July 15, 2011

Time Warp

Living fully engaged.
IN the moment.

Intentionally.

Travelling back in time.
All the way back to the
days before computers.
At least to the days before
MY computer.

Living according to HIS plan
for me ~

Just. This. Day.
By HIS Grace.


I'm taking a little hiatus
from email, gmail, internet,
blogging ~
online anything.

Just a little break from this.

But, not forever ~
Just for about a month.

This means that any comments
you may choose to leave
will be published at the end of
my time away from this screen.
At that time, my plan is to
reconnect with all of you.
Thank you for understanding!

(I do *L*O*V*E* to hear from you ~
Please let me know that you stopped by.)

If you have my phone number,
please feel free to call ~
Let's get together! :)

In the meantime,
I'd like to leave you with a beautiful
passage of Scripture ~

"The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
The LORD make his face shine upon thee,
and be gracious unto thee:
The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee,
and give thee peace."
~ Numbers 6:24-26 ~

See you in about a month ~
LORD-willing!

In HIS Love,
Camille


**Photo credit ~ Calvin

July 14, 2011

July 13, 2011

Salty Caramel Anyone?

Are you a salty caramel person?
If so, this is the ice cream for you!

Come on over and I will
serve you some with a smile ~
That is, if there is any left! ;-)

Sweet.
Salty.
Yum.


It is time consuming.
And fussy.
And a bit tricky.

BUT...
worth it!
(In my opinion, of course).

After reading about this ice cream
on David Lebovitz' blog,
I knew I had to give it a try.

Do you have an ice cream maker yet?
Hurry...summer is waiting.
And so are your family and friends.

Quick!

This is the one I have.
Gifted to me from my family
for Mother's Day.

(A little tip ~ Amazon's prices fluctuate...
check back periodically for the best deal).

It's been a fun journey.
A person could get used to
having ice cream daily.

I know.


Salted Butter Caramel Ice Cream ~
Oh. Dear. Me!

ENJOY!
And...don't blame me
if you become addicted to
its creamy saltiness! ;-)

Many Blessings,
Camille

**Links are working....

July 11, 2011

Baked Berry Almond Oatmeal

Y.U.M.M.Y.



SO good!

It was a hit all around.
And the boy who can NEVER get filled up...
did! :)



Click Here to find the recipe ~
You will need to scroll about half-way down
the post to locate it.
It's worth the hunt! :)

FYI ~ I doubled the recipe to serve my family...
using two pans of the 7" x 11" variety.
AND...I used old fashioned oats
and thawed raspberries (they had been frozen).

Enjoy!
Blessings,
Camille

July 10, 2011

Day After Day

Time flies.  That's not a surprise, is it?
It's like this for all of us.
Seize the day!  Enjoy the moments!

One of the ways I seek to do this is by counting.
Numbering the blessings.
Treasuring up the moments.  Day after day.
By HIS grace.  For HIS glory.

They are all gifts from HIS hand.


1432. Evidence of children in our home

1433. Stocking up

1434. My custom-made budget in excel...
Howie created it for me years ago and I *love* it!

1435. Licorice Mint Tea

1436. Random games of Uno

1437. A quick trip to the pool for the two youngest...
free swimming and all done in less than an hour


1438. Swimming lessons for Fraser and Emma

1439. That the pool is just around the corner and we can walk


1440. Chocolate!

1441. Getting the hang of this diet

1442. That it's helping

1443. Teaching boy #3 how to make grilled cheese sandwiches

1444. That tomorrow is always fresh with no mistakes in it yet!

1445. That the LORD always forgives and meets us in our need
and gives us grace and mercy.

1446. Warm sun...it's been teasing us!

1447. "Bonus Time" available to use...thank you S and L!

1448. Pineapples from my Dad ~ Thank you Dad! :)

1449. A phone chat with my sister

1450. Listening to Fraser play "The Pink Panther" on the piano

1451. Flowers from Calvin..."just because"...so sweet! :)

1452. Listening to
Diana Waring's History CD'sW.O.N.D.E.R.F.U.L.

1453. Learning with the children

1454. Marvelling at God's hand in history
and how it all comes *alive* when taught from
a Biblical standpoint

1455. Frozen meals prepared in advance and
using them when they are most needed

1456. School's Done

1457. Completing another year of homeschool

1458. The change of pace summer brings

My journal sits on my counter.

I list as events unfold. Sometimes many all at once,
and other times in a trickle.  Would you like to begin?
Just grab a pen and a journal, set them out on the counter,
and list out your blessings.
Find the joy in the moments ~ as they arrive.

Enjoy the journey!
Many Blessings, Camille

July 7, 2011

To Encourage


Simply Scripture.
To encourage.


"The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
the LORD is the strength of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?"
~ Psalm 27:1 ~

"Wait on the LORD:
be of good courage,
and he shall stenghten thine heart:
wait, I say, on the LORD."
~ Psalm 27:14 ~

"Blessed be the LORD,
because he hath heard the
voice of my supplications.
The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusted in him,
and I am helped:
therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth;
and with my song will I praise him."
~ Psalm 28:6-7 ~

I'll be taking a little blogging break for
the next few days.

May the LORD bless each
one of you this weekend!
In HIS Love,
Camille

**Photo Credit ~ Emma

July 6, 2011

T.W.E.N.T.Y.

It's not REALLY possible
that we have been married for 20 years...is it??
Time marches on.
We are growing old together.


On our wedding day we sang Steve Green's song
"I Cherish the Treasure of Youto one another.


Little did we know that in
the midst of our joys and blessings,
there would be trials.  Difficult days.
Heartache and sorrow.

And through it all, we would grow to love more.
Deeper.  Stronger.  Little did we know.


 Oh how FAITHFUL our Great God is!!
HE is the ONE Who keeps us.
HE is the ONE Who sustains us.
HE is the ONE Who gives us life.

All praise and glory to HIS Great Name!

If I'd known then what I know now,
I would have married my Sweetheart MUCH sooner.
AND I wouldn't have given him as
much trouble as I did! :)

It has been a great source of comfort and blessing over the years.
We are so thankful to belong to the LORD!
HE alone is worthy of all our praise.

Many blessings,
Camille

July 4, 2011

A Little Local Getaway

We were going to do it all in one day.

Drive up (early) to Whistler (3 hours away) ~
Howie would be busy with work while I wandered around the village
with the children for the day ~ and then, we would drive back home
(late) that night.  But...

Howie's sister and husband
kindly allow us to use their time-share when it's available.
And...it was available! :)
So...we had a little two night getaway at the end
of our school year.  We are thankful!

We arrived on the first night just in time to see the Canucks
(our hockey team) lose game seven of the
Stanley Cup playoffs to Boston.  A sad day.


Howie worked the next day.  We explored.
The 2010 Olympics were held in Vancouver.
One of the venues for ski events was Whistler Mountain.
We went to the top and found this bobsled.
A perfect photo opportunity ~ no?


We rode the "Peak 2 Peak" Gondola.
Oh. Dear. Me.  What an experience!


Fear of heights anyone?




The view from up there...God's magnificent creation!


We discovered the Olympic Rings
at the edge of Whistler Village.


Howie was able to join us the last day we were there...


We found the torch! :)



The drive provides breathtaking views.
So beautiful!


1426. A couple of nights away as a family ~

joining Howie on a business trip.

1427. Enjoying the outdoors with the children

1428. Canoeing and Kayaking together for an hour

1429. Spotting and eagle ~
Calvin was able to get some great shots with his zoom lens! :)

1430. The majesty of the mountains ~
I never tire of their beauty

1431. New experiences and sharing them with our children

I list as events unfold.  Sometimes many all at once,
and other times in a trickle.

Would you like to begin?  Just grab a pen and a journal,
set them out on the counter, and list out your blessings.
Find the joy in the moments ~ as they arrive.

Enjoy the journey!
Many Blessings, Camille

**All photos in this post
courtesy of our newest photographer...Emma! :)

July 1, 2011

What Lies Do We Believe?

Lies.
They are *out there*.
But, they are also *in here*.

We listen to them.
We invite them to stay.

Why?

It's easier to listen to ourselves ~
To entertain lies rather than Truth.

Truth comes from God's Word.

Have we memorized it?
Hidden it in our hearts?
Does it shape our thinking?
Or are we allowing the World to do that?

Oh, how easy it is to just follow the crowd.
Go with the flow.
Take the *broad road*
rather than the narrow one.

How should our thoughts be formed,
and by Whom?

"...whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report;
if there be any virtue,
and if there be any praise,
think on these things."
~ Philippians 4:8 ~

Does this describe my thought life?
Too often, I would have to say no.

Only the LORD can give us this perspective.
Only as we fill our minds with Truth can
we be free from the bondage of lies.

"Oh how I love thy law!
it is my meditation all the day.
Thou through thy commandments hast
made me wiser than mine enemies:
for they are ever with me.
I have more understanding than all
my teachers: for thy testimonies
are my meditation."
~ Psalm 119:97-99 ~

Oh that this would be true of me!
May the LORD help us all to value
HIS Word above the *wisdom* of man.
Only by HIS Grace is this possible.
How wonderful it is that HE leads
us so gently along!

Many blessings to you each one!
In HIM,
Camille