Forever Young

The end of the school year is always a bittersweet time.  The sweet is knowing that the students I have taught have grown so much in my care!  I have been there to watch some of them make the connection that all of those letters and sounds work together to form words, and I have even secretly cried with joy when listening (and silently cheering on) that little one read an entire book, look up at me with eyes sparkling, and give me a huge grin.  I know they are going to succeed next year.

As I give them all a final good-bye hug, and listen to them say how much they loved me and will miss me--I know that next year when they see me, it won't be quite the same--and that part is hard.  Some of them might still give a hug in passing, others will give a quick smile, and a few might just avoid my gaze like the plague!  {Ha!}  No matter how much time passes, though, when I see my past students, it will never cease to amaze me at how much they have grown and changed.  Although growing up is inevitable--we, as teachers, especially early childhood teachers, have the unique privilege of seeing children as they were in our care--forever young.  No matter how tall they get, or grown up they look, we will always remember them as that sweet little six year old.

I was watching Glee the other night {don't judge--I don't like it all that much}, and the Glee Club teacher sang his Seniors a song to say good-bye--and OH my gracious…I just couldn't help it…I CRIED.  I had to share the song with y'all.  It is my little good-bye to this year's sweeties, too.  They will always be forever young in my eyes.

MRI Results ~ An Update

"Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness,
and for His wonderful works to the children of men!"
~ Psalm 107:8 ~

What great things the LORD has done!
Please join with us in rejoicing

in God's Goodness to our family!

Today we had our follow-up appointment
at Children's Hospital in Cardiology.
Austin was there for another Echo and an ECG.
After those tests were done,
we were seen by the Cardiologist.

He gave us the results of the
MRI that was done last month.

We expected damage to be shown.
It was assumed that it would be there.
Medically speaking, it should be there.

But it isn't.

Austin has Dilated Cardiomyopathy.
His heart is still functioning in
reduced capacity due to this condition.
He is on three heart medications.

The Cardiologist said today
that Austin will ALWAYS need heart meds.
As long as he has this heart.

But, we serve a Great God!
He is the Great Physician.
He is able to do the impossible.

He already has.

And so, we pray.
And we thank HIM for this
wonderful news.
HE has done this!
We praise HIS Holy Name!

"And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing
which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee,
and unto thine house..."
~ Deuteronomy 26:11a ~

We seek to live one day at a time.
Each day is a Gift.

Thank you to each one of
you who has faithfully prayed for our
family in these last few months.
The LORD hears.
He answers.
And He does all things well.

Always.

In HIS Love,
Camille

A Day in the City

Austin had an appointment
at Children's Hospital.
We had Auntie Mary with us.
So, we decided to make
a day of it and head into
the city.

We packed a lunch
and drove straight to
Stanley Park.
First stop ~
A park bench to sit
on while eating.

It was lovely.

Fraser and Emma didn't fit

on the bench,
so they got prime seating!

They were happy with
the arrangement. :)

It was a special time ~
Made extra special because
we had Auntie Mary with us! :)

The photographers
worked hard for their shots.

Do you see the
Lions Gate Bridge
in the background?

Howie had a little moment of peace ~
This was taken with the *zoom* lens
from quite a distance away! :)

Of course we had to have
a few photo shoots ~
Thank you Auntie Mary! :)

Calvin enjoys taking
*action* shots ~
And I enjoy posting them!

Sheer joy! :)

On the way home we were able
get into the third lane through the tunnel.
(During rush hour a lane opens
up on the opposite side).
It's a great thing!

We took Auntie Mary to
the White Spot for dinner
where most of us enjoyed a Legendary.
Mmmm....it was good!

God has graciously given
us a precious Auntie who
we love very much.
It has been such a pleasure
to have had her with us this
last little while.

Blessings to you each one!
With love,
Camille

**All photos in this post courtesy
of Calvin ~ Thank you my love. xo

A multitude of winners !!!!

So here I am back with a long list of winners, as promised.  All the winners have been chosen using Random.org.

Challenge 6 - 7 digis from Bugaboo Stamps - winner is #61 Lisa-Jane.  Congratulations, Lisa-Jane, please email me on cardsformen@donnasden.co.uk to claim your prize.

Challenge 7 - 3 digis from Karen's Doodles - winner is #5 Kelly.  Congratulations Kelly, take a look at Karen's Doodles and email your 3 choices to cardsformen@donnasden.co.uk.

Challenge 8 - $10 gift voucher from Digi Doodle Shop - winner is #67 Scarlett.  Congratulations Scarlett, email me on cardsformen@donnasden.co.uk and I'll pass your details on to the sponsor.

Challenge 9 - 4 digis from Kenny K - winner is #82 Del.  Congratulations Del, please choose your 4 digis from Kenny K and email them direct on digis@kennykdownloads.com.  You'll need to tell them that you're the prize winner for Cards for Men (22nd April).

Challenge 10 - 3 digis from The Stamping Boutique - winner is #75 Nina Macauley.  Congratulations Nina, take a look at The Stamping Boutique and email your 3 choices to me on cardsformen@donnasden.co.uk.

Phew!.  That's all the winners, I'll be back on Monday with the Top3's.  Have a good weekend xx

Shadows of the Eternal

Spring brings its own

special joys.
Fresh and new.

Rejoicing in the LORD
and HIS Goodness.
Seeking to continually
give HIM thanks.

Once again ~
I number.
I count.
I rejoice.

The joy never ends ~
Because of HIM!
These are but shadows
of the eternal.

1676. Hawaiian Sweetness ~
Thank you Dad! :)


1677. Inaugural use of the line ~
For another season


1678. Rocks to be placed


1679. Workers to do the job


1680. Teaching moments


1681. Saying yes...this was the first
time I allowed her to do this :)


1682. A quick walk down the pier


1683. With Auntie Mary! :)


1684. Six days with Auntie Mary

1685. That Austin gained 15 lbs in 5 weeks!

1686. Amazing blood work results

1687. The *old* Austin is emerging ~
how it warms my heart!

1688. That Howie and Calvin were able
to go on a business trip together

1689. That we have two vehicles ~
how did we manage for so long with just one?

1690. Spontaneous help ~
two who cleaned up the kitchen to surprise me

My journal sits on my counter.

I list as events unfold.
Sometimes many all at once,
and other times in a trickle.
But, always by HIS Grace!

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.

Enjoy the journey!

Many Blessings,
Camille

Potato Doughnuts

Okay, these really are scary!

Clog your arteries time.
But, oh are they Good! :)

Make them at your own peril.
I will not be held responsible.
*Wink*

Want the recipe?
For the once-every-ten-year
doughnut feast??

You know you do!


My growing up years are speckled
with memories of fabulous food.
My Mom is a fabulous cook.

And so it went.

Potato doughnuts were a treat.
We didn't have them often.
But, when we did.

We did.

I remember the kitchen being taken over by
doughnuts hot from the cooker.


Oh. Dear. Me.

I cut the recipe in half and
there were still about 4
dozen doughnuts to contend with!
And again...

Oh. Dear. Me!!

Don't worry. We shared.
I froze some ~ Although, they really
are best hot off the press...
think ~ Krispy Kreme. :)

~ The Ingredients ~

2 Tbsp (or packages) Yeast
1 cup warm Water
2 tsp Sugar
4 Eggs
3 cups Milk ~ scalded
1 cup Butter ~ softened
1 cup Sugar
1 Tbsp Sea Salt
1 tsp ground Nutmeg
1 cup well mashed Potatoes
(previously cooked and cooled)
8 cups Flour
Oil for deep frying
(I used Canola)

~ The Method ~

Proof your yeast in the
warm water with the 2 tsp sugar
dissolved in it for about 10 minutes.
It should foam up.
That's how you know it will
do the job in the dough.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, pour the scalded milk
with the softened butter and mix until melted.
Stir in the 1 cup of sugar until dissolved.
Using a whisk, mix in the eggs, sea salt, nutmeg,
mashed potatoes, and the foamy yeast mixture.

Add in 4 cups of the flour
and stir in the remaining 4 cups
a cup at a time until the dough pulls away
from the sides of the bowl.
Knead in enough flour to make a soft dough.

Set in a warm place and cover
with a clean cloth.
Let the dough rise double.
It may take an hour or so.

Once doubled in size,
punch the dough down.

It will be very soft
and slightly sticky.
Lightly flour your counter
and roll out to about
half the desired thickness
you want your cooked doughnuts to be.
Cut into doughnuts
and let sit on the counter
until risen to nearly double in size.

This will likely take another hour.

In a wide heavy bottomed pot,
heat about four inches of oil to 375 degrees F.
Use a candy thermometer for an accurate reading.
Or, use your deep fryer if you have one! :)

Carefully slide a few doughnuts into the oil
and flip over with tongs when golden brown.
They don't take long ~ 10-15 seconds per side.
Careful you don't burn them or yourself!
Hot oil is HOT!

Set out cooling racks with
paper towels spread on them
for the doughnuts coming hot off the press!
The paper towels will soak up any
unwanted extra grease.

Remove doughnuts from the hot oil
with tongs and set on the paper towels
to cool a little.

While still warm, toss a few at a time
in a bag partially filled with icing sugar.
You could also use your favourite
glaze after they are completely cool.

Call the masses...
there will be enough for a crowd!
Enjoy!

Many Blessings,
Camille

Challenge 11 - Congratulations and we have a DT call

The weeks just seem to whizz by - we're nearly all the way through June!  (oops. meant May!)

We had a great turn out for the last challenge, just under 100 entries.  Hopefully this challenge will prove just as popular.  We have a great challenge and a fabulous sponsor, Meljen Designs.  The theme is 'Congratulations' and our only rule is that we must have the word 'Congratulations' on the card.  The prize is 4 digis and here's a bit about the sponsor:

Meljen's Designs is a lovely stamp company owned and illustrated by Melissa Jenkins. She illustrates whimsical rubber and digital images inspired by her kids and family. Meljen's Designs has new releases along with a new challenge every Thursday, freebies every Monday and a Guest Designer each month at the Meljen's Designs Blog. Please visit the Meljen's Designs line of stamps at http://www.meljensdesigns.com/ and browse and enjoy Melissa's wonderful images!

We got some great images to work with and here is the ideas from the Design Team:

Michelle

Shirley

Sandra

ALAN

Patricia

Jen

Aren't they wonderful.  I'm really proud of my design team, they're great to work with.  We currently need about 4 new members to join our happy team so if you're interested in working with us then enter the challenge and put DT after your name.  We don't have a lot of rules but you do need to be able to make a card for each fortnightly challenge, often using sponsor images.  Comment on the entries on a rota basis and take turns at posting the challenge and winner/top 3 posts.  I hope you will be encouraged to enter because it's great to see everyone's work although it is really hard to choose the best.

On the subject of winners, I am a bit behind but will post a round up of winners and prizes this evening.

Lastly, we need some challenge rules:

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

The challenge will run from now until midnight on 3rd June 2012.  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 you in before the draw.  Good luck!

Marine Science Sea Lab

Our classroom was transformed into a mini "Marine Science Sea Lab" for the last few weeks of school!  

The kids had so much fun sorting and observing shells at the "Shell Observation Station".  They used a shell picture cheat sheet to look up names of shells, and many of them created shell observation/sketch booklets!  They are such little scientists!  

My sweet little friend Collin brought in his adorable, big-eyed Manta Ray one day, and everyone loved it so much that he became our mascot for our ocean unit!  We named him "Manny the Manta Ray", and even found out cool new facts about Manta Rays.  Everyone was so excited about Manny's arrival, that they brought in many of their own ocean animals, too!  We needed a place for all these guys to swim, so we created an "aquarium"--and, as you can see, it was overflowing with ocean creatures!

Our Ocean Museum showcased ocean projects, puzzles, kid-created posters, shell collections brought in from home, and even a photo of a classmate petting a real dolphin!  They loved visiting the museum in between station activities!

We zoomed off with Mrs. Frizzle and read The Magic School Bus On the Ocean Floor.  We learned that the ocean floor is NOT flat!  We also did an interactive writing activity to remember that some of the deepest valleys and tallest mountains on earth are found in the ocean!  

We read A House for Hermit Crab and made story retelling timelines using yarn and adorable story pieces made by MelonHeadz Illustrating.  We also used graphic organizers from Kim Adsit's Ocean Animals packet to help us how to retell the story in writing! 

  

We learned how to tell the difference between fish and invertebrates:

And, we also learned how fish breathe underwater with Mr. Goldfish guy right here:

Three more days of first grade...

Rejoicing Again!

Last November,
Austin was baptized.
We rejoiced.

And now,
we are rejoicing again!


Calvin expressed his desire
to be baptized during the winter months.
A few things delayed the process,
which meant that he had to patiently wait.


This past Sunday,
Calvin followed his Saviour,
the Lord Jesus Christ,
in the waters of baptism.
He obeyed the LORD's command
in the Scriptures to do so.

"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 eternally grateful
to the LORD for His Goodness.
For His Grace and Mercy.
We praise Him from
Whom all blessings flow!

The LORD has done this.


Auntie Mary was able to join with us ~
She was already in town for the wedding.
Many of our extended family were able to come and witness
this joyous event as well. We are so thankful!

May the LORD be glorified
through the lives of each
of our children.
We pray that He would graciously
lead each one to Himself.
We depend completely and utterly upon Him.
HE alone is Worthy!

If you are praying for unsaved
loved ones, be encouraged.
As long as there is breath,
there is hope.
Continue to pray.

"Continue in prayer, and watch
in the same with thanksgiving."
~ Colossians 4:2 ~

The LORD truly does
all things well!

Many Blessings,
Camille