Art Incorporated

A few new pieces of art have recently been added to our home.

Calvin had some calendars printed which included a number of his photos.

The one he made for me had carefully selected Bible verses added to the pictures....love!

Last summer, my Dad created some more of his beautiful drawings.
He shared one of them with us.  A Grizzly mama bear with her cub is
featured in it with one of the Rocky Mountains in the background.

It currently lives in the office area of our home.

Do you remember this?  Well, that led to this, which resulted in this.

We've had this frame for a number of years, but, it was never put to use.
Once the bathroom had a fresh coat of paint, I was inspired to hang art.
Guess where the picture came from?  An old calendar.  Free!
It's hanging on the wall to the left in the photo above.



The hand towel rack that had been pulled out of the wall needed
to be installed in a different spot than it had previously been in.
And, these two little plaques go perfectly in the space created.

I especially love the Bible verses featured on them.
What precious promises the Lord gives His people!!

So, there you have it.  Art incorporated.
How do you incorporate art into your home?
What is your favourite tip for doing it frugally?

Happy Weekend Y'all!
With Love, Camille

Cheesy Lentil Bake

I originally came across this recipe here.

It's been made quite a few times since then.
I have tweaked and altered it so that it's just the way we like it.

With teenage tummies to fill, you can't go wrong.
Frugal and delicious and easy.  What more could you want?

I serve it up with a pot of rice and it fills six very hungry

tummies right up.  Full to the brim.  Adjust accordingly.

3 cups water
2 cups brown lentils, rinsed and drained
1 whole bay leaf
1/4 tsp dried ground sage
1/4 tsp dried thyme leaves
1 large onion, chopped
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 tin 14 oz diced tomatoes with green chilies and lime juice
1 tin 14 oz tomato sauce

4 large carrots, diced
4 large celery sticks, diced
2 red peppers, chopped
1/4 tsp cayenne
2 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Mix together first nine ingredients (up to and including the two types of tomatoes)
in a 10 x 15 inch glass baking dish.  Stir together well.
Bake uncovered for 30 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

After the 30 minutes of baking, stir in the remaining chopped veggies and spices.
Cover with foil and bake for a further 45 minutes.

Serve over rice and sprinkle with cheese and let sit until the cheese melts a little.
You could also just sprinkle the entire dish with cheese prior to serving to streamline things.
I hope you like it as much as we do.  Enjoy!

Happy Monday Y'all!
With Love, Camille

Purpose

I don't usually jump on the word bandwagon.
Actually, I've never done it before now.

I don't expect it to become a new tradition, either.
But, these last few weeks, the first few of this year and the last few of the last,
 some things have been rattling around in my brain and in my heart.
These reflections have been revolving around the idea of purpose.

The purpose of life.  Mine, in particular.

It's so easy to fall into the false notion that life is pointless.
Especially for the stay-at-home Mum who has children that
are growing up way too quickly and seemingly need less and less of her.
Perhaps (maybe especially) since one of those has grown up and gone on ahead.

But, is it really pointless?  Or, are these thoughts filled with lies?

Lies.  That's exactly what they are.
And, we are not to fill our minds with these sorts of thoughts.
But, rather, we are to fill our hearts and minds with truth.
What does God's Word say to our hearts on such weighty things as these?
What is the purpose of all of life?  Of my life?

Well.  That's a big question, isn't it?

The Shorter Catechism sums it up nicely with question number one.
Q:  What is the chief end of man (woman could be substituted here)?
A:  Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do,
do all to the glory of God."  I Corinthians 10:31

"Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee.
My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart,
and my portion forever."  Psalm 73:25-26

So, there is purpose in every single thing we do and say if it is done in light of the
eternal weight of it all.  If it is done for the Lord.  According to His Word.
And, that is where purpose meets real life.  What gives purpose.  Who gives purpose.

The reason for it all.

May the Lord help us to follow Him wherever He leads
and do all that He calls us to with all our strength.  With purpose.
At the end of the day, all that matters is this.  Truly.
May we live like it is so.  Always and forever.

"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."  Philippians 1:21
May the Lord make this to be true of me.
In His strength.  By His grace.  For His glory alone.

Many Blessings, Camille

The Quotidian (19. 1. 15)

Quotidian: daily, usual, or customary;

everyday; ordinary; commonplace.

Ready to be returned.

Making a mess dinner.

Leftovers from fall ~ waiting for spring.

Only in the house ~ practising.  All. The. Time.

I don't mind where school work takes place ~ as long as it happens.

A gift to Emma from the RCMP officer who checked in on us

in the days following Austin's home-going to heaven.

Emma had him propped up behind her while she did her work.

Happy Monday Y'all!

With love, Camille

Quite By Accident

I've been MIA ~ Quite by accident.

I don't know how it happened.  But, I haven't been here

and, other than busyness and life and school and things of that sort,

there really is no reason at all.  *Wink*

I usually announce my absence prior to it happening.
In this case, it surprised me and before I knew it, it was done.

So, just so you know...I hope to have a few things to share soon.

In the meantime...here are words not my own.

Sometimes, being quiet is the best thing after all.

"The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble;

and he knoweth them that trust in him."  Nahum 1:7

Happy Weekend Y'all!

With love, Camille

Best Baked Oatmeal!

I know I've shared baked oatmeal recipes before.  I still like them.

But, this one is my new favourite.  The recipe was found on Jenny's blog.

And, I've made it over and over again.  It's one the kids request

and get excited about.  I've even been known to serve it to company.  Yup, it's true.  

If you bake up a batch, I'm sure you'll understand why.

I like it made with blueberries or raspberries or a combination of both.

It's wonderful all three ways.  See?  Told you it's been made many times.

It was what was for breakfast this morning....with raspberries.

Here's what you need.

1 cup Sour Cream

1 1/4 cup Milk (I use Almond Milk)

2 Eggs, beaten

2 Tbsp Butter, melted

2 tsp Vanilla Extract

3 cups Rolled Oats

1/2 cup Brown Sugar

2 tsp Baking Powder

3/4 tsp Sea Salt

2 cups Frozen Blueberries or Raspberries

Here's what you do.

Mix together sour cream, milk, eggs, butter and vanilla in large bowl.

Stir in the oats until well blended.

Mix together the brown sugar, baking powder and sea salt in small bowl.

Stir the dry ingredients into the oat mixture and mix together well.

Fold in the frozen berries.  Pour into greased 10 x 15 inch glass baking dish.

(You could bake this in a 9 x 13 baking dish for a more cake-like product).

Bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 25 to 30 minutes 

until set in the centre and browning on the edges.

**If you want to have soaked oatmeal, just make this up the night before

and pop it into the fridge (covered with plastic wrap) and bake the next day.

Place cold (uncovered) dish into the cold oven and leave it there

for the preheating stage and then set the timer for 25 minutes once

the oven has reached its proper temperature.**

Depending on how hungry your people are, this will serve 6 to 8.
Serve hot in a bowl with cream or milk.  Enjoy.

Happy Tuesday Y'all!
With Love, Camille

On the Other Side

So, we stayed home this Christmas.

We were almost too busy to think.  It was a mercy, really.
However, the tears still came.  At random and sometimes inconvenient times.

But, those tears were good.  And, it was good.  All of it.

And now?  We are on the other side.

We survived our first Christmas at home without our Austin.

And, yet...we weren't without him.  We aren't without him.

He still lives.  Just not here.  

It's a comfort to remind ourselves of this truth.

He remains part of the fabric of who we are as a family.

Who we are as individuals.  He is missed and always will be.

Until the day we are called Home to Heaven.

The Lord graciously allowed us times of quiet in the midst of

the busyness of it all.  We were alone on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Things were different and things were the same.

We kept many of the old traditions.  But, some things were altered

or eliminated completely.  Some things were added in.

It was necessary and it was good.

Through it all, we were conscious of the prayers of God's people.

The Lord carried us through and gave us His comfort and peace.

Sorrow and joy were mingled together.  I imagine that is how it always will be.

From here on out.  And, we are settled with that.  It feels right.

It's a blessing to know that we don't walk this path alone.

I was reminded recently (by a lovely friend) of the fact that we all 
carry sorrows of one type or another.  Each one of us has grief to bear.

True, the vehicle by which it comes to us may be different,

but, the pain is real just the same.  It is deeply felt.

What do we do with it?  How do we cope?

Either it will drive us away from the Lord or to Him.

The key is to look to the Right Source for our comfort.

To dig deeply into His Word for the answers.

To fill our hearts and minds with His Truth.

Truly, it is the only way forward.

The only way to find lasting comfort and peace.

The only way to keep from crumbling completely.
The only way to rejoice in the midst of sorrow.

The only way.

May the peace of the Lord flood your souls
now and always.  May He be your everything.
Always and forever.

With love, Camille