Challenge No. 5 - Water

Yet another month has whizzed by!  It's March tomorrow, I'm amazed.  Thanks to everyone who joined us for our Recipe challenge.  We'll be back later on with the winner and top 3.

Our challenge theme this time is WATER.  You could have boats, seascapes, fish, sea animals or anything else that is water inspired.  Our sponsor is the wonderful, Hope Jacare, and the prize for this challenge winner is 3 digi stamps of choice.

"I'm a SAHM with three young children. I trained in Textile Design at the Glasgw School of Art and I love all things handmade, but especially papercrafts. I love to doodle ... and my doodles are available to purchase as digital images through Stitchy Bear Stamps."

Please pop along and take a look at Claire's wonderful images.  The design team were given a selection of images to work with and I'm sure you'll agree that they did a fab job:

Shirley

Sarah

Patricia

Alison

Kitty

Mandy

So if you're itching to join in, here's the rules:

1. Your card must be for a man/boy
2. It must follow the theme/sketch set
3. It must be a new card for our challenge.

The challenge will close at 12 Midnight (GMT) on 13th March 2011.  Leave your name and a direct link to your project (not just your blog) in the link tool below.  If the link tool is not there for some reason, then please leave details in the comments and I'll add you in before I do the draw.

Of Cheesecake, Scales, Helping Hands & Little Feet

Life is full of moments.
All strung together to make a life.
How are we spending them?
Are we treasuring them up?

The list grows.
The moments are noticed.
And here I number them.
Unrelated and related all at the same time.

This is our life.
As it happens...

1221. The smell of cheesecake baking in the oven

1222. Scales in time with the metronome

1223. Little girl who asks to wash the dishes!

1224. Snuggles on the couch as she and I both read ~
each with our own book and an impromptu kiss on the cheek

1225. Apology from a child ~ humility

1226. Her *love* of reading

1227. Leaving a room the way I want to find it

1228. Finding the room the way I left it...rare!
(One day I always will...I don't even want to think about it!)

1229. Rubber gloves just her size!

1230. Her little shoes at the door ~
a change from all the many boy's shoes around here!

1231. Bacon sizzling in the pan

1232. BLT's for lunch

1233. Two at the piano

1234. Three soaring eagles (?) so high they just looked like specks

1235. Youngest boy entering the world of Henty

1236. Cheesecake at dinner ~ *just because*

1237. Six voices singing hymns ~ children's mingled with parents'

1238. Doctrine from the children's mouths in prayer

1239. Pink sky at night

1240. Getting the job done...thank you Sweetie! :)

It's easy to count.
It begins with noticing the *little* things.
Noticing the moments.
Entering into them and writing them down.
It's as simple as that.

My journal sits on my counter.
I list as events unfold.
Sometimes many all at once,
and other times in a trickle.

Would you like to begin?
Just grab a pen and a journal,
set them out on the counter,
and list out your blessings.
Find the joy in the moments ~
As they arrive.

"Every good gift and every perfect gift
is from above, and cometh down
from the Father of lights,
with whom is no variableness,
neither shadow of turning."
~ James 1:17 ~

May the LORD help us to
take notice of every *little* thing HE
gives us each and every day!
There really are too many to count!

Many blessings,
Camille

{Paper Alphabet Font} for Station Baskets!

My station baskets recently got a make-over!  I love finding adorable fun fonts and letter clip art.  Most of my favorite lettering comes from Lettering Delights, DJ Inkers, and Kevin and Amanda--but I found a new place to look for great clip art and fonts:  ETSY!  Etsy is going to make me broke--this site has everything you could ever want!  This lettering was made by TracyAnnDigitalArt.  It is called "Paper Alphabet" and is only $4.50!  Super deal and super cute!

{Click the picture above to visit TracyAnnDigitalArt!}

I was so excited about my new lettering, I made these too:

"Stir it up"  The kids used the soup ladle to scoop out letter cubes, then build r-controlled vowel words!

Place Value Pockets:  filled with a variety of place value games to review! 

Apple Tart ~ Yum!

It was Christmas.

I was doing a little baking with my
once-a-year cookbook.


It's one of my favourite Christmas
home inspiration books.


When I tested this recipe,
it was decided that once a year just wouldn't be enough.
So, I copied it out to keep in my recipe box
for easy year-round access.

I also began by baking this tart in a pie dish.
Not too bad, but the tart pan is a
better choice when making tarts.
Just sayin' ~ Who knew? ;-)

So...I went to HomeSense and found the
requisite pans for a good price.
And, yes...pans ~ I bought two!
One of these is just not enough.

Trust me. :)


~ French Apple Tart ~

Adapted from Mary Englebreit's
"Let the Merrymaking Begin ~
Christmas Volume One"

Dough for a single crust pie,
rolled out and chilled in the pan.

3 Large Granny Smith Apples ~
peeled, cut in half, cored and sliced thinly.

** Friendly WARNING **
You can use another variety of baking apple ~
BUT...ONLY baking apples will do!
You will have a soggy tart if you don't obey this one simple rule ~
just ask me how I know! :)

1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
1/2 cup Heavy (Whipping) cream, unwhipped
1 Large Egg
1 tsp Vanilla

Icing Sugar ~
for sprinkling just prior to serving...
after it's baked.

Preheat oven to 375* F

Roll dough to fit 9 inch tart pan with removeable bottom.
Place dough in pan and flute the edges.
Chill dough in pan for 30 minutes.

Arrange apple slices in tart in concentric circles,
beginning at the outside and working toward the centre.

Bake tart at this stage for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, whip together
sugar, cream, vanilla and egg with wire whisk.
Pour mixture over the apples and bake 25 or 30 minutes longer
until custard is set.


~ This photo by Calvin...it was his piece! ~

Cool 10 minutes on a wire rack.
Remove sides of pan.
Sprinkle with icing sugar prior to serving.

Serve warm or cooled to 8
(or less) very fortunate people!

ENJOY!

Sunrise at the Beach

We live near the beach.
We walk along the promenade for exercise.
What a blessing it is!
We do not know how long we will have this privilege.
Our times are in HIS hands.
I trust we do not take it for granted.

One morning in January we were there very early ~
Before the sunrise.
Calvin brought his camera along ~
He captured all these amazing shots!

A big thank you to our budding photographer
for letting me post these pictures!
Love you! xo

And the List Continues to Grow

Joys are uncovered.
Treasures mount.
The eyes are opened.
And the list continues to grow.

"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise:
be thankful unto him and bless his name.
For the LORD is good;
his mercy is everlasting;
and his truth endureth to all generations."
~ Psalm 100:4-5 ~

The challenge was to reach 1000 gifts numbered ~
1000 has come and gone for me.
I continue to count because the
LORD's mercies are new every morning ~
Each day holds its own treasures.
There is joy to be found in the finding.

1201. Correspondence from a teenage
Great-Great Uncle who fought and died in WWI

1202. A stool for Austin's drafting board ~
*Free* to us...thank you Dad!
(I had only just written it on my *to buy* list)!

1203. More things to take to Bibles for Missions

1204. Listening to the composer at work

1205. Patch of distant blue breaking up the grey ~
It's winter and grey is the colour ~ I focus on the blue

1206. Double batch of Hamburger Soup simmering on the stove

1207. Little boy's hair to cut ~ right now! :)

1208. Daddy who takes our little girl on errands
and our boys to hockey

1209. Having learned that sometimes, waiting really is best

1210. Patience in the waiting ~ Grace!

1211. A boy who likes to wear his gifted-to-him jersey before he outgrows it

1212. Boys who help bring in the groceries
and do it with a smile ~ don't you just *love* those dimples? :)

1213. The discovery of a doll buckled in! :)

1214. When friends reach 1000 ~ sharing in the joy of it all!

1215. Towel spread with tools and screws and glue in the kitchen ~
promise of work to be done

1216. The long-ago-wedding-gift glass measuring bowl ~
still in use today

1217. Pure Vanilla Extract

1218. Morning muffins and the joy in their faces when it's not oatmeal

1219. Frozen berries ~ Summer's goodness in Winter

1220. Canadian Springs Water

Numbering my thanks is a habit I began over a year ago.
It has changed the way I look at *everyday* life.
I'm sure it would do the same for you.
Grab a journal and a pen ~
Set them on the counter and just begin!
Joy is everywhere.
Discover and be blessed.

In His Love,
Camille

The Pieces of our Hearts

Apparently it is the new thing for me to get sick around all of my favorite holidays--the most recent being Valentine's Day.  I woke up with the flu, {yuck!} and was very sad to miss the class Valentine exchange!  Luckily, the kids completed the pieces of our hearts project the week before Valentine's Day, so I was able to see all the sweet things that fill their hearts up with love!  Cute things:  Godzilla (yes, a little friend of mine loves Godzilla very, very much), Nick Saban, family, friends, Mrs. Cooley, school, and, of course, Hannah Montana.

We also talked about how to describe love!  Here is our "Love is..." anchor chart:

Introducing the WOW Binder! It's WOW.

I can't take credit for it, I didn't invent it, but whoever did is a genius.  There are many variations of a take home folder/binder out there, but this is by far my favorite.  Let me introduce you to...THE WOW BINDER!  WOW= We Organize Work.  The kids take home this binder every night, and they leave it on my small group table as soon as they walk in the door in the morning.  I check through the binder for lunch money, notes from home, homework, and to see if they have completed their reading log. 

Start with a 1.5'' white binder.  Insert adorable paper of your choice labeled with the child's name and class name.  I found the cute stick kid paper at Wal-Mart! 

When you open the WOW binder, the first thing you will see is the directions page.  I put it in a clear page protector.  The directions page tells the parents about each part of the binder.

On the backside of the directions page, I have a nine weeks skills checklist.  It lists all the skills we will cover for that nine weeks.  I will highlight any skills that parents need to work on at home. 

The front inside cover of the binder holds our weekly newsletter.

After the directions page and skills checklist, there is a zippered pencil pouch (see through).  This pouch is for money--lunch money, field trips, book orders, etc. 

Next is the parent communication notebook.  I will write notes to parents here, and they can write to me!

This is a terrible picture, but next in the binder are 5 pocket dividers.  They are:  Important Papers from School, Class Work, Homework, Graded Work, and Reading Log.

Here is a reading log!  Oooh, and it's all filled out!  Good job!

To end our tour, the last item in the WOW binder is The Reading Briefcase.  It is a poly envelope that stays in the binder, and the kids put any book we have read during guided reading in the briefcase, along with poems, fluency builder cards, etc.  I love that The Reading Briefcase is in the binder, because I know books are getting home, and most likely, they won't be lost! 

So, that's the WOW binder!  I think it's pretty WOW.  What type of take home folder do you use in your classrooms?  What do you put in your take home folders?  {Let's make this a share and tell!} 

What to Do When Life Hurts

Does life sometimes seem thorny?
A little like this tree?

But,
if you look closely,
you will see a little bird
sitting in her nest ~ safe among the thorns.

Perhaps that is how it is for us?
When life seems to be at its *worst*,
could it be that it is then that we learn
how protected and loved we really are?


Our times are in HIS hands.
HE does all things for our good and HIS glory.
We are sheltered and safe under HIS wings.
In HIS shadow.
We have nothing to fear.

Do we REALLY believe this?

Is it only true when all is going well?
No sickness.
No sorrow.
No trials.

Is our foundation shaken when things don’t go well?
When there is sickness, sorrow and suffering?

Thorns?


Fear and worry choke out joy ~
Rob us of our peace.

How precious God’s Word is.
That is where we find TRUTH.

Not in our feelings.
Not in our experiences.

In HIM.

That is where truth and
trust and life are found.

Only in HIM.


I must fortify myself in HIS truth.

In HIM I rest.
In HIM I trust.
This HE calls me to.
This HE enables me to do.
By HIS grace alone.

HE is my EVERYTHING.
All is to be found in HIM.

If this is not your testimony,
I implore you to run to the Saviour today.
HE is the only One Who is able to set your heart right.
HE is the only Way.

"Jesus saith unto him,
I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father,
but by me."
~ John 14:6 ~

In the same book of the Bible,
the Lord Jesus also spoke the following words ~
"All that the Father giveth me
shall come to me;
and him that cometh to me
I will in no wise cast out."
~ John 6:37 ~

Feel free to email me if you wish to discuss these things further,
or if you would like us to pray for you.
The LORD is good and gracious.
HE does all things well.
Yes, even when life hurts!

May all of you, kind friends,
know the peace that passes all understanding
as you put your faith in the only ONE worthy of it ~
The LORD Jesus Christ.

In His Love,
Camille

Challenge 3 - Winner & Top 3

Phew, the weeks are whizzing by.  We had a wonderful turnout for our Valentines challenge with 166 entries.  I must apologise to anyone who didn't get a visit.  We are a little down on our Design Team of late (look out for a DT call coming soon) and I, personally, found it really hard to keep up this time.

The winner chosen by Random.org was

which is Bev.  Congratulations,Bev, please take a look at Prairie Fairy and let me know your choice of 5 digis by emailing cardsformen@donnasden.co.uk

Our top 3 were

18 - Janey

26 Cheryl (shestamps)

54 - The Crafty Den

Congratulations to you all.  Grab the top 3 banner from our sidebar and add it to your own.

Challenge No. 4 - A Recipe For You

I knew we'd get a lot for our Valentine's challenge, but even I was surprised by the 150+ we got.  Our challenge this time is a recipe to follow.  Your card/project must have:

1 Image

2 Design Papers

3 Embellishments (either 3 the same or 3 different)

Our sponsor for this challenge is One Stop Card Crafts, a fab shop selling a wide range of crafting goods from the major brands such as Papermania, Fiskars, Sizzix, etc.  Please pop over and have a look around.

Here's a bit about our sponsor, from the owner, Shelley,

At One Stop Card Crafts we have a big range of ever changing discount card making and cardmaking craft supplies.We are always adding to our range of craft supplies which are ideal for making handmade greeting cards, do-it-yourself invitations scrapbook pages, altered items and much more.

Our card making craft supplies include free UK postage* and our popular discount scheme and quick service means our customers keep coming back for more.

Our prices are very competitive and this makes us an ideal place to buy your cardmaking supplies online.

The prize up for grabs is a £10 voucher to spend at One Stop Card Crafts.  So what are you waiting for?  I suppose I should give you the rules:

1. Your card must be for a man/boy
2. It must follow the theme/sketch set
3. It must be a new card for our challenge.

The challenge will close at 12 Midnight (GMT) on 27th February 2011.  Leave your name and a direct link to your project (not just your blog) in the link tool below.  If the link tool is not there for some reason, then please leave details in the comments and I'll add you in before I do the draw.

Finally, some inspiration.  Here's what the Design Team came up with:

Shirley

Kitty

Patricia

Sarah

Alison

Donna

Mandy

Let the Sunshine In!

"When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow.
For I will be with thee, thy trials to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress."

Quoted from the hymn
~ How Firm a Foundation ~

Oh there are times it feels as though they WILL!
But, the LORD promises they will not!

How often we must speak TRUTH to ourselves.
How often I must listen and drink in that TRUTH!

This is not our home ~
We are not to put roots down here.
Sin, sickness and disease are in this old world ~
We must do battle with them.

But, Oh what a blessed thought ~
There is NO sin in Heaven.
None of the effects of sin are there either ~
No sickness, sorrow, or death.

The longer I live,
the more precious Heaven becomes ~
HE becomes more precious!


Thankfulness.

In the midst of life's trials and troubles.
Thankfulness is something I can do.
When everything *seems* out of control.

Was I ever in control?
No ~ It was an illusion.
God is in complete control ~
Of all things!

I give thanks ~
To the ONE Who deserves All our Thanks.

God is Good ~ ALL the time!

"I will bless the LORD at all times:
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make her boast in the LORD:
the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
O magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt his name together."

~ Psalm 34:1-3 ~


1176. *Bad* days to drive me to the Saviour ~
How wonderful HE is!

1177. Alternative medicines

1178. *Feeling it* from resuming a
light weight routine ~ progress!

1179. Sunrise in the rearview mirror on
an early morning drive

1180. Three lanes open through the tunnel into the city

1181. Pink wispy clouds in the pale blue sky ~
The Heaven's declare the glory of God

1182. Heat in the van

1183. "Little House" to listen to

1184. Free parking near our destination

1185. Children's Hospital

1186. Time alone with Emma

1187. A kind doctor


1188. First appointment of the day ~ in and out!

1189. Answers to questions...a blessing

1190. The way Emma rescues bugs and TALKS to them
as she sets them free!! SO cute! :)

1191. A husband who took the children out for dinner
when I had a nasty headache

1192. Being tucked into bed by our sweet little girl

1193. More questions and how they drive me to the LORD


1194. Storms of life and knowing in the depth of my
being that God is in complete and Sovereign control

1195. Boys who do a *clear out* of their rooms
without being asked! :)

1196. How kind the children are to me when I feel sick

1197. Protective boys...so sweet!

1198. An evening with my Dad ~
Just Emma and me. :)

1199. Long-ago treasures to explore

1200. A sunny day after many grey ones


**Photos of Sun-evidence taken recently ~
Is it obvious that I was excited? :)