15 Bible Verses for Overcoming Fear via Meditation with Scripture

These are unique times. Historic. Landmark. Unprecedented. 

If you've ever had any issues with anxiety, the realities of daily news announcements and updates regarding the growth of the world pandemic are undoubtedly upsetting. At what point did you become concerned? 

Everything became very REAL for me, with the dual notice that Tom Hanks and his wife had contracted the virus -- coupled with seeing the empty toilet paper shelves in each of our stores. The virus suddenly had a 'face' and all expectations that things could remain the same had vaporized. Simultaneously.

We have officially entered the unknown. 

My husband and I are in the higher risk category due to our age bracket and with his heart issues that puts us into the underlying compromised health category as well. We have decided to 'self-seclude' and will be staying very close to home. No dancing. No DoWopWednesday. No yoga. No Harry Connick Jr. concert. No first time ever to go to the Masters Tournament. And for me professionally? No giving the conference keynote in Massachusetts. 

We didn't go to church this morning. Tough decision to make. Necessary. Life is indeed different. Already.

I am dealing with all of these changes to our schedule/routines and the myriad of unknowns by meditating on my favorite scripture verses. I recite them to myself as I go to sleep every night. I started with my one (AND ONLY) memory verse and then added the Lord's prayer. I start each new day by going through those same memory verses. Bookends to my day.

[SPOILER ALERT: In the two months since I started this practice of meditating on scripture passages, I have gone from my original set of two verses, to NOW BEING ABLE TO RECITE 100 VERSES!!!!   I'll have to write more on that process at another point in time, but for now, let me just say YES! ONE HUNDRED VERSES!!]

I've also been spending time in my 'scripture collection' of my photos, where I have added a Bible verse in print to embellish the image. I have spent this weekend going through my favorites and creating some new ones. 

My hope is that by sharing these images with you here, they may offer you support as well. 

When in doubt, start with the classic: 
"Be still and know that I am God." 

All of the photos above I have taken over our summers in Door County, Wisconsin.

The two Saguaro cactus photos that follow are from our Cabo trip last fall. 

The water lilies are from right here where we live in Vero Beach, FL. 

I have written a prayer integrating these favorite scripture verse, into the prayer itself. 

Spring Ceramics: Bird Nests with Eggs

Spring has Sprung and Countdowns Have BEGUN!

As far as I am concerned, the school year is over. Yesterday I had the unique experience of traveling to THREE different elementary buildings and making my author/illustrator presentations to students in PreK through third graders at each building! Thank goodness we had a guide, because we were off the grid a tad and the schedule was cutting it close. I took as many pictures as possible, but these just melted my heart. 

Look at these little clay eggs in the nest. 

No matter if you teach Preschool or third grade, {or even junior high!!!} the students that come into your life at the beginning of your school year are your 'babes' your 'peeps' your 'monsters' your 'stars' your 'friends'....... 

whatever the euphemism, they are in your heart. They are little eggs in the proverbial nest. Even though they have been assigned to you, they are yours forever.

The seasons change. The routines are learned. 

The students grow. 

The birthdays are celebrated. 

As the year winds down it is indeed amazing to reflect back over all of the growth that has amassed. 

Children that started the year in tears at the thought of crossing your threshold are now back to tears at the thought of leaving you. Somehow that all transpired in about 172 days. You have showered them with a blanket of care and concern and your classroom has indeed become their second home. A place of trust and learning. A harbor in the storm. A repository of memories made and learning treasured. 

It is now time for the little 'egglets' to hatch and fly on to their next adventure. 

There will be more than a few tears shed during the coming weeks. 

There's so much to do! 

So many loose ends to tie up. 

So much documenting to attend to. 

As you wish well each little pup. 

I have a digital file of three VERY simple little songs. 

EXTREMELY appropo for PreK 

Still fun for these fleeting K moments, too. 

[Click the pic to jump to Teachers Pay Teachers for an immediate purchase.] 

As we travel across the countryside this morning, 
I was literally stopped in our tracks by this mama and her fledglings, 
navigating initially across the parking lot. 

Then came the extreme 'corner' transition, from paved way to grass. 
GRADUATION of sorts! 
Mama went right up that corner without missing a beat. 
I had no idea how those littles were going to shimmy up the steep incline to rejoin her on their way to water. 
I was fascinated. 
They waited their turn! 

Those feathered fluff balls squirmed and waddled and up they went! 
Some were completely 'ready' and up they hopped
on the first heartbeat. 

Others awaited their turn only to stand still and show their concern. 
Some were prompted from behind. 
Others were prompted from ahead. 

In the end? 
EACH made it over the 'hurdle' at hand, 
leaving the paved and foreign for the reward of their natural homestead.

Mama duckling continued her march forward without an apparent look over her shoulder at the progress of her peeps.  

The role of teacher is different from that of mama. 
Teachers are emotionally invested for certain. 
They also have the absolute trust and certainty that their charges will make their way. 

I learned a lot by watching the feathered wonder. 
She led by example. 
She trusted her brood. 
They responded. 
They rose to her expectations. 

Here's a couple of glimmers from our Mother's Day weekend with my own peeps. Our son-in-law is again deployed over to the 'desert' and so I was especially glad that we could be with our Mama Duck. 

I include these here for my own Mama Duck! 

This next set of images was taken at our final moment together. 
At the bus stop. 
{WonderBoy catches the early morning trip.} 
This is sunny late morning for the WonderTwins trek to afternoon kindergarten. 
It may well be the last half-day kindergarten ANYwhere! 
Full day is not an option for them, in their rural district. 
Can you believe it? 
We were all thrilled to have the sunshine return. 

An Easter Gift: "God Did" Mp3

EASTER GIFTS at the OCEAN

I have an Easter gift for you. 

"God Did" is now in a new zipped file with an Mp3!

Stay tuned to receive your free Easter edition.   

Today is a day of transition for us.

It's also a day of reflection and gift giving. 

Our snowbird status along the sand has now ended and we must say goodbye to "Uncle Randy's Ocean." To some it may be better known as the Atlantic. To those in our Fiedler-clan, it is "Uncle Randy's." It was dubbed as such by the Wonder-Twinzees last year during their inaugural splash, when he first introduced them, and they have kept that moniker ever since. So have we.

We have literally been counting these final days as though they are the last bits of sand in the hour-glass. Indeed. We have walked daily along the shore and found delight with each intoxicating stroll. Splash and sand. Sparkle and salt. Sweetness. Solitude. Serendipity. Strength. Sustenance. 

I'm easily entertained and am enthralled to watch the waves crash or lap -- whatever the speed du jour entails. Seeing a kite literally-go-sailing overhead makes my day. 

Nothing in all of my beach romping prepared me for our communion during the 'Pelican Parade.' That day was one of grayness, shade-upon-shade and variations of mono-chrome, when we went out zipped into windbreakers and the sand had a sting. 

Walking south Allen pointed out a short column of pelicans as they flew past us, arriving over our shoulders and seemingly headed to Miami or beyond. I smiled, grabbing my camera much too late. Like a child I called to them, long after they'd passed, "Come back, I'm ready now." Honest to goodness. Against all odds they made a U-turn in unison! And then the most unbelievable thing happened. They were joined by friends. 

For about ten minutes we were observers of the most incredible pelican pageant  ever witnessed on the planet. Right over our heads those first few were joined by dozens and dozens of their Pelican peers. Swooping and cavorting. Sometimes headed out to sea, but coming back to us again and again. Pelicans in precision returning to us. It was like doing that Jr. High Grand March when we'd circle the gym by twos, then fours, then eights, then sixteen wide and then eights and fours to start all over again. Not the Virginia Reel exactly, but orchestrated. 

They peeled and careened. Sometimes in sectionals, sometimes as a POD. (I looked that term up; thank you Google.) I was squealing and clicking. There was one other couple who came running to join us on our holy spot and he attempted to film the spectacle. My camera batteries expired mid-pomp presentation and I was reduced to tears to watch the conclusion with my heart as the lens. Memories. Sand. Hourglass. Memories. 

[That single picture above has the most pelicans in one pose. I can count 27. Even conservative Allen thinks this was less than half that arrived for the jamboree. What were they doing? Note-to-self: It never hurts to ask the wildlife to come out and play for you. Apparently on occasion they are willing.] 

How many sunny day pictures of a beach am I permitted per article? I have several hundred to choose. 

But back to Easter and your gift. Years back I was inspired by the predecessors of these unending waves to write one of my ditties, entitled "God Did." It's 'more' that a dittie.... it's a full blown song, even an anthem. I wrote it at the time of my third CD. I decided to include it as the final track at that time. 

I virtually never get to teach it at conferences. The subject would not be welcome in many school settings. This winter I had the opportunity to deliver the keynote at both FL and TN UMAP (United Methodist Association of Preschools) and guess what? I taught them "God Did." 

In my imagination I hear it being performed at the end of the Sunday School year with a children's choir backed up by the adult choir. The final coda is something for harmony and a soloist perhaps.... that's how we did it in the recording studio. In a perfect world there would be a cello playing. 

Now that I have a store within Teachers Pay Teachers, I've been oh-so-gradually learning how to create zipped files that include a copy of my song in an Mp3 version. This morning I dusted off the Power-Point slides that I created for the UMAP events. I want to give you this song as my Easter gift. It will be free from now through Sunday night. A simple click will take you directly over to TpT to receive your Easter gift, "God Did." 

After Easter I will charge a nominal fee for your instant download TpT purchase. 

My goal is always to share my work with an ever expanding audience. Legacy. Easter blessings. To that end I launched the collaborative blog, "PreK+K Sharing" a a place for excellence-in-early education. Earlier this year we launched our own Early Education Emporium -- as a shopping experience. I will have it there, after Easter as a FREEBIE for the foreseeable future. This is a thank you to my regular readers for your continued support and encouragement.

The car is packed. The kayak is tied down. The bike is on the back and every square inch of space is filled with our nomadic life. Tomorrow I have a school visit over on the Gulf side and then we will celebrate the Easter weekend with our Denver Clement crew and the four Rocky-Mountain Wonders. 

Wishing you a reflective and joyous weekend. 

 -- Debbie --

New Year Waves + Early Education Emporium!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

Brilliant number thirteen has arrived. 

The Mayans never envisioned this day. 

What will you make of the blank slate ahead that is 2013? 

I wish you oodles of blue skies. 

We have a HUGE announcement to make over at our collaborative blog -- 
PreK+K Sharing

to launch this new year. 

We have JUST opened a sweet-cyber-super-store of resources for this amazing group of youngest learners.

The authors and our friends are gathering our goodies together.  

We believe so strongly in laying a firm foundation

and we want to offer our best. 

We are launching our very own

EARLY EDUCATION EMPORIUM 

with the fireworks of a new year!

Yes. You're welcome to shop in your jammies!
As I type, we have 12 different contributors 
with over 40 products available. 
By the day's end, I predict even MORE! 

Come visit us over there at the collaborative blog for all the details
(published at 6:00 a.m EST: Jan 1st.) 
HINT-HINT: There are prizes for your participation.

Come visit us over here at the 'super-store' EEE. 

You're welcome to shop from our contributors or.... 

JOIN US under our umbrella --with your own store-front!

-- Debbie -- 

Happy Thanksgiving: Images of Inspiration

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to one and all. 

I hope that your day is filled with blessings and the opportunity to count them. I've gathered up some of my favorite images from the past to share with you today and offer my gratitude for your support over these past months (and years) together. I am so grateful for all I've learned and all who have graciously encouraged me.

Plant and Harvest and Plant AGAIN!

It's such joy to learn more about photography and to travel, take these photos and then search for the 'perfect' quote to bring them to life.  I hope that they offer you some inspiration on this day of thankfulness. Enjoy my little retrospective. I had fun looking back, gathering these images and celebrating all over again.

Makes me smile with gratitude to have captured this image

Give Thanks for Those in Your World

Rainbow Hope

It's time to dance!

Rainbow Words of Faith

Door County Sunset #179

Door County Sunset #3207

My Original Art in Response to "Go Bo" Campaign for Childhood Cancer

Would you be kind enough to pin or tweet or share your favorite?
That will send out ripples to new eyes. 
Someone may be searching for some encouragement today. 

THANK YOU.

-- Debbie --