LEARNING THROUGH THE SENSES

We often think of the brain as our learning tool, though it is actually our senses - sight, sound, touch, smell and taste - that collect the information that our brain then processes. If one of the senses is not functioning appropriately, the learning process can be compromised.

Many people may also have sensory sensitivity with one or more of their senses. There is the child who covers her eyes whenever she hears a loud noise, the child who chronically complains that his clothes are too “scratchy”, and the child who squints or covers her eyes when in the sunlight. Sometimes children will respond with challenging behaviors when their environment poses sensory overstimulation. Fortunately, environments can be adapted to help manage sensory sensitivity so that children are able to learning and feel comfortable in their environment.

If you have any questions in this subject, please feel free to contact us.

Katherine Generaux, Community Inclusion Director

Leaving a legacy

Last week was quite a scary week for me.  My husband was in a pretty bad car wreck where he rolled his work van.  We were blessed that he walked away with only a few injuries that will heal with time.   

 After the scare of Wednesday, I needed some "me time" to reflect and worship, so I did one of my favorite things, went for a bicycle ride.  I have a basket on the front of my bike where I place my cell phone as it plays my worship music.  I ride all over China Grove, where I have grown up.  Along my path, is a vacant home of a lady that I well remember.  She served on our town board and loved to work in her yard.  Her yard was always immaculate, but not anymore.  She is well known in our community for her fight with the town about all of the squirrels in her yard.  If you ask anyone, what they remember her for, they would laugh and say, "the squirrel lady".  

Between my husband's close call and riding past this vacant home; one of my favorite songs came to mind:

Legacy by Nichole Nordeman 

 What legacy will you leave?  How will they remember you?

Partners In Learning 30 Day Prayer Challenge

Lately our PIL family has experienced several hardships (Laura Medford, Jacob Usher, Jammie Wale, Mark Honeycutt, and others maybe not spoken of) 

I invite everyone who will for a: 

PIL 30 day prayer challenge

Starting now through Feb. 6^th 

I am asking for each of you to pray for our PIL staff, children, and extended family, for God’s protection and guidance and his love through us to shine to others.

 1 John 5:14-15 (Message Translation) 

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if he know that he hears us whatever we ask we know that we have what we asked of him.

Michelle Macon, Program Coordinator

BABIES IMPACT MORE CONTROL OVER THEIR ENVIRONMENT THAN YOU’D THINK!



My husband and I bundled up the grandchildren and took them for a walk last weekend.  Izabela, 13 months old, was content to experience the excursion from her push car until she realized she was the only one not walking, and she demanded out.   With her short little legs, she maneuvered slowly up the hill, so I lagged behind with her.    

Iza’s four-year-old brother, Peter took possession of the push-car.  At the top of the hill, he asked his Grandfather to walk down the hill and “catch him”.  Peter raced down the hill, with his six-year-old sister running beside him.   What both older children failed to notice was the creek.

Pokey little Iza; however, DID discover the creek.  She stopped, looked at the creek and then down the hill at her siblings.  It’s clear that she wanted to alert the older children to this great opportunity for play and mischief.   But what could she do, this baby with practically no language skills?  Well, she looked toward her siblings and said, “Oh NO!” and this got their attention

Iza’s little body was vibrating with excitement, because both her older siblings were looking at her. But what would she do now? I was very curious to see how this scenario would play itself out. Then, Iza took two steps toward the creek, pointed a chubby little finger at it and repeated, “Oh NO!” Both siblings responded by running back up the path to learn what Iza had discovered. Iza was delighted; thrilled that she was able to accomplish this.

If you think that babies are helpless little creatures that have no control over their environment, spend a little time observing one. You’ll be surprised.

Katherine Generaux, Community Inclusion Director

New Year, New Life, New Opportunities

On December 15th, I was blessed with my fourth grandchild, Braylyn Lake Honeycutt. It was so exciting to see my son and his wife have their first child. I took a minute to ask them what their hopes and dreams were for their precious Braylyn. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebg0MX_z378&context=C32e3211ADOEgsToPDskLhrmSP0fP1JuatWuBQh_E2
They want her to have everything she needs in life, be healthy, and become a good person.

As I reflected on raising my five children, something that I had heard years ago came to mind. The Greatest Gift You Can Give Your Children is a Strong Marriage! This young couple will find that giving this gift will be the most challenging of all and statistics prove it:

Of all children born to married parents this year, fifty percent will experience the divorce of their parents before they reach their 18th birthday. (Fagan, Fitzgerald, Rector, “The Effects of Divorce On America)

The best advise I can give my son is to ensure that they make their faith the cornerstone of their marriage, have a regular date night and protect their couple time together at home. This will not be easy as little Braylyn becomes the center of their world, but all of the effort they put forth will pay off in having all of their dreams for her come true!

Norma W. Honeycutt, Executive Director and Nana