Snow Day Shuffle

Clip art licensed from the Clip Art Gallery on DiscoverySchool.com

Hey friends! Have you had a Snow Day yet?

The weatherman keeps hinting about our first big snow, but (thankfully) it hasn't come yet. Just in case...I've been preparing our favorite Snow Day activity. In case you missed my "Snow Day Shuffle" last year, here's a repeat. Enjoy! We love it!


It's a Snow Day today!! The kids have been hoping for a day off of school all week...and today their wish came true!!

Rather than dealing with bored, fighting kids that whine about wanting to watch TV all day ~ I tried to be a bit more proactive.

The result...Snow Day Shuffle!!

And we are having a BLAST!!

First, I created a Snow Day Shuffle Board on the computer (while they were outside building a snow fort).

The board looks similar to a BINGO board. I filled the squares with fun things to do, inside and out (but not involving TV/screen stuff). Activities like....

* Color a snow day picture

* Read a book

* Make your bed

* Drink hot chocolate

* Get some indoor exercise

* Play Snow Day Bingo

* Make a Snow Day craft

* Play checkers with your brother/sister

I pulled out a Snowman rubber stamp, and printed off a Snow Day Shuffle Board for each kid.

When the kids came inside, I told them all about the Snow Day Shuffle idea. And, of course, the best part (to them!) ~ if they fill their board, they win a prize!!

Then I went to town printing off downloadables off of the computer.

I made a Snow Day Bingo (click here),

Snow Day color sheets (click here),

Snow Day Crossword puzzles (click here) and more!

The kids are busy coloring igloos and penguins right now. Our Snow Day Shuffle is working!! Yippee!

What about for you...do you have any tips for Snow Day success?? Share your tips with me please!!!

Gotta run...it's almost time for our Snow Day BINGO to start!! I better get out the red and green M & M's (our markers for the BINGO board).

Have an AMAZING week filled with many fun, family moments!!



P.S. If you would like me to send you a Snow Day Shuffle board, just send me an e-mail at cindy.bultema@gmail.com. I'd be happy to send you a Snow Day Shuffle Board as a Word document. :)

P.S.S. My two little girls just headed upstairs to help each other make their beds. I'm not making this up!! Woo Hoo!! Can every day be a Snow Day?? :)
For more Things I Love Thursday ideas, hop on over and visit my real-life neighbor, the brilliant and hilarious Jill at the Diaper Diaries. :)

Keeping LOVE in Christmas

Hi Friends ~

I'm not sure what your week has been like ~ but mine has been filled with wrapping and delivering and mailing and tears (mine, not the kids) and sighs of exhaustion and daily trips to Target and more! Someone stop this treadmill and let me get off!!

So today, in the midst of the craziness, I made myself a latte and re-read one of my favorite Christmas books ~ "Celebrating A Christ-Centered Christmas: Ideas from A to Z" by Sharon Jaynes.

Here's one of my favorite poems that Sharon shares ~ May it bless you as it always does me! :)

Love, 1 Corinthians 13 Style

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime: but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at a soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity; but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the spouse.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love does not envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love does not yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love does not give only to those who are able to give in return; but rejoices in giving to those who cannot.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust; but giving the gift of love will endure.

~ Sharon Jaynes

Let's Pray...Oh Lord, we need You! Please remind us what really matters this week. Please guard our hearts and quiet our minds and open our eyes and ears to what You have for us. Lord, we release to You our plans, our agendas, our To-Do lists. And Lord, in return, we receive Your peace, Your joy, Your unconditional, perfect love.

THANK YOU Lord, that Your plans are for us, and that You desire for us to walk in Truth and Peace and Joy and Love. Help us live for You, and to celebrate JESUS this week ~ in all that we say and do!! For Your Glory Alone!! Amen.

Merry CHRISTmas!!!!



Originally posted December 2009 ~ but could have been written this morning. I'm so thankful for Truth. You, too?! :)

Where's the Line to See Jesus?

Hey Friends :)

Thanks for your prayers for the Christmas Candlelight at Covenant CRC in Cutlerville, Michigan last night. What a JOY it was to share Jesus with these amazing women!

I am thanking God for an amazing event, and the women who came to faith in Christ for the first time last night! Thank you for "praying down the tracks". :)

(Picture above: Twila, a precious sister and friend in the Lord)

For today, I'd like to share this powerful song and video...."Where's the Line to See Jesus?".

It is just what my weary, "had sick kids for one too many days", "need to unpack my suitcase still", worn-out soul needed this morning. I pray it blesses you as well. :)




Don't you just love the lyrics...

Where's the line to see Jesus?
Is He here at the store?
If Christmas time is His birthday
Why don't we see Him more?

Where's the line to see Jesus?
He was born for me
Santa Claus brought me presents
But Christ gave His life for me

Amen! :)

May the Lord empower all of us to say NO to the many distractions (that seek to pull us every way but Up), so that we might experience His peace and His joy in new, fresh, powerful ways this holiday season.

Merry CHRISTmas! Have a wonderful, refreshing, life-giving week!



P.S. If you have a minute, visit the Where's the line to see Jesus? website. I think you'll be blessed to hear the story of how this song/video was created. I also loved reading how God is using these lyrics to impact lives all around the country. Isn't God awesome??

P.S.S. I'm linking up today with Jen and friends at Soli Deo Gloria. Be sure to check out this amazing sisterhood of women! :)

Marriage Monday: Party Language (Part 2)

Do you know someone going through a hard time this Christmas? Check out my "When the Holidays are Hard" series for helpful tips and suggestions.

Hey Friends!

You may remember that last week was my husband John's birthday.

Being the celebration-lovin', party girl that I am, I wanted John to have a extra-special, fun-filled birthday!

However, one of the many lessons I've learned being married is that what John would desire for his birthday and what I would hope for are very different. (i.e. exact opposite!)

Some years I've missed the mark. For example, I thought a limo ride and a "This is Your Life" themed surprise party (with a huge house full of people) would be tons of fun!

But for John...um, not so much.

Since then, I've worked really hard to understand John's "party language" and plan fun things that would be special for him.

This year, a few days before his birthday, I took John out to dinner to a fancy steak dinner, just the two of us (thanks, Groupon!).

The week of John's birthday, we had a fun family celebration, a special time with our couples small group, and John was celebrated well at work.


Wednesday night John said to me, "This has really been the best birthday ever".

I said, "Even more fun than your 40th last year?"

John said, "Yep, even better!"

Woo Hoo! This understanding his party language is really paying off!

This past weekend the celebration continued! One of John's gifts were plane tickets for John to visit his very best friend Tim Leyen and his wife Erin (with me going along, of course!).

We traveled from Grand Rapids, Michigan to...


Charlotte, North Carolina!

John and I had the BEST time with Tim and Erin! While John and Tim went bike riding, hiking, ropes course climbing and watched their favorite college sports...


Erin and I went caught up over coffee, went shopping (thanks, Mom, for your generous Lifeway purchase!), and enjoyed each other's company. She is a celebration girl (just like me). Fun!



(Thank you so much, Tim & Erin, for your pampering! You blessed us!) What a GREAT birthday celebration trip! :)


What about for you, dear bloggy friend...what's your "party language"? What have you learned about celebrating your husband/wife? I'd love to hear from you!

Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*! May your week be filled with much joy, love, and CELEBRATION!!



P.S. I'll be heading out tonight (Monday, December 5th) at 7:00 PM EST to share "The True Gift of Christmas" at a local Christmas Candlelight gathering. My presentation will include a Gospel message, and the coordinator shared there will be women attending who do not yet know Jesus. If the Lord brings it to mind, would you please lift this opportunity in prayer? I would be so grateful!! Thank you! :)

P.S. S. For more Marriage Monday ideas, please visit my dear friend Julie from Come Have A Peace!