Joy In the Ordinary ~ Fun Day Monday Returns

A few weeks ago my sons and I made a cake with lots of sprinkles.  It wasn't anyone's Birthday or a holiday or anything.  It was the middle of the week.

Who needs an excuse to celebrate?  Life is a gift from God, one to be celebrated.

Susie Larson says in her book "Growing Grateful Kids: Teaching Them to Appreciate an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Places" (I am paraphrasing) when we take time to play it communicates to our children that all is well and more rests on the shoulder of God than on ours.  Susie's words are full of wisdom. 

Our family has been through some real ups and downs in the past week and a half.  It's felt much like a roller coaster ride.  Then today, more news came that brought (more) tears and saddened our hearts.  Yes, we wonder why.  We can't see what He's doing exactly.  This life can be tough.  But we trust that God is in complete control!  We want to communicate that loud and clear to our children.

So today, we keep counting down the days to Thanksgiving by modeling gratitude for our kids.  We've been going around the table at dinner time and writing down what we're grateful for.  Not as elaborate as our Thanksgiving Tree last year, but it works.  :)  We keep walking forward in faith, trusting that God sees all of this, hears our prayers, answers faithfully and rightly, that He loves us and has good plans for our family.  We keep celebrating the gifts He's given us.

There is so much hope, joy and peace in knowing Jesus.  If you know Him you have much to celebrate.  I encourage you to join us in taking the time to celebrate His goodness in the ordinary; to pause to give thanks to the Giver today!

Cake with sprinkles, anyone?

Jesus said, "The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life."  John 10:10

 

FUN DAY Monday Returns!! Thanksgiving Tree.

At the beginning of November last year I saw this fun idea posted on someone's Facebook page (not sure).  Because I always love to find ways to incorporate lessons on gratitude along with some crafty fun into our daily lives I loved the idea right away.  I took the picture of the tree in my head and drew it out on poster board. Then, we taped it together and Andrew (then 5 1/2) colored it in with markers.  We found some leaf shape templates online, printed them out, traced them onto orange, green and yellow construction paper and cut them out. We had so much fun doing this together while Noah (then 2 1/2) napped.  Although it doesn't look quite as "fancy" and "perfect" as the picture that probably came from Pinterest, Andrew thought it was "the coolest thing ever!"  And thanked me repeatedly for making it with him.

This is what it looked like when we we began

Okay, so real trees don't have leaves of more than one shape.  I explained that to Andrew.  But he thought it looked pretty with two different shapes and said, "It's our tree, can't we have it any way we want it?"  Now how could I argue with that?!  Sure we could.  And we did!

Our Pursuit of Thankfulness Began...

Every day, as a family, we removed one leaf.  Each of us told something we were thankful for that day, trying to never repeat the same thing all month.  I wrote it on the leaf and put it on the ground beneath the tree.  Then, we would pray, thanking God for those blessings.

This is what we had at the end.

It was such a great reminder each day to be thankful...and of just how many blessings we enjoy!  And it was fun hearing what others in the family thought of, even our (then) 2 1/2 year old!  As the days accumulated, we had to get more creative because all the "typical" stuff had already been said.  It made us "dig a little deeper".  On Thanksgiving Day we re-read all of the leaves.  It was a special time.  Memories were made and seeds of gratefulness planted.  THANKFUL we took the time to do this together.

This year I hope to make a big paper turkey, adding our thanks to each feather.  But that's for another FUN DAY Monday post.

Remember it's the simplest things that mean the most to our children.  Mostly it's about taking time to do the fun stuff.  When we incorporate life lessons and Biblical values into the fun, memories are made and the lessons often stick better...in their hearts and ours.

"O give thanks to the LORD...for He is good!" 

Psalm 107:1

Join me next time for another FUN DAY
Monday...sign up for e-mail updates
in the right hand sidebar

Feel free to use this idea in your house...and share the idea with your friends.

Toilet Paper Tube Puppets: FUN DAY MONDAY

Welcome to:

A while back my oldest little boy (6) expressed an interest in making some homemade puppets.  I did a little search on Pinterest and found some easy-peasy, very cute toilet paper tube puppet templates on Making Learning Fun.com.  

My little farm boy decided to make the Cowboy and Cowgirl puppets.  We printed out the templates.  He colored them, cut them out and glued them onto toilet paper tubes (Note: I keep toilet paper tubes handy at all times because they're good for all kinds of crafts.  My boys even pretend they're telescopes and binoculars).

He then made a "puppet theater" out of an old cardboard box (with a little help from me).

He and little brother (3) had so much fun putting on shows for us.  

It was quite amazing the stories they would come up with and act out for us.  Good for their imaginations! And it definitely brought lots of laughter for all of us!

Remember, kids don't have to be entertained every minute of the day.  Actually, I believe it's the simplest things that help expand their minds and their imaginations...even letting them entertain you with a simple puppet show.  :)

Until next time, have a FUN DAY with your family!

Train up a child in the way he should go,

And when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6 NKJV

To check out previous Fun Day Monday posts click here.

How Quickly Things Change~Snow Day and Mud in May~FUN DAY MONDAY

Welcome to:

It's been a wild week in Beranville.  We went from 80 degrees to 10" of snow (on May 2nd!!) .  Then back to 70 something degrees.  Our computer also had a virus.  The combination of snow and being "unplugged" for a few days was a much needed solace, believe it or not.  While others complained about the weather I took it in stride and decided to enjoy it, remembering this too would pass.  I don't always have such a good attitude, but this time I actually got it right.  :)

My boys with their snowman on Thursday, May 2nd, in the midst of getting 10" of snow.

 All that was left of their snowman on Sunday (with scarf added later).

  Don't ya just love the combo of snow and green grass?!

That's NE Iowa weather for you!!

Our melted snowman reminds me just how quickly things change!  This life is so fleeting.  It's constantly changing.  What we worry about today, the trial we think will not pass, the things we think will never change (both bad and good)...will most likely change with time.  There's only one constant, God's love for us!

Today we played in the mud!  That's what happens when snow melts.

We were in it deep!  Stuck.  My littlest guy thought we'd never get out of that pit.  We had to work hard at it.  But we did make our way out.  Oh my!  How quickly things change.  And how we learn...we should have worn knee boots like big brother did.  :)  Now, we just need to remember next time.  Because I'm sure there will be a next time.

"LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away. My life is no longer than the width of my hand. An entire lifetime is just a moment to you; human existence is but a breath." We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth for someone else to spend. And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you." Psalm 39:4-7

Yes, LORD, please remind me how quickly this life changes!  To enjoy the fleeting moments in my life, in spite of circumstances.  To give thanks in the good and even in the hard.  Help me to remember Your goodness and faithfulness at all times.  I don't want to waste a single moment complaining, needlessly rushing about or putting my hope in anything else but you.  Give me wisdom to know how to spend my brief time on this earth to honor and glorify you.  And to find joy in the everyday stuff that you put before me...snow, mud and all.  In the sweet name of Jesus Christ I pray.  Amen.  

Homemade Bubbles in a bowl and a Straw ~ FUN DAY Monday!

Welcome to:

On Mondays I share about fun things we do here in Beranville.  Then, later in the week, I try to share another more "serious" post about what God's been teaching me lately.  It's wonderful to see God at work in both the fun and the serious stuff of life...and most of the time those two intermingle in my world.  Probably yours too.

 

You know, you don't have to spend a lot or give your kids fancy gadgets or toys for them to have fun.  It's usually the simplest things that get them excited, prompts them to use their imagination and helps them to not only pass a lot of time, but to experiment and learn in the process.  Simply letting kids be kids isn't so complicated.

What I'm sharing today is one of those simple things:

Homemade Bubble (recipe coming up) in a bowl and add a straw.  It's that simple!

Let the fun begin!

First, big brother had to show little brother how it was done.

Really proud of his BIG bubble!

Little brother quickly got the hang of it...

Giggles in the midst of bubbles... 

Oopsie!  He sucked in a little of the bubble solution...

and had to wipe his mouth.  More giggles!

 

Big brother asked to make a "car wash".  I filled a spray bottle with water and he added a tractor toy.

 

Little brother added one of his Little People.  Shower!

The addition of water made even more bubbles!!

It was a little messy, but easy to clean up!

 

Little brother even gave himself a beard.

Ho Ho Ho! :) 

 

 

They had a lot of fun!

 

Easy Homemade Bubbles

(that aren't watered down and actually work!!)

2 1/2 C Water

1/2 C Light Corn Syrup

Mix. Microwave for 4 minutes.

Gently mix in 1/2 C Dawn Dish Liquid

 



I love it that my children find such joy in the simplest of things.  And that I do too, because of them.  They're never in a hurry.  They giggle without regard.  They never pass up an opportunity to explore and have fun!  I have a lot to learn from them.  Oh, to be more like a child! 

 

"Being in a hurry. Getting to the next thing without fully entering the thing in front of me. I cannot think of a single advantage I've ever gained from being in a hurry. But a thousand broken and missed things, tens of thousands, lie in the wake of all the rushing.... Through all that haste I thought I was making up time. It turns out I was throwing it away.”   ― Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are

 

Follow me on Pinterest or sign up for e-mail updates in the right hand side bar to keep up with Life In Beranville!

FUN DAY MONDAY: Elmo Birthday Party!

Welcome to:

Hard to believe another week has passed...and it's Fun Day Monday again.  Of course, it's also hard to believe that 3 years have passed since the birth of our second little man, Noah, was born.  This past weekend we celebrated his 3rd Birthday in true 3 year old style...with an Elmo Birthday party. 

I'm an amateur cake decorator (obviously), but I had a lot of fun making this Elmo cake for my sweetie pie.  Just 2 round (gluten free chocolate) cakes, homemade red frosting that I tried to make look "furry", a little homemade orange frosting for the nose (used a tablespoon to pile it on), a tube of black frosting for the mouth and eyes and 2 large marshmallows that I flattened down for the eyes.  Simple, yet fun. 



My little guy loved it...and wanted to kiss Elmo!  :)
P.S. His big brother was excited as him.

All ready for his BIG 3rd Birthday party!



He liked being sung to!

He worked hard to blow out his 3 candle!

Surprised when everyone clapped for him! :)

Time to lick the frosting off the candle! :)

  My,oh my, how time flies!  It doesn't seem that long ago that we brought home this precious bundle.  Then again, it's hard to remember what we ever did without him.  Noah has added so much to our family.  He is sweet, thoughtful, loving, smart, full of life, huggable, cuddly and simply lovable!!  We are sooooo very thankful God chose to bless us (over and over) with Noah!

"Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.  Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth."  Psalm 127:3-4

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Have you checked out my other blog?  If you're interested in health, do it yourself personal care products, healthy food recipes, etc...you might want to check out Health In Beranville :)

 

Follow me on Pinterest...or sign up for e-mail updates in my right hand side bar.

 

Check out past Fun Day Monday posts here.

Fun Day Monday: Easter Fun...and play dough in the vehicle!

 

Welcome to:

The boys and I had a lot of fun around the Easter holiday.  We did Resurrection eggs and read several different versions of the true Easter story, including straight from the Word.

We colored eggs which is always fun, but to make it even more interesting I wrote rhyming word pairs on the eggs with a white crayon before they dyed them.  This made it fun (and education...which this homeschool momma loves!) because as the colored the eggs, the words showed up, then our big kindergarten got to match the rhyming pairs.  Rhyming eggs were fun.

 

We made gluten-free cut-out cookies.  They are yummy!

 

 

We made Resurrection Rolls.

 

 

Then we headed down to Indiana to visit Grandma (my mom) for an extended weekend.

 

On the way down the boys played with play dough in the van.  Sounds like a mess, doesn't it?  Well, it wasn't, not at all.  And it was great way (esp for my littlest guy) to some time during the 8 hour trip.

 

 

I just provided a smock, a pie tin, a clump of play dough and a Ziploc baggie of appropriate toys.  Will do this again!

 

We had a great time in Indiana.  And the boys enjoyed 3 Easter egg hunts before the weekend was over.

 

 

They were so excited about their baskets on Easter morning. 

 

 

We went to Grandma's church on Sunday morning.

 

 

It was a FUN and Great Easter!!

We looooved spending time with family and friends...esp Grandma.

And I'm thankful that we know the REAL reason we celebrate!

Hope you celebrated for the same reason!

 

1 Peter 1:3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... (NIV)