Thirteen!

Our Emma is thirteen.  Thirteen!

Her actual birthday was on Sunday.

The festivities were enjoyed over the span of a few days.

She had her cake and opened gifts on Sunday evening.

Precious memories.

Never a dull moment with these three.  :)

 Emma loves to swim...so, on Monday evening we obliged her.

Actually, Howie and the boys did.  I read and took photos and exchanged
texts with my sister.  I got all the updates about the slides and diving boards
and wave pool as various members of my family passed by.
It was a good arrangement all around.

On Tuesday, we went to get Emma's ears pierced. 

This was a much-anticipated and patiently waited for occasion.  

But, when the moment finally arrived, it wasn't without some apprehension.

Thankfully, both sides were done at once.

A little relieved, I think.

We ended our outing with a little treat.  :)

Precious Emma ~ We are so thankful that the Lord chose to put

you into our family.  What a blessing you are to us all.

May you follow Him with all of your heart for all of your days.

He is faithful and will always lead you well.  He is so very, very good.

With all our Love, 

Daddy and Mummy

XOXO

Just One Month

Many years ago, in my imagination, 
I jumped ahead to this very day.

This day when I would become Mama to four teens.

Emma was born exactly one month prior to Austin's seventh birthday.

It didn't take me long to realise that for just one month in my mothering career

 we would have four teenagers in our home.

That day has arrived.  It's here.

Emma is thirteen.  Austin is in heaven.

I am still Mama to four teenagers.  They just don't all live with us here.
This is not how I imagined it would be.  It is not what I would have chosen.
But, it was chosen by the Hand of our Loving Heavenly Father.
All of this was planned out from before time began.

And, God is good.  All the time.

My plans often are not His.  But, His plans are always right.
May He help us to submit to the twists and turns that He brings.
May we never charge Him foolishly.  He is the Potter.  We are the clay.
We exist to bring glory to His Name.  Now and forever.

"...the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away;
blessed be the name of the LORD."  Job 1:21b

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,
to them who are the called according to His purpose."  Romans 8:28

This is the life He has called us to.  And, it is good.

With Love, Camille

The Quotidian (6. 3. 15)

Quotidian: daily, usual, or customary;

everyday; ordinary; commonplace.

We've been doing a lot of this in recent days.

(Those were all the leftover tiles once the game had ended).

Enjoying the challenge.

At the front door.  From our trip.

Three weeks early (apparently).

Still on the front door.

They only lasted one day.

By the 25 lb bag.

In the front window.

My 6' 1" helper.

Lined up and ready to go.
(Apparently, this is something I want to remember
as is evidenced by this post, and this one).

Roller blading buddies.

Things to chat about.

Seeking to capture the moments as they arrive.
These are the memories of tomorrow.  How quickly life flies by!
Slowing down long enough to take it all in.  It's precious.  All of it.

Many Blessings, Camille

Simply Whatever

"Use hospitality one to another without grudging."  1 Peter 4:9

We are called to this ~ hospitality.  It's not difficult.  

Though, it may sometimes be a stretch.  Or, it may stretch us.

Sharing with others is a gift we all can give.

And, it doesn't have to be complicated.
Actually, it shouldn't be.  Everything doesn't need to be perfect, either.
It seems to me that people tend to feel more welcome when things are relaxed.

So, who will you choose to bless?
True hospitality is the act of sharing whatever we have.
Simply whatever.  That's it.

Grilled cheese or waffles will cut it.
A mug of hot tea or coffee will suffice.
It's not about the food.  It's about the fellowship.
Look for ways to be a blessing.

In doing so, you might find the blessing
actually becomes yours.

"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love;
in honour preferring one another; ...
Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality."
Romans 12:10 & 13

Do you have an interesting hospitality story to share?
Any words of wisdom or encouragement to spur us on with?
Feel free to share in the comments...I'm all ears.  :)

With Love, Camille

P.S.  There are seasons in life, and if this is a particularly busy or trying one for you,
please know that there is grace and space and time for hospitality
at a later date.  Please do not take this post as a chastisement.  Not at all.
It is only meant to be an encouragement.  Simply and truly.

Work in Progress

I have done quite a few posts on the renovations and destruction

and rearranging we have done in our home over the years.

But, I haven't really posted much in the way of *after* photos of our projects.

Not necessarily because I haven't wanted to, but, because we have not
really and truly completed very many of them.  Not completely.

Most things are still a work in progress.

Curtains haven't made it onto most of the windows in the rooms
we've worked on in recent days.  Things often seem to reach an impasse
at the point of installing them.  They don't get made.

This was our room in its standstill state.  It looked like this for about ten years.
Life happened and children grew and the motivation to strip that paper was just not in me.
We pinned things to it knowing that one day it would come off the walls.

I actually didn't set out to take *before* photos.  In fact, I didn't.

Howie took these a few years ago for insurance purposes.

I only saw them recently.  After he stripped all the paper off the walls,

I lamented the fact that there were no photos of what it had been.

Then, these emerged.  So glad they did.

We didn't swap out any of our furniture.  It's just the same.

As it turns out, so is the duvet cover.

I bought a couple of new ones to try, and ended up preferring the old.

The pillows are new, however.

And, so are the curtains.  It only took three tries to get them right.

We still have plans for more pictures on the walls.

But, that may take time.  At least the curtains are up!
And, the *after* photos have been taken.  :)

So, there you have it....a work in progress.

Happy Monday!

Many Blessings, Camille

Here's the Deal

Here's the deal.  The last time I posted my meal plan was the last time
a proper month-at-a-time meal plan was made by moi.

So there it is.  I said it.  The secret's out.

 It was a robust plan.
I shopped for it all and stuck (mostly) to making up those meals.

But, there was too. much. food.  Not a bad thing when it comes 

to stocking the freezer with ready-made meals.  Not a bad thing at all.

But, not such a great thing when you are trying to see if meal planning cuts food costs.

I know it does.  But, when too much food gets made, it can't really be properly measured.

So, what's a girl to do?  Start from scratch, that's what.

 Begin a new month with a new plan.  Six months later.

How does a meal plan get made around here?
First, I jot down numbers for all the days of the month on paper and
pencil in anything that will affect my meal planning beside its corresponding number.
Then, I brain storm and jot down meals that my family likes.  I slot them in.
My goal is to incorporate meatless, egg, and fish based meals into each week.
The remaining meals are comprised of recipes featuring either chicken or beef.

That's it.  Simple, but effective.

It should also be mentioned that this plan is not set in stone.
I prefer to look at a week's worth of meals when I make up my grocery list
and decide at that time what to prepare and when.  It's flexible.
It provides me with the little bit of leeway I like to allow for sanity's sake.

March 1-7

Tanya's Chicken Soup
Farmer's Breakfast with steamed veggies and toast
Salmon Loaf with roasted veggies
Roasted Root Vegetable Soup
Skillet Dinner
Shipwreck with steamed veggies
Pam's Chili with cornbread

March 8-14

Leftover Chili
Out for Emma's Birthday
Chicken Pot Pie with Caesar salad
Autumn Chowder
Cheesy Lentil Bake
Spaghetti Sauce served in half Spaghetti Squash boats

March 15-21

African Dish
Thai Chicken Soup
Something with Fish
Something with Eggs
Tex Mex Chicken Soup
Emma's Birthday Party (menu not yet set)

March 22-28

BBQ Meatballs with Hashbrowns and steamed veggies
Refried Beans with rice and veggie platter
Tandoori Chicken with broccoli
Green Pea Soup
Macaroni and Cheese with salad
Hamburger Soup

March 29-31

Vegetable Soup

Something with Fish

Something with Eggs

As was mentioned the last time I put up my month long meal plan,
breakfast and lunch foods are not scheduled in.
However, a rotation of meal ideas is kept tucked away in my head.
My goal is to keep my budget in check for the month.  Let's see how this goes.

How about you?  Are you in the swing of things
with meal planning these days?  Do you even want to be?
Any tips or suggestions to share?  I'm all ears.

Happy Weekend Y'all!
With Love, Camille

Gluten Free/Dairy Free Banana Muffins

So, here's the thing ~ gluten free and dairy free baked goods can be yummy.

These muffins prove it.  Howie couldn't believe they were GF.

When he kept commenting on how much he was enjoying them, I told him my secret.

GF/Dairy Free Banana Muffins ~ If you don't tell, no one will guess.

What you need:

1 cup mashed Bananas
2 large Eggs
1/2 cup Coconut Oil, melted
1/2 cup granulated Sugar (I use evaporated cane juice)
1/2 cup finely ground Almond Flour
3/4 cup Gluten Free flour mix
(I use Namaste Perfect Flour Blend which has xanthan gum included ~
it's my favourite brand of GF flour of all time.)
3/4 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Baking Powder

What you do:

Mix together the bananas, eggs, sugar and melted coconut oil in a mixing bowl.
In a separate bowl, mix together the remaining ingredients from the almond flour
through to the baking powder.  Whisk together thoroughly.
Mix the wet ingredients together with the dry ingredients and stir until completely blended.
You could add in chocolate chips and/or chopped nuts if desired.
It's not necessary to add anything to these...they stand up well on their own.

Spoon into paper lined muffin tins.
Batter should come to the top edge of each of the paper liners.
Bake in preheated 350 degree F oven for 20 to 25 minutes.
Toothpick inserted into the centre of several muffins should come out clean.
Cool five minutes in pan and then remove to cooling racks.

Be sure to serve these while they're still warm.
However, even after they were completely cold,
Howie expressed his hearty approval and asked for another.

This recipe makes 9 or 10 regular sized muffins.

So, there you have it.  A gluten free, and dairy free muffin that
tastes just as yummy (or, more yummy according to some)
as its wheat laden counterpart.

Who says Gluten Free can't be good?

Happy Baking!
With Love, Camille

Prepared and Appointed

**"You have not the making of your own cross....

but your cross is prepared and appointed for you by divine love,

and you are cheerfully to accept it;  

you are to take up the cross as your chosen badge and burden,

and not to stand cavilling at it.  



This night Jesus bids you submit your shoulder to His easy yoke.  
Do not kick at it in petulance, or trample on it in vainglory, or fall under it in despair,

or run away from it in fear, but take it up like a true follower of Jesus.

Jesus was a cross-bearer; He leads the way in the path of sorrow.

Surely you could not desire a better guide!  And if He carries a cross,

what nobler burden would you desire?  

The Via Crucis is the way of safety; fear not to tread its thorny paths...

remember that it will soon be followed by the crown,
and the thought of the coming weight of glory will greatly lighten
the present heaviness of trouble."

Many Blessings, Camille

**Quoted from Spurgeon's Morning and Evening
February 23rd evening reading

The Quotidian (23. 2. 15)

Quotidian: daily, usual, or customary;

everyday; ordinary; commonplace.

Surprise!  One for each of us...boys included.

Blurry, but my favourite.

Digging in.

Austin's Rose ~ beginning to bud.

Spring is springing.

First of the season.

A little giddy over the sunlight.

Artificial next to the real.

Opening up the hangar.

Prepping for a flight which didn't end up happening due to the gusting winds.

Aspiring pilots.

Happy Monday!

With love, Camille

**We have kind friends who graciously loan us their plane.  It's not ours.

Thank you, J and C for being willing to share with us.  You bless our hearts.