Wrigley Field Inspired

For me, inspiration comes from many places and experiences I have, and through people I meet.  I was so lucky to travel to Chicago to meet up with some of the teachers that have inspired me most in my career.  I consider them friends, and feel so blessed to have them to turn to when I need help or a listening ear.  How amazing is it that teachers are now collaborating and sharing ideas like never before?  Blogging has completely transformed the teaching community, and it is comforting to know that there are so many people out there who know exactly what we go through each day to be the best for our students.  It is incredible that we can learn so much from one another by simply sharing on a blog!  I have to admit, I was a little star-struck and nervous about meeting some of these talented and creative ladies!  But y'all, you will never meet a nicer group of people! 

Ohmyword.  It's Cara Carroll!!!!  I just love her.  

And, there's precious Abby Mullins and Amanda Nickerson!  AGH!  To quote Abby, "Stop. The. World."  Seriously. 

Here we are at "The Bean"!  So fun!  

The hubs and I traveled the city together, too!  Here we are at Wrigley Field, playing some baseball--HA! 

Umbrellas make excellent bats.

Haha!  I don't know.  It just cracks me up!  

And here we are looking pretty ridiculous 103 stories up--on the Skydeck of the Willis Tower.  

I play like I am scared, but seriously, y'all--I was shaking.  

And, I was pretty excited to see the "Adventures in Babysitting" building!  If you haven't seen that movie, well...you're missing out!  Just sayin'.

Stop it right now.  They had a cupcake ATM!  Yes!  I just had to get one to bring back to my sweet friend Kim for her birthday!  

What an adventure!  

So, the title of this post is "Wrigley Field Inspired"--I was so excited to create an {-ALL} Baseball Game themed phonics activity packet for my students to use this week.  The game below is what I taught them today--{-all} Baseball!  They were pumped to move their little baseball players around the bases when reading the baseball {-all} words correctly!

Tomorrow, they will play "Baseball Cover Up"!

And make baseball flip-the-letter booklets!

There are baseballs even hanging from the ceiling--these will be used for read and write the room during stations.

They will write the {-all} words found around the room on this recording page:

Are you teaching {-all} this year?  Click the picture below to get your copy!

 I will give one away to the 7th person to comment on this post!  

Thanks for reading to the end!  This was the LONGEST post.  Ever.  :)

Janine's Autumn Chowder

Our niece *loves* this chowder!

Even on a hot day she has been known to request it!

And, once I tried it, I understood.

Really, I did! :)

I still prefer it in the Fall/Winter.

Something about it says that to me.

Maybe it's in its name? ;-)

It's what I served for supper one night last week.

(Actually two nights, since I made double).

One recipe serves 4 to 5 generously.

Another great thing about this chowder

is that it can be whipped up at nearly a moment's notice.

Thought to pot to table in under an hour.

How's that for a home-cooked meal?

Biscuits on the side would be nice,

but, this chowder delivers nicely

in the fill-you-up department.

Bonus!

Since I gleaned this recipe from my sister,

I've named it after her.

I don't know where it originally came from ~

If you do, please do tell so I can give

credit where credit is due.

And, it is due, believe me!  

~ Janine's Autumn Chowder ~

1 cup onion, diced

Olive oil for frying

3 cups new potatoes with skins on, diced

1 1/2 cup carrots, sliced

2 cups chicken stock ~
homemade, of course!  :)

3 cups frozen corn

1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper

1 1/2 tsp sea salt (omit if using stock from a cube)

3 cups shredded cheddar cheese

3 cups milk

1/4 cup flour

8 slices of bacon, fried crisply for a topping.

Fry onion in oil in soup pot.

Add stock, potatoes and carrots.

Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer

about 20 minutes until vegetables are tender.

Stir in milk, corn, pepper and salt.

Heat to simmer.  Do not boil.

Mix cheese and flour together in a bowl until cheese is coated.

Add to pot, stirring constantly.  

Stir until cheese is melted and soup is thickened.

Serve with crumbled bacon.  Y.U.M!

Enjoy!

With Love,

Camille

Something I've Been Learning

Life is fragile. 

We are not guaranteed tomorrow. 

None of us are. 

Something I've been learning ~

Due to the fact that one of our children

is living with a life-threatening condition.

It has brought to light what really matters.

In a fresh way.

To cherish this day. 

To enjoy each moment. 

To live life to the fullest. 

Walking this path with the LORD.

Moment by moment.  Day by day. 

He gives the strength and grace. 

He gives all we need. 

May we use this life He gives for His glory. 

Every moment.  Every day. 

That's all that matters. 

All that counts.

I have been struck with the fact that Crohn's Disease 

and DCM are not what define Austin. 

Neither are they what define us as a family. 

No.

We are the LORD's. 

We belong to Him. 

That's what ought to define us. 

That's what others ought to see.

The only difference between our family and

yours may be the fact that we have a 
name for one of our beasts. 

But, we all face them. 

Beasts.

They come in various forms with a variety of names. 

Selfishness.  Besetting sin.  Disease.  Poverty.  Even wealth. 

Whatever those beasts are, however,

we do not have to face them alone.

The LORD will bear them with us.
He will set us free from our sin.

If we belong to Him, 

we are promised He will never

leave us nor forsake us.

Whatever the LORD gives is what is best.

For this day.  In this life.  By His grace.

If we are followers of Him, we have nothing to fear.

We have every reason to take courage.  

Every reason to hope. 

We can face whatever comes because of HIM.

And this life is not all there is.  Not at all! 

It's only a shadow.  Only a beginning.  Eternity awaits. 

And the LORD will be with us there.  Forever. 

Rejoice!  He is Good.  
Always. 

Many Blessings, 
Camille

Old Habits Die Hard!

Old habits die hard.

And here we are again! :)
(Click on the link above to see what this is all about).

Have a happy day! 

With Love, 

Camille

Challenge 22 - A sketch for you

So here we are again for another challenge.  This time we have a sketch which has been designed by our very own Shirley (aka Nannieflash) and a great prize from Letraset.

 

The prize we have is a set of 6 flexmarkers from Letraset.

 

 

ProMarkers are made by Letraset and are a twin tipped, dye based alcohol marker offering a high quality product at a great price. Avilable in 148 colours, they give incredible tonal range and can be applied to a diverse range of materials, not just paper and card. ProMarkers produce vivid, bright colours right through to the subtlest pastel shades - the translucent inks can also be overlaid and blended, even further extending the range of shades and hues on offer. ProMarker's quality nibs and inks provide flawless colour lay down with consistent coverage and no unsightly streaking

Here's what the team have come up with to inspire you:

 

Shirley

 

Sandra

 

Michelle

 

 

Donna

 

Caz

 

 

Lisa

 

 

 

Patricia

 

 

Hopefully, you're all fired up for a challenge now.  Here are the rules:

 

1. Your card must be new for this challenge and follow the theme set.

2. Your card must be for a man or a boy.

3. Your post must mention Cards for Men and contain a link back to the challenge post.

 

The challenge will run from now until midnight GMT on 4 November 2012.  Leave a link to your post (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.

 

 

 

 



 

Please Pray ~ An Update

Austin has been losing weight and strength 

over the last couple of months. 

It's a balancing act as we seek to manage meds and lifestyle. 

He trusts in the LORD.  We do too. 

What a blessing it is to know that He does all things well. 

Eternal perspective is imperative always, but, 

especially in times like these. 

Our Great God is Faithful. 

He is able to do amazing things.

He already has. 

Throughout this trial we pray that the 

LORD would be exalted. 

That He would be magnified. 

That He would be praised.

It's the reason we exist. 

Whatever He deems best is what we want. 

For Austin.  For our family.  By His grace.

How precious each day is! 

Austin was taken off one of his heart medications

due to the fact that it seemed to be aggravating his Crohn's Disease.

However, it is apparent that this medicine is

necessary for Austin's heart function.

If he cannot tolerate it (or its cousin) 

he will require the placement of a pacemaker. 

We pray that all will go well with this drug. 

But, if the LORD can use Austin more 

effectively with a pacemaker, that is what we want.  

His will, not ours, be done.

Our times are in His hands. 

Our children belong to Him. 

Please pray for Austin's body to accept this medicine. 

Please pray that the Crohn's would not flare 

due to the re-introduction of it. 

And, of course, please pray for complete healing. 

Our God is able.  But, His ways are not ours ~

They are higher. 

HIS will be done. 

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! 

With Love, 

Camille

Challenge 20 - Winner and Top 3

Well we had a wonderful amount of entries for our 'Animal Magic' challenge and the team found it really difficult to choose the top 3 but here they are:

#8 - Leah Ann

#32 - Nikki Byrne

#54 - Louise

Congratulations to you all, please grab the top 3 badge from our sidebar and add it to your own.

The winner of the prize of 4 digistamps from Meljens Designs (as chosen by random.org) is

#63 - Berni C

Well done, Berni.  To claim your prize, pop over to Meljens Designs, choose which 4 images you'd like and them email Dee Morris who'll send out your prize.

Meet the Scraggles.

This is a Scraggle.  Scraggles are funny little creatures (similar to Fraggles--if you remember that muppet show from the 90s?! HA!}  They live in Scraggle Patches, have wild hair, big eyes, and love to teach kids all about the short vowel "a".  We had a family of 4 Scraggles come to visit our class last week.  While they visited, my first graders had a blast learning to read and write words with short vowel "a"!  

Everyone chose a Scraggle to decorate.  Then we brainstormed a list of short "a" names to write on their shirts.  After the silly creatures were decorated and named, they were glued to our class Scraggle Patch--for students to practice reading the short "a" names during stations!  

I have some wonderfully creative first graders!  Here were some of my personal favorite Scraggle names:  Zaxby, Batman, Dragon, and Alvin!  Ha! :)

{Teacher friends, I created a packet full of "Scraggle-ific" literacy activities to go along with our Scraggles.  If you are looking for a memorable way to teach short a, please click the picture to take you to TpT shop!}

On Being Real

On being real.

Being real with our children.

Facing up to our sin.

Owning it.  Confessing it.  

Praying with them and asking them to pray for us.

They will.

It's a beautiful thing to walk this path with them.

Share our faith in the trenches with them.

Look to the LORD with them through 
all the joys and sorrows of this life.

God is Faithful.  All the time.

He will never forsake us.

He will give the grace and strength needed.

He will forgive us when we fail.

Day by day.

Moment by moment.
Over and over and over again.

How precious HE is!

If you wonder where to begin.

How to begin?
Begin first with HIM!

Seek the LORD in prayer.

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God,

that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not;
and it shall be given him."

~ James 1:5 ~

Read His Word.

(Proverbs is a great book of wisdom).

Pray His Word.

Memorize His Word.

(I speak to myself here the most).

We must ask Him to forgive and mold and shape us.  
He will.  By His Grace.  For His Glory.

Looking to Him each step of the journey
together with you!
He alone is worthy of all our praise.

With Love,
Camille

Challenge 21 - Orange & Black

Wow, another two weeks gone.  I just can't believe it.  We had almost 100 entries for the last challenge - wow!  So hopefully you're all up for another great challenge.  This time our sponsor is the ever-popular KennyK and the prize is your choice of 4 digis.

I'm sure you're all familiar with the wonderful work of Kenny K's Shop but what about the man (and woman) behind those wonderful creations. Take a look here to see their journey, http://www.kennykdownloads.com/about-kenny-and-elena.php

So here's what the design team came up with to inspire you to join in with us:

Shirley

ALAN

Caz

Lisa 

Sandra

Michelle

Donna

Patricia

Hopefully, that's got you all fired up to join in with us.  Now for the 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 mention Cards for Men and contain a link back to the main post.

The challenge will run from now until midnight (British Summer Time) on 21 October 2012.  Leave a link to your post (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.

Fast Forward.

Ok, does anyone else feel like someone has hit the fast forward button?  How in the world is it October already?!   The chalkboard and quote above is on display in our kitchen right now, as a reminder to our family to enjoy each day as it happens, and to remember what is truly important in life.  I think we all just get SO busy-- that we forget to take the time to look around us, and enjoy the little things!  I know I do.  Plus also, who doesn't LOVE Ferris Bueller?  I mean, really!!!  

Have a blessed week, sweet bloggy friends.  Take some time to "stop and look around"!

It's a Battle

It's a battle. 

The battle for contentment.

Just when I think I have this one figured out, 

something comes along to rock my boat.

Paul said ~ "I have learned, 

in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."

~ Philippians 4:11 ~

It is something that has to be worked at.

It has to be learned.

In fact, contentment cannot be 
achieved in our own strength.

It's impossible.

Two verses later Paul states ~

"I can do all things through 

Christ which strengthens me." 

 ~ Philippians 4:13 ~

It doesn't come naturally. 

Discontentment does.

But, the LORD promises to give grace.
HE promises to give strength.
We can do all HE calls us to in HIM!
What a blessing!

 

"Discontentment comes from elevating 

the things of this world above the things of eternity."

~ Pastor Cam ~

If only we could (go, do, get, be)...fill in the blank ~ 

A holiday. A spouse. A new something or other. 

Discontentment will not be remedied 

by stuff or circumstances. 

On vacation or in a new home,

our hearts go with us. 

Nothing will bring lasting contentment. 

Nothing, that is, except the LORD Jesus Christ. 

If we have HIM, we have EVERYTHING.

How liberating and wonderful this truth is! 

By God's Grace, if we are in Christ,

nothing will be able to shake our foundation. 

Absolutely nothing! 

HE is ALL!

With Love,

Camille

**Photo in this post courtesy of our Calvin ~

Thank you my love!  XO