Category: Sowing Seeds Update

Christmas in July

7/10/2017

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? There's only 168 days until the big day. Tom and I started in May. WHAT! That's early, even for me.

This year, our newest granddaughter, Harper, my student, Jameer, and knee surgery provided inspiration and opportunity for a head start on Christmas. A couple of homemade gifts seem to be just the ticket for our grandkids, Annalyn, Parker, Gracie, and Harper.

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Author Share

1/12/2017

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What a blessing to participate in the Woodneath Library Center Author Fair last month! This was my first time to be a part of the library's event. My experience made me think it should be called "Author Share" instead of Author Fair.

Last year when Mary and I attended the fair, the library center was packed. We were hoping for big sales this year as participants. Unfortunately, it was hard not to be discouraged by the lack of crowds.

Anxiety seemed to drift around display tables right after the doors opened. Then something cool began to happen. Authors began to chat, then to share.

Wendy Elliott, a new author, of Sid the Sasquatch, told me about her experience in getting an illustrator, its rewards and challenges. The bonus was adding Sid to my personal read aloud library for school. It's a terrific story of acceptance and friendship. Students are enjoying the lessons Sid has to teach them.

Another event neighbor, Ann Ingalls, was candid about the return on kids' books when going through a traditional publisher, and unpredictable timelines.

Ann is a prolific writer in a variety of genres for kids. Her biggest piece of advice was to never give up on a manuscript you believe in.

As I talked to more authors, I heard the same messages over and over:

Authors learn most/best from each other and, they typically enjoy helping other writers.
Don't get discouraged. Sometimes a book and a publisher just aren't a good match.
Relationships are crucial, reaching out to readers, making connections.

Hmmm? That sounds familiar.

Take the teachings that you heard me proclaim in the presence of many witnesses, and entrust them to reliable people, who will be able to teach others also.
2 Timothy 2:2 GNT

And so encourage one another and help one another, just as you are now doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 GNT

Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’
Matthew 22: 37-39 MSG

Dear Reader, I like to think of you and I as penpals. There's a couple of things I've learned about you. I've learned that you love the Lord, and sharing his love with others. Many of you seem to connect with kids.

Well, guess what? Life with Bobby and Bonnie was written with you in mind. Take a look at what some other folks who minister to kids have to say about it:

By
Colleen Grantham
This review is from: Life with Bobby and Bonnie: (Tales from the Hood through the Eyes of the Wood) (Kindle Edition)
I love how the short stories in this book use the darling personalities of two rambunctious twin bunnies to teach meaningful life lessons through typical childhood experiences. The bunnies learn valuable lessons about kindness, fairness, friendship, and much more. These are wonderful stories to share with children or just to read as an adult to put a smile on your face.

By
John S. Turner Jr.
This review is from: Life with Bobby and Bonnie (Paperback)
This is a sweet book about the "real life" adventures of a bunny family. It is a great read aloud book for children with encouraging, positive messages about making good decisions in the ups and downs of life. Kids will see themselves in Bonnie and Bobby, and will learn valuable Bible truths as they read or are read to.

More reviews are available using this Amazon link.

Whether it's for your kids, grandkids, students, or Sunday School class, Life with Bobby and Bonnie, a resource for sharing the love, hope, and forgiveness in Christ, is bound to bless you and the kids! Christmas and the Author Fair may be over, but the season of giving is year round.

And your purchase is win-win. Not only does Life with Bobby and Bonnie provide engaging stories to spark questions and discussion for elementary kids, but for every two books purchased, one can be purchased to give to an at risk kid.

The Author Fair was a lot of fun, but it turns out it wasn't about selling or buying books at all. It was about looking, listening, and learning from those around me, and from the Father of us all.

Dear Reader, I pray you will be blessed as you learn from and about Jesus, and share with those around you, especially the kids in your world. What are some resources you've found effective in sharing God's love? What makes them effective?

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Tea and Grace

11/18/2016

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What a blessing it was to attend the Ladies Tea at Grace United Methodist Church (UMC) in Lee's Summit earlier this month! Tom and I have been to fine restaurants where we didn't receive as much delightful service.

It was a pleasure to watch and listen to the women as they worked together setting tables, and arranging sweets and savory treats. I was surprised to learn it was only their third annual tea. It was obvious they had worked together on other projects, and were focused on a common goal.

It didn't take Annalyn and I long to set up our book signing table. We had fun shopping the other vendors and came away with a couple of Christmas gifts for my big girls.

As the guests began arriving, the organizers were very cordial and made sure Annalyn and I had our own plate of goodies, and plenty to drink. Fancy finger foods . . . yum!

Jesus took the five loaves and two fish. He looked up to the sky and thanked God for the food. Then he broke the bread into pieces, which he gave to his followers to distribute to the people. Then he divided the two fish among everyone there.
Mark 6:41 ERV

I think Annalyn did a super job snapping this of our table and new friends!

The service and food were terrific. Having the most book sales of any of my book signings was pretty sweet.(Order your Christmas copies of Life with Bobby and Bonnie today for those special kids in your life.) The absolute best part was meeting some amazing new friends, like Roxana and her granddaughter, Aiden.

The ladies at Grace UMC certainly did show their church is appropriately named. Annalyn and I had a wonderful time, and are only sad we'll have to wait a year for their next one.

In the meantime, if your church or organization is hosting a gathering or bazaar that welcomes vendors, I'd love to hear from you. The only thing better than sharing the gospel, is getting to know God's children!

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him. And he will eat with me.
Revelation 3:20 ICB

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The Great Pumpkin Revisited

11/11/2016

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My fourth grade friends and I are learning a lot about writing during our weekly writing lessons. Shhh! What my young friends don't know is the more I have to break down and explain writing strategies, the better I understand how to integrate them into my personal writing. It's win-win, with everyone learning.

It's also a lot of fun getting to know them as individuals. On Halloween I offered to cover their teacher's plan period so the students and I could have a little recreation together.

It blew my mind that only three kiddos out of 20 said they'd seen "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!" Sprawled on the floor to watch this classic, they were soon actually rolling on the floor. It was GREAT to listen to their laughter and pleasure!

Afterwards, I thought about the timeless lessons of this half-century old holiday special. Charlie Brown's devotion to his trusting friend is tremendous! Sally's loyalty is inspiring. (Yes,well, she does kind of flip out at the end, but initially her intentions were good.)

We can probably agree that even if Lucy is a cynical bully,but she's also consistent.(Now, if Charlie Brown could get a handle on that one, maybe his life could be slightly better.)

And who doesn't love Snoopy, the flying ace? He reminds us to dream and to dream big. I, for one, can use a little of that kind of encouragement fairly often.

Would anybody think it weird if I watched Charles Schultz's ode to Halloween and friendship at least once a month?

Here's a sampling of what God's Word has to say about the value of friends:

Friends come and friends go,but a true friend sticks by you like family.
Proverbs 18:24 (MSG)

A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.
Proverbs 17:1 (AMP)

The greatest love people can show is to die for their friends.
John 15:13 ERV

Dear Reader, I pray you have at least one friend with the devotion of Charlie Brown. How have you seen loyalty demonstrated in relationships lately? What inspires loyalty in you?

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The Gift of Dog-Eared Pages

11/4/2016

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For the past few weeks, I've been happily going to visit my 4th grade friends on Wednesday afternoons. It's exciting when kids and adults learn from each other. I've begun setting my timer because my young friends and I get so absorbed in exploring the craft of writing.

To help students explore the text, I donated a handful of copies of Life with Bobby and Bonnie to their classroom. The books lay dormant for the first couple of weeks, then they began showing up on desks.

Last week I was glad to see all the copies scattered around the room. A frown darted across my forehead when I noticed some of the pages were dog-eared. Covers were definitely starting to show the effects of handling.

Dear Reader, I'm embarrassed to admit I was initially aggravated at the students' seeming disrespect for a book (especially my book, of course). But God is so good. He doesn't want to leave us in the place called "Self". Jesus spelled it out for us up front:

Then Jesus called the crowd and his followers to him. He said, “Any of you who want to be my follower must stop thinking about yourself and what you want. You must be willing to carry the cross that is given to you for following me.
Mark 8:34 ERV

What I thought was a gift to the class, was turning into a gift to me. If I think I'm writing Bobby and Bonnie's stories to share the gospel with kids, why would I want copies of Life with Bobby and Bonnie to stay bookstore pristine? What was I thinking?

Thanksgiving began bubbling up in my spirit in a new way. I was no longer thankful just for the stories and talents I believe the Lord has blessed me with. The greater gift is in the giving. Dog-eared pages meant students were reading about God's great gifts of love, hope, and forgiveness.

I continue to be a work in progress. Continue to be thankful for God's word. And continue to be thankful he plainly spells out his expectations:

3 When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide. Be humble and give more honor to others than to yourselves. 4 Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others.
Philippians 2:3-4 ICB

How about you, Dear Reader? In what unexpected way has God gifted you recently?

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Sowing Seeds Update

10/28/2016

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Welcome back to another Sowing Seeds Update! Allie's Kids (that's me) is thrilled to be busy doing what I believe to be God's work for me.

Using Life with Bobby and Bonnie as inspiration for writi ng curriculum has been fun. My pilot 4th grade group seem to enjoy Bobby and Bonnie as much as I do, using the text and writing lessons.

In September, I got to meet lots of new folks, give away bunny cookies, and sell books at Children's Orchard. Next Saturday, the Bunnys and I are off to Grace United Methodist Church in Lee's Summit, MO, for their annual Fall Tea. I can't wait to pick up some ideas from the ladies' tea for our annual Friends and Family Tea next spring.

For the Fall Tea at UMC, I've been rethinking the bunny cookies. Making the cookies did remind me of why I do what I do: I love the Lord, and I love his kids! Don't get me wrong, it's not that the vision has dimmed. But my pragmatic and Econ 101 brain ("time is money") reminded me that I don't have to bake cookies to show my love.

With all the delightful treats the ladies are planning, I may skip the cookies. Maybe I'll pass out bookmarks instead. Either way, I'm looking forward to the new lessons in sharing his word God has planned for me!

If your church or school in the Kansas City area is having a FALL FESTIVAL, and accepts outside vendors, would you please let me know? It's easy to contact me about your festival in the Kansas City area:

use the Comment box
message me on Facebook (just click on the button at the top of the page)
email me at avwalters55@gmail.com

Please include the following information: date, location, and contact information for the festival coordinators.

2 And the Lord answered me:
“Write the vision;
    make it plain upon tablets,
    so he may run who reads it.
3 For still the vision awaits its time;
    it hastens to the end—it will not lie.
If it seem slow, wait for it;
    it will surely come, it will not delay.
(Habakkuk 2:2-3)

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Three Lessons They're Teaching the Teacher

10/21/2016

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Dear Reader, I am having so much fun working with my 4th grade pilot group! Some teachers last spring inspired me to create a writing unit based on Life with Bobby and Bonnie.

My 4th grade friends and I are using the text and writing unit to become better writers. My young pilots are also teaching me a lot about sharing the gospel.

Remember not all
soil is fertile.

You never know who's going to "get it", so keep on sharing.

Celebrate when your message falls on fertile soil.

Each one of us did the work God gave us to do. 6 I planted the seed and Apollos watered it. But God is the one who made the seed grow. 7 So the one who plants is not important, and the one who waters is not important. Only God is important, because he is the one who makes things grow.
1 Corinthians 3: 5b-7

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Sowing Seeds Update 10/14/16

10/14/2016

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Sowing Seeds Update 10/7

10/7/2016

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Sowing Seeds Update 9/30

9/30/2016

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Do you enjoy public speaking? I love talking to groups. I have a blast sharing about something I'm passionate about, like kids and Jesus!

The word on the street from writing colleagues is that a wonderful way to build platform is through public speaking. Great! Topics and presentations are the easy part. Making connections has been a little more challenging so far. But speaking up for kids who have little or no voice is worth it!

Are you in, or connected to, a PARENT GROUP, maybe MOPS or PTO? I'm looking for parent groups to share some of what I've learned, during more than thirty years as a parent and educator, about kids and families. Topics ready for sharing include:

kids and chores
time management with kids
changing priorities as a parent
the loss of a child

I'm excited to share and learn with families who are as passionate about kids as I am! Please take a look at the presentation title slides link, and feel free to share it.
Alice Walters's Parent Group Presentations

It's easy to let me know about a group in the Kansas City area where I may share and serve.

use the Comment box
message me on Facebook (just click on the button at the top of the page)
email me at avwalters55@gmail.com

Please include the following information: name of group, location, contact information for coordinator.

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<<Previous

Christmas in July

Author Share

Tea and Grace

The Great Pumpkin Revisited

The Gift of Dog-Eared Pages

Sowing Seeds Update

Three Lessons They're Teaching the Teacher

Sowing Seeds Update 10/14/16

Sowing Seeds Update 10/7

Sowing Seeds Update 9/30

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