Book Review - I love you to God and Back by Amanda Lamb

This sweet little book is a yearlong compilation of a six year old's evening prayers recorded by her mother.  Within these pages is a child's gratitude for life's smallest but most important blessings; the little everyday gifts that most of us adults are too busy to notice.  Playdates, trips to the swimming pool and her family are just a few of the blessings that our little heroine gives thanks for; her prayers always ending with a special thank you for her Mommy or Daddy.

These appreciations also point out lessons learned by us when we become parents - patience, attention to the present and a slower pace; finding joy in every day.

I felt this book was well organized and well written, however, it was not what I was expecting.  The title of the book led me to believe that the pages of this book would give up some secrets on how to learn about God and His love alongside your children.  Unfortunately, this is not what this book delivered.

This book lacked any real direction or sustenance.  Each chapter consisted of a little girl's prayer and a mother's reflection on her daughter's experience and perspective.  I did not feel as though I came away with any added knowledge or value.  However, I did finish reading with a smile on my face and a warm feeling in my heart.

A gentle recollection of childhood treasures; a warm reminder of our Father's love in each and every day. A very quiet, easy read for those times when the day needs a little light.



**I received a complimentary electronic copy of this book from www.booksneeze.com in exchange for my honest review**

WORD VERIFICATION.. grrr.. Help please!

To my fellow "blogger" users out there... I am having some real issues with the comment WORD VERIFICATION settting.  I set it to NO, click SAVE, exit... come back to check on my settings and it has set itself back to YES!

Is this a glitch that any one else has encountered?  Please share with me if you have found a way around this, although to leave a comment here you will have to decipher the annoying text in the box.  :(

Thanks!

Love one another...

The past few weeks, my own four corners has been full of the 'put downs' and name calling that can only happen between siblings.  My two eldest ladybugs have fallen into the habit of making faces and hurting each other's feelings daily.  I knew I needed to somehow put the brakes on this behaviour.

In reading through some of my favourite blogs last week, I was inspired by Lisa at Home to Four Kiddos and her lenten cross idea.

At the time we had two weeks until Easter - what better testament of love for one another than Jesus' dying for us!?!  I put together a paper cross measuring about two feet high and hung it where I knew my girls would see it daily.  I cut out lilies in purple and yellow paper and explained to them that every time I heard kind words or saw loving behaviour, they would be able to glue a lily to the cross in hopes of covering all the white paper with lilies before Easter morning.  Here we are one week later:

My ladybugs have been doing quite well.  By about Thursday, they began asking for lilies when doing routine chores such as clearing the table or putting away their school bags.  I reminded them that I really wanted them to learn to remember their love for one another and to get in the habit of lifting each other up instead of pushing one another down.  Of course when they began emptying each other's school bags or clearing one another's place settings, I couldn't refuse a lily.

For me, the verse we chose for our cross is a perfectly daily reminder of what God envisioned when he created family.. : "Love one another as you love yourself", Mark 12:31.

Camp Hat Craft Swap - Pipe cleaner butterfly

You can make these pretty little spring crafts any size you would like - larger flowers, use a full sized pipe cleaner; for smaller flowers, cut your pipe cleaners to suit.

You will need:

pipe cleaners

fabric flowers

googly eyes

white glue

If your fabric flowers don't already have a hole in the centre of them, use a hole punch to make one.  Feed the pipe cleaner through the hole and fold in half.

Curl one end of the pipe cleaner back on itself to make a head shape.  Twist the other end of the pipe cleaner around the 'head stem'.  Twist until the end is secure just under the head.

Twist the flower petals until they stand up straight and resemble wings.  Pinch the pipe cleaner in the middle of the 'body' so that it curves - this will help keep the wings standing up.

Glue googly eyes onto either side of the head.  Run a safety pin in between the pipe cleaner twists and attach to your hat!

A cute little SPRING camping craft!