bluejean blossom

Last night I was doing laundry and came across an old pair of jeans that had holes in them. I remembered seeing a blog post about making denim flowers - so that is what I did!

Heather at Me Making Do inspired me to not throw away my jeans, 

but to rework them into something lovely!!

Her denim flower was super easy to recreate and it only took me 25min!

I cut out a petal shape from a piece of cardboard and then used it to make 3 single petals...

Then I folded the denim and cut out a bunch of these double petals...

By following Miss Heather's tutorial on her blog Me Making Do, I made this!!...

I love the way it turned out!

Thank you Heather for the inspiration!!!

Blessings,

Janiene

preschool rocks!

Our week has ROCKED so far!

We are learning about rocks this week in preschool :)

To start the day we ate "bat ears" oatmeal.

Ethan was cracking himself up as he named all the bat features...

The ears are made with pears - the nose of the bat is a pile of sliced bananas - the fur is cinnamon :)

Oh the imagination of a 5yr old!

I just threw this together and he saw a bat, I love it!

I am really trying to get my boys to use their brains.

Entertainment is a blessing and can be used to the glory of God and to teach my kiddos good things.

But, it has been a baby sitter of sorts for me and I have come to rely upon it to get me through parts of my day.

A friend of mine told me about how she started doing 15min stations (or learning centers) in her home to get her through the afternoon time. 

I am starting to do the same by engaging with my boys and starting them on an activity, then I go do some housework or whatever for 15 min, come back and move them to another game/activity.

Seems to help a lot!

I turned my back for no more than a minute and Ava-girl pulled out the toilet paper from the cabinet. So, we stacked them and she knocked them over, again and again! She would knock them over before I could get them stacked! I had to hold her back, stack them, then let her loose to get this shot ;)

Another station the boys played with yesterday was trains...

Nothing like making your own pizzas! 

Wheat pitas, sauce, cheese and pepperoni = YUM!

Our lesson on rocks was so fun!

We collected various rocks.

Compared and contrasted.

Weighed them.

Felt them.

Washed them.

And hit them to determine who was harder, us or the rock.

When we were done with our lesson, the boys painted their rocks :)

In our Bible time we talked about the Ten Commandments.

We talked about how God wrote them on rocks.

I asked Ethan if he could write on a rock - his answer was "Nope, I am not God."

I asked him what he meant and he said "God's finger is the strongest of all the fingers. Stronger than a rock!"  

For Ethan's writing lesson, he made a Ten Rules book...

Rule 1 & 2...

Now I can hear their sweet voices playing out back while I rest inside.

I have had hives & a swollen face for the last few days. Not sure why it's happening or what caused it. Benedryl is my buddy but my buddy makes me sleepy. My sweet husband took care of me last night. I am blessed that God always provides a way for me to rest when I am run down.

I have much to be thankful for today and always.

Blessings to you today!

Janiene

Passing on a Blessing [the Liebster] !!!

Barbara from Chase the Star blog sent me a Liebster last week and now it's my turn to award a few of my favorite blogs with the Liebster Blog Award!

The Liebster award is given to blogs with fewer than 200 followers that you find to be up and coming and want to help grow. I was bestowed the honor [and great blessing] of a Liebster and now it's my turn to pass it along to 5 VERY deserving blogs.

And the 5 amazing blogs I'm showing some love are...

Keeley McGuire

Keeley is a Momma who loves making fun Bentos for her daughter. Her Silly Monkey Bento post today was absolutely adorably inspirational. Check out her blog, become a follower, and start making some Bentos!! :)

http://keeleymcguire.blogspot.com/

Oh my, oh my! Miss Katie's blog is a great source of, well, everything. I love following her and just think her posts are great! I just saw that she has a Liebster already - ooops - oh well, she deserves another one! Follow her and get inspired!
http://katiedidit1.blogspot.com/

Right off the bat, her theme verse on her blog is one of my favorite verses. Leigh Anne is an interior designer by profession, but right now she is a proud [and might I say excellent] stay at home Mommy. Click over to her blog and I know you will get lost in post after post of awesomeness. One of my favorites was her Living Room Christmas Decorations. Ahhh, I love The Butlers' blog and I know you will too!!

http://radiobutlers.blogspot.com/

I just adore a woman that loves Jesus, loves her family, loves her friends, and loves to design beautiful things! Angeli is a talented artist, blogger, and etsy shop owner that showcases some of her wonderful designs. Check out her blog and pop over to her etsy shop. I know you'll be inspired and encouraged by the message of each of her designs.

http://littledesignangel.blogspot.com/

themustardseed......

Oh the yummy goodness that is talked about and displayed on the Mustard Seed. I just love this blog and I want to make every dish that they present on their blog!!!! I am going to try making the potatoes in yogurt gravy this month! My mouth is watering right now just thinking about what her kitchen must smell like while cooking these dishes. Oh, and to be able to peek inside her spice cabinet and to learn her tried and true methods...one can dream :)

Pop over to themustardseed blog, scroll through the recipes, and then get cooking!!! 

http://themustardseedmeadow.blogspot.com/

Congratulations Ladies!!
Your blogs deserve to be recognized!!!


~ PAYING IT FORWARD ~
There are a few rules that accompany a Liebster...

1. Post about your win on your blog.

2. Link back to the blogger who presented you with the award (A Bunch of Bishops)

.
3. Copy and paste the award button to your blog.

4. Present the Liebster Award to 5 blogs that have fewer than 200 followers that you think deserve to be recognized.

5. Let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.

Blessings to you all!!!

You deserved it.

:) Janiene

spring has sprung!

Spring, the season of new beginnings.

I wish our Calendar started in Spring. 

It just makes sense, to me at least.

January is such a weird month to start a calendar, don't you agree?

Starting the calendar right after Christmas, and, in the middle of winter???

Nope, does not make sense to me!

If I ran the world, 

[everyone take a collective sigh that that will never happen!!!!!] 

I would change our calendar to start in Spring :)

We have had a very Springy day!

Playing in dirt, water play, graham crackers, cool breezes, and transplanting seedlings.

"For everything there is a season, 

and a time for every matter under heaven."

"He has made everything beautiful in His time."

Ecclesiastes 3:1&11a

Ethan loves to play in the dirt.

He scooped up and sifted dirt for 2 hours straight!

His focus can be intense, but awesome too.

Ava-girl using Owen's scooter to walk around the backyard. 

She is getting good at steering it!

Owen protects me from all the bad guys with his 

"super hero gun" as he likes to call it. 

He is the best defender of the Bishop manor ever!

Ethan found this awesome leaf and ran over to show me. 

I told him I would keep it in my Bible.

He asked me why I would put it in there.

I said that is where I keep all the flowers and leaves he brings me.

He thought that was so great, haha.

An impromptu water play time...

I made their milk extra special tonight!

I transplanted my seedlings.

I am growing jalepenos, chives and basil.

YUM!!!

This is my first time starting something from seeds. 

So excited!!!!!

May your Spring be bright and beautiful!

God's creation is amazing and serves to remind us of our 

wonderful creator!

Praise Him today, or else the rocks will cry out! 

He is worthy to be praised :)

Blessings!

Janiene

Liebster Blog Award!

I'm excited [and humbled] to share with you that
Barbara over at Chase the Star has nominated my blog for the
Liebster Blog Award!

Thank you Barbara!!!

What is a Liebster Award? 

The word Liebster in German means 'dearest' or 'beloved', and can also mean 'favorite'. In blogland the Liebster Award is given to up and coming bloggers with fewer than 200 followers, whom you'd like to help bring attention to and grow.

My blog is really an online journal for me to capture thoughts, pictures, inspiration, etc. I post blogs about: homeschooling my preschoolers, my love for Bentos, Mommy stuff, recipes, crafts, Birthday Party Decorating, and posts about my Lord Jesus. If this is your first time checking us Bishops out, here are a few of my most popular posts...

Rainbow Birthday Party

Discovering the wonder of Bento

Provision

Goodbye Weekend, Hello Week

3-Day Potty Training - Day 1

If you haven't checked out Chase the Star, then hold everything and check it out! Barbara is the beauty and the brains behind this amazing DIY site. Barbara does an amazing job at taking common, ordinary, every day household items, painting or staining them, and making them stand out as beautiful and unique pieces. My favorite [hard to narrow it to one thing] is her outdoor herb planter. Amazing!! Check out her blog, follow her, and I know you will be inspired to make your house more of a home!!

Barbara, thank you for picking me!!! I'm so blessed that my blog has caught your eye! Blessings to you!! :)

OK, Now it's my turn to choose 5 blogs to pass along this awesome award to!

Stay tuned, I'll be announcing the nominees tomorrow!

Blessings!

Janiene

no bread for me - Days 5-7

"She looks well to the ways of her household,
and does not eat the bread of idleness."
Prov 31:27

This weekend was a whirlwind!

I did not have a single moment to stop and even think about being idle.

[well, one never thinks of idleness, they simple are idle, lol]

I have learned SO very much from this past week...

my house is more organized,
thanks to my 30min a day focus

my family is better fed, 

thanks to the wonderful adventure of "meal planning"

my body is stronger, 

thanks to Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred (and 3lbs thinner!)

my baby girl turned 1, 

and we had a beautiful rainbow birthday party to celebrate

my husband was ordained as the High School Pastor at our church, 

such a blessing to serve the body and continue doing what he was doing :)

my body collapsed around 6pm last night. 

I just shut down.

I thought back on my day and realized I had not eaten since breakfast.

My blood sugar was toast.

The kids were ready for bed at 7:30 and I was in bed by 8pm.

I slept, and slept, and slept.

Ah, so refreshing!

I am much better today, still shaky, but recovering.

Silly blood sugar, why can't you just stay regulated! :)
Lesson learned - taking care of myself is also looking well
to the ways of my household!

This morning I woke up to a clean kitchen [thank you Mom].

We had such a great family day today!

We cleaned up the backyard from the party.

We went to a park and ate lunch.

Afternoon naps were had and enjoyed.

Jumbo coloring books were filled up with scribbles.

We visited Downtown Disney to ride the tram and nibble on pizza for dinner.
I love my family and am ever so thankful for them.

My Mom is staying with us for a couple days and she is such a blessing to have as a guest. She cleaned my kitchen. She brought me Starbucks tonight and pastries for the kiddos in the morning. We stayed up late talking. She said that she was proud of who I have become and it made me just praise God. I just said that God deserves all the glory. He has CHANGED ME and TRANSFORMED ME! I am not who I was. I am a new creation completely. Oh the joy that welled in my soul as I was reminded about who I once was and who I am now! Where would I be today without Jesus!? Thank you Jesus for saving me. I am yours & you are mine. YES & AMEN!

God is good and greatly to be praised.

I made it through my "no bread for me" week-long journey.

I am so blessed by what the Lord has done in my heart and can't wait to see what my next journey will be!

Happy Monday to you all!

Blessings,

:) Janiene

Ava's Rainbow 1st Birthday Party

We celebrated sweet Ava's 1st birthday yesterday.

We had a colorful rainbow party :)

The spread...

Individual banana puddings in mini mason jars...
Crush Nilla Waffers and layer on bottom of mason jar.
Layer the banana pudding next.
Take a large spoon full of whipped cream and
shove the spoon into the pudding.
Sprinkle cinnamon on top.
These were soooooo yummy!

Cake Pops...

Rainbow fruit skewers...

Captain Crunch Berries marshmallow treats, on a stick!

YUM!

Chocolate brownie trifle...
Brownies, chocolate pudding, cool whip, toffee pieces, repeat layers!

In awe of the fire on the candle...

She ate the frosting in such a ladylike manner...

Bubble art...

Bubble art...

Presents time!...

So excited!!...

Ava and Mommy :)

For some of the inspiration to this Rainbow Birthday Party, I would like to thank...

Fruit Skewers
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/03/rainbow-fruit-skewers-with-yogurt-fruit.html

Tissue Paper Pom Poms
http://designdazzle.blogspot.com/2012/04/how-to-make-tissue-pom-flowers.html

Rainbow Cake Pops
http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2012/03/easy-cake-batter-truffles.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sixsistersstuff%2FTUsn+%28Six+Sisters%27+Stuff%29

Crunch Berries Marshmallow Treats
http://www.lisaleonardonline.com/blog/2011/05/29/sunday-inspiration-pinterest/

Bubble Art
http://vividlayers.blogspot.com/search/label/kindergarten

no bread for me - Day 4

"She looks well to the ways of her household,

and does not eat the bread of idleness."

Prov 31:27

Amazing.

It is awesome when your journey inspires someone else to start their own journey.

Today has been a day of hearing from 3 different ladies that my 

"no bread for me" journey has inspired them. 

Awesome! Amen! Praise God.

I think the thing that has most blessed me about the past 4 days has been the verse.

I think about Prov 31:27 all day long.

Everything that I do in the day is measured against this verse.

"Will this bless my household?"

This journey, and meditating on this verse, is helping to keep my very thoughts from being idle!

No legalism here, just liberation.

Excitement bubbles within me as I now think of ways to bless my household.

I think the lesson God is teaching me is taking root :)

My 4 basic tasks today...

#1 Homeschooling:

We spent a good amount of time in workbooks today.

Ethan loves to just be given a workbook and pen and to be left alone.

He does a great job.

Owen wanted some hands on lessons today so we played with water at the kitchen sink and also counted things we found in the kitchen. He is getting good at counting!

#2 Clean/Organize for 30min:

Well, my house looks like a bomb hit it. 

I had not yet gotten around to cleaning from when the pipe burst under the sink.

So, I cleaned 2 dishwasher loads of dishes. 

That took FOREVER!

Maybe not forever...

Well, 45min sure felt like FOREVER :)

I also had the boys pick up all their toys in the living room so that Ava & I could vacuum :)

#3 Meal Planning:

Tonight was supposed to be Tostada Salads using leftover chicken from the night before.

If you didn't read yesterday's blog, click here to find out why I don't have said chicken to use tonight.

So I did what any mom would do when she finds herself without the main ingredient for dinner...

I drove to Little Ceasars and got a $5 pizza.

I served the pizza with carrots and a spinach salad.

YUM!

 I am starting to see my weakness SHINE though, are you?...

meal planning is awesome, but follow through is crucial to it's success! :)

Task #4 Working Out:

I knew that I was going out to dinner with my friend tonight,

 so I lifted weights and did squats and lunges all day long.

My friend blessed me by taking me to get a 1-hr reflexology massage. 

Can I just say, ahhhhhhhhhhhh-mazing!

When the massage started, I let out a huge sigh and for the entire hour I had the best time of prayer.

I prayed for the guy massaging my feet.

I thanked God for my dear friend and the many years she has been in my life.

I prayed for the Women's Retreat coming up.

And then I just thanked God for His amazing kindness & goodness towards me.

Thank you my dear friend for choosing me to go with you to get a massage.

I feel loved and very special :)

 I don't know how any of this fits into Task #4, but I don't care - I had a great night!

:)

I have a few more days left on this journey.

Stay tuned [and join in]!

:) Janiene

For fun...

A quick picture of sweet Ava in a 

hand smocked dress from her Great Aunt Charlie...

no bread for me - Day 3

"She looks well to the ways of her household,

and does not eat the bread of idleness."

Prov 31:27

Day 3!!

~Tasks~
#1 Meals
#2 Homeschool
#3 Clean/Organize
#4 Working Out

Yesterday (Day 3) was spent...
 fixing the broken pipe under our kitchen sink,
installing a toilet in the guest bathroom,
chasing around 3 kids,
helping Ethan with writing lower case letters,
making brown paper flowers for Ava's room,
laundry, laundry, laundry,
accidentally doing the same load of laundry twice (oops!),
painting new boards to go under our kitchen sink,
snuggling a very fussy teething baby who would not take an afternoon nap,
and then crashing on the couch at 6:30pm while my wonderful husband took my boys to church.

Throughout the day there were moments that I HAD to catch on film...

Owen's robot is in timeout for hitting him :)

Ethan writing his lower case r's

brown paper flowers for Ava's room

My sweet husband took the boys to church and I stayed home with my sleeping daughter.
I was exhausted!
I partook of some idle time (aka. bread).
I snuggled into my favorite blanket, turned on Biggest Loser Season 1, and I rested.

I did not work out yesterday - fail :(
I did not make dinner for the family last night - fail :(

But my day was full and difficult and I reminded myself that there would be another chance in the morning!
A new start.
New mercies and fresh strength!

Today I am desiring to stay motivated and engaged!
I told my Lord that I desire Him to take my first and my best today!
May my family be blessed by the service I give to the Lord!

I am thankful for my "no bread for me" journey.
If you are joining me along the way,
my prayer for you is that you would seek the Lord and ask Him
what His vision for your home & family is.
That is all I am seeking to do this week - not my will, but thine Lord!
Blessings!
Janiene

brown paper flowers

Destiny over at A Place for Us has an awesome
Brown Paper Flowers Tutorial on her blog.

I have been wanting to make these for Ava's room for months now.

Well, thanks to my "no bread for me" journey, I had the time to make them today!

Here's the outcome...

no bread for me - Day 2

"She looks well to the ways of her household,

and does not eat the bread of idleness."

Prov 31:27

I made it through Day 2!!!
It takes so much energy to just simply stay busy!

Preschool Time:

We had a fun morning!

We read books, played games on the computer, and did crafts.

Owen made a frog & Ethan made a bunny...

Owen and I colored all over his "house". 

Seriously, huge cardboard boxes provide hours of fun for a kid!

Even Ava wanted to explore Owen's house :)

Cleaning/Organizing 30min:

I bagged up all of the clothes that don't fit my kidlets any longer.

We are having a "Swap'n'Shop" at my women's Bible study this week.

It is a fun way to get rid of stuff and possibly bring home more, haha.

We donate the rest to charity after we have all picked out what we want.

So, my car is loaded with baby/kid stuff for our swap 

and my house is getting organized and cleaned out :)

Meal Planning:

Tuesday was Homemade Pizza and Salad

I made Loaded Baked Potatoes and Salad :)

When it came time for dinner, 

Ava wanted to go to sleep and the boys were not really that hungry 

(I had made them a huge afternoon snack around 4pm - oops). 

Instead of making the pizza dough, I popped in some baked potatoes 

and they cooked for an hour while I put Ava to sleep and then played with the boys.

15 min before Chad got home I fried up some bacon bits and also shredded some cheese.

I had his dinner made in seconds after he came home because everything was ready!

AND THEN...

While washing dishes after dinner the hot water pipe under our sink burst.

There was hot water spraying everything!

My hunkalicious husband took the floor mat and bravely turned it off 

(and burned both hands in the process).

After a long day of work he now had to fix the sink.

Such an awesome man - he did it all without even a reaction or a frustration.

In fact, his response was, "well this was the best night for this to have happened since I am off work all day tomorrow. God knows and is in control."

I love him!

I also am ALWAYS impressed at his handiwork knowledge. 

He just gets things done and fixed - 

and he ALWAYS leaves something better than when he found it.

That is an excellent quality in a person! 

Here is a picture of under our sink, it's drying :)

While the Bishop was at Home Depot getting new parts for the sink, 

I burned some calories.

I have a love/hate relationship with Jillian Michaels today.

Day 2 of working out is rough. 

I'm sore.

But, I am 2 days in - and that is something!!