Students I've been working on my prudence or wisdom. It's a lifelong process. I hope you are working on yours everyday as well. Today's virtue is going to be temperance. Do you remember in American history when we talked about Prohibition? That's right, it is when the word temperance became popular aka the temperance movement. It's when alcohol was illegal and people became bootleggers as well as rich. We want to look at a different definition of temperance today...

Welcome students to day fourteen! Our last assignment was to have mercy on people who are hard to deal with. I hope you had some success. If you didn't, you need to keep trying. In the next lessons we are going to get a tune up on our hearts. In order for us to put good out into the world, we have to have strong hearts...

Be merciful, just as your father is merciful. Luke: 36 Welcome to day 13 students! Today I was reminded to be merciful. I know that the 40 days of Lent that we are sharing we want to pour out Mercy for others. Do you remember a time when you were showed Mercy? As a student you may have been given more time to complete an assignment. ...

This weekend I've been having a grand time! I have enjoyed my family and especially my grandchildren. March is also a busy time for me because I love college basketball. When basketball games are on, we watch as a family. This is one of the reasons students that my blog is late. But have no fear I will catch up...

Happy Saint Patrick's Day! People all over the world celebrate this day. Students do you know where the holiday has its roots? That's right front row the Roman Catholic faith. Catholics believe in the communion of saints. That is that some people have lived holy lives and are canonized as saints. ...

Happy Friday! Students today we have shared 10 days together. Time really flies when you're having fun, right back row? We have a list of things that we need to do. Those things will create a lot of goodness and light. Examine your heart. Does it feel a little lighter? I know that my heart does just by being able to teach...

Matthew 7:7&8 The Answer to Prayers. 7 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened...

Only 32 more days to go in our adventure! Did you do your homework? Are you still working on it today? If you are that's totally fine. Don't forget the other tasks that go with this unit: healthy choices, not judging others, pray for those that you have negative thoughts about, avoiding temptation, and having a forgiving heart. Can you imagine how much good will be put into the world after these 40 days?...

Students, welcome to day 7 of our adventure. I hope you are figuring out who you are. I hope you are trying to be the best you you could possibly be. All of our assignments are designed to help us. Yesterday you had to think of five things that you like and five things that you don't like. Back row I know you think that this is a silly assignment but in order to know who you are you have to know what you like and what you don't like...

Happy Monday students! I hope you are completing all of your assignments. Today you were supposed to listen to your heart and start fighting temptations. We've come a long way in 6 days. These forty days are going to be like mathematics. They will culminate or build on one another. ...

Luke 4:1-13 Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert and was tempted Happy Sunday students! Sundays are always busy for me. I go to church early and teach the high school religion class and then attend church. After that we always share a meal together with family. ...

Luke 5:27-32 I did not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners. Students we have made it four days! Today reading this verse I always chuckle. We are so like the Pharisees. We want to point out all the dusty old sinners. Or say things like, "Why are you hanging out with those people?" Sometimes when we get a little bit of religion we get a whole lot of self-righteousness. ...

True Fasting Isaiah 58:5-9 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—...

Psalm 51 (50):12 Create a pure heart for me, O God; / renew a steadfast spirit within me. Yesterday we kicked off our Lenten season with Ash Wednesday. Remember students we are focusing on our hearts. Did you do your homework? As I read and studied this morning this verse popped up! This happens to me very often. ...

Rend your hearts, not your garments. "Even now, says the Lord, / return to me with your whole heart, / with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; / Rend your hearts, not your garments, / and return to the Lord, your God."...

In my mind today, I've had so much going on since January. All of it hasn't been pleasant. I know you have been thinking Ms. Alley must be on a sabbatical. I promise I'm going to try to write more using the new technology. I've been avoiding it because of my lack of strength in my arms and hands...

In my mind today I am thinking about brokenness. Students, today is a hard lesson for me. I'm struggling to type with my eyes. My arms and hands are now broken. I have been so angry and sad because I can't type with ease. I am broken. This reflection is not about me. ...

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. —John 14: 27 In my mind today, I'm thinking of the new year and all it will hold. I want it to hold peace for us all. Peace in our homes. Peace for the sick and elderly. Peace for the neglected children. Peace...

Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God… Isaiah 35: 3-4 In my mind today, I'm going through lists: bills, cards, church events, and gifts list. ...

Zacchaeus. . . was seeking to see who Jesus was. (Luke 19:2, 3) In my mind, I've been troubled. I, Sal the Sinful Gal, have sinned in what I've done and what I failed to do. Who wouldn't choose to laugh and party with the sinners instead of moping around crying with the Saints, right? Yes back row close your mouths, Sal is not a Saint. ...