Entering In

Howie came up with a
great idea awhile back.
The idea?

To allow the children
each a twenty-minute block
of time to share with the rest of us
whatever they wanted to.

A family version of
"Show and Tell".

It went over well.
An understatement. :)

Fraser is our resident
atlas/languages/professor sort.

His pick?

Google Earth.

We visited places I had never
heard of and discovered new things.
What an adventurer!

Calvin is our budding photographer.
Some of you may have noticed
that I feature some of his work
here on this blog.
He's serious about it.

We enjoyed looking through
a photo album that he put together
last year after a family vacation.

Happy Memories!

Austin has been learning
a little about programming.
He has created little games
and question and answer sorts
of programs to tickle the funny bone.

He's even opened up a
you-tube channel as an avenue to
showcase his virtual rollercoasters.

Under that serious-looking
exterior there lurks a sense of humour.
Wonder where he got that from?

Emma has a serious love for
all things *Nancy Drew* ~
She shared an excerpt from
the book she was reading at the time.

The *original* series of novels are
being devoured at a rapid rate.
We have most of the earlier set
of books...what fun! :)

She then showed us her collection
of shells that were acquired
on our recent trip to visit with
Auntie Beverley.

God's Glorious Handiwork!

And the boys entered in.

It was an enjoyable time
spent learning just
a little bit more about
the unique individuals God
has entrusted us with.

What an honour it is to
seek to raise them for HIM
and for HIS glory!

Many Blessings,
Camille

Reindeer Games

Our trip around the world on Christmas Airlines has begun--and we are having all kinds of fun learning about Christmas traditions in other countries!  To go along with our Christmas themed classroom fun, I have added some precious reindeer activities to my reading stations!  The little silly reindeer pictured below are placed in a pocket chart and matched to the words that best describe them.  {My faves...the rock n' roll reindeer and stinky reindeer--which I sadly did not get a picture of those two!}  

The adorable guys in the picture below are just a fun little decoration right now--but I am planning on attaching magnets to the back of each reindeer, and the kids can use them to put in ABC order, and then complete a matching cut and paste work page to go with it!

 I CAN'T wait to make my swirly-antlered, root beer lovin' reindeer guy.  He is holding a teeny tiny book titled, "If You Give a Reindeer Some Root Beer..." {which is all about him, and the kids fill in missing words and illustrate each tiny page--AH!  I just love him!}  In his other hand is a delicious root beer...because of course reindeer get thirsty on their journey to help Santa deliver presents!

If you are a teacher friend, and would like to read and write and sing about reindeer too--you can find all these activities (and much more) in my Reindeer Games activity packet!  Grab yours *here*!

*Pictures of our adventures with our Christmas Around the World Scrapbook coming soon...*

Does the Wind Blow Fierce?

Sometimes...
Life throws you a curve ball.

But...
God is Good.
All the time.

In the midst of life's trials
and struggles and difficulties...

There is Hope.
There is Peace.
There is Comfort.

And it is all found in
the LORD Jesus Christ.

"...My grace is sufficient for thee:
for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
Most gladly therefore will I rather
glory in my infirmities,
that the power of Christ
may rest upon me."
~ II Corinthians 12:9 ~

Even when we feel like this little leaf...
Just hanging on while the winds blow fierce ~
HE holds us!

What a thought!

We are not actually in control of
A.N.Y.T.H.I.N.G.

Are the winds blowing furiously
in your neck of the woods?

Are you facing something
that seems to be insurmountable?

Be assured of this my friend ~
We do not hold on to the LORD.
If we belong to HIM...

HE HOLDS US!

Doesn't that just make things
seem a little bit brighter??

"Behold, I have refined thee,
but not with silver;
I have chosen thee in the
furnace of affliction."
~ Isaiah 48:10 ~

May HE help us all to
fix our eyes on HIM.

And to know beyond a
shadow of a doubt that
All is Well.

Many Blessings,
Camille

Feeding 29

When Austin was baptized,
we asked all our family and the
Pastors and their families to
join us after the service for lunch.

There were 29 of us.

What did I feed a crowd like that?

BBQ Meatballs
(among other things)...
About Two Hundred of 'em!

Always a hit.
A sure win.
Y.U.M.

A lovely lady at a church we attended years ago
faithfully brought these yummy morsels to
church potluck dinners.
Unfortunately, I could never get any on my plate...
they always disappeared so quickly!

So, without ever trying them,
I asked for the recipe.
And she kindly shared.

I'm so glad that she did.
And now...
I'm sure you will be too! :)

~ BBQ Meatballs ~

Meatballs:

1 Egg
5 oz evaporated milk
1 cup quick cooking oats
½ cup finely chopped onion
1 large clove garlic, finely minced
1 ½ lb. ground beef
1 tsp salt
1 tsp chili powder
¼ tsp pepper

Sauce:

1 cup ketchup
¾ cup brown sugar
½ tsp liquid smoke
1 large clove garlic, minced
¼ cup finely chopped onion
Bring all ingredients to boil in a small saucepan.
Reduce heat and simmer for two minutes.
Set aside to pour over the meatballs
when they are done cooking.

Method:

In a large bowl,
combine all meatball ingredients (except the meat).
Mix well and then add the meat.

Mix well once again and form into 1 inch balls.
Place about an inch apart
on a jelly roll pan (cookie sheet with sides).
Bake uncovered in 350 degree oven
for 20 to 25 minutes till cooked through.
Drain and place in 13 x 9 inch pan
and cover with sauce and bake for 10 to 12 minutes longer.
If heating this from cold, 30 minutes is about right.

Comfort food at its finest.

Enjoy! :)

Happy Cooking!
Camille

**I have no idea where the original
recipe for these yummy meatballs came
from...if you do, would you please share
so I may link back to the book/site where
they are found? Thank you! :)

Challenge 24 - Fancy Folds

Wow, what wonderful entries we had last time.  It's going to be tough picking a top 3 this time!

This is our last traditional challenge for 2011.  In December it's our 2-year anniversary so we will be having a blog-hop with lots of prizes and candy giveaways so please make sure you join us on 5th December and tell all your friends.

Onto this challenge.  Our theme this week is 'Fancy Folds' and we're pleased to welcom a new sponsor, Whimsie Doodles.

 Whimsie Doodles is so excited to be sponsoring the new challenge! In March of 2009 Melyssa Connolly, artist and owner, began turning her whimsical hand-drawn images into digital files for sale online. Whimsie Doodles' digital stamp line features images that range from cute little boys and girls, to punny stuff, and everything in-between. We enjoy sharing lots of samples on our company blog, where we also post challenges and tutorials.

The prize on offer is a $10 gift certificate, but we also have a discount code for all our readers.  Simply use the discount code CFM10 at the Whimsie Doodles online store and receive 10% off your next order! Code expires 30 days from today.

We got some great images from Whimsie Doodles to work with.  Here's what the design team came up with:

Jen

Michelle

Shirley

Tracy

Sandra

Patricia

 

Mandy

ALAN

Donna

I hope they've given you some ideas.  Now for the rules:

1. Your card must be new for this challenge and must follow the theme set.
2. There must be a link in your post back to Cards for Men
3. Your card must be for a boy/man.

The challenge will run from now until midnight GMT on 4th December 2011.  Leave a link to your card (not just your blog) in the link list below.  If it's not there for some reason, leave a comment and I'll add your link in before the draw.  Good luck.

Super Readers

You may have heard of Superman, but have you heard of Super Reader?  The Super Reader is a hero who finishes 5 reading logs during the month (which is the equivalent of 100 books)! For being so super and reading so much, the Super Reader is given the "Super Reader Cheer", and is presented with a Super Reader headband, a fantastic Super Reader recognition (colored by Mrs. Cooley!) and wears the Super Reader emblem around his or her neck!  I was inspired by this idea from my wonderful sister-in-law Cindy--she and her team teacher do something similar to this in their Kindergarten classroom!  Parents, please keep encouraging your child to read at home!  I would love to have a whole class full of Super Readers each month!      

Marshmallow Root Tea

Just a little something to share.
It's really too good not to.

No, I don't mean it tastes good.
At least, not particularly.

But, oh is it G.O.O.D.!

I have a little history
with kidney stones.
Okay,
not really a little one.
It's been big.

As in, if I don't do something
about it, I could lose the kidney.
Not good.

But I digress.

I was recently told a little secret.
A wonderful secret.
And I am going to share it with you!

Marshmallow Root Tea
is the secret.

Oh. Dear. Me.

Does it ever relieve
the pain I have been experiencing.

And how.

Unfortunately,
it hasn't taken the stone away.
But, it has provided a reprieve
from the throbbing I was experiencing.
I do still have to deal with the stones.

Oh well.

What to do?

Get your hands on some
marshmallow root tea.
Spoon a teaspoon per cup of water
into a small pot.
Bring to a boil.
reduce heat and simmer ~
with lid slightly vented ~
for 20 minutes.

Strain and enjoy.
Up to three cups per day.

I just leave my pot on
the stove all day with the lid
on and the heat off.
When I want another cup,
I reheat to boiling and
strain into my mug.

Do not leave on the stove
longer than 24 hours without refrigeration.
It can go bad.

And, please, do see your Doctor
or Naturopathic Physician if
you are having any pain
or symptoms of kidney distress
of any kind!

As an added bonus,
it seems to be a wonderful tea
for our child with Crohn's as well!

Many Blessings,
Camille

**Disclaimer ~ I am not a medical
professional and I am not authorized to
give medical advice.
I just share what has been working
for me with the desire that it may be
of benefit to someone else.
Please do consult with your Physician
prior to consuming any herbal remedies!

Wondrous Word Files

Vocabulary words are known as "Wondrous Words" in my classroom!  One of my new favorite activities to review and reinforce using our new vocabulary words is the Wondrous Word File Folder!  Each student has a mini Wondrous Word file folder like the one pictured above, and each week, they pick one of their favorite new Wondrous Words to add to the file.  The kids have to use the word correctly in a sentence and draw a picture to go with the sentence.  Each new page is attached to the file on a metal ring.  (Having the ring makes it easy for the kids to flip through and review their previous Wondrous Words!)    

Love this guy's word file!  He definitely earned the "Sugar Cookie with Icing and Sprinkles Award" for his  fantastic work!   

Skinny Pencil Club

In first grade, we all begin the school year with our "fat" pencils. As a motivator to use their best first grade handwriting all day, everyday--students can become members of the "Skinny Pencil Club"!  Students that consistently use proper spacing and letter formation are inducted as new members!  Students are presented with a brand-new, fresh "skinny" pencil and a note to remind them to keep up the great work!  

Pigeon Perfect!!!

 As many of y'all know by now...I LOVE Mo Willems!  The pigeon author study is one of my favorite times of the year!  I usually begin this fantastically fun author study near the end of the school year, but I'm just too excited to wait, so we may be reading some pigeon books early!  I have *FINALLY* finished and posted this little activity pack to my TpT store!  Here are just a few preview pages:

 The "Coffee Cup of Stay Up Late Excuses" to go along with Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!

Which hot dog is your favorite graph (comes with large poster sized pieces, too) to go with The Pigeon Wants a Hot Dog!

Paper pigeon (and a duckling too!) in small and large sizes--for Reader's Theatre or stick puppets!

{Click here if you are interested!}

Rejoicing!

The LORD is Good!
Always.

Prior to any of our children
being born into our family,
we prayed for their Salvation.

We prayed that they would
love the LORD and follow HIM.
We prayed that HE would have their hearts.

We continue to pray.

This past Sunday,
Austin followed the Lord Jesus Christ
in the waters of baptism.

He obeyed the LORD's command.
By God's Grace.

"And Jesus came and spake
unto them, saying,
All power is given unto me
in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you:
and lo, I am with you alway,
even unto the end of the world.
Amen."
~ Matthew 28:18-20 ~

We are rejoicing!

Rejoicing in God's Mercy.
In HIS Goodness.
In HIS Grace.

"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me;
and all that come to me I will in no wise cast out."
~ John 6:37 ~

May the LORD have the hearts of
each of our children.
Be encouraged.
As long as there is breath,
there is hope.

The LORD is Faithful.
And HE does all things well.

Many blessings,
Camille

**Photos courtesy of Calvin ~
Thank you my love. xo

Christmas Around the World Scrapbook

Hey there, teacher friends!  I have gotten so many emails from all of you asking about my Christmas Around the World Scrapbook from last year, so I decided to make a "new and improved" version.  I am SO ridiculously excited about this packet!!!  I am seriously counting down the days until December so I can give my kids their tickets aboard "Christmas Airlines", and we can fly around the world to learn all about Christmas traditions in other countries!  The scrapbook comes with a little teacher's guide to help spark creativity, and it also gives real facts about each country--to help us "tour guides" on the journey!  If you are doing a Christmas Around the World Unit, I hope you will go check this out!!!  As always, thank you so much for your continued support, encouragement, and sweet notes and emails.  I am very thankful that I can share and receive ideas with amazing teachers from all over the world! 

  

Winners & Top 3 Challenge 22

So, I'm back with winners and top3 awards to give away.

For Challenge 22, we had a prize of 3 digi images from Digital Delights .  I used random.org to generate the winning number and it chose #48 Tracey MacDonald .  Please email me on cardsformen@donnasden.co.uk and I'll pass your info on to the sponsor.

The top 3 for challenge 20 were:

12 - Hazel P

59 - Wishcraft

113 - Lorraine

Well done girls.  Grab our top 3 blinkie from the sidebar and add it to your own.

Hope you re having a great week

Jen x

1915

He lied about his age.
He was young and full of life.
The only boy of a farming family.
He was the baby.
He went.

He never came home.

Letters were written from France.
They would have been cherished.

The boy never came home to
be cherished in their place.

He never got married.
Never had children.
Never lived beyond his teens.

November 11th is
Remembrance Day in Canada.
May we all remember those who
went to fight for our freedoms.
For our liberties.

May we pray for those who
are fighting and defending even now.

May we always be thankful.
May we never forget.

Many Blessings,
Camille

**Letters in this post
were written home by Camille's
Great-Great Uncle Johnnie
during WWI ~ 1915.

Challenge 23 - It's Nearly Christmas

Well can you believe we are into November already and we are back with another challenge which is an easy one for you this time with "Its Nearly Christmas" and we want to see all those Christmas Cards for the special men in your life... We are sponsored by Karen's Doodles and the prize is 3 Digi images.

Karen Johnson has been drawing all of her life. She has worked on the feature film, “Ferngully The Last Rainforest” and has created animations for Disney, Fisher Price and Mattel. She has illustrated several children’s books and is currently teaching animation at a college in Wisconsin. She started Karen’s Doodles so she could share her whimsical drawings with crafters from around the world.

We have used some of the fab images from Karen and here is what the DT came up with...

Shirley

Tracy

Sandra

Jen

( I made 2 ... love the images so couldn't resist lol)

Mandy

Michelle

Hope that has given you some inspiration.  Now for the rules:

1. Your card must be new for this challenge and must follow the theme set.
2. There must be a link in your post back to Cards for Men
3. Your card must be for a boy/man.

The challenge will run from now until midnight GMT on 20 November 2011.  Leave a link to your card (not just your blog) in the link list below.  If it's not there for some reason, leave a comment and I'll add your link in before the draw.  Good luck.

P.S don't forget to pop back later to see who has won and the DT's top 3.....

Some of Our Journey

What a journey this has been!
God is so Good.
All the time.

What a blessing it is to
rest in HIS Goodness.
In HIS Grace.


~ Photo courtesy of my Emma ~

Some of you may
be on a similar journey.
Crohn's Disease
is a tricky thing to deal with.
It's not simple.

Simply not.

We have been to see a
G.I. Specialist at
Children's Hospital in Vancouver.
We have been to our GP.
We are also seeing a
Naturopathic Physician.

They all have something to offer.
Advice to give.
Instructions to follow.

When we first got the
Crohn's diagnosis we were not surprised.
It was something we already figured he had.
It was, in some ways, a relief to know.

We started using dietary supplements.
We altered his diet.
We have been following this one.

Things went well.
Very well.
For a few months.

Then, some things stopped going well.
A flare up.

Not uncommon for those with Crohn's.
But, at the same time, disheartening.
Our son has been careful to follow
his dietary restrictions and recommendations.

No chips.
No chocolate.
No grains.

He is committed.


We continue to follow the
principles laid out in Elaine Gottschall's book ~
Breaking the Vicious Cycle.
We are also following the advice
of our Naturopathic Physician and General Practitioner.

Sometimes adjustments are necessary.
We are willing to do whatever it takes
to help our son get well.

Remission.

We seek the LORD for wisdom.
We pray.
We seek the wisdom of Physicians.
We weigh it all up.
We act.

I would like to share some of
what we are doing and going through
to be an encouragement to those of
you who may be in the same boat.

I also want to record it
for future reference.

To bring down the swelling
in our son's leg
(a manifestation of Crohn's),
we are administering a poultice
of grated potato and carrot with ice chips.
Wrap this in cheesecloth
and apply to the swollen area for about
an hour at a time.
Do this at least twice per day.

For settling and soothing the abdomen,
soak a flannel cloth in
Castor Oil infused with Lavender
and Chamomile and place on the tummy.
Cover with plastic and have
the child lie down on his back
and apply a hot water bottle to the area.
Lie still for an hour or two.
Do this twice per day.

For tummy cramping,
we are using a tincture of
Viburnum Opulus.
For our son, the dose is 30 drops
in water three times per day.
During a flare up,
it may be administered up to six times
per day, if necessary.


He also is taking a
natural anti-inflammatory twice per day,
a GI repair supplment at every meal,
a probiotic twice per day,
and vitamins.

As well as all the above,
we are keeping his diet very simple.
Nothing that will stress the system
is allowed.

I am currently making up
a big batch of hearty beef broth.
Chicken Stock is also an important
healing food that is being administered.
Did you know that homemade broth
has so many amazing nutrients in it?


Emma was recently feeling sick,
so I took some rich Chicken Broth
from the freezer and boiled it up for her to drink.
She started to feel a little better.
Her fever broke the next day.

Coincidence?

Maybe, but I don't think so! :)

May the LORD give us all
wisdom as we seek to lead our families
in the journey of good health.
For HIS Glory.
By HIS Grace.

Many Blessings,
Camille

**Disclaimer ~ I am not a medical professional.
I am just a Mum sharing some of the things that
we are using to help our son.
Please consult with your Doctor
prior to administering any drug or supplement.
Dosage amounts will vary due to weight and
the age of the individual being treated.
Some people will respond adversely to some treatments.