SONshine

Spring is here ~
(I think...LOL!)

If Spring means showers ~
then, it's here!

If Spring means cool days
and then warm ones
and never knowing what to wear ~
then, it's here!

If Spring means longer
days and shorter nights ~
then, it's here!

But, where is the SUN?
It's been teasing us.
We see it.
And then we don't.

How wonderful it is
that we can have SONshine
in our hearts even if
there is no SUNshine
in the sky!

The LORD is always good.
And HIS ways are always perfect.

It's Monday.
I continue to count.

1396. The smell of a spring shower

1397. How the beach is always changing

1398. How the *regulars* always
ask where the children are when I walk alone ~
they are running ahead

1399. Winning "31 Days to Clean"
and loving it!

1400. Dad's kindness to us over the years

1401. Getting a good start once again on this!

1402. A deal for a one night getaway for
my Sweetie and me!

1403. That Kristy is willing and able
to stay with the children

1404. Puppet shows! :)

1405. Watching Howie and Emma going up
the street hand in hand ~ Emma skipping along

1406. That the local pool is close by,
FREE, and open for the season

1407. That Howie took Emma there
*last minute* and *on the fly*
one afternoon to make up for all the long
hours of work he has been doing

1408. Working hands and smiling faces

1409. That the neighbours hire our boys for jobs like this!

1410. That they don't pay them too much...
hard work is good for growing boys. :)

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

Along the River and Through the Woods

A day out with Auntie Mary.
We met at a half-way point.
And we took a walk...
and then enjoyed a picnic.

The day was gorgeous.
(A rare thing this spring ~
we've had a lot of rain).

Auntie Mary and Mum strolling along ~
how lovely it is to see them together.
Auntie Mary was married to
Mum's brother...Uncle Johnnie ~
he's been with the LORD three
years now!

Imagine...
In Heaven for three years!

Auntie Mary is with us for
a three week visit.
We are sharing her with the
rest of the family.
Today begins our *special*
few days with her. :)

The children positioned
like steps going down ~
Austin, Calvin, Fraser and Emma...
unplanned. :)

A little photo shoot ~
Of course!

Fraser, Austin, Calvin and Emma ~
Our four.

The Fraser River...
our *view*.

Emma getting flowers put into her hair ~
how wonderful to have girl cousins! :)

Need I say more?

A fun time was had by all.
These are the blessings of life...
may we cherish the moments and the
days the LORD gives us!

In HIM,
Camille

Chocolatey Scrumptiousness

For a very long time I have had my eye
on an ice cream attachment for my
KitchenAid mixer.

There were a few promises that
had to be made before I could go
ahead and order it.

One of those promises
was that I would faithfully
use the juicer that
I had said would NOT
collect dust in the closet.
In reality,
it has tended to do just that.

Until recently.

Carrot Apple juice
is faithfully
being produced.

Twice per week.


For Mother's Day, the children
contributed towards the purchase of
the desired ice cream attachment with
Howie making up the difference.

It just arrived.

And I've made
ice cream twice.

Rich.
Creamy.
Chocolatey.
Delicious.


As a teenager I worked in a
Baskin Robbins ice cream store.
It spoiled me for life.
Only the *good* stuff will do.
*Regular* ice cream just does not
measure up.

If you know anything about
Baskin Robbins ice cream,
you will probably know about their
Chocolate Mousse Royale flavour.

This would rival that.
In actuality,
I think it surpasses it.

Oh. Dear. Me.!!!


We now have no
need of Baskin Robbins.
This recipe fits the bill ~

P.E.R.F.E.C.T.L.Y.

I pay attention when Jennifer Jo
recommends a recipe.
The ones I have tried have
not failed.
And this was no exception.

Click here to get to the
post where she shares the recipe.
Scroll to the bottom of her post
to get to the necessary information.

You will not be sorry you did.

Proceed with caution...
And be sure to share! :)

Many Blessings,
Camille

**What to do with the leftover Egg Whites?
Just substitute two per each egg called for
in any recipe you make in the next few days.
Freeze the egg whites if you won't be using
them for awhile. Or...just use them to
make scrambled eggs.
But, whatever you do...
don't throw them away! :)

These Days...

The documentation of thanks
is a wonderful habit.
The LORD gives life and breath
and these are the days we
have been graciously given.

In this practice of thanks
I seek to give HIM praise.

As the days arrive,
so do the joys and the sorrows.
The LORD is in the midst of it all,
and so, the numbering continues...


1385. A little nurse in the family ~ So sweet!

1386. Auntie Mary arrived safely all the way from Wales

1387. That we have her here in Canada for THREE weeks!

1388. Hearing Auntie Mary's testimony

1389. That the children heard her share
her testimony

1390. Godly influence of the older generation

1391. Prayers prayed for us

1392. Long-ago garage sale (three doors down)
in which we acquired (among other wonderful things)
a hide-away bed/couch that was barely used and very cheap

1393. How that couch has come in handy over the years

1394. That Emma LIKES to sleep on it if we should
have overnight guests

1395. Beans and lentils in bulk (25 lb) bags ~ savings!

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

Freedom from Stuff

How much of our lives are spent in
building and striving and clamoring for
more and more and more?

Only to weed it all out and pare it all down
until there is only a room's worth left over.

What is the point of all this gathering
and collecting and hoarding?

Is it so that we will feel secure?
Safe?
In control of our own destiny?
Successful?

We came into this world with nothing
and we will take nothing out.


"But godliness with contentment
is great gain.
For we brought nothing into
this world,
and it is certain we can
carry nothing out.
And having food and raiment
let us therwith be content."
~ I Timothy 6:6-8 ~

I cannot help but think of the
Egyptian Pharoahs of Ancient times ~
they were buried with provisions for the after life.
It is all still there...
thousands of years later ~ untouched.
The after life has no need of such supplies.

Coveteousness ~ it is SIN.

"Thou shalt not covet..."
~ Exodus 20:17a ~

We are commanded NOT
to covet ANYTHING.
Yet, do we secretly still harbour
covetousness in our hearts?

I do.

The lie that is lived out before us
over and over again ~
is that stuff is where it's at.
That things will bring joy.

Maybe.
For a moment.
Or two.

But they will not bring lasting joy.
Lasting joy is found in the LORD alone.
In HIS peace and grace alone.

May it be that God will grant us each the
ability to view things from this Biblical perspective.
May we live day by day in the freedom of it!

Many Blessings,
Camille

Laughter ~ The Good Medicine

Fraser and Emma have been
collaborating and creating some
*shows* together lately ~

Complete with tickets.

Waiting for the show to begin...

The *announcer*...

The show!

We have enjoyed some laughs
together over this.

May the LORD bless
each one of you with laughter
in your homes this day.

Many blessings,
Camille

Homemade Toothpaste

Well...

I wouldn't say it's a big hit.

I wouldn't say it isn't working.

But, it seems to be far better for
you than many of the choices out there...
including some of the *healthy* alternatives.

In my research I have read that
glycerine can adhere to the teeth and prevent
recalcification of the enamel.
I don't know if this is true or not.
Does anyone know?

The *natural* toothpaste we have
in our posession has glycerine in it.

Hmmmm.....

Easy as pie.
Simple.
And, not too bad.

There is, however,
a background flavour of Baking Soda
that is difficult to get rid of.

It lingers.

I will say, though, that
my teeth feel clean,
and it is cheaper
than what I've been doing.

Soooo....
without any further ado.

Here is *my* recipe...
tweaked and modified
from some I found online.


1/2 cup coconut oil (extra virgin organic)

2 TBSP Baking Soda

Stevia powder to sweeten to taste

Essential Oils of Peppermint or Spearmint...or both ~
Add as much as you like to get the flavour you want.

Mix together in a bowl with a fork.
Put into a little container.
Scoop out what you need with a spoon or knife
and put it on your toothbrush.
Not as convenient as a tube.
But, if it saves money and does the job
without chemicals and fluoride...
well, it may be worth it, right?


I recently broke down and bought some more of
the Nature's Gate Toothpaste.
We were having an out-of-town guest
(who I thought would borrow what we had
in the drawer) and she would have been
subjected to my homemade creation.
I didn't want to force her into
that experience. LOL!

AND, in my defence...it was on sale!

Sooooo....will this last??
Will I experiment some more??
Time will tell.

Have fun!
And do let me know how
it goes! :)

Blessings, Camille

Do I Believe in Prayer?

Simply sharing a quote with you,
kind friends, this weekend.
(It came to me this past week by email).
May the LORD use it in our lives for good.

Do I believe in prayer?  Yes!
May the LORD help me to truly live like I do!

**My Dad (Camille's) is an artist ~ he used pencil to draw these praying hands
while a Bible School student in 1964 ~ It was a gift to us from my Dad 

a few years ago and it is very precious to us both.

"There Is Not Enough Private Prayer!
There are few professing Christians, it may be feared,
who strive to imitate Christ in the matter of private devotion.

There is abundance of hearing, reading, talking, professing, visiting,
contributing to the poor, subscribing to societies and teaching at schools.
But is there, together with all this, a due proportion of private prayer?

Are believing men and women sufficiently
careful to be frequently alone with God?
These are humbling and heart-searching questions.
But we shall find it useful to give them an answer.

Why is it that there is so much apparent religious working,
and yet so little result in positive conversions to God -
so many sermons, and so few souls saved -
so much machinery, and so little effect produced -
so much running here and there, and yet so few brought to Christ?

Why is all this?
The reply is short and simple.
There is not enough private prayer.

The cause of Christ does not need less working,
but it does need among the workers more praying.
Let us each examine ourselves, and amend our ways.

The most successful workmen in the Lord's vineyard,
are those who are like their Master,
often and much upon their knees."  J.C. Ryle

Quoted from: Expository Thoughts on the Gospels:
Luke volume 1, [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1986],
139, 140. {Luke 5:12-16}

Amazing Salmon ~ Quick and Easy!

Now this was yummy!
Easy to put together...
And perfect for a hot summer day!
(Is it hot where you are?)

What more could you ask for?

I didn't have fennel or dried cherries on hand.
So, I skipped the fennel and used
dried cranberries instead of the cherries.
The vinegar was my choice rather than the champagne,
and I pan-fried the fish in coconut oil.

One of the boys said he didn't have
much hope for it when he saw it.
But after tasting the salmon
said I could serve it to him anytime!
LOL! Is that a rave review, or what??

Click here to get to
the original recipe shared
by Miss Jen at Blessed Femina.

Enjoy!

Summery Lemony Deliciousness

I am a chocolate girl.
Really, I am.

But, I can enjoy other things.
And this is one of those
*Other things*.

Lemony, but not in an overbearing way ~
just the right amount of *tart*.
Suitable for high tea or
a relaxing visit on the front porch.

I would even say you could have them for breakfast,
but that might be taking things a little
too far. :)

These freeze well.
So, if it gets oppressively hot
where you live,
you might want to bake some now
to have on hand for later.
You will not be sorry you did.


~ Lemon Bars ~

As found in
"Company's Coming ~ Most Loved Treats"
by Jean Pare ~
a Canadian cookbook author! :)

~ Bottom Layer ~

2 cups Flour

3/4 cup Icing Sugar
(Powdered or Confectioner's)

1 cup Butter, cold

Combine flour and icing sugar
in medium sized bowl.
Cut in butter until mixture
resembles fine crumbs.
Press firmly into ungreased
9 x 13 inch pan.

Bake at 350 degrees F
for about 20 minutes ~
Until golden.

Remove from oven,
but leave oven on.
Spread top layer over
the cooked base.


~ Top Layer ~

4 large Eggs

1/3 cup Lemon Juice ~
Fresh squeezed

1 Tbsp Lemon Peel ~
Finely grated

1 1/2 cups granulated Sugar

1/4 cup Flour

1 tsp Baking Powder

Icing Sugar ~ for dusting


Whisk eggs in large bowl until frothy.
Add lemon juice and peel and stir.

Combine granulated sugar,
flour, and baking powder in small bowl.
Add to egg mixture.

Stir until just moistened.
Spread evenly over cooked bottom layer.
Bake for another 25 minutes,
or until set ~ up to 35 minutes.

Let stand in pan on
wire rack for 5 minutes.
Dust evenly with icing sugar
using a small sieve.


Let stand until cool.
Cut into bars.
Freeze for the future...
if you can get them there.
They are even good frozen!

Look out! ;-)

Just Breathe

Another week.
Another Monday.

How quickly the time passes.
How quickly life flies by.

And I am seeking,
in the midst of it all,
to just breathe and observe and enjoy
and take it all in.

These are the moments we have
been graciously given.
They come from the loving hand of
our Heavenly Father.
We are sustained by the Word of HIS power.

Numbering our thanks is one of
the ways in which we can give HIM praise.
And so, I continue to count...

1371. Leftovers...yaay!

1372. Emma's point-and-shoot camera
purchase...she saved and saved and saved ~
Another photographer in the family. :)

1373. Getting through the border
without paying duty many, many, many times.

1374. South of the border shopping ~
A Blessing!

1375. Nut Bars ~ I *so* enjoy them!
Almost makes up for the lack of chocolate. :)

1376. Friendly "hellos" and "good mornings"
on the beach walk ~ so many *regulars*

1377. Bunny on the beach ~ a rare sight.

1378. Thankful that the children
are all well enough to jog the 3 mile stretch

1379. Laughter

1380. The privilege to vote

1381. Emma did a big *clear out* of
her room...what a blessing!
(Thank you to Rebecca and Rebecca's Mum
for graciously receiving some of the
things she cleared out!)

1382. Tide out, windy, blue skies,
white puffy clouds for a morning
beach walk...oh how it clears the cobwebs! :)

1383. Cotton balls for my ears on a windy day

1384. Watching all four children jog together ~
when did Emma get big enough for that?!

It's easy to count.
It begins with noticing the *little* things.
Noticing the moments.
Entering into them and writing them down.
It's as simple as that.

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

**Photos in this post courtesy of Calvin ~
taken with his *old* point-and-shoot
about two months ago.

Dying to Perfection

When everything has to be perfect,
things become unpleasant.

If I strive for perfection in anything
it becomes an idol and therefore,
more important than everything else.

When I die to the "Perfection" mindset,
I can embrace the joys of life and living.

My treasures are not things.
They are souls.

Eternal view leads to peace ~
Within and without.

Oh that I would really learn this!
Oh that I would really LIVE this!!


"Lay not up for yourselves
treasures upon earth,
where moth and rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves
break through and steal:

But lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven,
where neither moth
nor rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves do not
break through and steal:

For where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also."
~ Matthew 6:19-21 ~


May the LORD give the
strength and grace needed
to live with an eternal mindset.

After all,
that's all that really matters!

Many blessings,
Camille

Almond Flour Waffles

Here it is...as promised!
Another recipe for Almond Flour.

We like these waffles even better than our old standby.
I've even served them to company!  They get rave reviews.

And they are quick to whip up at a moment's notice.
They cook MUCH more quickly than the *regular* type.
In my waffle maker, they are done in a minute and a half.

Better and better.

Makes you want to get your hands on some
Almond Flour now, doesn't it? :)


~ Almond Flour Waffles ~
As found in the book ~
"Breaking the Vicious Cycle"

1 cup Almond Flour
4 Eggs, beaten
2 Tbsp honey (preferrably raw and liquid)
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/4 tsp Sea Salt
1/4 tsp Baking Soda

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl with a wire whisk.

Preheat and grease your waffle iron.
(I use coconut oil to grease it ~ melt a little and use a brush to coat the iron)
Be forewarned...you will be sorry if you skip the greasing step ~
Ask me how I know! :)

Pour 3/4 to 1 cup of batter onto the
waffle iron and cook for about 90 seconds or until done.

I quadruple this recipe for our family of six.
The boys and Emma all have hearty appetites.
My waffle maker cooks four squares at a time
and one batch would make two of those four-squared waffles.
I hope that makes sense!


Feel free to ask questions if you have any.  Enjoy!
Many Blessings, Camille

**One thing to note ~ Almond Flour will go rancid if it's not stored properly.
Keep it in a sealed container in the fridge or freezer for long term storage.