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A SMASHING TALE OF FORGIVENESS!

by Principal Sue Palka | April 13, 2017

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."  John 3:16

When I first became the principal of St. Matthew Lutheran School, the white H.O.M.E. next to the parking lot was designated as the "Teacherage", and it was always part of the compensation package offered to every St. Matthew principal.  This house offered a multitude of benefits and blessings to my family, such as being close to home when I worked, no traffic congestion to deal with during my walking commute across the parking lot, having an automatic wake-up call when the garbage was picked up at 5:30 a.m., and not having to worry about finding a parking spot for church on Sundays!  In addition, my children greatly benefited from the friendships and coaching of the four extremely athletic Pastor's sons that lived next door.  As a result, I have always attributed my boys' athletic skills to these early next-door mentors.

Paid In Full

by Principal Sue Palka | March 31, 2017

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."  John 3:16

Have you ever tried to convince yourself that you were not sick?  Despite your sore throat, runny nose, aching head, have you ever made a deal with yourself that if I'm not better in two days, then I'll go to the doctor?

After playing this game with myself for two weeks, I finally wove the white flag of surrender last Sunday and went to the Urgent Care.  After a few minutes of taking deep breaths and sticking my tongue out, it was determined that I had an upper respiratory infection. A few clicks on the computer sent three prescriptions to CVS and within fifteen minutes, this lengthy two week medical issue was on the path of resolution.

The Beauty of Holland

by Principal Sue Palka | March 23, 2017

"For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

Nine years ago, I remember answering the phone and being greeted with the question... "Are you sitting down?  We just found out that we are having a baby girl and a baby boy!"  The ecstatic voice on the other end of the phone belonged to a dear family friend who we've watched grow from a little girl into a beautiful adult woman.  During her college years, she would spend the summer with us and she basically became another member of our family.  As a result, my young children would endearingly refer to her as "Kristen from the Basement", which would always generate a few puzzled looks from those who were unaware of the situation.

What An Incre-DI-ble Night!

by Principal Sue Palka | March 16, 2017

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."  Philippians 4:13
 
Last Saturday, 55 students from St. Matthew Lutheran School permeated that hallways of Waterford Mott High School to participate in the Destination Imagination Region One Tournament.  Wearing their "Do Something" themed shirts, each team was prepared to do something creative for Jesus! By the end of the day, every team did a fantastic job representing our school and our Savior.  Listed below are the results:

Exciting News!

by Principal Sue Palka | March 9, 2017

"Every good and perfect gift is from Heaven above."  James 1:7

It is with great joy that our second grade teacher, Mrs. Alicia Brown, would like to announce that the Lord is blessing her and her husband, Ryan,  with... A BABY!

We are so incredibly happy for Mr. and Mrs. Brown (and dog, Bo!) and share in their excitement!  This baby is such an incredible gift, and we so look forward to his/her arrival into our St. Matthew family!

Jesus Can Fix Anything!

by Principal Sue Palka | March 2, 2017

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."      John 3:16

If you think about some of your most treasured earthly possessions, what would they be?  Perhaps your list may include a family heirloom, a piece of jewelry from a grandparent, or a special handwritten letter?  For me, especially as my children entered into adulthood, my family photos are some of my most treasured earthly possessions.  There is a popular saying that states, "A picture is worth a thousand words," and I believe that photographers have an exceptional talent that allows them to capture treasured moments and precious memories for people. 

All School Open House with Solution Action Sports!

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."             Proverbs 22:6

Fly into the 2017/2018 school year by attending our All School Open House on Friday, March 3, 2017!

All currently enrolled students, as well as all perspective students, are invited to attend this "EXTREME" Open House, where attendants will have the opportunity to visit their next year teacher and classroom, make a family art project, and eat a light dinner.  The evening will conclude with a BMX bike stunt show, performed by Solution Action Sports.

The "Key" To Staying Positive

by Principal Sue Palka | February 16, 2017

"For we know that in all things, God works for the good for those who love Him."       Romans 8:28

Have you ever made a decision that seemed to make perfect sense at the time, only to find out shortly afterwards that there were serious flaws in your logic?

Last Sunday, we had the opportunity to celebrate Ken's mom's 80th birthday! With a guest list of approximately 60 people, we decided to utilize a party venue that was close to her home in Howell, Michigan.
 
Minutes before my son and daughter-in-law left their condo in Plymouth, they decided to take Courtney's car.  However, my son determined that the house keys on her key chain made the set of keys too bulky to fit in the pockets of his new coat so he took them off the key chain and placed them on the kitchen counter.  Courtney immediately questioned his actions, but he reassured her that everything would be fine and off they went.

Persevering Through the Tough Times

by Principal Sue Palka | February 9, 2017

"And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith."   Hebrews 12:1

Recently, I read a statistic that 72% of American homes were watching the Super Bowl on February 5th.  Were you one of them?

If so, you had the opportunity to witness one of the most amazing comebacks in Super Bowl history!  With a score of Patriots 3 to Falcons 21 at the end of the first half, I thought the game was over at the conclusion of the halftime show.  The lack of excitement from the game  served as a lullaby for Ken, so I decided to leave him asleep on the couch, and be productive by going grocery shopping.  I have to admit that as I wandered through the aisles of Kroger, it felt as if I was in a ghost town, with the exception of the employees frantically trying to restock the snack foods.

Such An Incredible Gift! Grandbaby Palka Arriving in July!

by Principal Sue Palka | February 2, 2017

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17

As a parent, you just have that keen sense of awareness when things just don't add up regarding your children's behavior... like the time my four year old brought me into our living room to show me that someone had written JOHS in very distinct Preschool handwriting on the wall. With the sweetest angelic face, he told me that his seven-year-old brother, Josh, must have done it, and I should punish him. He looked absolutely stunned as I told him that I didn't think he was telling me the whole truth.

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