The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 2,800 times in 2014. If it were a cable car, it would take about 47 trips to carry that many people.
Click here to see the complete report.
When I switched from blogger to WordPress I did so thinking that I would stay indefinitely.
I love WordPress but felt like I was missing so many of the neat extras that I have decided to make the switch from .com to self hosted. ( last time I promise!)
You can still follow us on pinterest catch up on all our tweets over on twitter or become a fan of our Facebook page.
Looking forward to seeing you soon at our new home !
I realize that might sound a little strange but hang with me for a second.
From early on in life one of our first words uttered with force from our lips is “No!”
We all have seen “that” child with arms folded, pout painted on their face screaming “No,no,NO!!”
Chances are if we are honest with ourselves we can admit we have all been that child too.
Don’t believe me? Ask your mom.
It Doesn’t matter if it’s because your sandwich was cut the wrong way or are refusing to get back in the car.
Unless we can be convinced otherwise we have made up our mind and that’s that! But along the way something happened and slowly our “no’s” morph into “yes”.
It’s almost like we have been taught that it’s not ok to say “no”.
Yes, we have all had our feelings hurt by a negative reaction but has anyone ever died because of one? I have never,ever seen anyone drop dead because I have rejected their movie invite and I doubt you have either. sometimes I wonder if we are trying to protect ourselves from a negative reactions our “no”‘would bring even if deep down we feel like folding our arms across our chest, stomping our feet and screaming “no!” We find ourselves pulling out our calendars and hear yourself saying “yes”. What?!! We all do it in one form or another. Sometimes without even realizing it. Accepting invitations to events we really don’t want to go to or have the time to enjoy. Adding more work to an already tight schedule. Running to the store to grab something for someone else when we just got home and want to put our feet up and rest. You get the idea. Well, this summer I decided it’s o.k to say “no.” Continue reading
Sometimes life takes an unexpected turn and before you even realize it you find yourself smack dab in the biggest faith walk you have ever been in.
If this is where you find yourself today to hang on!
Don’t look back.
Don’t allow yourself to get side tracked because the journey you are on is leading you somewhere exciting.
Through this journey I have learned that if you really want to see God’s fingerprints in your life keep a journal.
Write what’s on your heart.
What your worried about.
What you are dreaming about.
What you are praying about .
As you are flipping pages its easier to see His fingerprints are all over your life.
And yes, even the little ones like “help me snag a great parking spot” Or “help me find our misplaced Michael buble tickets*”. The little prayers I find are easier to have faith in but sometimes I get caught up in thinking that God doesn’t care about those little ones so “why bother” right?
Wrong.
If it matters to me.
It matters to him.
Write down what He tells you so isn’t erased by time.
Jot down scripture that speak to your heart.
Be intentional in your walk.
Have faith.
I can say that because I have been on the biggest faith journey of my life.
Seven months ago we whisked our family away from the land of snow and cold and traded up for sunshine and palm trees.
Excited to take the kids to California we filled almost every waking moment of our trip months before we even packed our suitcases. Our date with “the mouse” booked.
We had planned on a day relaxing by the water’s edge where we could bury our feet in the soft sand. The kids could play in the ocean and my husband could fly his kite.
Canadians are always the easiest ones to spot at the beach because we are only ones enjoying the water.
My husband had just taken a layoff the day before we left for our vacation but it hadn’t come as a surprise.
Years working in the construction industry you naturally accept the fact that this line of work it is very much like the cliche “feast or famine”.
We have ridden this roller coaster before so were expecting the layoff to come just a few days before Christmas.
We had planned that my hubby would use the time “off” to get 9 out if his 11 safety courses out-of-the-way but now that he was out earlier we adjusted his schedule and he finished the program and became an NCSO officer.
Somewhere along the way I had this impression that he would finish his courses and start back to work the beginning of January.
I mean we are a family with four kids and bills to pay.
So it’s understandable to see why I believed the way I did.
Right around this exact time if you remember me mentioning
we had just started the study “Not a fan” by Kyle Idleman and our lives have never been the same since.
I received an E-copy of this book free of charge for review purposes. Regardless, all opinions are my own.
If the binoculars and dog eared bird guides I have stashed by the window wasn’t a clue already I am sure it won’t come as a surprise to anyone that I have a soft spot for birds.
My windows are opened bright and early each morning so I can enjoy their beautiful songs while I sip my coffee.
I love to hear the happy chatter while we eat our lunch.
I post pictures on my twitter feed of my feathered visitors. I made my father in-law drag out the step ladder so he could find “the perfect place ” to install our birdhouse in the choke cherry tree out front.
I even seeked out the services of a “bird enthusiast” to learn what I could personally do to make it more “hospitable” to my feathered friends.
If you were to ask my husband he would tell you that I am getting almost desperate in my attempts to fill the vacancy in my bird house.
I also love childrens books. Love is probably an understatement if you were to peruse the stacks we have round the house.
Most months It’s a struggle to keep my mouth shut! It’s tricky trying not to impose my views on what books my children should be ordering that month.
I mean seriously have you looked at a book order form lately?!? So many stories to chose from!
It isn’t very often that those two interest collide so when I was offered the chance to read the story “Mr. Pete, where are your feet?”
I jumped at the chance.
I think what I loved most about this book is the fact that the feather friends in this story are the Authors real “pets”. Sometimes the best stories are the ones closest to your heart.
The illustrations are simple and colourful capturing the attention of even the youngest reader.
Written from a birds perspective the reader explores the importance of teamwork, friendship, and that it’s ok to be different.
The book was well-written and perfect for young children while the repetition is challenging enough for beginner readers.
You can purchase your own copy of the book here:
Because I work with children I always am looking for the Follow up activities that would work well with the story we just read.
Here are just a couple that peaked my interest from around the inter web.
One of my favourite springtime activities to do with my children is to bring in the painted monarch butterflies.We are given the unique opportunity to watch them as they transform from tiny larvae to chrysalis to beautiful painted monarch butterflies.
It’s a chance to get up close and personal with some of our favourite bugs in a safe way.
We will be busy observing them and once the butterflies are ready to journey into the “wild unknown” we will have a picnic to celebrate their release.
As most of you beside being a mother to four and a part time blogger I am also an early child care provider.
With 4 children in my care under the ages of 4 one of our staple activities is the play-dough centre.
It won’t come as a big surprise when I share that we go thru a lot of it.
I have tried dozens of home made playdough recipes and this by far is my favourite.
It’s super fast to make.
Easy on the budget and clean up is quick and easy. Continue reading
These biodegradable eggshell planters are perfect for starting seeds!
When the plants get too big for the shells, you can transplant them straight to the soil, shell and all.
Want to make your own? Continue reading
For a reminder that I didn’t know I needed to hear.
Mother’s Day is Sunday.
Am I the only one who just isn’t ready?
Actually the entire day snuck up on me so mom, if your reading this…
We will celebrate when I see you next.
I may have forgotten myself and my own mom but I remembered early enough that the little ones in my care are covered
We want to make sure that we recognize mom for all the hard work and shower her with love.
These mommies trust their little ones in my care so we want to make sure that we honor mom.
This is a super quick and easy craft that anyone can do. (Even dads!)
I will share though that Trying to trace the hand of a seven-month-old and a one-year-old was a challenge.
Who knew it could cause 30 minutes of tears?
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