By Quiet Waters

Embracing the Full, Hard and Good Life, While Pausing Often by Quiet Waters

Jesus Calling The Story of Christmas, How Do You Say Goodnight

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Jesus Calling The Story of Christmas

Jesus Calling, The Story of Christmas; Ten in the Bed; The Friend Ship

Books.  Books. Books.  This former home school mom, grandmother and “reader” loves books.  In particular, I love children’s books.  A few posts have already been written here on the blog about children’s books, and today I have a new one for you.  New books often arrive in my mailbox, or or I find new gems at the bookstore.  These favorites, old and new, find their way off the shelf and into the hands of a new generation, my grandkids.  Read on to discover new books you will want to introduce to the children in your life!

Jesus Calling The Story of ChristmasSarah Young, the author of Jesus Calling, has written this book for children.  The story of Christmas begins at creation.  The author highlights that fact that Jesus has always been present, and God always had a plan for Christmas, which is Easter.

Bible verses and devotions are on every spread of this book.  The illustrations are by Katya Longhi and are just beautiful.

“Jesus Calling:  The Story of Christmas is a beautifully embellished jacketed hardcover with foil and glitter. Curl up the precious young ones in your life, and share with them Jesus Calling: The Story of Christmas.”

Ten In the Bed by Penny Dale

Ten in the Bed by Penny Dale

Ten in the Bed by Penny Dale is an old favorite.  This book originally entered our home about 19 years ago, when I purchased it through Discovery Toys.  It has been regularly pulled off the shelf since then.  I find it absolutely delightful to read this charming book to my grandchildren!

The Friend Ship

The Friend Ship by Kat Yeh is a book I found while at Powell’s Books in Portland a couple of years ago.  Side note, have you been to Powells?  I can not wait to go back!  Floors and floors of books…  Back to “The Friend Ship” is a gentle reminder of  the truth that sometimes what you’re searching for is right there in front of you.  I just love seeing understanding grow in Miss Joyness eyes each time we read this book together.

Board books!

How do you Say Good Night? by Tommy Nelson and Catalina Echeverri

“Zoey the zebra needed to get ready for bed soon…

This sweet board book follows Zoey the zebra as she searches for the best way to say good night.  What she finds is that different is good, and it’s okay if what is right for you isn’t necessarily right for me.  I love the way this book introduces the concept of celebrating differences.

ABC’s of Physics by Chris Ferrie

Just for “purposeful” fun I picked up this book for my youngest grandson.  Both of his parents are quite science minded, and in the healthcare field.  I chuckled when I saw this book and decided to slip it into Lil Man’s gift bag.  Some time back I studied the way we learn, and about the creating of mental pathways.  I think this book will be a gentle beginning of one of those pathways.

There they are, 5 delightful children’s books that you may want to introduce to the children in your life!

Please tell me in the comments, have you added any of the Baby University books to your home library?

Sequin Sparkle and Change Bible

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You may know that I really love the Word of God and enjoy receiving newly packaged Bibles to review here on the blog.  Well this week I have not one, but two Bible’s to tell you about.  Today, I have a new children’s Bible that I think will be a super delightful gift for one of my grand daughters.  As a matter of fact, I am thinking about buying a couple more copies as I have several grand daughters!

Sequin Sparkle and Change Bible

The Sparkle and Change Bible is packaged in a teal blue or pink cover.  The cover of the Bible has embossed detailing, and sequins that change color right before your eyes.  I have caught my teens handling this book, and running their hands over the sequins.  It is definitely eye catching and fun.

This Bible is set in ten-point type, with bold in-text subject titles.  This will help kids find the passages they are looking for more easily.  There are bold type words that correspond with the dictionary and the concordance.  And as always, I appreciate the maps and timeline that are included.

There are pretty pages that include a presentation page, a place to record favorite verses and articles to increase a child’s understanding of Jesus’ love and purpose for her.

The translation of this Bible is the International Children’s Bible by Tommy Nelson.  This translation was created for children, for readability and understanding.  This is a good translation for children between about 6 and 10 to use in his/her own reading and following along in Sunday School and church.

One thing I’d recommend is that you don’t have your child memorize in this translation.  Choose the translation that your family, or your church teaches from… and memorize from it.  From experience I know the challenge of memorizing in one translation…and it not meshing with the memory work in the teen and early adult years.

My photos just don’t do this Bible cover justice.  It is quite pretty and very sparkly.  Thank you to Front Gate Media and Tommy Nelson for this free Bible in exchange for this post.

 

 

Tic Tac Toe Anyone? A Quilted Gift Idea

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Some weeks ago I was in Joann Fabrics and passed by the display advertising upcoming classes.  A cute quilted Tic Tac Toe board caught my eye, and as you can guess, I went home and created one!

This project was pretty simple, and inexpensive.  I used fabric from my stash, using purple fabric designs  and a cute black cat print as well.  I cut the fabric into 5 inch blocks, using 2 coordinating prints for each board.

Tic Tac Toe

Then I pieced each board, row by row, and then stitched the rows together.

Tic Tac Tow Quilt

Then I laid the backing, right sides facing, on top of the pieced game board.  I stitched all around, leaving about 3 inches open for turning.  Once that was completed, I turned the game board right side out and pressed it all just right.  Lastly, I top stitched along the rows and around the board, closing the opening.

For the X and O pieces I asked my 15 year old for help.  She printed an X and an O template for me right out of Word.  I then used the templates to cut out 5 X and 5 O pieces for each game board.  I used stiff sparkly white felt squares for the X and O pieces, that I purchased from Joann Fabrics.

 

Tic Tac Toe

These game boards look so cute, and I hope that my grandkids and their parents have a little fun connecting over this tactile version of Tic Tac Toe!  Here is the set that I have placed on a table in our living room.  A little “invitation to play” as we relax after full and crazy days.

Tic Tac Toe

 

Using many different fabric combinations, you could make these as party favors, waiting room gifts, and of course little surprises in the mail for kids you love.

 

A cute quilted Tic Tac Toe board you can make in an afternoon. Make in any combination of colors, for an everyday or holiday addition to family fun.  This idea was inspired by Joann Fabrics, but the details here are all my own.  Enjoy!

A Well Nourished Lunchbox

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Meal planning for a Cross Country runner can feel like a marathon!  As my daughter’s cross country career takes on a greater role in her life this year, I am learning more about what it takes to not only prepare healthy meals, but to create a well nourished lunchbox.

Nutritional Deficiencies

Runner Girl’s weight began dropping in recent weeks, so she downloaded an app to track her food and nutrition intake.  It has been a surprise to find out that she isn’t getting nearly enough protein nor carbs.  We had a good conversation on the way to school one morning this week.  It was decided that I need to go back to making her breakfast and packing her lunches.  This shift will actually allow Runner Girl more time to eat in the morning, and help her focus on the more necessary things in her life (like school and lowering her 5K time) while I research and correct the nutritional deficiencies in her diet.

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Gluten Free Kids in the Kitchen

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Kids in the Kitchen

Having our kids in the kitchen has been a normal part of family life.  My husband is a great cook and an excellent teacher.  From the time the kids hung out in backpacks while we cooked, until now, Builder has  been teaching them how to cook all the favorites.  Builder loves to cook big meals, with Thanksgiving being at the top of his favorites.  So you can imagine making sure the kids know how to prepare not just any meal, but the Thanksgiving feast is high on his priority list.

Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance

As the years have passed, some challenges arose to the way we’ve always prepared food.  First was the lactose intolerance that caused us to sideline some family favorites like lasagna.  Then a gluten intolerance issue that got worse, and celiac disease entered our vocabulary.  Add some food allergies and meal time became more of a challenge than a delight.

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