May 2, 2013 by Allison Hendrix

Mother’s Day

Take one picture and mail it to the grandmas, great grandmas, aunts, and special ladies in your life.

For a fresh and inexpensive way to honor the women in our life this Mother’s Day, we took one picture of my children holding a sign saying “Happy Mother’s Day”.

I had 7 copies printed at Costco for $1 (I did 8×10 size) and then mailed to the mothers, grandmothers, great-greatmothers, aunts, and special women in your life. It feels so personal and the recipient doesn’t realize it went to anybody but them. It was a huge hit! mother printable viewer

Here are a few Mother’s Day cards and labels in a cute floral pattern. My husband just walked up asked for the name of my blog so he can print a card for me. Humm.

Mother’s Day Lilly Pulitzer card –
Print on card stock, cut, and fold.

Print on cardstock to use as a tag or tape to a toothpick and stick in a muffin. Print on sticker paper to use as a label! Resize for your desired project. /blessed.jpg”> blessed

April 26, 2013 by Allison Hendrix

Teacher Gift Ideas

Thank you for not being "impatient" with us this year

Impatient Plant – Plant a simple impantien into a bright colored plastic pot. Tape a card onto a pencil and stick in dirt. Tie a ribbon. Cute and witty.

Lantern – We bought a lantern from Target and fill with chocolate covered pretzels. Attach a card with a reference to the teacher being a “light” in your life.

Personalized Starbucks treats – I bought cups from the dollar store and a package of chocolate covered shortbread from costco. I personalized these labels with each teacher’s name from this link. Printed them on sticker paper, cut and attached. Great way to start any day! Tea Jar – Fill a canister with tea and then print this label from www.lifecreated.com

Personalized Heart Poem – I asked my child what they love about their teacher, typed in his reply on this link , and it generates a heart shaped card. Print and give. You can never go wrong with a child’s sweet words.

I am Blessed

I am Grateful

Say it with socks – ” I am Blessed and Grateful for you!” – These socks from Notes to Self are my obsession at the moment. Here’s an affiliate link Hand Picked strawberries – with a cute tag “I couldn’t have picked a better teacher”(from Dixie Delights).

photo from “Hello from the Natos”

Homemade Cookie Dough – Wrapped adorably in parchment paper, a favorite cookie dough has always been a well received gift. You can write a recipe directly on the parchment or print it out. You can also print the label from Nato’s photo from this link. double-chocolate-chews-l

Munchins – Cute idea from the Happy Home Fairy to bring in Munchkins with note. Click here to print their note.

“Orange you glad it’s summer” Printable – I found the printable over at Coley’s Corner and you can attach it to pretty much anything. Thanks to them for allowing us to use it.

Gift Card – “A teacher can’t survive on apples alone…” – I saw this months ago as a Christmas gift but think it’d be just as cute for a year end gift.

cake pops

Cake Pop Stand – after packaging each cake pop in plastic bags from Michaels, we wrapped a styrofoam rectangle in wrapping paper, stuck them in, and made a sign. Great Grab and Go treat when lots of teachers are involved.

Personalized Gifts – These ideas are easiest if you have a die cutter machine. Here are some ways we personalized an inexpensive item which are just so much fun to receive.

March 27, 2013 by Allison Hendrix

The Stinky Feet of Passover

Today is the beginning of Passover. Last night our family read the Old Testament story about when God “passed over” the blood-stained homes of the Jews. A lamb had been the provision of escape for His chosen people. We then switch to the New Testament story in which Jesus celebrates Passover with His Disciples.

Here is the excerpt from the Jesus Storybook Bible that had my children rolling with laughter in a not so funny story:

“Jesus and his friends were having the Passover meal together in an upstairs room. But Jesus’ friends were arguing. What about? They were arguing about stinky feet. Stinky feet? Yes, that’s right. Stinky feet. (Now the thing about feet back then was the people didn’t wear shoes. They only wore sandals, which might not sound unusual except that the streets were dirty – and I don’t mean just dusty dirty – I mean really stinky dirty. With all the cows and horses everywhere, you can imagine the stuff on the street that ended up on their feet!)”

Why did Jesus voluntarily do such a chore?

Do you think He needed to be reminded?

We talk about what it means when Peter asks Jesus to not just wash his feet but “ALL OF ME.”

We pray together and ask God how he wants us to respond to this story...which leads us to today’s Holy Week activity.

Lily told her brothers about an activity we had done on our missions trip to Malawi. We had washed the feet of the African ministry leaders who tirelessly serve those in the villages. We were there for 10 days but these faithful servants spent EVERY day feeding and ministering to the needs of the poor. They are truly the hands and feet of Jesus, and we were humbled with tears for the privilege of “washing their feet”.

My children select a beloved teacher who has touched each of our lives in a special way.

They get a bowl and some towels.

Campbell comes to me with a handful of random travel-sized shower gels, “Which of these is the most expensive?” We study them and are certain by the smell we had found the most precious.

Ding Dong at the teacher’s door. Hugs are given. Chairs and towels are laid out. Hot water is added to the bowl.

They wash. They dry. They lotion.

I’m convicted for all the stinky feet I didn’t want to wash; for the times I grumbled allowing another to compensate for my selfishness. Not just my feet Lord, ALL of me.