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“Finally, brothers, whatever
is true, whatever is
honorable, whatever is just,
whatever is pure, whatever
is lovely, whatever is
commendable, if there is
any excellence, if there is
COVENANT PRIDE PRESS
w w w . c c s l i o n . c o m
IN THIS
ISSUE
Spiritual
Commitment in
2017
page 2
anything worthy of praise,
think about these things.”
Book Review
page 2
Philippians 4:8
Goodbye, Backseat Breakdowns!
The Best Ways to Travel With Kids in 2017
The holidays have come and gone, but many parents are still
feeling a little dazed by the whirlwind of excitement and chaos. If
you traveled during the holidays, you might be wondering now
how you could’ve done it without the Santa-Claus leverage: “If
you don’t stop poking your sister, Santa’s going to put you on the
naughty list.”
Use apps. If space in the car is an issue, bringing a kid-friendly tablet
or phone with fun or educational games will be much easier than
carrying books and games. You can still limit your child’s time on the
device, but for long car rides, such a distraction can be the difference
between breezy and breakdown.
Recipe: Polar Bear
Cookies
page 3
The Best Ways to
Travel With Kids
page 4
If you plan to travel with your young kids this year, focus on what
really counts — spending a few relaxing days away. These simple tips
will help you minimize the stress.
Pack smart. When packing your kids’ luggage, make sure the kiddos
have everything they need, but don’t overpack. Unfortunately, this
may mean having to play the bad guy when kids want to bring their
entire toy box in their suitcase. Their bag should be light and easy to
manage — and only packed with the essentials.
Strength for the
New Year
page 3
Give your kids a say. Keep your kids interested in the journey by
letting them be a part of it! Show them the path you’ll be taking. Tell
them about the place you’re going. They’ll be more excited about the
destination and more actively involved in how you get there. Seat your
kids near a window, and ask them about the people and places you see
outside.
January 2017
One CCS Adventure After Another
I first came to Covenant Classical Schools and Daycare
three years ago. I was a recent college grad who studied
biology. It was my ambition to go to medical school, but
the more I thought about it, the more I realized it wasn’t
the right path for me. As I was planning my next move, my
dad, who works as director support for all CCS campuses,
introduced me to the organization. And I was hooked.
I spent my first year as a classroom coordinator, helping
our teachers follow CCS policies and assisting wherever I
was needed. As the year went on, I found I was passionate
about my work, so I worked to progress within the
organization. For the last two years, I’ve been working
as the assistant director at the Trace Crossing campus. I
communicated with our teachers and families, making
sure everyone was happy and had what they needed. But
God had more in store for me.
I was recently promoted to be the director of the Trace
Crossing campus, and I am incredibly excited for the
opportunity. While I’ll maintain a lot of the responsibilities
I had as an assistant director, I’ll also take on more tasks.
I’ll have the chance to develop deeper relationships with
our teachers, staff, and families — not to mention our
kids! We have the best kids, and part of my job will be to
do the morning Bible reading with them.
When I’m not directing at CCS, you can usually find
me living the newlywed life, on adventures with my
husband. We were married in August, and so far,
we’ve spent as much time outdoors as possible.
We love hiking here at home; skiing in Colorado,
where we got engaged; and traveling —
we went to Europe and Croatia after we
graduated from school.
Like I said, I’m excited to continue on
my CCS journey, and I’m glad
you’re along for the ride!
Traveling with kids isn’t easy, but 2017 offers the chance to take family
travel to the next level of relaxation. Whatever you do, remember to
stay calm and focus on the memories. You’ve got this.
Alexis Neal
Director, Trace Crossing
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Covenant Classical Schools & Daycare • 1
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com
A New Year’s Habit
Commit Yourself to Spiritual Growth This Year
If you’re one of the 50 percent of Americans who view the New Year
as the perfect opportunity for positive change in your spiritual life,
you have your work cut out for you. Research from the University
of Hertfordshire in the U.K. found that 88 percent of New Year’s
resolutions don’t work out. But don’t feel discouraged! Here are three
steps you can take to help your New Year’s resolution beat the odds.
Take It One Resolution at a Time
Stanford University’s Professor Baba Shiv says people can suffer
from “cognitive overload.” The prefrontal cortex, a part of our
brains responsible for handling things like resolutions, doesn’t do
well with too many tasks. Pick just one spiritual resolution you care
about, and you’ll be more likely to succeed.
Don’t Be Abstract
Setbacks Aren’t Failures
According to Dr. BJ Fogg of Stanford University, New Year’s
resolutions tend to fail because “people aren’t picking specific
behaviors. They’re picking abstracts.” This means we’re identifying
vague destinations we want to reach without creating a map for how to
get there. It’s like wanting to follow God’s path, but not knowing how.
So with resolutions, ask yourself “how?” What action steps will you
take to get closer to God throughout the year? Try, “I’m going to join
a weekly Bible study” or “I’m going to volunteer once a month at
church.” Start with tiny steps that you can build on to become better
habits in your life. Just remember what the Bible teaches in 1 Peter:
“So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit
themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”
We’re only human, and we’re going to make mistakes. Just because
you didn’t make it to that volunteer event or had to miss that Bible
study doesn’t mean your resolution is finished. A New Year’s
resolution only fails if you stop trying.
There is something very poetic about starting good habits on the clean
slate of a new year. By taking these steps, you can make sure those
new habits stick. Commit yourself to a better relationship with God,
one step at a time.
Book Review
‘Devotional Classics’ by Richard Foster and James Bryan Smith
Strength for the New Year
Every year brings new
opportunities and new
struggles. Some people
are setting New Year’s
resolutions, while
others are resetting last
year’s. I, personally,
have the same daily
goal: to be a better
husband and father
than I was yesterday.
As I strive to grow
as a man of God for
my family, there are
endless distractions and temptations that try to lead me astray. In
order to accomplish my goal, I need God! The secular world will
pitch us motivational videos, how-to-succeed books, and multiple
strategies to improve ourselves, but without God, these things are
useless. The world tells me faith in Jesus Christ is a crutch, but I
disagree; Jesus is my stretcher! I do not lean on Him, I need Him
to carry me. Some may say it is foolish, or even weak, to put my
Character Traits
of the Month
1–2: P rudence
Many of us love having a devotional book to go along with our Bible
reading. Devotional books give us great thoughts and insights into the
word of God. But have you ever wondered what the great Christian
leaders from the past had to say about the Bible? In “Devotional
Classics,” you get just that! This devotional book gives you wonderful
readings to encourage your prayer life, your relationship with God, your
relationships with others, and your outlook on life. This book will deepen
your knowledge of God’s word, your passion for Christ, and challenge
you on how to grow as a child of God. All the while, it also gives you a
glimpse into the minds of men and women throughout the history of the
church. If you are looking for a new devotion book for 2017, “Devotional
Classics” will be a great blessing to your life.
1–9: T eachable Spirit
1–16: O bedience
1–23: D illigence
1–30: L ove
hope in a God that I cannot physically see. But 1 Corinthians 1:25
tells us, “For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the
weakness of God is stronger than men.”
Whether we are setting goals or just trying to survive our current
circumstances, we all need a “booster shot” for our faith. Whether
2016 was good or bad to you, each of us is always in need of God’s
daily and amazing grace. God has given us the precious gifts of His
word and prayer to help us through our days, and we must make
use of these. Rather than looking to the world and its strategies for
dealing with stress and anxiety, go to God in prayer and allow Him
to give peace to your soul. Instead of worrying about finances, read
and recall the words of Jesus telling us not to worry, but “seek first
the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will
be added to you,” in Matthew 6:33.
Daily, we fight this struggle to not be proud and instead to rely
on God. You are not weak for needing God, nor are you foolish.
God is a refuge for His people, and we can find our strength for
2017 in Him.
Polar Bear Cookies
Ingredients:
•
•
•
•
12 double-stuffed
sandwich cookies
36 candy-coated chocolates of
various colors
1 (12-ounce) bag white candy
melts
1 tube black icing
Directions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Lay out a sheet of parchment or wax paper to lay the cookies on once dipped.
Choose lighter colored candy-coated chocolates for the ears and brighter colors
for the noses.
Select 12 white candy melts for the muzzle and set aside. Melt the rest of the
package.
Slide the “ears” into the filling between the cookies, and dip the cookies in the
melted white candy. Use a fork to lift the cookie out and gently tap it on the side
of the bowl to remove excess chocolate. Lay the cookie on the wax paper. Place
the candy melt on as the muzzle and press in gently to form a ridge around the
muzzle. Paint a small amount of chocolate onto the “nose,” and place it higher
on the muzzle. When the cookies are dried, use the black icing to draw on the
eyes. Let dry completely before storing in a sealed container.
Makes 12 cookies.
Recipe courtesy of Tara Noland.
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Covenant Classical Schools & Daycare • 3