in verse 38…”a woman named Martha opened her home to Him.” She opened up her home to our Lord! I’m sure she greeted Him at the door. She had probably been looking out the window as she stirred up the food and swept the floors (and if Mary was as I imagine her, she could’ve been humming a tune or reading a book:)). I imagine Martha ushered Him in quickly and got Him settled in the best seat. She then went on with her duties. As a matter of fact, the bible says she “got distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.”

Now this is where my Martha-ness comes in. I can easily be distracted by all of the tasks that consume my day. My family, my students, the classroom, writing, and my house all get lots of my attention during the day. Most days go by and I realize that I have stretched myself so thin that I am not paying attention to the One who is with me.

Mary paid attention to Him. She sat at His feet and listened to Him. She was so still and quiet before the Lord while the flurry of activity went on without her.

Oh, that I would be still and quiet before Him in the midst of my activities. Those moments when I stop and listen are so sweet, so peaceful. They are so worth it. They are required of me.

And yes, my house chores get left undone. My family’s clothes may be a little wrinkled. My bedtime may be pushed back later and later, or my alarm may have to be set earlier. When we make time to sit quietly with the Lord, we have to give some things up, but the rewards are far greater than the sacrifice.

When Martha noticed her sister sitting quietly, she was frustrated. She went so far as to order Jesus to tell Mary to help! Talk about a bossy sister! In her busyness, I’m sure she was tired. She was giving her all physically, and Mary was just sitting there.

I have to say, I’ve been known to just sit and  reflect while others were busy. Ask either of my sisters, and they will tell you which of the three of us is the slowest…Paige. Who is the last to get ready? Paige. Who is the last to get in the car? Paige. Who is the slowest walker? Paige.

I can’t help it! I like to look around and take it all in while I’m going from one point to the next! So I can understand Martha’s frustration with her sister. My sisters have had to urge me into action before. 🙂

I’ve thought of Jesus’ response often. He said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things,  but few things are needed—or indeed only one.”

I don’t think He was just fussing at her. I think He loved her with the same love and patience He has for all of us. I think He said her name lovingly. “Martha, Martha.” Don’t worry. Don’t be upset. Just come and sit with me. Rest awhile. 

He reminded her of the most important thing that she was neglecting…time with Him. How often does He need to remind us not to be upset or worried?  How often does He call us to just come and sit with Him to rest? How often do we miss His call?

I think He calls my name many times just as He did Martha’s. I think that sometimes I have the audacity to order Him into action as she did.

“Lord, do you not see what that person did to me? That is so unfair! Do something!”

“Lord, help me out here!”

“Lord, show me what to do!”

And He says my name lovingly. “Paige, Paige.”

Don’t worry. Don’t be upset. Just come and sit with me. Rest awhile. 

It’s okay to be a Mary, it really is. It’s okay to let the house go sometimes, to let the work wait awhile.

And if you’re a Martha, that’s okay to. He lovingly calls you by name.

Don’t worry. Don’t be upset. Just come and sit with me. Rest awhile. 

Take a listen and rest awhile, friends.

Sharing on holleygerth.com and faithalongtheway.com.

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Kindergarten + Math = Wow…Part 2

Posted on March 2, 2015 by Paige Givens

When my school became an AMSTI (Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative) school, I began to make many changes to my math instruction and my philosophy about teaching in general. I’ll be the first to admit that I like control in my classroom. I control the climate, I control the noise, I control the behavior. I learned that sometimes it’s okay to gradually shift the control of certain learning and choices from the teacher to the student. I was holding their learning so tightly in my hands that they were not able to take ownership of it at all. The ones who were ready to accelerate were forced to slow down. The ones who needed to back up and practice certain strategies were being pushed forward too fast, with no time to develop a true understanding of the skills I was teaching.

My instruction is still far from perfect. But I am finding much greater results and satisfaction in my students and in myself since I have shifted towards several practices over the last six years of teaching. It’s a long process, one that will probably never end. I think all great teachers are constantly changing to fit the needs of their students. And the results are not quickly obvious. They start out small, like a tiny bud. But then, before I know it, they are full-blooming and I am speechless by the concepts and ideas pouring out of my students.

Here are just three practices I’ve implemented that have caused my students to make me say…”Wow…”

Letting Them Do More Talking  Oooohhhhh, my, this was hard for me. When I did all of the explaining and talking, my students said what I wanted them to say when I wanted to hear it. They were quiet, they sort of seemed engaged, they were quiet, they were still, they were quiet, and they were quiet! This was good enough for me. Except that there were always students who didn’t “get it.” And then there were students who wanted to say more and I didn’t let them because that wasn’t in the “plan.” When Mrs. Byrd came to my room (read about it here), I was fascinated by the things she pulled out of my kids without actually saying anything besides some very strategically placed questions. She facilitated the learning, but the kids owned it. This was and is a skill that I continue to cultivate within myself. Facilitating the learning without taking it from the kids. I’m reminded of something I often say to my students. When I ask a question that several of them know the answer to, they are bursting to shout it out. I usually remind them to give their friends some thinking time, and that if they shout out the answer before their friends get to think it through, they are actually taking some learning away from their friends. This, essentially, is what I was doing when I was doing all of the explaining and talking during my instruction time.

If you are a teacher, I highly suggest reading the article “Never Say Anything A Kid Can Say” by Steven C. Reinhart (MATHEMATICS TEACHING IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL Copyright@ 2000 The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Inc.). This article gave me wonderful strategies for questioning during math instruction that actually worked for me. Different types of questions work for different ages and groups, but the ones that have especially been helpful to me have included the following…

*When showing two groups of objects, instead of just asking which one has more and which one shows less–and leaving it at that– I may ask, “How do you know which group has more ? What does more look like? What about this group let you know that it has more? What about less? What does less look like? Does it always look like that?”

*We have a helper that demonstrates how to count cubes for us daily. On one day, the helper may show us how to count 9 cubes. Instead of just asking how many cubes the helper counted, I may ask, “What did he do that good counters do?” Most years, the answers start out simple, like “He counted right” or “He got the right number.” But with daily practice in the routine and daily questioning–starting out with teacher questions that gradually change into more students discussion–the kids begin to say things that make my heart sing. Things like, “He counted them one at a time. He said a numeral for each cube. He counted slowly. He moved them into a line as he counted so he wouldn’t count the same cube twice.” And their ingenuity goes on and on and on.

*When a mistake happens, instead of just correcting the mistake, I simply start out the year by asking, “How can we turn this mistake into some great learning?” Perhaps a student is supposed to bring 10 bears to the counting mat but they accidentally bring 12. I usually ask the question above and the students quickly figure out that taking two bears away will leave them with 10 bears. Then, they are all eager to explain how they turned this opportunity into learning. “I looked at the number line and saw 12 was two away from ten, so I knew we had to lose two bears to get back to 10. I counted in my head and when I got to 10, I said two more numbers to get to 12, so I knew 12 was two too many. I already knew that 10 plus 2 is 12.” At the beginning of the year, when the first mistake happens, I act really excited. I tell the students, “Oh, I’m glad this happened. This happens to me all the time, and when I get mixed up, I slow down and think hard, and then I learn something new. So that means we are all about to learn something new! Get ready, guys, let’s think hard!”

Note: When I first started questioning and letting the kids do most of the talking, I was very nervous. And yes, I had several moments where I’d ask a question, and they’d just sit there and look at me like “Seriously? You’re the teacher and you don’t know this?” But I kept on, and as I grew more comfortable, so did they. Now it’s like second nature to me. It took time and practice and routine for sure where I was concerned.

Having a Math Routine This has to be one of the most important things I’ve done in my math instruction. No matter what “program” you are using, I would highly recommend finding a routine that works for you and helps you to not only “cover” the math standards for your grade, but to dig deep into the standards and help your kids gain a solid understanding of each concept. I get asked by many people, “Don’t you get tired of counting to 100 every day? How can you make doing a counting basket harder as the year goes on? Don’t the kids get bored with it?”

Counting baskets are used every day in the math routine. Students use this activity in a variety of ways to build understanding as the year goes on.

Counting baskets are used every day in the math routine. Students use this activity in a variety of ways to build understanding as the year goes on.

The answer is…it works. It works for me and has yielded a much deeper understanding of math concepts in my students. Some of the major components of our daily math routine are: Counting and Cardinality-Using the Hundreds Chart and Number Lines, Daily Data, Counting Basket and Math Journal, and Small Group/Math Stations. In the next week, I am going to go over our daily math routine in detail! 🙂

With a routine, my kids simply behave better. They know what’s on the map ahead, but they also realize that the stops today are going to look different than the stops yesterday, and they are already gearing their minds up for today’s stops. With a routine, I am held more accountable for teaching my plans and for planning my teaching. Routines work!!!!

Providing Small Group Instruction When I started small group instruction, I quickly realized what an asset this was to my individual assessment of each student. I was able to learn quickly who really grasped certain content, and who needed more help, or more enrichment. Of course, when I started small group instruction, this meant that I also started math stations (centers). I decided that I wanted my math stations to be a different format than my literacy stations, and I’ve done several different station formats. I will also be posting about the different ways the teachers in my school do math stations soon! I remember that the burning questions in my mind as I attended several math trainings years ago was, “What are the math stations going to look like in my room? Where will I put all the “stuff”? I don’t have room for another chart telling kids where to go! When will I have time to do this?” I know that stations are going to look different in every teacher’s room, because they need to work for that teacher and the particular group of students. Stations and small group instruction/intervention have been invaluable to me as a math teacher. I can’t wait to share with you all of the ideas that my friends and I have implemented! And I can’t wait to hear your ideas!

So these are my top three big ideas that seem to have transformed my math teaching and my students’ learning. What are some things you’ve done in your classroom/teaching setting that have revitalized your teaching and your students’ learning? Let us know in the comments below!

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Whiter Than Snow

Posted on February 26, 2015 by Paige Givens

We’ve got snow down here in Alabama. Some of our friends have seen up to 12 inches of snow! This is only the second deepest snow I can remember here.

Roll Tide!

Roll Tide!

Schools are out, businesses are shut down for awhile, roads are closed,  and–yes–some power has been out.

But the snow is so beautiful! Yesterday morning, our area was just a gross, rainy mess and sometime in the afternoon the rain gradually changed to big, fat snowflakes. We watched at the window, holding our breaths in case it stopped as quickly as it came. But it kept falling.

We ran outside and caught it in our faces and mouths. We made snow angels, snowmen, snow forts, and makeshift sleds.

IMG_2694

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A beach boogie board makes a good sled!

A beach boogie board makes a good sled!

And the snow kept falling.

It covered my once-cluttered back porch with a blanket of white. It covered the fields and roads with a canopy of clean. For awhile, for now, everything looks sparkly and shiny and pure.

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But this is Alabama. They are calling for it to melt by the end of the day, and our Snowmagedden ’15 will just be a memory.

My life has been cluttered and messy and gross. My heart alone is not pretty. But God has cleaned me. God tells us in Isaiah that He will make us pure. He will cover our sins with His grace.

“Come now, and let us reason together,” saith the Lord. “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”- Isaiah 1:18 (KJV)

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And the best thing about His grace? It never melts. Once it covers you, Grace is there to stay. 🙂

Whiter Than Snow (James L. Nicholson, 1872: Public Domain) Arranged and Adapted by: Paige Givens, 2015

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