Teaching Math... the Fun Way!

Add the Candy drops
1. count the ones above the pencil
2. Count the ones below the pencil
3 Add the two sums together
4.  Celebrate by eating the candy!
 

On Growing Your Own Food

Thousands of home gardeners around the USA are demonstrating that they can grow an amazing amount of healthy and delicious vegetable bounty in their own backyards

The best reason to grow your own vegetables is because it is healthier:  the gardener controls what goes on and in the crop, plus convenience doesn't get any easier than walking 15 feet from the garden to the kitchen.

Plants, seeds, soil enhancements, and gardening tools are inexpensive and minimal compared to always buying everything at the Supermarket

There’s not only less of it to purchase, but the price can range to nearly nonexistent if you receive some as gifts, hit garage sales, Freecycle.com, or Craig’s List ads. I must add in the advantage of free physical exercise as the garden is tended.



I love how I am able to walk outside with a basket and scissors,
then come inside and create beautiful arrangements
any time I like.

A  fair share of crops can also be grown on decks, balconies or window boxes. There's even upside down tomato plant grower so small spaces can take advantage of every square inch. 

Adding Color to the yard or home could not be easier
 

Peace- How Perfect?

Have you mothers out there noticed that we frequently do not get enough sleep?  I seem to be doing “just one more thing” before I fall into bed every evening, although we retire to bed MUCH earlier than any of our friends.  But many nights, I do not get a good night’s sleep.  Last week, Kimba vomited in his bed, so I moved him into ours as I stripped the sheets and threw them into the washer, praying a word of thanks that I DID stay up 15 minutes longer to fold the clothes in the dryer, & throw the wet clothes in the dryer from the washer. And so my LORD provided an empty washing machine into which I could throw those foul smelling sheets.  Papa was out of town for training for his job, so I was on my own.  When I finished spraying Lysol on Kimba's bed, I scooted into our bedroom just in time to hear more gurgling and another round of upchucking in MY bed…YUK.  So I put Kimba  on the couch (with two thick towels under his upper body-flinally getting wise), and stripped my bed, threw the mess into the washer, poured in the Tide, flipped the switch, and hurried back to our bedroom to spray the bed, wipe it down, and put fresh sheets on it. 
 

Do I have to tell you that when I laid down beside my sick boy a few minutes later, I was praying for strength, patience, and peace?  I often ask the Father to grant me physical energy to get through the next day, and for HIM to somehow multiply my rest during the night.  And He always sustains me!   Even in the past, when I have had to work a 12 hour shift at night, and I didn't get a minute’s nap the day before, He gives me strength to make it through. 

Sometimes other factors drain my energy, such as the tribulations of daily living that the apostle John spoke of in John 16:33 (my devotional reading for today).   “These things I have spoken unto you, that IN ME you might have Peace.  In the world you will have Tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have Overcome the world.”   I love the Words of Jesus Christ.  They truly are alive and powerful today!  I often pray for perfect Peace, the kind that is inexplicable.  The kind that comes in the midst of vomiting and flat tires, burnt dinner and pre-cancerous skin patches.  Jesus gives us His Perfect peace.  No other kind of Peace is even worth pursuing.  Remember, He is the Prince of Peace!  We are Overcomers when we bring Jesus into our hearts and Lives.  All we have to do is Believe in HIM, and Trust HIM as our LORD and Savior!    My prayer today is that the Lord Jesus Christ will give me His Peace, and fill me with His all-sustaining rest!

The peaceful waters at Nimmo, Arkansas

All Abloom at Blue Willow

In the garden of Blue Willow Cottage lies a rich harvest of creativity.

Our gentle riot of flowers and herbs yield charming watercolor-like dishes and sumptuous potpourris for later in the year. 

Our Garden is the very center of the wheel of our summer life!.  We love mixing flowers, herbs, and vegetables together in the garden.  Some flowers are meant for fresh bouquets, others are destined to be dried for wreaths, gift embellishing, or for potpourri.

 

 

 I love to research ancient lore and symbolism behind each plant and herb we choose to plant.  

We have little pocket gardens along the rocky ledge in the alley at the side of our cottage home. 

Serving Colorful meals using things grown

in my own backyard

makes me happy.

We enjoy creating new omelets recipes, casseroles, and flavorful meals using our harvest from the garden.

Gentle Reminders

"We must become tenderheartedly merciful, kind, humble, gentle, and patient...

"We must allow for other's faults,  and forgive anyone who offends us

(whether they ask for it or not) as God has forgiven each of us..." 

 

"We must love for love binds us all together..."

 "We must let the peace that comes from Christ rule our Lives..."



"We must Remember that GOD is Forever, and
We must be Thankful!"

From the Bible

 

What a mighty God we Serve!

Gentle Reminders from Colossians 3:12-15

Boys, Boys, Boys & NO Videogame Weekend Challenge



Friday evening was easy, because we spent the evening
at the local Swimming pool, then cooked out and bedtime

 



Saturday Morning brought pleas for gaming,
which I dislike intensely.
I challenged them to find other activities

They put together puzzles, helped me bake a chocolate cake,
Set a beautiful Table for Dinner, Wrote encouraging notes to
some folks who needed to receive such, and
made Warm Fuzzy Jars for themselves.
 




The hours flew by and we had a marvelous time.
We listened to "Lamplighter Theatre" (Teddy's Button Story)
and cut flowers, making an arrangement. 
I know some of these activities were "girly"
but they really seemed to enjoy them,
 

When their parents arrived to take them home,

I thought we might hear some complaints,

but they exclaimed that they had a Blast!

Success!



Psalm 16:5

 "Oh Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup,
You maintain my lot."



Some big changes are coming in our future... Prayerfully petitioning God for strength and help for the Journey... More to come...