In the Time of Trouble ~ An Update

Howie and Austin are on their way home

from Children's Hospital.

They met with two specialists this morning ~

Our cardiologist and another

cardiologist who is also an electrophysiologist.

She has further training beyond cardiology.

She carefully reviewed Austin's case,

and spent about an hour with Austin and Howie

 explaining everything thoroughly to them.

What a blessing!

As I understand it,

the way forward is as follows.

Austin is to continue to take the heart medication

recently re-introduced.

He is to carefully listen to his heart

and to go to the ER if anything 

*out of the ordinary* should happen.

Another Holter Monitor 

has been ordered for one month from now.

Austin's Tachycardia was detected on his most

recent Holter ~ which was just read this week.

Hence, the urgent appointments today at Children's.

It's a very serious turn of events.

Unless the LORD heals our son,

a pacemaker will be required.

Timing is yet to be determined.

They like to put it off until absolutely necessary ~

It's a last resort.

The goal now is to get him stabilised.

We, of course, continue to pray for healing.

But, we know the LORD's ways often are not ours.

They are better.

The following are precious verses that the LORD used

to encourage my heart this morning as

we processed the news of Austin's need for a pacemaker.

How Great and Wonderful

our Heavenly Father is!!

"The LORD is my light and my salvation;

whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the strength of my life;

of whom shall I be afraid?"

"For in the time of trouble

He shall hide me in His pavilion:

in the secret of His tabernacle

shall He hide me;

He shall set me up upon a rock."

"Wait on the LORD:

be of good courage,

and He shall strengthen thine heart;

wait, I say, on the LORD."

~ Psalm 27 verses 1, 5 and 14 ~

May the LORD encourage you this day!

With Love,
Camille

Bend in the Road ~ An Update

Another bend in the road.

Austin's heart needs help.
Apparently, he's been having episodes 
of Tachycardia ~ 
a very serious situation
for someone with a heart like his.

Howie will take Austin to Children's in the

morning for further testing and assessment.

There's no question.

He needs a pacemaker.

It's felt that he needs it now.

We just got the news tonight.

Thank you to all of you who have lifted our

family up in prayer these last number of months ~
it is so greatly appreciated.

The LORD is Faithful.

He goes before us.

We are in His hands.

He truly does all things well.

As I know more, I will post updates.

"...the LORD hath His way in the whirlwind

and in the storm,

and the clouds are the dust of His feet."

~ Nahum 1:3b ~

Much Love,

Camille

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.