Give Away!

Hop on over to my facebook page and enter to win the beautiful Grace & Gratitude Pitcher that I am giving away to celebrate 1 year as a consultant with the DaySpring Company!  Scroll down and click on my page.  Like and share and you are entered to win!  I will be announcing the winner right here on my blog on August 3rd.

Camping, Camps and Campers

Summer Camps, Bible Camps,  Camp Meetings, Day Camps, Sports Camps ... CAMP? 


I  was blessed to grow up with so many great camping experiences.  I have had the opportunity to sleep in Tee Pee's, Tents, Cabins, Campers, Beach front Condos, and even just out under the stars in my own back yard as a kid. 


Unique camping experiences are great, but spending time in  solace and in close company  in those out of the way places  make our camping adventures moments we will never forget.


My husband and I took our girls to a lake campground really close to home  here on the Kenai Peninsula a few years ago. We held monopoly tournaments, enjoyed marshmallow roasting contests and just really had a special little vacation. We have photos of the girls in their pajamas and coats as we all sat around a campfire drinking hot cocoa, telling stories and watching the squirrels. We squeezed around a tiny table in our shiny silver camp trailer and enjoyed breakfast together. The girls and their dad fished a little and we all laughed alot during this long weekend.


In our culture we as parents encourage our children however we can.  It's our job to help build their character and confidence as individuals.  We want to see them succeed and develop fully so they can learn to work with others and also be successful as they grow into adulthood .  We want the best for them so we invest in sports camps, sports equipment, musical instruments, music lessons, ice skating lessons, swimming lessons, dance lessons, cheerleading camps and lessons, computer programs and so many great things that bring out their individual strengths. We try to afford our children every opporunity to develop physically and mentally.  Are we remembering to give them the opportunity to grow spiritually in that same peer group environment? 


If we want our children to develop spiritually, we all know it starts in our own  hearts as parents and in our homes. By practicing what the Bible teaches us in Deuteronomy 6, by instilling the importance of God's word by assembling in church and by being involved in Sunday School our children learn that God has great things planned for them, but what about a Christian Kids Camp?  Where else can our kids and teens can be around their peers and realize that there are alot of Christians their own age that love God and want to please Him.  Jeremiah 29:11 Says..."I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, Plans to give you a hope and a future, plans to prosper you and not harm you."  Encouraging our children go to camp in elementary school will help them develop strong positve relationships at early ages.  Through these experiences year after year our growing children look forward to connecting with these same friends each summer.    If they have not had the opportunity to attend camp sometimes they miss out on the opportunity all together because there are so many other interests as they get into their teen years.  We should take the opportuntiy to enjoy the local daycamps and VBS programs to start with and as they get older let them go further...even nation wide camps. 


  Camping can give us an opportunity to disconnect from the busyiness of day to day life and  truly connect with not only one another, but also our own thoughts and with God and that is fun.

Fun Summer Craft Projects

Check out these fun summer project ideas from Pottery Barn Kids! I especially like the polka dot idea:)
http://www.potterybarnkids.com/design-studio/articles/easy_summer_crafts_3_by_crafts.html

Take a few moments to think about the Easter Sunday you want to share with your family and friends. Slow life down a bit and you have a perfect opportunity to enjoy some peaceful moments of celebration centered around God's love.

www.myblessingsunlimited.net/janicesmith

Just in time for Easter!  Recordable Storybooks are all the rage now - special keepsake treasures! Take your pick for $29.95 or get any of them for only $17.50 with a $40+ order (before shp/tax). What a meaningful Easter Basket (or any occasion) gift!!

Spring Time Break In Alaska

March has arrived...Spring is in the air! Those of us who work for a school, go to school, or have children are anticipating a wonderful "Springtime Break."  Plan out your spring time break by printing free organizers from http://www.mommytracked.com/  I love the stuff this website!
Some things to do with the kids on the Kenai Peninsual during Spring Break.

• Drive to Homer - (Bundle up of Course)  Walk the beach, collect some rocks or shells, take cool photos and then scrapbook them together!
• Have a overnighter with your kids...let each of them invite a friend...Make tents and english muffin pizzas!
• Visit Jumpin Junction on KBeach orNikiski Pool!
• Drive to Seward and go to the SeaLife Center.  http://www.alaskasealife.org/
• Sleep in! 
• Have a Pancake Party!
• Wear PJ's ALL Day!
• Make a chore chart...and get into a routine of teaching the kiddos that team work is important in a family!  Give Out Stickers for a job well done. 
• Make family posters celebrating your strengths as a family... EX:  Dad is good at_jokes,    I love mom's macaroni and cheese!  Sister's artwork is the bomb!  Brother is helpful and funny!  Make them colorful - Hang them up.
• Tie Dye or Decorate T- Shirts
• Download some new tunes...Get your kids singing the Word of God.  Teach them how to hide the word in their hearts. 
• Play outside...Build a fort
• Go for a walk.
• Write Letters and mail them to someone!
• Have an unbirthday party!
• The American Girl series is a great one if you have girls 6 & up...
•  With older kids...Read a book and then watch the movie...Read about Esther in the Bible and Watch the Movie One Night with the King, or Read the Chronicles of Narnia and watch the movie.  There are so many amazing ways to make the Bible real to our kids with the abundance if meia tools we have available to us in this day and age.
• Get on Pinterest and fill  your planner with fun family activities

Fun for Families

Family Connection. 

• Designate one night a week as FAMILY night!  Pull out your bread machine and make dough or for a quick mini pizza idea-use English Muffins.  Top your crust with sauce and let the kids put veggies, meats and cheeses and bake.  While the pizza is baking everyone helps tidy  up the kitchen,  pull out the paper plates, and napkins, and pour your drinks.  Eat around the table and talk about your week.  Ask questions like what was the best thing that happened to you this week?    Even preschoolers can get in on this:0).  We used to have pizza making contests when my girls were little...and we had little prizes for best sauce from scratch- best crust- most visually appealing and best over all taste..make your own categories...Team up if your kids are small.  Let everyone vote-=) 
• Make a kids work area~  a tote or box of art supplies-crayons, colored pencils, paper, watercolor paints, coloring books etc. near your dining room table is a life saver on cold days.  Start an art recycling box.  Put thing like empty paper towel rolls, tissue paper, cool packaging supplies, paper produce bags, ribbon and more in it and let your childrens imagination go.
• Turn off the TV and play music.  Play all different styles.  Play music with scripture and music with lyrics that reinforce the values that you and your family share together. Sing together...Let your children sing to you...Have fun.  Sometimes play instrumental music...Enjoy holiday music, lullabies at bedtime and more upbeat music when it's time to get the chores done. 
• Read together..When the kids are small read short "picture" books as they get older move towards something that you can read together a chapter or a few pages at a time.  Get them Bibles that are age appropriate. A Bible is always a nice gift at Easter or Christmas or even to give ona one on one date with your kids. Just as yo look for books that are interesting and engage them in  learning a Bible should be the same.  There are Toddler Bibles. Bible Stories for Little Girls or Boys. Beginner Reading Bibles with lots of pictures, Discovery Bibles for primary aged kids and so on. 
• Pray together, Speak individual strengths outloud, Celebrate everyday life.

If you get the chance read he 5 love languages and the5 Love languages of Children.   Blessings~J