Valentine's Day-Our Simple Way



Curt and I in our carriage on our wedding day!

 

"Happy marriages begin when we marry the ones we love, and they blossom when we love the ones we marry."

— Tom Mullen

Some people don't believe in Valentine's Day.  They say you should show your Valentine you love them everyday.  (I call them Valentine Scrooges.)  Yes, in an ideal world you should and in ways we do.  But in reality, I think it's wonderful to have one day to do something special for your spouse.  Why not use Valentine's to do something extra special?  Why not break out the fine china or plan a special evening?  And I'm not talking about just going out to eat, really put some time and effort into creating a custom evening for just the two of you. 


We usually celebrate fairly simply (I know you're surprised right?).  I'm not a jewelry/flower kind of girl.  My husband knows the real way to my heart-chocolate covered strawberries ;)  The first year we were married I came home from work and he'd made chocolate covered strawberries himself with white and milk chocolate.  He'd arranged them in a heart on the table with a card and single rose.  I loved it and I guess he thought-"Why mess up a good thing?" So chocolate covered strawberries have kind of been a tradition since then.  I don't always get them the same way or even on Valentine's Day but somewhere around there he'll dip them himself and leave them somewhere, usually along with a little something else (card, flowers, DVD, book, etc). 

My gift to him is to prepare a dinner for us.  Most years I go all out and plan it somewhere special with music, lighting, etc..  For example, one year we got in the car and I didn't tell him where we were going but we went to the beach area at Lake Guntersville and had a picnic.  I had a special CD of "our songs" made, candlelight, etc.  Another year I transformed our backyard at the time.  It was a small, fenced in area and I hung lights all around the fence, white tablecloth, etc.

Like I said nothing that costs too much-it's really more about the extra effort and time spent with each other.  Sure, he could just stop and buy me something but to me it means so much more knowing he took the time to hand dip each of those chocolate strawberries!

Now I'm trying to come up with something for this year.  Maybe just a picnic under the stars in our own backyard?  Any ideas?  Just curious how do you and your Valentine celebrate?

I'm Drinking From My Saucer

"I'm drinking from my saucer cause my cup has overflowed." 

-John McCay

I have been very blessed and my saucer has truly overflowed with some very special ladies from our church.  This weekend we had an opportunity to show a  little gratitude to some of them that have meant so much in my life.  They have been such an inspiration and strength to me, many from the time I was just a little girl until now.  My Mom, sister, and I had talked a couple months ago about doing something special around Valentine's Day for these ladies.  My great-grandparents came from England and my grandmother was raised on hot tea.  She always had hot tea with her meals.  For quite awhile, Mom had been buying tea cups, saucers, teapots, etc. at yard sales and thrift stores with plans on having a tea party with her family.  Then we decided since she already had most of the stuff why not host a tea party for the ladies at church.

This was the first thing just the three of us have ever hosted and we had such a good time just planning it all-going to thrift stores to find a few more teacups, discussing place settings, decorations, the menu, and what we were going to wear!  We had a blast and created some wonderful memories together!



My sister, Mom, and Me all wearing something special that was my grandmother's



Mom having a trial run before everyone arrived :)

For decorations we used a lot of pink tulle, pearls, roses, and a few angels. Nearly everything we used we either already had or found at a thrift or antique store.  A lot of it (like the candle holders) didn't even necessarily match but Mom cleaned them up and then sprayed them with a light pink spray paint so that they did! 

A picture of one table

It was an afternoon tea so we just kept our menu simple: cake squares and tea cakes (by Mandy Makes Cakes), chicken salad sandwiches (The Cupboard), strawberries, grapes, chocolate candy, tea (English breakfast, peppermint, peach, blueberry, wild berry) and water. 

Here's one picture of some of the ladies...almost a table full of past and present Sunday School teachers and pastors' wives. 

We had a wonderful, relaxing time!  It was the perfect way to celebrate Valentine's Day with some special ladies whom we dearly love!  I actually enjoyed drinking hot tea more than I thought I would and think I may do it a little more often!

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Tot School: Brown Bear, Brown Bear

This week we've been reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr. and Eric Carle  I actually purchased this book a couple of years ago from Kohl's.  For those of you who may not know or do not have a Kohl's in your area, Kohl's has a program called Kohl's Cares.  Every few months they will feature classic hardback children's books by a certain author and a stuffed animal that goes along with it for $5 a piece!!!  Not only is it a great deal but it's also a great cause.  100% of the proceeds goes back to kids.  This month the featured author is Eric Carle.  The last couple of years in March they have offered Dr. Seuss!  So you may want to keep a check on it!

I think this has possibly been "Miss Priss'" favorite book yet.  Especially after doing Polar Bear last week she had learned the rhythm and words to the book and loved "reading" it herself!  It is also perfect for her age level and a great way to review colors.  There are TONS of activities to do on this book.  In fact, I'm hoping we can go back and do some more later.  I found all of our activities linked to A to Z Teacher Stuff but I'll try to link each individual activity too.

Table Time:

1. Created a Paper Plate Brown Bear Mask.  We then used it to retell the story and to play I Spy.
2. Created a Yellow Duck Necklace.  After reading the book several times I let her choose which animal she wanted to create.  We colored it and then added yellow beads to each side.
3. Painted a brown bear with pudding paint.  Then we got to eat some of the pudding! Yum!
4. Brown Bear Candy Sort - Actually made to use M&Ms but we had colored Tic Tacs and Reese Pieces so we used those.  She LOVED this activity.
5. Color Word Flip Book - Before we even put this book together, we used just the cards to match the colors.  You could also use them to play Memory.  Then we assembled the book and she could flip and match it that way.

Floor Time:

1. I Spy - With and without our Brown Bear Mask
2. Color Hunt - She would draw out a crayon and then see what else she could find in the room that matched the color.

Music:

1. Brown Bear, Brown Bear Turn Around (Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Turn Around)

Matching our Candy according to Color

"Miss Priss" with her Brown Bear Mask and Yellow Duck necklace

Book and Bear from Kohls

Painting Brown Bear With Pudding (just a little on her chin :)

 

 Addiontal Links/Resources:

http://www.dltk-teach.com/books/brownbear/index.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdHCYgO9zh8 - Author Bill Martin reading Brown Bear
http://www.eric-carle.com/bb-bb.html
http://totallytots.blogspot.com/2010/09/once-upon-book-brown-bear-brown-bear.html
http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.com/BrowBearBrownBear.html

And I could go on and on....Have fun with this one!!

Amazing Grace: My Story

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)  Ephesians 2:4-5

This week in Ephesians I have been taken back to a time when I was 7 years old.  A time when even though I was a sinner God still loved me and showed me mercy and grace.  A time when (as my Daddy says) it became personal to me.  God was no longer just  Abraham, David and PaPaw's God-but through Christ he became MY God! 

I'm thankful that I can look back 24 years later and still be amazed!  There are so many things we get excited about and want to share with others.  God's grace should definitely be one...so here's my experience of grace...

My parents always took me to church as a little girl.  If the church doors were open then we were there!  I'm thankful for the church I went (and still go to) where the truth and the whole truth was (is) preached, including hell. I'd never done anything incredibly bad yet by nature I was a sinner (Ephesians 1:3) and just as guilty as anyone else.  Soon conviction set up and I was terrified of dying and going to hell.  I can remember asking my Daddy to wait until I went to sleep before he did.  One night he even took me outside and we walked around the house as he showed me there was nothing to be afraid of outside.  However, it wasn't what was on the outside I was afraid of it was what I DIDN'T have on the inside!  I was living dead.

Then on Sunday, January 17, 1988, we were having a wonderful service with testifying and then the church was singing a song and fellow shipping.  I remember looking around and wishing I had that joy and peace all of them were talking and singing about! 

Our pastor came to me and honestly I don't even remember what he did or said-I know what he DIDN'T do-he didn't drag me to the altar, tell me what to pray or just to sign a card.  All I really remember is him coming to me and then I went to the altar on my own free will.  I don't even remember the exact prayer I prayed but I do remember the feeling when I came up from the altar.  It's impossible to put it into words.  You'll never know until it happens to you-until it becomes personal to you.  But just to name a few-free, peaceful, joyful, loved, and accepted!  I had received God's amazing GIFT of salvation. 

Paul also says in Romans:

For he that is dead is freed from sin.  Now if we be dead with Christ we believe that we shall also live with him; Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.  For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.  Romans 6:7-10

I who was once dead to sin became alive in Christ!  How about you? Has it became personal to you?  Do you have an experience with death and then God's grace to share?

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Resolution Check-up

I can't believe the first month of the year is already gone!  It's already time to look back over my January resolutions and set February ones.  At first, I wasn't really planning on blogging about these every month but I've realized one of the main reasons I keep up this blog is to hold myself accountable so announcing them for everyone to read definitely holds myself more accountable!  Here's a review of my January resolutions:

1.  Host a couple's Bible Study at our Home:  Check!  We did this last Friday and thoroughly enjoyed it!  We had six other couples over and studied the Fruits of the Spirit with each couple taking at least one fruit to discuss.  In fact, it went so well and we had so much participation/discussion we only got through 4 of the fruits of the spirit and plan on having a Part 2 of the Bible study this month :)  It was a wonderful reminder that if the Spirit dwells within us and these (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and  temperance) are the fruits of the Spirit then that's what you should be seeing in our lives.  Whether we realize it or not we're producing some type of fruit-either fruits of the flesh or fruits of the Spirit and others are watching are lives!

2.  Spend Less Time Online- Check!  I'm definitely spending less time online although I could still stand to cut back some more!  I did at least a partial "facebook fast" the first 2 weeks of the month.  During that time I only responded to private groups and messages.  I actually enjoyed it and got SO much more accomplished.  After those 2 weeks I sat down and made myself some guidelines and for the most part have stuck to them!

3.  Potty Train "Miss Priss"-Check!  We had a rought start but then figured out the trick was a sticker chart!  She wasn't interested in small prizes or candy but the stickers did the trick!  She's still in a diaper at nap and bedtime but other than that she's doing really well!  Which is a relief since in less that 3 months we'll have another one in diapers!

So here are my Goals/Resolutions for February:

1.  My Mom, sister and I are hosting a Tea Party for the ladies at church.

2.  Set up Nursery (and choose a name would be a plus too)

Tot School: Polar Bears and Sunshine

You Gotta love Alabama weather!  In between dodging storms we've been learning more about winter and polar bears then playing outside in 60 degree weather!!  We didn't do quite as many activities as usual and our schedule was totally off because we did spend a lot of time outside!

In fact we spent one whole day just being outside the weather was so nice!  We rode the 4-wheeler, Barbie Jeep, played on swingset and fed all the animals around the farm (cows, horse, geese, fish).  It seriously felt more like a Spring Day and we enjoyed every minute of it!

The next day we did 1/2 day inside then went outside!  Then on the third day we had an afternoon Tot School.  Like I said it's been a crazy but fun week! 

When we weren't outside, I used the book Polar Bear, Polar Bear What Do You Hear by Bill Martin Jr. as our main focus.  A few things we've worked on this week: the color white, sense of hearing, and our listening skills.  White is really the only color "Miss Priss" doesn't know so we definitely needed to work on that. Her listening skills could use some work too and this is a great book for that!

Table Time: 

1. Created a Polar Bear- I originally got the idea here but we changed it up a bit using what we already had.  We loved our puffy paint from making our snoman so we used it again and created a polar bear using a paper plate, googly eyes, pom-pom nose, and cardstock ears.
2. Made bears, snowmen and snowballs with white Play-doh
3. Worked on counting, hand-eye coordination using book I downloaded awhile back from Childcare Land.  I could no longer find the book on the free printables but it may be on their site somewhere!  The book is made to be used with pom-poms but we used marshmallows. 

Floor Time: 

1. Simon Says
2. Puzzles
3. Mrs. Potato Head
   

Music:
Instead of "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Turn Around"  we sang "Polar Bear, Polar Bear, Turn Around."


Books: 

Polar Bear, Polar Bear What Do You Hear?  by Bill Martin Jr 
You Can Do it Sam by Amy Hest

Snacks:
Polar Bear Cupcakes- again we changed it up a bit using what we had

Polar Bear Paper Plate Craft

Counting and placing Marshmallows

Polar Bear Cupcakes

Additional Links/Resources:

http://www.dltk-teach.com/books/brownbear/sequel.htm
http://www.eric-carle.com/bb-pb.html (more for older kids)
https://www.kinderplans.com/p/15/five-senses-kindergarten

And let me just say this igloo out of milk cartons is SO cool! (Don't you just love my humor ;)
I'm thinking we are going to have to start saving our milk cartons and try it soon!

http://www.squidoo.com/milk-jug-igloo

Prayer for our Fellow Christians

Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. Ephesians 1:15

What's really stuck out to me this week in our GMG Ephesians study is praying for my fellow Christians.  I love that Paul says here "AFTER I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ" (emphasis added).  How many times do I pray for those that are sin sick and lost but forget my fellow Christians that are battling Satan all day?  Do I pray for someone until they accept Christ as their Savior but then maybe not so much after that?  Guilty.

Paul of all people knew how difficult living a life for Christ could be.  He knew all about the temptations and persecution. After all, he was writing this from prison!  He knew it wasn't going to be an easy road for these new Christians so what was his solution?  Even while imprisoned, he ceased not to give thanks and pray for them.

So many times someone will come to me with a problem and even ask me to pray and what's my response?  "Well, the least I can do is pray for you."  The least I can do? On down in the next few verses Paul reminds the Christians once again of their spiritual riches and the "exceeding greatness of his power."

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his might power.   Ephesians 1:19

What power there is in Christ through prayer!  There is NO greater thing we can do for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ than to lift them up in prayer.  Then allow God's "exceeding great power" to work!

I have truly been challenged this week to pray for my fellow Christians!  I hope you will be too!!

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