3 Gifts Found in Church

1}Worship

2} Encouragement

3} Fellowship

Blessings,
C~

A Gift Worn, White, Whispered

1} Worn: My Mother's Day Gift from my boy...wearing with pride a toy necklace and ring.

2} White: My Van...it is getting up in years now, and I am more than grateful it is running!

3} Whispered: I Love You Momma!

Blessings,
C~

Sufficiency of Scritpure

After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or Tiberias). A large crowd followed Him, because they saw the [a]signs which He was performing on those who were sick. Then Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat down with His disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near. Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.” One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, *said to Him, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted. When they were filled, He *said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost.” So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

John 6:1-14

3 Gifts Hard Giving Thanks For

1} Suffering

2} Those unseen places where a hard decision needs to be made...and either choice will be tough.

3}Things like wrinkles and reading glasses!

Blessings,
C~

A Gift in a Plate, Pot, Package

1} Plate:

2} Pot:

3} Package: A new book from Apologia called How Do We Know

3 Gifts Found in Community

1} Friendship

2} Help

3} Wisdom

Blessings,
C~

Breathe....and Worship

A recent facebook post really has me thinking...


And I have also been thinking about a post from Ann Voskamp's Blog A Holy Experience

And our every breath is a murmuring of His name, YWHW.

“The letters of the name of God in Hebrew… are infrequently pronounced Yahweh. But in truth they are inutterable….

This word {YHWH} is the sound of breathing.

The holiest name in the world, the Name of Creator, is the sound of your own breathing. That these letters are unpronounceable is no accident. Just as it is no accident that they are also the root letters of the Hebrew verb ‘to be’… God’s name is name of Being itself.”

~Rabbi Lawrence Kushner

She’s inhaling now, soft whistle breath calling Him, her very existence an unceasing invitation for Him to come. And she exhales, breath returned to Him, a circular ventilation of the soul. YHWH. YHWH.

Breathe — and call the name of Being Himself. Keep breathing — and pray without ceasing.

This is how to labor over your child, your life: breathe, inhale prayers, exhale prayers, breathe. YHWH. YHWH.

I find myself thinking about the Lord as I am breathing...usually pronounced Yahweh...I inhale...Yah...exhale...weh...and it gets me thinking about what I would like my life's focus to be...Worship...

Keep Breathing and let your life be filled with Him. When things are HARD...YHWH...when there is great Joy...YHWH...when you are irritated, or sleepy, or scared...YHWH...Worship...count your gifts...Praise...Breathe...

Blessings,

Island Dreams Granola

© Digital94086 | Dreamstime Stock Photos & Stock Free Images

20 years ago now we were in Hawaii on the beautiful island of Kona having an AMAZING vacation because of the generosity of an employer. The King Kamehameha Hotel had a wonderful breakfast buffet that had some granola that I thought was WONDERFUL...I am not a huge breakfast person...and eggs are just yucky in my opinion...so I had some of this granola. It was DELICIOUS...and when I think back to our times in Hawaii...I eventually think of that granola.
One day, as I was thinking about this granola, I thought I would just try to recreate the flavors I remember...now it has been 20 years...so absence probably DOES make the heart grow fonder and dulls the memory...so I have NO idea if this is ANYTHING like that one...but we really enjoy it and you can too...
When I began to put together this recipe, I searched online a bit for something that was like this and could not find what I was looking for, but I did notice that most granola recipes started with the same basic formula...so many oats, so much honey, etc...so I started with a basic formula and added the flavors I was looking for.

Recipe:
3 Cups Oats-old fashioned, not quick
1.5 cups macadamia nuts, rough chopped...see note in the instructions
1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp.coconut extract
1/4 cup coconut oil
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup mini chocolate chips

Now, I will admit...I do not measure EXACTLY on the extracts, macadamia nuts, coconut or the chocolate chips...so enjoy some freedom there!

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.
In a large bowl, combine the oats, nuts, and coconut. The macadamia nuts need to be small enough to chew without feeling like you are really getting a sore jaw, but big enough to notice and taste...so my first time rough chopping with a knife was too big and grinding in a nut grinder too small...but TIME IS MONEY...so using the Pampered Chef Chopper, I got a combination of too big, too small and JUST RIGHT!

In a pan, combine honey, brown sugar, vanilla & coconut extracts, coconut oil, and salt. Put on VERY low heat and stir until combined nicely. You are not cooking it as much as getting everything to a smooth consistency.

Combine both mixtures and pour onto 2 sheet pans. Cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to achieve an even color. This will look lighter and not cooked enough when you take it out of the oven, but will crisp up more as it sits and cools.

Remove from oven and transfer into a large bowl. Let cool. Add chocolate chips and mix until evenly distributed.

Thank you SO MUCH for this picture Tina! You're the BEST!

Blessings, and Enjoy!

3 Gifts that Made You Laugh

1}My "baby" waking up singing My Favorite Things

2}My Friend packing her computer on her vacation, after saying she wasn't doing that...and then posting on Facebook...

3} Making my biggest boy smile...he's so EASY to make smile!

Blessings,
C~

3 Gifts Found in Little People

1} Complete Joy

2} Trusting Love

3} The Funny Little Things They Say!

Blessings,
C~

A Gift Sweet, Sour, Salty

1} Sweet: Chocolate Ice Cream

2} Sour: Dill Pickles

3} Salty: Feta Cheese

Blessings,
C~

My Home School Grades

Boy, do I have a treat for all you homeschool families...have you been wondering how you are going to store grades and then find them again later? What about creating a transcript...Well, My Home School Grades is going to make all of this SO MUCH EASIER for you...and let me tell you...IT IS SO AFFORDABLE!

First, we received a lifetime membership to My Home School Grades...THANK YOU SO MUCH! I went in and created my account...it was SO EASY...There are tutorials on the home page to watch, which give more details than I found on my own, but you can start up without watching them...I have the Add A Class tutorial for you to watch below.


One beautiful part of this program is that you can either select from a list of popular publishers/curriculum or create your own. I will say that both options are SO NICE...I will say, being created by a homeschool dad and grad makes this program something better for all of us...they know all the hardships we have and made this program to fill the gap.

Ok...now we can also dump FORTUNES down the drain on THIS wonderful thing and THAT wonderful thing...but My Home School Grades WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER...and at $49.99 for a lifetime membership (INCLUDING ALL UPGRADES) FOR ALL YOUR STUDENTS makes this a BARGAIN! Now you can add more books to your wish list instead of record keeping things.

My Homeschool Grades can be used for all age levels. You can add grades as you go along or go back and enter previous years. It is all so easy. Another bonus...it is NOT destination specific...so you can use it on your PC, smartphone, tablet, etc...now if that isn't just the coolest thing ever...AND if your computer crashes...you haven't lost any information!

Now the last part I want to talk about, is one that makes many a homeschool mom doubt her capabilities. This is when we enter the high school years...Creating a TRANSCIPT...I have AGONIZED over this for YEARS...and now it is as simple as anything...


And here is a Sample Transcript

Here are a few pictures from our use of the program:


So select a student, add classes and grades...

here's our partial list of classes...

See that TRANSCRIPT BUTTON!!!!!

And...Voila!!!!

Now, this is NOT just a transcript program...but that is the part I am so excited about!

I HIGHLY recommend My Home School Grades...and you can try it for free for 14 days to see how WONDERFUL it really is!

3 Gifts from My Childhood

1} a Ring from my Grandmother...it was the last gift she ever gave me

2} A stuffed animal...I have had this FOREVER!

3} a book of poetry from my Grandfather...I really LOVED him...When it was time to leave, he would always say, "It's time for me to go milk the cows" and we bought it...EVERY TIME...he lived in Bellevue...in an apartment...


Blessings,
C~

Sufficiency of Scripture

And the Father who sent Me, He has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form. You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent.

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. I do not receive glory from men; but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

John 5:37-47

3 Gifts Unexpected

1} Coffee with a friend

2} a Sunday off...THANKS Sarah!

3} A HUGE Lamb Shoulder...MY HUSBAND is going to be SO HAPPY!

Blessings,
C~

A Gift in a Box, In a Bag, In a Book

1} Box: A new Origami Owl order!!!!!

2} Bag: Orders ready to be mailed out to clients!

3} Book: A new book to read...Unashamed

Blessings,
C~

3 Gifts Found in His Word

1} Genesis 49

2} Deuteronomy 33

3} Isaiah 9:1-7

Blessings,
C~

3 Gifts About Me

Oh...now aren't these the HARDEST posts to come up with...something about me...
I am thankful God made me:
1} able to be an encourager
2} with a reflection of Him in being creative
3} love being home with my children

Blessings,
C~

A Gift Picked up, Put Away, Put Back

1} Picked Up-Groceries for Dinner
2} Put Away-Laundry!!!
3} Put Back-Ice Cream...we REALLY don't NEED it!

Blessings,
C~

3 Gifts Found in Your Mother

1}She loves me
2} She loves animals
3}She loves gardening/plants

Joy Dare Catch up- May 8-12

8-3 Gifts Inside a Closet

1} My Wedding Dress
2} 2 new shelves my husband cleared and filled for me!
3} Baby Clothes

9- 3 Gifts Found in the Dark

1} Sweet Sleep!
2} Stars...so VERY beautiful
3} A VERY tired boy who ran his legs off at his brother's softball game

10- A Gift Inside, Outside and Upside Down

1} Inside: Children's excitement selecting JUST THE RIGHT thing for Momma for Mother's day!
2} Outside: SUN...a warm sunny day is not always guaranteed at this time of year
3} Upside Down: A full laundry basket that needs to be folded

11- 3 Gifts About Your Parents

1} Unconditional Love
2} Their generosity
3} Their support

12- 3 Gifts Held in Your Hand Today

1} A lemon cake pop...YUM!
2} Sweet Mother's Day gifts from my children
3} Gyro for Lunch after church with my family!

The Waterproof Bible

Ever wish to soak in a long hot bath with your heart soaking up God's Word? Going on an extended outdoor adventure trip, but worried about packing your Bible because of the weather or the elements of where you would be? Have you ever spilled a cup of coffee while doing devotions and have your Bible ruined? Ever have your Bible in the diaper bag with a bottle of water that leaked? Well, I may have a wonderful alternative for you...The Waterproof Bible...YES, waterproof...

Their Story:

The Waterproof Bible and THE OUTDOOR BIBLE originate from our desire to take God's word into all of His creation, regardless of the weather or circumstances. That is why they are completely waterproof, dry quickly, are much stronger than paper, are usable with writing utensils (ball point pen, pencil, or dry highlighter), and adapt well to all extremes or reading environments (on a rainy campout, in a coffee shop, even in a hot tub!).

When this item came up for review, I was SO EXCITED to see it...I just could not put the words waterproof and Bible together and have it make sense...I really wanted to touch it...try it out, etc...when it came, we all touched it, flipped through the pages...then it was time to put The Waterproof Bible through the courses...

In the sink...opened up to Psalm 23 and turned on the faucet...the Bible is FULLY submerged, but came out completely fine...after the pages get dried off...you can thumb through them just as before...Also, a bonus for boaters...most versions will float when in water! So if it accidentally goes overboard, you MAY be able to recover it!

In the dirt...I rubbed some dirt on 2 Timothy...the dirt washed off, but there is a FAINT remnant of it left behind...I am not even sure if you can see it in the picture or not.

Tearing...because they are a plastic material, they will stretch before they tear...as you can see from this picture...and yes, that little bump will make me crazy...so I will probably cut it out.

This is a DURABLE Bible...and while I will not be taking a wilderness adventure any time soon, I can see how this Bible would be wonderful in several EVERYDAY situations that I encounter. Devotions where any liquid is within a 10 foot radius, for younger children to use, in the bathtub, hot tub or at a pool, at Family Camp...so many possibilities! It would be GREAT for Missionaries and those in the Service.

I also tested it for writing on the pages...I LOVE to make notes and highlight in my Bible the things that are significant or new or background information right into that place in the Bible...I tested pencil, colored pencil, ball point pen, sharpie and highlighters on a portion of Scripture...The pencil, colored pencil and ball point pen worked the best. The Sharpie was fine, but it was VERY hard to control the fat marker tip on the one I had (Just reading through my notes, I see that that is not recommended to use in these Bibles). The highlighter pen smeared...Bardin Marsee Publishing recommends those dry highlighters made for regular Bibles if you want a highlighter. Gel Pens are not recommended either because they will smear.

So, is the Waterproof Bible pretty much indestructible? Well, there is a warning inside the Bible of things to watch out for:


Available in NIV (2011 version), ESV, NKJV, KJV, and NLT in a Full Bible option or the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs option. I received the New Testament option to review and I am seriously considering buying a full Bible option. The Pages have an Ultra Clear text, which means that the print does not bleed through onto the other side of the page. With a variety of styles to choose from, prices range from $24.95 to $44.95...I thought these prices were VERY comparable to prices on Bibles in the store. A personalization option is also available and other accessories can make your Waterproof Bible experience complete.

What we thought: WE LOVE the Waterproof Bible and will probably be buying a few copies. There are JUST those times when it is nice to have. The children thought it was REALLY a cool concept. I also think these would make a GREAT graduation gift paired with an All Weather Journal.

Wherever life takes you - carry the Waterproof Bible or THE OUTDOOR BIBLE and Be Inspired. Anywhere.

Sufficiency of Scripture

Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.

“I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

“If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true. There is another who testifies of Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true.

You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. But the testimony which I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was the lamp that was burning and was shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.

But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.

John 5:25-36

Ooka Island

Ooka Island
Pricing: $12.95/mo or $124.95/year...there is a discount for more children

Ooka Island is a pre-K- 2nd grade learn to read Game Adventure which teaches: Phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension.

Inspired by her deaf son, educator Dr. Kay MacPhee spent 25 years developing a program to help hearing impaired students learn to read. What began as a way to help the hearing impaired with their reading became a program to help struggling readers of all ages. She wanted to combine her research and teachings with technology to develop a program to prevent and ultimately eradicate illiteracy. Considered one of the top reading experts in the United States, Kay wanted a fun environment, that would get children starting younger, work on 6,998 skills, was self-contained, rather than web-based (safety issues, streaming, pop-ups, etc) all without losing the "at the table" feel of her program. I think she has come up with a wonderful program.

Before I move on, I think there is some valuable information on the website...so rather than try to interpret it and make it into something understandable here, I will just post a few links.

Video Tour
Program Features
Parent Progress Reporting Portal
READirect
Leveling Chart

FAQs
Activity Pages
Ooka Tunes

Ok...that is all I can think of right now, but the website is a WEALTH of information!

So, we have actually tried Ooka Island before and LOVED it!!! DD had a great time going between the different learning times and then getting a play time...I believe you work through 20 minutes of the learning portions (these take you through the different activities, such as the Cave of Sounds, Alphabet Mountain, Cake Factory, and Clumsy Wacky) then you get to go choose where you would like to go on the island...such as Pencil Playground or Popcorn Library...this is timed as well...I cannot remember how long it is, but a beach ball in the corner of the screen helps your child keep track of how much time is used/left.

What we LOVED:
This is a PHENOMENAL reading program that has so much packed into it...
It is FUN and Colorful and gives further lessons based on previous work done. SO you move on when you are ready and get further instruction when needed, but it just feels like you are playing a COMPUTER game.
LOVE that it is self contained...your child is safe, you do not need to wait a long time for a game to load, no inappropriate pop-ups, etc.
I love the reporting portal so you can track how your child is doing.
I love that there are book printables to balance the online/offline approach and give you a "Real Book" to hold.
I thought it was VERY clever that in the logo, each color used in Ooka Island stands for a level in the program...
It is just really FUN to say Ooka Island...

What would be a challenge:
It is a little pricey for our budget at this time...very well worth it, but too much for us now. I get to help with that a little bit...here is a link for 30 % off any subscription rate ...this offer is good through June 1st, 2013.

Look for other opinions on Ooka Island here on 5/13