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Classes begin AUGUST 20 for 3s and 4s!  Don't miss out on this extraordinary learning experience.

 

1st Step Learning Center 

 

For more information, contact Kim@troyumc.org or call 618-667-6241

1st Step Learning Center Rocks

Little did I know four years ago after visiting a local park would a glimpse of a church sign in my peripheral vision change the lives of both my children and our family. The sign read, “1st Step Learning Center, Enrolling Now.” With a three-year-old and 1-yr-old in the backseat at the time, I hastily dug through the mess on my front seat to find a pen and paper in order to copy the number listed on the sign. When I returned home, I made the call and spoke (or rather quizzed) Kim McGrath, Director. When I heard weekly chapel, daily music, curriculum, physical education, Centers Room, progress reports, weekly newsletters, visits from the zoo, Rodeo Day, Grandparents Night, Parents Night, etc., I was more than sold; my daughter and (after a few phone calls) two of her friends were registered. My family and I feel blessed to have had our children experience this ministry of Troy United Methodist Church. In our case, though, we are “graduating” with not only an outstanding preschool experience, but also many new friends and a church we consider home. 

Courtney Winkler 

Connect with Cathy "Miss Cathy" Lynn

RUBY: How long have you attended Troy United Methodist Church?

About 17 years

RUBY: What drew you to this church?

They offered a lot of activities, especially for our children

RUBY: Which service do you typically attend?

9:00

RUBY: Share a favorite Bible verse and/or inspirational song, and why this is a favorite.

Matthew 17:20 …if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain,”move from here to there,” and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. I like to think of this whenever I feel like I am not strong enough or don’t know enough in my faith.

My favorite song is He. It says it all. I first learned it as a child because my mom sang it at a lot of weddings. 

 

RUBY: Tell us about your involvement at Troy UMC and/or the community. 

I have been a preschool teacher at First Step for 15 years. I helped with VBS for many years. I was a Cub Scout leader and was on the Council for Boy Scouts for over 12 years. I attend the women’s Bible study group on Monday afternoons.

RUBY: Which book do you look forward to reading with your students each year? 

I have many favorites but the first 2 that come to mind are Noah’s Ark and Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert.

RUBY: The best aspect about teaching is . . .

that unconditional love and trust you receive from the students and seeing the progress each one makes throughout the year.

RUBY: You have hooked me on card-making. Tell us about your own card-making. 

I first started card-making about 20 years ago along with scrapbooking. I have taught classes in it and belong to a “card” club that gets together to make cards and share ideas. I own way too many stamp sets, but I love them all and can never decide which ones, if any, to get rid of!

RUBY: Tell us about your family.

My husband, John and I have been married for almost 31 years. We have 3 sons, Matthew (age 27), Zach (age 24), and Tyler (age 19). Matt has blessed us with 2 grandsons, Landon (age 6) and Chase who is 8 months old. They keep us very busy.

RUBY: How may we contact you in order to make a further connection?

e-mail at cmlynn@charter.net

Connect with Krystal Rossetto

RUBY:  Share a favorite Bible verse and/or inspirational song, and why this is a favorite.

This scripture was read at my wedding:
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs..."  1 Corinthians 13:4-5
 

RUBY:  I am so grateful our squirts met as well as us through 1st Step Learning Center.  As a parent, what are some of your favorite aspects of this preschool?
 
I love First Step, I like the whole program, and I think teachers are really great and caring.

RUBY:  Tell us about your family.
 
I have been married for 8 years and have my hands full with two girls, Sofia who is five and Ellie who is two. 
 

RUBY:  What is your favorite dessert, and would you mind sharing the recipe?
 
I love just about any dessert, but at the top of the list would be ice cream sandwich cake:  line a dish with ice cream sandwiches, top with whip cream, then add choc chips and Heath chips, top with choc or caramel syrup. Yum
 

RUBY:  What do you like to do in your free time?

I like spending time with my family, playing softball, and shopping!
 

RUBY:  If you were stranded on an island, which three items would you want with you?
 
Hmmmm..  A blanket, a swimsuit, and my phone (for when I'm ready to come home!)
 

RUBY:  What was your favorite book as a child, and why?
 
The Pain and the Great One by Judy Blume.  It is about a brother and a sister, and when me and my brother were kids my mom would read it to us all the time. She gave me that same book for my baby shower

 

RUBY:  How may we contact you in order to make a further connection?
 
E-mail me
 

Connect with Lisa "Miss Lisa" Rayle

RUBY: Tell us about your role as a teacher at 1st Step Learning Center.

Miss Lisa:  I am one of the 3-year-old teachers at first step. This is my 5^th year teaching here, and I was a substitute teacher for one year. Our duties as a teacher are many.  We come up with lesson plans and help guide them through a year of exciting crafts, science projects, chapel lessons and other fun activities. We also help them develop their social skills with each other and build self-esteem.

RUBY: What is one of your favorite aspects of teaching preschoolers?

Miss Lisa:  Just watching them grow from the beginning of the school year to the end is so amazing. Sometimes they come in very shy and quiet, but by the end of the year they have opened up and are just so excited to get to school each day.

RUBY: Personally, our family was blessed to have you as a teacher for both of my girls, and they have wonderful memories of your being their teacher. Share a memorable teaching moment.

Miss Lisa:  As a preschool teacher for the better part of 25 years, I have many great memories. We have had caterpillars in our classrooms many times and just watching their excitement to see them turn into butterflies is always so fun! Helping them to get excited about learning is one of my favorite things.

RUBY: What are your plans for the summer break?

Miss Lisa:  This summer my husband and I, our three kids, our son-in-law and our granddaughter will spend 10 days in Florida together! Since my children have grown up, we don’t often get to have everyone together so I am very excited about this. I will also get to have my granddaughter for a week this summer. 

RUBY: Share a favorite Bible verse and/or inspirational song, and why this is a favorite.

Miss Lisa:  So many to choose from! Well, Philipians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” is the first thing that pops into my head. As I get older I jokingly say that Proverbs 16:31 “Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of the righteousness,” is my new favorite.  One of my favorite songs right now is by Colton Dixon and it is called You Are. Really powerful and you may just see me belting it out in my car!

RUBY: Tell us about your family.

Miss Lisa:  I am a Navy brat who married a Navy man.  We moved to Troy in the summer of 2006, and this is the longest I have lived in one place in my entire life. I have lived in 7 states and 2 countries. We have three children and one grandchild. My oldest daughter, Jessica, and her husband and their daughter live in Lexington, KY. My middle child, Samantha, graduated from Greenville last summer with a degree in education. My youngest and only son, Christopher will graduate from Taylor University in just a couple weeks and will be attending medical school in Chicago. David and I have been married for 24 years.

RUBY: With Mother's Day around the corner, what does being a mother mean to you?

Miss Lisa:  I love being a mom and now a Grandma! To me being a mom means sacrifice, but in a great way. It takes a lot of time, money, love and energy to raise a child, but watching them become wonderful, amazing children of God is sooooo awesome!

RUBY: What trait do you most admire in others?

Miss Lisa:  I like to think of it more as a gift, but I really admire those encouragers out there! Those people who just always have a beautiful smile, a kind word or a compliment at the ready for whoever may need it!

RUBY: How may we contact you in order to make a further connection?

Miss Lisa:  We live in Troy in the Meadowbrooke subdivision. E-mail me and our number is 618-402-3995

Connect with Kim "Miss Kim" McGrath

RUBY: How long have you attended Troy United Methodist Church? 

About 9 yrs.

RUBY: What drew you to this church?

Everything they offered for children.

RUBY: Which service do you typically attend?

9am service, I LOVE the music it truly lifts me.

RUBY: Share a favorite Bible verse and/or inspirational song, and why this is a favorite.

Jeremiah 29:13 – you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all you heart.

And my FAVORITE song is a tie between Open the Eyes of My Heart Lord and Blessings by Laura Story.

I think because they all touch my heart so deeply. Especially Blessings because the words mean so much to me.

RUBY: Tell us about your involvement at Troy UMC and in the community.

I am the director for 1^st Step Learning Center – (the preschool here at Troy UMC) and I volunteer with Harvest Ministries, Children Ministries and have joined the team of “Dessert Makers” for TGIW recently. I really just love to help out where I can and I love to cook and bake!

RUBY: I was sold on 1^st Step Learning Center the first time I spoke with you on the phone. Tell us about 1^st Step Learning Center and your involvement with it.

Well, when my daughter was 2, I heard about the preschool program through a friend. I called and put her on the wait list, and she was enrolled a few weeks later. At that time parents were required to volunteer once a month in the classroom. I loved it so much I volunteered as much as I could. I was approached by the director to be a substitute teacher and did that a couple of times. I was then asked if I would be interested in becoming a teacher and office assistant for the following school year. And I have been here ever since.

RUBY: If you could, what kind of business would you love to start? 

I always wanted to own a bakery. 

 

RUBY: Tell us about your family.

I have a husband – David, all I can say about him is he makes me laugh and is truly amazing. And God blessed us with a miracle in the form of a beautiful daughter – Abby. She is my everything, and I am extremely proud to be her mom. I am very lucky to have my extended family mostly in this area. My parents, sister, brother, and lots of niece and nephews and great nieces and nephews that live with in 10 minutes of us.

I would be wrong if I didn’t include my pets as part of my family. We have our “girls” Sophie, and Lola and our only boy Sheldon - our puppies and my bird Bailey and Abby’s cat Jumpers.

RUBY: How may we contact you in order to make a further connection? 

You can e-mail me at work or home or I am on Facebook as well.

Connect with LeAnn Kitchen

RUBY: Share a favorite Bible verse and/or inspirational song, and why this is a favorite.

LeAnn: The song that is speaking to me right now is “Invade” by Watermark. It inspires me to keep my heart AND home open to the Holy Spirit. As a mother, I find it important to make sure my children know Jesus is a part of our life. The chorus from the song goes like this:

Jesus, come and walk the halls of this house

Tread this place and turn it inside out

With your mercy…

Jesus, teach us the prayers that open these doors

Until Your light floods in and illuminates these floors

And let Your truth be on our steps and in these rooms

Jesus invade…

RUBY: I cannot thank you enough for agreeing to help me coach Upward cheerleading; no twisting of your arm necessary. Tell us more about your connection to Troy UMC and/or the community.

LeAnn: We were first introduced to the TUMC church family in 2009 when my oldest started preschool at the 1^st Step Learning Center. My middle daughter currently attends, and my youngest will start in the fall. Even though we do not attend TUMC, we have felt welcomed and loved by its members. My older two girls have attended Vacation Bible School there and currently participate in the Upward cheer program. I am enjoying the opportunity to help coach one of the cheer squads!

Our family loves the Troy, IL, community and we have found it so easy to get involved. This year, I took over the responsibility of leading my oldest daughter’s Daisy Scout troop. I also love participating in the Community Helpings Coop program and sharing recipes on its Facebook page. And, when I can manage, I enjoy getting up to the elementary school to help with class parties and PTO events.

RUBY: Tell us about your family.

LeAnn: My husband, Kris, and I met while attending engineering school in Rolla, Missouri. After a few moves, we finally settled in Troy. Our oldest daughter, Kaylee, is in first grade at Henning Elementary. Megan, our second daughter, is in one of the “fours” classes at 1^st Step Learning Center. Our youngest daughter, Kendall, just turned two this past November. Kris and I are getting pretty used to the comment “Oh, wow, THREE girls?!?!” Kris is blessed with a wonderful job for a copper extrusion company south of Belleville, providing me with the opportunity to stay at home. Going from Mechanical Engineer to stay-at-home mother was a drastic change, but one I have never regretted making!

RUBY: What kind of business would you love to start if the sky were the limit?

LeAnn: I would love to be a private lactation consultant. Breastfeeding my girls was an experience I will treasure for the rest of my life. If it wasn’t for the support of a few wonderful ladies and a great lactation consultant, I do not know if I would have made it through some of the challenges of nursing a baby. I would love to be able to help new mothers succeed with nursing.

RUBY: What did you eat for lunch?

LeAnn: Salad 

RUBY: What was your favorite childhood game, and why?

LeAnn: The kids in my neighborhood growing up would often play tag after it got dark. It was a lot of fun!

RUBY: What is your greatest fear?

LeAnn: Outside of the fear of something happening to my family, my greatest fear is losing my memory.

RUBY: Which moment from your life would you choose to relive if you could?

LeAnn: This is a tough one! There are the obvious moments like Kris proposing, my dad walking me down the aisle, or holding each of my girls for the first time. However, while recently reading some scripture, I was inspired to reflect back on my own baptism. I really have no memory of that day (I was eight years old), and my parents seem to have misplaced any pictures or home videos. I would love to relive the experience just to be able to remember how I felt that day.

RUBY: How may we contact you in order to make a further connection?

LeAnn: You can follow me on my blog Kitchen’s Treasures: The blog has links to Twitter and Facebook as well.

RUBY: Tell us about your blog, Kitchen's Treasures.

LeAnn: My blog is based on the scripture Luke 12:34 – For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

This scripture passage comes at the very end of a section of Luke that the NIV titles "Do Not Worry.” I know for me, it is easier said than done. I have heard it is a mother's job to worry. And, while it is true that mothers have taken on one of the most important jobs, we need to realize we are not alone. Through God and fellowship with other mothers, we can reduce our worry.

I hope that by sharing my thoughts on motherhood, marriage, and my life, I can help lessen the amount of time myself and my readers spend worrying and increase the amount of time we spend "treasuring.

Connect with Sarah "Miss Sarah" Bohnenstiehl

RUBY: How long have you attended Troy United Methodist Church? 

Sarah:  a little over a year

RUBY: What drew you to this church?  

Sarah:  We first attended the preschool, and then we tried the VBS in 2010, and the children loved it.   The people were so friendly and the church was very kid and family- oriented.  We wanted a church home that  felt like an extended family, and we found that at Troy.

RUBY: Which service do you typically attend? 

Sarah:  9:00

RUBY: Share a favorite Bible verse and/or inspirational song, and why this is a favorite.   

Sarah:  The song "Sweet Mercies," which is a kids praise song we sing at school.  It is one of my favorites because I used to catch my daughter singing it when she thought no one was looking. 

RUBY: Tell us about your involvement at Troy UMC and in the community.  

Sarah:  Teacher's Aid in the 2-year-old class with Mrs. Mary at 1st Step Learning Center, and I co-lead a Daisy troop.

RUBY: I know you are an avid reader. Name a favorite book, and why it is your favorite.  

Sarah:  As far as fiction...I am a huge zombie fan.  For non- fiction, I would have to say The Lady and the Panda.  It was shocking to read how animals were treated in the early days of zoos.  Also it was a grim reminder that the best intentions of people are not always in the best interest of animals.

RUBY: What would you try if you had no fear?  

Sarah:  cliff diving

 

RUBY: Tell us about your family.  

Sarah:  I met my husband Kris in 1997, and we got married in 1999.   We had Ava in 2005 and Jacob in 2008.  We have a lot of pets.  We  have a weekly family game night, and in nice weather, we spend most  of our time outside.

RUBY: How may we contact you in order to make a further connection?  

Sarah:  e-mail me at bohnenstiehl4@yahoo.com

Connect with Mary Kennett

RUBY: How long have you attended Troy UMC?

Mary: I have been attending TUMC since Feb. 2004. The weekend we moved to Troy was Fire-up weekend, and we had friends from our home church attending so it made for an easy transition! We enjoyed it, so we have been coming back ever since.




RUBY: What drew you to this church?

Mary: The Praise band, and how friendly everyone was. We felt very welcomed!



RUBY:  Which service do you typically attend?

Mary: 9 O’clock service.



RUBY:  Share a favorite Bible verse, and why this is a favorite.

Mary: And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."  -Matthew 19:26
I think of this verse when things get challenging in life, and it makes things seem a little easier knowing God is always there with me.




RUBY: For me personally, your enthusiastic participation doing hair at the Get Pinked Party was overwhelming. Tell us about your involvement with hair.

Mary: Well I went back to cosmetology school in 2007. It was something I have always been drawn to and wanted to do. I really enjoy what I can do and like seeing what I can create. Besides it is always fun meeting new people and making them feel a little better!



RUBY: You personally touched the life of my daughter teaching at 1st Step Learning Center. Would you tell us more about your teaching?

Mary:  Well I have my teaching degree in Special Education, and when it became hard to find a teaching job, I went back to school for cosmetology, but I was put on bed rest while I was pregnant with my daughter and lost my job. When I started looking for a new job, it was not an easy task. Kim [McGrath] called me and said they were looking for some new teachers, so I applied, and the rest is history.




RUBY: Any other connections you would like to share?

Mary:  Well some of the best connections I have made through Troy UMC were the ones I made when I was on bed rest. The church was very helpful in setting up a care calendar to provide us meals, and also rides to the doctor so Ryan would not have to take time off weekly for my appointments. I met some amazing people through that, and they are still close to our family today!



RUBY: Tell us about your family.

Mary:  Well my husband Ryan and I have been married for 8 years, and we have a beautiful daughter named Annalee (aka Annie). My husband works with computers, and he also plays in the praise band at the 9 o’clock service. Annie will be 2 in January, and she is full of energy, and I love spending time with her!

RUBY: What do you think Heaven will be like?

Mary:  Well I do believe in Heaven, and I think it is going to be wonderful! Lots of time spent worshiping and doing the things we love. I think it will be nice not to see suffering and poverty. Hopefully there will be reunions with loved ones as well.



RUBY: How may we contact you in order to make a further connection?

Mary:  You can contact me by email at either mymy1978@hotmail.com or marykennett03@gmail.com or phone at 618-977-4230

Connect with Carol Cottingham

1.  How long have you been attending Troy UMC?
32 years beginning in the little white church on Main Street.

2.  What drew you to this church? 
The pastor and the friendliness of the people.  My husband as we were leaving, said this church needs us as much as we need them.  The lights kept going out during the service. He went home, got his meter and his electrical things, came back and fixed them.  As far as I know, they worked until we moved to this facility.

3.  Which service do you typically attend?
 I used to attend the 9:00 and 6:00pm on Sunday night, but now I'm teaching Sunday school at 9:00 and now attend 10:30 which most of my friends attend.

4.  Share a favorite Bible verse, and why this is a favorite.
The 100th Psalm, "Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth," and John 3:16, "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."  If it weren't for that, we'd all be doomed!

5.  Tell us about your family. 
My husband Ty and I have been married 54 years.  We were just kids 17 and 19.  He was in the military for 22 years, and I followed him all over the U.S. and Okinawa.  We have 3 boys, 51, 47, and 38.  All married to wonderful young women whom we love dearly.  They gave us 8 grandchildren and one of those 8 gave us 2 great-grandchildren! Our oldest lives in Godfrey and retired from the Alton Police Dept. and is now working security at one of the St. Louis Hospitals.  He has 3 girls, one getting married June 2013.  Our middle son lives in Flint, Texas, has 2 girls and a son.  His eldest daughter is the one that has a boy and a girl. He works as a Physical Therapist Assistant and teaches classes at the local junior college for Physical Therapist Technicians.

6.  Share a favorite Christmas recipe, and why this recipe is a favorite.
It's not very exciting, but sugar cookies because I used to help my mom, and my boys and the grandchildren always liked to help decorate.  Kind of a family thing.

7.  In what era would you most like to have grown up, and why?
I don't know why, but I guess the excitement of the old West.  I thought it would be great to travel in a Conestoga wagon across the valleys and mountains.  I know there was hardship, heat, death and wearin' those long dresses!  Oh my.  I guess I thought it was romantic somehow.

8. I found you behind a desk near the church entrance the other Tuesday busy at work.  Share your involvement at Troy UMC.
I am on the "care team,” the mission team, just went off after being 3 years on the Church council, Vice President of our local UMW unit and am secretary of the District, answer phones every other Tuesday, help with labeling the Newsletter for mailing, attend the Monday Afternoon Bible Study and occasionally lead a session have been a member of the choir years ago, have been in a couple of performances at Christmas, teach first grade Sunday school, attended Sunday school. We had another women's organization called Fidelis Circle. We met in the evening, and I was an active member of that until it dissolved. Helped start the now preschool program that is now called First Step.  Back then it was a Mother's Day Out Program where Mom's could drop their children from 10:30 – 2:30.  They learned to identify their own names, shapes, colors, etc. We had a great time!

9.  How may we contact you in order to make a further connection?
Email tysr@charter.net  or phone 667-2408 or cell 401-9872.