"APFLH" Children's Art Studio- Flavors of Fall (Painting)

Saturday mornings in the art studio with friends

has become one of my weekend favorites!

noticing... 

silence fill the room as young artists

concentrate on their work

observing...

intensity as young minds and hands

plan and produce unique creations

witnessing...

the look on parent faces upon viewing 

their child's finished art pieces

It reminds me to stop and cherish

childhood art, and the wonderful

"Flavors of Fall"

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Water Color Art

-Water Color Paint

-Watercolor paint

-Paint Brushes

(optional)

-Crayons

-Colored pencils

Print Painting

-Nylons

-Popcorn Kernels (unpopped)

-Paint

-Paper Leaf Cutouts (or paper)

-Construction Paper

"Art is the color and textures

of your imagination"

-unknown

"Flavors of Fall"

also includes...

Collage Art

Mosaic Art

Join us in the New Year to create...

"Dream Boards"!

A Lesson in Winning... Super Bowl Champs

Yesterday it rained...

hard

and for the life of me I couldn't figure out
why the coach didn't cancel practice

so I called my hubby at work just to be sure

My 11yr-old said

"Mom, it's football.  We still play even when it rains."

So much to my chagrin, my daughter and I bundled up to drive him
to the High School Football field for practice in the pouring rain

I was secretly hoping they would cancel practice once we got there,
but was quickly informed...

"It's the Super Bowl.  We still have to practice because tomorrow
we're playing the team that beat us last year... in the rain"

So they practiced...
hard

as it rained...
hard

for two and a half hours

After practice the coach called all of the parents over and asked us to stand with our kid

He said

"Everybody link up"
"Take a knee"
"Look at me"
"Arrive on time tomorrow"
"Leave it all on the field"
"Play smart"
"Play clean"
"Play like big boys"
"Have fun"
"Let's win"

Then just as I thought he was finally finished he said...

"Let's go watch film"

(which meant another hour and a half of)

watching past games from the opposing team's season

He said that while it is important to

practice
condition
hone our skills

we can't stop there, we must also know our opponent

"Watch their plays"
"Spot their weaknesses"
"Build on our strengths"

to put together a winning game plan

Yesterday it rained...

hard

But today...

the sun shone bright
we played the game
and won!

And I learned that...

Winning is not just the outcome of the game
Winning is also everything else that leads up to it

because in order to be a champion

you must first

practice
work
live

like a Champ!

Carson Colts Blue

Jr. Pee Wee 2013 Super Bowl Champs!

"APFLH" Children's Art Studio- Flavors of Fall (Mosaics)

I am quickly learning that

"A Place For Little Hands" 
Art Studio is not just for children...

In fact, we had so much fun last weekend with our

"Flavors of Fall" 

Gratitude Collages 

I could hardly wait to get back in the studio again! 

This time the children and I sat down and created
our masterpieces with supplies that we already had

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Bean Mosaic Art

-pencil

-glue

-cotton swabs
-cardboard pieces

-beans, seeds

First we sorted...

Split Peas

Bird Seed

Red Beans

Black Beans

Pinto Beans/Navy Beans

Placed the beans into separate containers...

Traced our designs and
glued beans onto cardboard...

to create our mosaic masterpieces!

"When you use what you have

to do what you love...

That my friends, is true art"

-Tondra Denise



Flavors of Fall culminates w/
"Water Colors and Print Painting"

He Opens Doors

"I'm in sixth grade now"...

he proudly proclaimed upon seeing her again

Micah and Mrs. H- September 2013

and I watched the two of them as she stopped 

to look at him, shaking her head in disbelief

"Wow, sixth grade already? 

It seems like just yesterday that

I tested you for Kindergarten!"

She looked at me smiling... 

(and I knew what was coming next)

"I'll never forget that as we

were leaving the room you said,

'Let me open the door because

that's what a man does for a lady.' 

She had never heard a five-year-old

speak in that manner and

6 years...

3 months...

150 students...

later

she was still talking about him

There are few things

that make such a lasting

impression

indention

but some things touch us so deeply

that we remember...

We remember that

After the time of testing,

He opens doors

opens doors

(while reminding He is the Door)

perhaps really saying

After the test, I will

open myself to you

open myself

reveal myself

allow myself

to become transparent

enough for you to see

Me

And His Word leaves

an impression

an indention

reminding us to thank Him

for fond memories

completed tests

and

opened doors

Mrs. H and Micah- June 2008

"APFLH" Children's Art Studio- Flavors of Fall (Collages)

I love how Autumn has a way

of awakening the senses...

 

the coolness

the crispness

the colors

(and smells)

the rich flavors

that seem to bring back

a flood of childhood memories...

My favorite

(being reminded to)

slow down

give thanks

spread joy

while spending time with the ones we love

Gratitude Collage Art

-scissors

-magazines
-paper

-glue

Children were prompted with...

"What are you thankful for?"

    

  

I have experienced

so many

blessings

lessons

that it is impossible to fit them all

onto one board, but I started with

"I'm thankful for..."

friends

fun

food

home

children

blessings

the Bible

fresh brewed coffee

humor

music

my friend

my rock

sandwiches

singing

marriage

bare feet

and

crunching leaves

What are you thankful for?

(Flavors of Fall continues with... Mosaics)

Pair this activity w/ our Virtual Storytime

First Fridays-

A Story. A Song. An Activity.

click here

Fear is Not a Factor... A Christian Halloween Party

Halloween was approaching and I had recently read
the Apostle Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus

(reminding me of an old episode of "Fear Factor")

Paul...

you have fought a good fight
you have finished your course
you have kept the faith

Fear is obviously NOT a Factor for you!

And that's when I decided to host a "Fear is NOT a Factor" Party

invite a few of our friends
grab some candy and
plan a few games

to remind everyone that we have absolutely nothing to fear...

Baby Food Tasting and Identification

Contestants were to taste and name the two ingredients in each section
(1.Sweet Potato/Corn  2.Apple/Cherry  3.Pear/Pineapple)

Eat a Cricket

The contestants used the popper to get a number...

1, 2, or 3
Eat that number of crickets

4 or 5
Try again

6
Skip the cricket table altogether!

After the initial shock that they were eating actual crickets, contestants agreed
that they tasted similar to sunflower seeds and this game was the hit of the party!

Next, it was time to give the kids something to wash down all of those crickets and baby food so we...

-set out cupcakes for them frost and decorate

-headed outside for glow-in-the-dark bowling and
-listened to a fireside story while warming by the outdoor fire pit

Then it was time to head back in for more games...

Pasta and Skeletons 

Small rubber skeletons were buried with

cooked bowtie pasta and placed in a sensory table  

The table was covered with a black table cloth, contestants spun the wheel, and

were given one minute to reach in and save a life or two...or whatever number they had spun 

(Contestants who pulled out pasta instead of a skeleton were disqualified)

Hand in Ice 

Contestants were instructed to hold one hand in ice water for 2 minutes

(Remove your hand and get disqualified)

And I am so grateful that our...

"Fear is Not a Factor" party
had so much teaching potential

and the children
had so much fun proving

Halloween is more than candy and costumes, but
can also lend itself to lessons in gratitude and grace

So what did we learn in all of this?

Let's recap...

Baby Food Tasting and Identification taught us to distinguish flavors.  We come into this world ignorant to God and His plan for our lives, but when we learn to eat at His table and appreciate the nourishment He provides, it allows us to mature in Christ.  Then we learn what we should and should not eat and can distinguish the flavors set before us.

Eat a Cricket shows us that life is full of trouble, but Jesus has already tasted death for every one of us.  Abide in Him and some of us will even get to skip the cricket table altogether!

Pasta and Skeletons were used to remind us that once we become alive in Christ, God uses us to go back and get others.  We become fishers of men as we attempt to pull other dead men and women out of the black hole and bring them into the light.

and finally...

Hand in Ice is a testament that although life can be cold sometimes, there is a reward waiting for those of us who endure

Panic or Praise... A Lesson for When Jesus Sleeps

The waves are crashing
The wind is blowing
Water is quickly filling the ship

and I can't help but wonder how much more of this storm is left

I quietly whisper...

What are you trying to teach me?

patience?
perseverance?
preservation?

I pick up a bucket and begin trying to scoop out
the water that is gathering around my feet...

It's not working

I look around to see if there are any other options...
I don't see any

I look to Him, and I know for sure that He can handle this,
but there is a lesson here, and I don't want to wake Him until I get it

Until I understand (I'm trying to understand)

Why He would bring me out this far, and then fall asleep?

I read about how this happened once before

He slept
Relaxed
Rested peacefully

with His head on a pillow, during the storm

While those with Him

worried
woke Him
were reprimanded

(but I'm trying to understand)

What else did He expect them to do?

There's a lesson here and I don't want to miss it
(I don't want to drown either)

but I have to believe that

we're in this ship together
in a storm
for a reason,
right?

I mean...

Why He would bring me out this far, and then fall asleep?

and now I remember...

When I was a child sometimes my dad worked nights, and would make it home early morning and say  "I'm going to rest my eyes.  Wake me up when it's time for me to take you to school."  But he was always so tired that when it was time for me to wake him, I would have to practically scream to get his attention.  I always felt so bad for disturbing him, even though I knew he was my only way to school.

Until one day I learned to sing

and found that a happy sound
is better than a scream

So I started to sing...

from the next room,
and still singing,

moved into the hallway
and still singing,

moved closer toward the door to his room
and still singing,

finally stepped into my parent's room

allowing him to wake to the increase of my song

There's a lesson here and I don't want to miss it because

We're out here pretty far, and it appears that He has fallen asleep

And so I'll sing...

while continuing to draw closer to Him

resisting the urge

to scream
to shake
to wake

Him in a panic with my frantic requests for help

because I know that He won't let me drown

AND...

I have the advantage of having read their experience too

and now I know that
when Jesus sleeps...

He's not only sleeping

He's also

working
waiting
watching

to see if I will panic... or praise

Mark 4:37-41

Click to read...A Lesson in Thanksgiving

Between Jesus and Judas

It is the safest seat in the house...and the scariest

the seat between Jesus and Judas

the enemy who became a friend on one side
the friend who became an enemy on the other

It's very awkwardly comforting

But we find ourselves in this situation many times in life
and we've learned that if you want to sit and dine with the Master,
it means that you may very well have to sit next to a Judas

But Jesus is sitting right there too

"Please pass the bread" you ask Jesus, but instead Judas picks it up and hands it to you

and when you take hold of the basket

you look at Judas
you look at the bread
you look to Jesus questioningly

and He smiles and nods reassuringly

You smile back, grab a roll, and eat with confidence
knowing that if Jesus has

blessed it
broken it
given it

you can sit back and enjoy every bite...

even if it was handed to you by your enemy

Psalm 23:5

Snippets... "Victory Shall Be Mine"

I was driving through town singing

a new twist

to an old favorite

and it carried me all through that week

If I hold my peace, let the Lord fight my battles

Victory, victory shall be mine

Monday...

I recorded it on my phone to share with friends

(but had technical difficulties)

Wednesday...

I re-recorded it on my camera to share with family

(when we suddenly lost a loved one)

and everything was put on hold as we took time to

grieve and

celebrate

life

lived and

loved

as the song continued to carry me...

If I hold my peace, let the Lord fight my battles

Victory, victory shall be mine

Then I read Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush

God spoke

Moses questioned

God clarified

Moses doubted

God reassured

Moses worried

until finally

God asked

"What is that in your hand?  Use that."

and Moses began to sing...

If I hold my piece, let the Lord fight my battles

Victory, victory shall be mine

(and in that moment) 

I realized there are times to...

"hold your peace"

and other times to...

"hold your piece"

as Moses demonstrated by using

that same rod many times

to

perform miracles

bring victory

glorify God

and just when he thought his enemy had him cornered 

he cried out to God again and God's response is classic

Why are you crying to me?

I told you to use what you have in your hand!

Because in life we face many enemies, 

and must constantly learn and relearn

how to use what God has given us to conquer them...

Thoughts of doubt and insecurity?

 Trust in the Lord with all your heart... Proverbs 3:5

Thoughts of anxiety and uncertainty?

Cast all of your cares on Him... 1 Peter 5:7 

Thoughts of fear and depression?

God has not given us the spirit of fear... 2 Timothy 1:7 

So, pick up

your weapon

His Word

for your warfare

and learn how to

hold your peace /"hold your piece"

all the way to victory!

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"Victory Shall Be Mine"



These Hands

These hands belong to a girl

who likes to paint her fingernails...

one day while watching me clean
she asked,

"What are you about
to do now mommy?"

my inner Martha answering

(without even turning to look)

finish dinner, wash the dishes, and 

fold the laundry that's on the bed

moments later she returned and said,

"All finished, come see"

so, I followed her 

to find...

small piles of

freshly

laundered

clothes

(neatly folded neatly on the bed)

She said...

"I folded the towels too, and put them away. 

Now after dinner, you can sit down with me."

and I marvel at how this nine-year old child

is already learning to balance her inner Mary/Martha

because...

These hands belong to a girl

who likes to paint fingernails

(and help fold laundry)

So, my prayer is that

God continuously

blesses...

anoints...

(and always)

holds...

these hands