Wooden Shoe Like to Win?’ Sisterchicks® Contest

Robin Jones Gunn is one of my favourite authors - I'm not a big reader, but as a child I faithfully read all the Babysitter Club Books by Ann M. Martin; then as a Teen I faithfully read all of the Christy Miller Series by Robin Jones Gunn!

Alexa and I met Robin at a Women of Faith Conference we attended in Portland, Oregon in the summer of 2005. Here we are:It was such a blessing to just speak to Robin (I couldn't actually speak to her because I was overwhelmed with emotions, LOL)! (And I can't believe I don't have a picture of her with us?)

As an adult I read her Glenbrooke Series and some of her Sisterchick Series... I ought to catch up and get myself reading a bit more!
Robin has a new book out this month called "Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes"... here is a summary of it:
"Summer and Noelle, two pen pals since 4th grade, meet for the first time in the land of tulips and windmills. An abnormal mammogram sends Summer on a quest to fulfill her lifelong wish before she begins the same struggle her mother fought against breast cancer. The story of these two Sisterchicks is brimming with hope and cheer and will bring encouragement forSisterchicks in Wooden Shoes by Robin Jones Gunn any woman who has faced a fearful future."

You can win a signed copy of this book if you either Twitter, Facebook or blog about it and link back to Robin... click here for the details of the contest.

Thanks Robin! You are such an inspiration and a Woman of God that is so encouraging to all you meet and all who read your work!

Fingerprint Friday

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God

So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them?
For more Fingerprint Friday entries, visit Fingerprint Friday at PamperingBeki - The Blog

Word Filled Wednesday - Delight

I was reminded of this verse (which is a favorite of mine) again this week by a friend. God will delight in us, just as we delight in our children, and here little Boo is delighting in her new found ability to make music.


For more participants in the meme "Word Filled Wednesday" for today, visit The 160 Acre Woods.

Works For Me Wednesday ~ toilets & toothbrushes

Do you clean your family's toothbrushes? If so, how? How often?
I received the following book from a good, life-long friend Jamie from Encouragment for Today blog... she sent this book to me for a birthday of mine nearly a decade ago. I read this book and wanted to share one of the many great practical tips in this book that I've implemented into my life...
First of all, here is the book:
and the tip I want to share from it is this... cleaning your toothbrushes weekly by throwing them in the dishwasher or by soaking them in hydrogen peroxide - I've chosen to do the dishwasher method but I did not remember that it should be a weekly thing, which now I will try to do!
(yes, I'd think you throw them in the dishwasher with the detergent... just add them to your utensil holder with a full load of dishes and voila, clean brushes!)Here is her blurb on it from the book:

Which now brings me to another part of the bathroom - the toilet! My Husband read one time that a flushing toilet "spills/sprays" it's contents a certain radius (that I can't remember) in the bathroom; hence onto your toothbrushes, handtowel...etc. I can't find the article and haven't found key words to search on google in order to get me to this information for you... but trust me and if you think about it, you'll quickly see it's true.
So our solution (my husband must've read this in the same article) was to keep the lid closed all the time and especially before flushing the toilet! You might like to implement this in your home too!Works for me! (continue below for more info)






Added in after publishing: A friend of mine, Korinne, let me know that a toilet's radius of "spray" is 10 feet! YUCK!
And I thought I would add in a Homemade Dishwashing Soap in which I learnt about on a WFMW post from last week on Abigail's Mommy blog...

Mix equal parts Borax and Baking Soda, and add 2 Tablespoons per load. Increase proportion of soda for hard water. Use vinegar in the rinse cycle or free rinse aid.

Borax .32 a cup
Baking soda .01 a cup

.33 a cup or .04 a load

I mixed up a cup of each and stored them in a container with a tablespoon under the sink.


I participated in the Works For Me Wednesdays hosted by We are That Family ... click on this button to go and visit more posts with frugal ideas!

hug your little ones tighter

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of god
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of god
And I know its true
Youre a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of god

So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them?

"The Eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayers." 1 Peter 3:12a

Oh Lord, may the words that come off my tongue be prayers for many but first and foremost for my sphere of influence, my children, my legacy. (Beki talks about legacy in her Fingerprint Friday post today!)
I was reading MaryBeth Chapman's blog today and came to a post in which she left her readers "hug your little ones tighter"



For more Fingerprint Friday entries, visit Fingerprint Friday at PamperingBeki - The Blog

Fingerprint Friday - Praise You in this Storm

Fingerprint Friday

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:

I can see the fingerprints of God

When I look at you

I can see the fingerprints of God

And I know its true

You're a masterpiece

That all creation quietly applauds

And you're covered with the fingerprints of God

So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them?

We had the most amazing storm complete with Thunder and Lightening on Monday night. Dad and kids were out and they came home pants soaked to the knees. There was really no way of getting home dry. Here's the sky as the storm started. If you click on it to enlarge it, you can see the rain falling.

This was our street as the family was leaving the swimming pool and "running" to the car to come home.

And as the storm cleared the clouds lightened and we were blessed with an amazing sunset (sorry no picture ~ it was ugly above the roof).

Watching the storm and explaining to the toddler the the thunder was coming from God reminded me of this Casting Crowns song:

Casting Crowns ~ Praise You In This Storm
I was sure by now
That You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

Chorus:
I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The maker of heaven and earth
© 2005 Reunion

For more Fingerprint Friday entries, visit Fingerprint Friday at PamperingBeki - The Blog

Word Filled Wednesday ~ creation

We serve such a Creative Father! It's such a gift to see His handywork in everything around us!
If you have a moment listen or sing along to a Worship Song by Brian Doerksen, a favourite Worship Leader of mine.

For more participants in the meme "Word Filled Wednesday" for today, visit The 160 Acre Woods:

Have a blessed Wednesday!
~ Jen

Works for Me Wednesday - Craft Closet

Here's my (alexa's) first attempt at a WFMW. I don't think I can compare to Jen because she is the most frugal person I know. She could do a post a week for that category! But lucky for me, this week is just what Works for Me!

We LOVE crafts in this house. And I don't like to have to supervise them.... I have what's called the "craft closet". I think it used to be a broom closet, but from the day we moved in, I filled it with wire shelves and crafts supplies.

This past week I felt the need to reorganize - a need I feel often in certain rooms (the craft closet, the store room and the playroom). We now have the bottom shelf with the supplies that I don't mind them getting into, the crayons, pencils etc. The shelf above has the paper supply and a few used coloring books. Above that, we have magazines for cutting out and the beading...

And higher up where they can't reach so easily, I have the supervision (to get started) only boxes. I bought these photo boxes at Michael's when they were on for a dollar. I filled them, opened the lid and snapped a picture, so the kids (and I) don't have to look far to find what we want.

The kids also have these photo boxes on book shelves in their closets packed with toys and labelled with photos.

Organizing (and reorganizing) Works For Me!

Works For Me Wednesdays hosted by We are That Family click on this button to go and visit more ideas!

Fingerprint Friday

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God

So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them?
Mama Goose and her Goslings... Happy Mother's Day!

(I tried to upload a video of my son singing a Mother's Day tribute but it was taking forever so I cancelled it. I can see God's Fingerprints on these Geese though - isn't Spring time such a time of celebrating creation?!)

For more Fingerprint Friday entries, visit Fingerprint Friday at PamperingBeki - The Blog

Word Filled Wednesday

I had the privelege of teaching "my" 3 year-old class sunday school this past weekend. The theme this month is "Jesus wants us to believe in Him". One of the suggestions for an activity was to make the above poster. It was great beacuse we needed some new "art" on our wall.

We were talking about when Jesus appeared to His disciples, but Thomas wasn't there, and he wouldn't believe until he saw Jesus for himself. And as the verse says... "see My hands..."

My helper pointed out that as the kids were making their hand prints on the poster, there was paint "missing" in the middle of their hands. Almost every print had a hole in the center. We were amazed at this discovery and were very excited to teach the children about the hole left in Jesus hand and how when he appeared to Thomas, he showed him His hands.

What an awesome reminder it was of the sacrifice Jesus made for us!

Head on over to 160 Acre Woods to see more Word Filled Wednesday Posts.

Works For Me Wednesday ~ Goody Bags

I participated in the Works For Me Wednesdays hosted by We are That Family - this week was a theme of "Frugal"... click on this button to go and visit more posts with frugal ideas!

I am one that shops all year long - I grab bargains and fill up 3+ Rubbermaid totes with gifts for all occasions including fillers of goody (loot) bags for parties! Just like We Are THAT Family posted for her WFMW here: Gift Stockpiling.

I was talking with some friends a few weeks ago about this and I told them that my goody bags are not all the same most of the time - and that's okay because I give out the goody bags as children are on their way out our door, therefore no comparing can be done! So if you have 10 children but only 8 of something, don't worry and use it! You can find 2 other things for the 2 bags missing that one item.

I like goody bags to have a bit more of a substantial fill to them, rather than just a bunch of candy and toys that break before the child gets home!
Since I like goody bags to be more substantial, I could never fit the goody bag contents into the loot bags you buy from a Dollar Store... I use paper lunch bags (probably cheaper anyhow than even the pack of $1 bags) and then incorporate our theme somehow onto the front with the name... like this:Under the child's name I like to include a 'Thank You For Coming' note too and get that all taken care of right off the bat.

I do start to think of a theme for my children's birthdays far in advance (with my Child's input too) which helps! Or actually what can create a theme some of the time is finding something to work with first (a deal)... for example: I decided my son would have a Shrek Birthday Party in February (his birthday is in October) when I found packs of these (below) Shrek figurines marked down for $1.25 at Target - I bought all 4 or 5 packs that were left... some figurines were used for decorating part of the cake, and the rest were divided into the goody bags - each child got 3 different characters.In that goody bag was also a ziploc bag of slime (cornstarch and water), Prince Charming's truffles (which I had got a box of make-your-own-truffles mix from a Liquidator that was there after Christmas), a Shrek pencil (that came in a box of Shrek Valentines cards that I bought for 99c) and some candy.
As part of the Children's goody bag too, was to bring home the Gingerbread Man Cookie (Gingy) that they decorated at the party (another item, gingerbread cookie dough mix at the liquidator for less than $1)...

Another idea I have done in previous years is making several batches of playdough, putting it in ziplocs and having them as part of the goody bags. It's always been a hit!

Be Creative, Plan Ahead and keep your eyes peeled for RED TAGS, CLEARANCE SECTIONS, DISCOUNT BINS, and LIQUIDATION STORES! (no wonder every shop I do even at our regular grocer takes me one hour - I scour the places for deals!!!)

Last week at Michael's I found (by "accident") their Easter stuff that was still left (2 weeks later), now marked down to 90% off. I bought at lot of what was there including:
Playing cards that were 15cents a pack! These will be great for girl goody bags as well as for the shoeboxes I pack at Christmas Time for Operation Christmas Child. I bought a dozen packs I'm sure!
And carrot-shaped bubble pendants and bubble solution-rings... very fun things for extremely cheap!

I picked up these (below) once the "Back to School" stuff was on clearance... they are supposed to be lunch boxes and pencil cases - but to me they are great birthday gifts! This can be the wrapping paper... or it can be wrapped as the gift... perfect! I bought a few of each design.
This coming weekend the Princess one will wrap up a Webkinz for a birthday party my son will attend - the gift will have cost me $10 (Webkinz bought on "Webkinz Day" last week... buy one get one for $1. Sweet deal.) with the value of $25!


Do you have a cheap, creative idea for goody bags?
Who's birthday is next in your Family? Maybe your next dinner-conversation will be "what kind of birthday party would you like, son?"

Thanks for visiting! :)

Not Me! Monday

Here's my first attempt at Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

As for me here's what I did NOT do this week:

I did not empty my whole craft closet and cupboard in an attempt to reorganize it into one closet. And I certainly did not let my 20 month old run around taking what she wanted from the supplies all over the floor. I did not let her run around with window felts only to discover that her body was more fun to color than the window. And I would never let her have a coloring book and felt to color all over on the couch. Not Me!

I did not let my children stay up until almost 9 for the last 3 nights. And this morning I definitely did not go into my daughter's room every 5 minutes for over 30 minutes in an attempt to get her out of bed. And i certainly didn't take away the privilege of playing with her best friend today and going out with another friend tomorrow.

And who gave our kids KD for lunch AGAIN... Not Me!

I don't STILL have laundry sitting on the couch while I spend yet another afternoon on the computer. And I defintely do not have dirty bathrooms, while all the supplies to clean them are still sitting on the counter.

I certainly did not snore all night long saturday night Not Me! cause I do NOT snore. I did not get kicked out of my bed to spend the rest of the night on the couch and in bed with little boo.

Not Me Monday

MckMama's Not me! Monday will be back tomorrow. Click on the button below tomorrow to read her post.