Tuesday

Christmas Handwashing Songs for Kids - Need Help?


Do You

Need Help?


The Kids Must Wash Their Hands!!!


BUT


Are they Tired of Singing Happy Birthday all the time?

YES!!!!





Let's have some Christmas Songs for washing our hands.

UPDATED to include 5 songs now


I'm going to put up videos & free printables for you to use to teach your children new songs that are the right length or longer for those handwashing routines.


List of Songs included below:

1.  Away in a Manger.

2.  Jingle Bells.

3.  Christmas Bells.

4.  Christmas is a Time of Joy.  

5.  Little Donkey.  NEW!






DON'T FORGET TO CLICK FOR ALL THE FREE DOWNLOADS
at the
 END OF THIS BLOG POST





1.  Away in a Manger.

All kids learn at least the first verse of this song and if you sing it slowly you will have well covered your time for the handwashing.







PRINTABLE





Now watch the video below to learn the tune and the words.


Fred & I did a live on facebook singing this song but we did sing it a bit faster than most people.

You can see the recording below from Fred's You tube channel.

Just fast forward to skip the bit of talking at the start.







or click through to my facebook page to watch it there



To Download a copy of these words with chords for guitar and piano  &  the  powerpoint for printing on  A4 card  or  Letter size





2.  Jingle Bells.

I don't think there is a child who has not heard this song before so it will be very easy to get them to use this for washing their hands.


Don't worry if you all get confused with the verse part - so do we and really you only need the well-known chorus part.





3.  Christmas Bells.

This is another easy song for the children to learn because some of the words are repetitive and it is sung to the tune of Jingle Bells.







PRINTABLE








Now watch the video below to learn the tune and the words.

This was also from the series of songs for Christmas that Fred & I did live on Facebook & YouTube

You can see the recording below from Fred's You tube channel






or click through to my facebook page to watch it there


To Download a copy of these words with chords for guitar and piano  &  the  powerpoint for printing on  A4 card  or  Letter size




4.  Christmas is a Time of Joy.

Another easy song for the children which is sung to the tune of Jesus Loves Me.

This one teaches about their gifts and toys not being the main part of Christmas and points to Jesus as the gift from God.

You can find more detail about the song on my songs for Kids post Christmas is a Time of Joy 



PRINTABLE






To Download a copy of these words with chords for guitar and piano  &  the  powerpoint for printing on  A4 card  or  Letter size



5.  Little donkey.

Lovely song appropriate for adults and children but for handwashing for the kids it's great.

We only need to use the first verse and chorus but it still teaches the children a great message about how God kept Mary safe and everyone can be of use to God.



PRINTABLE








To Download a copy of these words with chords for guitar and piano  &  the  powerpoint for printing on  A4 card  or  Letter size








To download words or chords for any of these songs


CLICK BELOW


Song Printables at Sandra's Ark




Or if you have already subscribed to my blog you will find the link in any of the emails we send out.






Monday

10 Little Things I am Thankful for at Home - Coffee & Conversation




The weather may be something we tend to talk about a lot in Northern Ireland because it can be so changeable but we shouldn't let that have any sway on our feelings.

We should be happy and contented inside or outside, fair weather or wet weather.  

Those types of things may have some bearing on our actions but should not have any control of our feelings.  

We can be determined to find things to enjoy no matter where we are or how much we can manage to do.

So today I'm thinking about some of the small things indoors that make me happy, that put a smile on my face.






10 little Things that I am thankful for  -  not big things  -  but little things that should not always go unnoticed or unappreciated.


Maybe these will remind you to be thankful for the little things too.




1.  These coasters sit on my desk and always bring a smile to my face no matter what I'm working at.






You see I practically always have a mug of coffee with me as I work at the computer and because my desk is white wood I need to be careful not to stain it hence the need for a coaster.





2.  I love to hear Fred enjoying himself on the keyboard or guitar making up some tunes or playing some songs we know, it is very relaxing for both of us.


Pity you don't get the sounds as well.




Fred playing another of his musical "toys" a Cajon.




Thankful for his musical abilities and the joy they bring him.

Thankful for the input these abilities have been in our worship life both at home and in church



3.  These negatives are just an example of the many we have of old photos which may not be in great condition these days.
But we can still enjoy and be thankful for the memories they bring back.





Having old photos and especially the negatives of them today mean that we can get them transferred to digital and store with the more recent ones too.

Now I just have to get enough time to actually do that!




4. This little plaque that is very old ( from sometime before we got married ) still makes me smile. 





Still thanking God for giving him to me.




5.  This picture reminds me of the ordinary everyday laugh out loud fun I can have with family.





Thankful for all the silly, giggling moments with Fred, our kids, grandkids and friends.




6.  If I didn't include my coffee break with one of my various mugs many people would be surprised.

Nowadays most of my coffee breaks are enjoyed along with Fred as he is home more often since he took early retirement. Only thing is he's a tea drinker!

Oh the happiness of anticipating a lovely coffee in this mug I got on our first trip to South Korea and sometimes I even get to enjoy some Korean Coffee when my daughter can bring it over for me from her friend's Cafe.



Oh you thought I was going to forget the mug!



and maybe
A little treat too









7.  Every month I get a notification about this pic I have on Pinterest from a previous post on this blog.  They say it is one of my best performing pins.

  

Really?  

It was such a simple pic to make and is rather a personal pic so why would it be of any interest to others?

But it does make me happy to have this little reminder of the good marriage I am blessed with.







8.  This little gif from last Christmas is always a little reminder for me to be thankful for my family and the happiness and faith we all share.





Thankful for a loving marriage (not taking it for granted)
Thankful for our grown-up children (and spouses) and their love for us and each other
Thankful for our grandchildren and the love shared between them and all of the rest of us.

So I am thankful to be a wife, mother, mother-in-law and grandmother.



9.  A lot of things I do or think about seem to feature my husband in some way. Of course with us living on our own and him having taken early retirement then I suppose a lot of the things that make me happy will involve him.


There are little things like:

 He is not normally one for going to the shop just because I want something but he is the one that mostly goes to the shop because I hate supermarkets and prefer to do online grocery shopping.

 He is wide awake once he gets up but he knows that I am the opposite and like to enjoy my coffee quietly before I'm ready for the decisions of the day.

etc. etc. etc.

So 

It is great that we can be happy together after all these years even in the little things and we are thankful that we have a 43 year marriage. 









10.  How lovely to look out from our home to this view of the sunset over our town.







Here is something to remind me of the assurance we have that the sun will rise and set each new day.


Thankful that we know our God is in control of everything.
















Friday

Little Reminders - Unique Gift Ideas








Searching for that different, unique gift for a special occasion can prove to be a hard, time-consuming, eye-tiring search of the internet for us each time a birthday, anniversary or Christmas comes along!


Do you need some help to pick out something different for the people you want to encourage and show your love?







I like to support smaller businesses who give thought and care to their individual products so today I want to introduce you to 



Little Reminders


This is a small business venture by a young woman and I was very impressed by her designs and ideas which will make lovely gifts.





I noticed that a friend had liked this business on Facebook so I asked my friend about it and got a good recommendation for it.

Later I discovered that my oldest son knew Chloe and her husband so I was delighted to be able to support her.


Let's meet the seller herself - her full name is Chloe Thomas and I asked her a few questions:







Sandra  -  We know your name is Chloe but what is the name of your business?

Chloe  - My Business is called Little Reminders



Sandra  -  I know from your name and from our mutual friend that you are Welsh is that where you are based now for your business?

Chloe  - I'm a welsh - Italian girl, currently living in Hereford as of August this year due to my husband and I taking on a new venture. In January I start bible college for one year (Thanks to your son Jonathan who interviewed me and gave me a place) & my husband became assistant pastor for the second time but this time at a different location which is Life church Hereford. Even though I miss the beach like crazy, I am beginning to fall in love with the natural beauty of the countryside.








Sandra  -  Where can we go to have a look at your products - Facebook or Etsy or do you have a separate website?

Chloe  - I began with Facebook flash sales originally to see how my products would sell and they did brilliantly. Often when I release a product with limited prints I will sell on Facebook but since the summer I took the plunge and began selling all my products on Esty.
Thankfully after working with a friend for many years who is a professional and local illustrator that runs her own business, I was able to learn many skills/ tips/ tricks from her of running Etsy (for which I am so grateful). I don't have a website 'yet'. Right now as I am a small business starting out I want to take things one step at a time. The process & the journey is so important and often we feel the need to rush it. I want to enjoy it as much as possible after all "I can do anything, but not everything". Maybe in the future as my little business grows I might take the plunge again and create a website. Stay tuned!



Sandra  -  Obviously you will sell to anyone located in the UK but do you also sell internationally?

Chloe  - I don't sell internationally right now but hope to in the near future.








Sandra  -  What gave you the idea for your business?

Chloe  - I finished university 5 years ago after graduating with a illustration degree. Previous to that I had studied for 6 years in art doing various courses. When you get to the end of your degree you are asked to produce a final project and it can be of your choice. I wanted my art to have purpose and meaning. I wanted it not to just be a pretty picture that you could hang on the wall but something that would have depth and be a piece that would encourage others. I wanted it to be for EVERYONE not just those who have a Christian faith. I believe there are no outsiders to the love of Christ.
So I began creating pieces of work and products that would do exactly this, encourage others. Be what it is on the tin 'Little Reminders'. Every day isn't always good, but there is something good in every day and so little reminders was birthed from this very thought. To help remind people of the good things in life that we so often miss because of the negative things that go on in the world.









Sandra  -  Where do you get the inspiration for all your different products?

Chloe  - Some of my products especially the Christmas ones have been based on the countryside since our move.



Christmas Card Pack


However I literally could get inspired by anything, so its hard pointing out one thing that inspires me. It could be another artist, photography, being out and about and noticing the details of life that often get missed, being with people, something that someone said, a colour could inspire me, buildings, music, reading books, reading the beautiful truths and letters within God's love story, films - I could keep going! Every day is different at what could inspire me and I guess everything around us is inspiration, you just have to choose to stop and notice it and don't forget it (so I have a little note book that I write literally anything and everything down in).




Sandra  -  I was delighted to see this card because of the encouragement it could be especially because this is a blog all about encouragement.





Sandra  -  Are you willing to do bespoke orders?

Chloe  - I have done some bespoke orders in the past and they have been very well received.
Bespoke orders take some time and I want to be able to do them justice. As little reminders is a part time venture and not a full time job currently the time isn't always there and so I mainly concentrate on producing a wide stock range for now.






You can view all of Chloe's products and order at her Etsy shop.

Little Reminders on Etsy





Follow Chloe on Facebook & Instagram to see more photos of her products and behind the scenes of the making process.

Little Reminders on Instagram

and

Little Reminders on Facebook

Feel free to send her a message too as I'm sure she will be happy to answer any questions.