3 Miracles

1} We had an incident with our van last weekend that left us a little frazzled, but thankful for God's hand upon us...since then, our van has run normal.

2} How God uses ALL THINGS for our good

3} Everything is beautiful in its time...we are just beginning to swing into Fall...small glimpses of it are already appearing...we have had a marvelous summer, but I am always ready for the new season as it approaches...

Blessings,

3 Gifts Very Small

1} A SHORT work shift...SO THANKFUL because I am not feeling very good

2}Ricola Throat Drops...the ones in the yellow bag...I LOVE how they soothe your throat and help you to feel a little bit better

3}A Tea Bag...this is the time when I enjoy tea the most...when I am not feeling well...and I just discovered a new flavor from Celestial Seasonings...Honey Vanilla Chamomile Herbal Tea...While Throat Coat and HerbaTussin are my faves when I am not feeling good...this has a sweet taste and a soothing feel on the throat.

Blessings,

A Gift One, Two, Three

1}One adult child still in the house

2}Two teenager boys

3}I still have three students to homeschool...see where my mind has been lately...new school year, lesson plans, etc

Blessings,

3 Gifts Long Awaited

Well, I feel like most of my gifts long awaited...well, I am still waiting...
so today, I will be thankful for other gifts...maybe NOT so long awaited for...

1}New Books this year for school...I haven't ordered anything new for a while

2}Band...got the two youngers signed up for band and choir...well DD is too young for band right now...SO VERY thankful to those who make this an affordable music option for homeschool families

3}A Flute for our band student! She is going to be SO EXCITED!!!

Blessings,

3 Gifts New

1}Getting a start on our Christmas Shopping...haven't got much yet, but getting started is half the battle

2}More new books for School...almost have all of them

3}A new school year is underway! Looking forward to our schedule and new things added to it, like band, co-op and biology that I do not have to teach!!!!

Blessings,

A Gift Cut, Sewn, Buttoned

1}Cut: Tape on boxes at work...thankful for a job that works around my crazy schedule!

2}Sewn:A new Cross-Stitch project for a friend...I think about her often as I find time to work on it.

3}Buttoned: New Jeans for growing boys

Watching Down the Lane,

3 Gifts Fragile

1}Children's Hearts

2}Crystal Dishes

3}China Doll...THANKS SUE!

Watching Down the Lane,

Sufficiency of Scripture

Then He said again to them, “I go away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come.” So the Jews were saying, “Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” And He was saying to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” So they were saying to Him, “Who are You?” Jesus said to them, “What have I been saying to you from the beginning? I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world.” They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.

John 8:21-30

3 Gifts Moving

1}A certain 7 year old boy...ALL...THE...TIME

2}US...we will be joining friends for the day up at family camp today!

3}Time- I think this moves the fastest of old...make the most of every day

Watching Down the Lane,

3 Gifts Old

Well, I have found that the older you get, the older OLD is...so this may or may not be old...but they were the first three things I thought of...

1} My WELL used, much loved Kitchen-aid mixer...now 22 years old...it is still giving me service. I will need a new one at some point, but this was AN AMAZING GIFT!

2} Petit Point China- NO IDEA how old this really is, I have had my pieces for many years...so feminine and lovely...I am grateful for something so delicate...I'll never forget when my SIL helped me win an INCREDIBLE lot of it on ebay!

3} Our Van...while not as old as many things in our lives, this thing is ANCIENT by vehicle standards...and it has also been of great service to our family. We still need more time with you old friend...so do not even THINK of being put out to pasture!

Watching Down the Lane,

3 Gifts in Light

1}I LOVE how the morning light streams in through the windows giving everyone a natural and very gentle wake up call. This is one of my FAVORITE parts of the day.

2}And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
For you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways;
To give to His people the knowledge of salvation
By the forgiveness of their sins,
Because of the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,
To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Luke 1:76-79

3}A picnic later today out by a lake

Blessings,
C~

A Gift Straight, Curve, Turn

Today's Gift prompts made me think of our daily walk...we walk along and plan our days, but God wants us more and more like Him...and He knows best how to accomplish that. We have hard things in life that seem like curves or bends in the road, but later we see God's purpose in them and all the things He accomplished through them. Sometimes, we get off track and need something that causes us to turn from the path we were on and return to our heavenly Father. In everything, God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Watching Down the Road,

3 Gifts Of Serving

1} It shows an outpouring of your love for others
2} It is a love offering to the Lord in gratitude for all He has done for me.
3} It helps and encourages the body of Christ

Watching Down the Road,

3 Gifts in Church

1} Moving Worship
2} Meaningful Message
3} Merry and Memorable Fellowship

Watching Down the Road,

HUGE Joy Dare Catch Up

So how is it that time can get away from us so quickly...well, I am VERY behind on the Joy Dare and will now try to get caught up...

8/1
3 Gifts White
1} Big Puffy Clouds on a nice day
2} Empty notebook pages waiting to be filled
3} A Beautiful Katayama Porcelain Doll Vase from my very good friend

8/2
3 Gifts Eaten
1} THM Cheeseburger Pie...a new family favorite!
2} Hard Boiled Egg
3} A Nice Fresh Salad

8/3
A Gift at 10 am, 1 pm and 10 pm
1} A Break!
2} A Prize from Work
3} Sweet Sleep!

8/4
3 Gifts Sitting
1} Church
2} Time to Work on Lesson Plans
3} Dinner Time

8/5
A Gift Outside. Inside, Upside Down
1} Children Playing
2} Mom's Night Out after a homeschool meeting
3} Dishes drying the the drainer after cleaning up from dinner

8/6
3 Gifts in Water
1} Coffee Beans
2} a Hot Shower after a LONG DAY!
3} Free Bottles given to the children at the National Night Out

8/7
3 Gifts in His Word
1} John 3:16-God Gave His Son...
2} James 1:17- Every thing is from God
3} Romans 11:29-God's gifts and calling are irrevocable

8/8
3 Gifts in Summer
1} Barbeques
2} Tan Faces
3} Outside Fun

8/9
A Gift Hole, Whole, Half
1}Donuts...planning to bring them home on our first day back to school
2}Another whole week gone...it's been a FULL one
3}Half done with lesson planning

8/10
3 Hard Eucharisteo
1} A Broken Window
2} Believing God's Promises when there is no shadow of it present
3} A private matter

8/11
3 Gifts of Metal
1} Our cars...we most likely need new ones, but I am so thankful these keep getting us from point A to point B
2} Wedding Ring-Symbol of promises made and kept
3} Our Pots and Pans...a wedding gift used every day

8/12
3 Gifts Half Hidden
1} DDs money bag...he couldn't find it because it was part way under the bed
2} The ONE book we are looking for in the PILES of books stacked on the table
3} My debit card...once again...under THE STACKS of books on the table

8/13
3 Gifts in Green
1} Salad...Kale, Romaine, green onion...Lots of YUMMY goodness
2} Earth Milk...Now I think this tasted NASTY, but I did finish it and I KNOW it was good for me
3} 6 boxes of Scotch tape refills...we've been out of tape for a long time

8/14
A Gift in Ring, Curve, Sphere
1} A Locket to deliver
2} Lots of smiles...from Mama to Children and from Children to Mama
3} Work with a globe...learning about Continents and Oceans

8/15
3 Gifts Ugly-Beautiful
1}The Work of Canning...to have pickles later in the year
2}Our Laundry Pile...a never ending job that is evidence of God's provision in our lives
3}Thoughts of a friend celebrating a birthday after a death in the family

8/16
3 Gifts of Family
1} History
2} Help
3} Humor

8/17
3 Gifts in the Morning
1}Quiet
2}Coffee
3}A Clean Slate

8/18
A Gift Red, Read, Written
1} Lots of shirts for work in the closet
2} "Prayers for Prodigals"...an excellent book if you are walking that hard path. It has 90 days of prayers. Written by James Banks
3} This catch up Joy Dare post! :-)

Watching Down the Road,

Sufficiency of Scripture

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” So the Pharisees said to Him, “You are testifying about Yourself; Your testimony is not true.” Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I testify about Myself, My testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me. Even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true. I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.” So they were saying to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.” These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one seized Him, because His hour had not yet come.

John 8:12-20

Sufficiency of Scripture

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?” They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”

John 8:1-11

Typecrush

Typecrush
Ages: 7 and up
Cost: $25, includes shipping

We were given a Typecrush game to try out. I had never heard of it before and I was looking forward to seeing what it was all about. It arrived in the cutest tin packaging. If any of you have children and game boxes, you know this was a MAJOR bonus...no box to be crushed with pieces scattered all over the house. I think the can is kinda cool...nice colors, fun words...just all calling out to be opened and played with.

In case you are about as knowledgeable about Typecrush as I was, the website says:

"Typecrush™ is a word game based on letter frequency analysis—how frequently letters appear in the English language. It's kind of like a color-coded hangman, but way more entertaining and educational. Best for players age seven and older, Typecrush is as simple or challenging as your imagination decides.

There’s only one rule in Typecrush—whoever solves the word first gets to choose the next word. That’s it. If you’d like more rules—you’re free to make up your own. Typecrush is about communication and connection more than keeping score, so feel free to give a hint or turn over a letter if a player asks. We recommend playing themes like US states, types of animals, celebrity names and more. The options are endless.

Can you imagine how much fun this would be to play for history or for SAT vocab words, or word families for a beginning reader...and I MUST confess...the scrapbooker in me REALLY wanted to take these over...so many ways to incorporate this game into your everyday life. While we just played a traditional game, many of my reviewer friends had some great suggestions for using this game...like golf, a crossword style version (very similar to another popular game you play with wood tiles), getting the words from children's word search books (LOVE THAT IDEA)


So, I was a little surprised with what happened when the children dug in...my two younger ones actually LOVED this game...the olders were not really attracted...My little boy, DD just went across the color rows, letter by letter until he got each letter right. As a beginning reader, I think this was the best he could do. My daughter and son played together several times and always had fun. I think it would be fun to do a mental guessing game, where you have to figure out the entire word..like this:


Go on and take a guess...

I also REALLY like the idea of doing a crossword style game...that sounds fun. I think it might also be fun to play it more hangman style, drawing something with each wrong answer. I think this would be fun to use with SAT words too!

While the cost is about the only thing that would hold me back(why are games SO EXPENSIVE anyway?), I think Typecrush is a quality product...the tin is VERY STRONG!!! With all the potential ways this could be played...I think you will enjoy it. And if you add it to your schoolwork...don't tell your children it is school! The game comes in the can pictured above and you get 98 letter tiles, two letter frequency charts and a direction sheet. The game pieces are all letter-pressed and made from 100% recycled material. I think Typecrush would be fun for so many families in so many different ways...I am still working on my older boys too...

Please see what my team mates had to say about Typecrush here





p.s. The animal was monkey and mine was

A Good Word for a Tired Mama

Dear Sister in Christ,

Are you maxed out as a Mama...are you wondering will I ever Sleep again...does laundry ever end...Will my child ever be out of diapers?

Here is a GOOD WORD just for you... The title says it's for mom's with one or two children, but I think we all need to hear this...I know I did!

Blessings,

Sufficiency of Scripture

Some of the people therefore, when they heard these words, were saying, “This certainly is the Prophet.” Others were saying, “This is the Christ.” Still others were saying, “Surely the Christ is not going to come from Galilee, is He? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” So a division occurred in the crowd because of Him. Some of them wanted to seize Him, but no one laid hands on Him.

The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, “Why did you not bring Him?” The officers answered, “Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks.” The Pharisees then answered them, “You have not also been led astray, have you? No one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him, has he? But this crowd which does not know the Law is accursed.” Nicodemus (he who came to Him before, being one of them) said to them, “Our Law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?” They answered him, “You are not also from Galilee, are you? Search, and see that no prophet arises out of Galilee.” Everyone went to his home.

John 7:40-53

Finishing Up July Joy Dare

The past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind of activity...catching up as I can grab a few moments here and there...HOPING to do a couple of family posts soon!

7/26: 3 Gifts Fresh
1} Sheets hanging out on the line
2} A clean slate each morning
3} Hamburger from Zaycon

7/27: A Gift on Vacation, At Home, In Relaxation
1} Vacation: Rest
2} Home: Comfort
3} Relaxation: Peace

7/28:3 Gifts of Beginnings
1} Today Celebrates the Beginning of my 17 year old son's life...brought into the world on a beautiful sunny day...he was THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BABY...my early birthday present!
2} Beginning a new book: Francine Rivers Redeeming Love
3} The beginning of a new week...

7/29: 3 Gifts Together
1} Lunch with a dear friend
2} Birthday Celebration with family
3} Snuggles from the littlest ones before bed

7/30: 3 Gifts Heard
1} Hearing Happy Birthday from one of my FAVORITE baristas (Tess) when ordering my free drink.
2} "You can go home early!"
3} "Momma, you're home!"

7/31: 3 Gifts Difficult
1} Knowing God's plan is unfolding when things feel like they will never change
2} Trusting God even in broken windows
3} Tough Love

Watching Down the Lane,
C~