Coloring Fun: Hello Spring

I know spring has already been upon us for a week, but the temperatures are just now starting to get warm. To me spring signifies the sun coming out to play, and after the rains fall the green starts to show through. It's a beautiful season to embrace, allergies and all! I love the new life that forms. The air smells fresh, and the world begins to show color again. 

Perhaps that's why I enjoy coloring so much. Each page starts out white and stark, with little to no color at all. But when you bring your markers across the page, or your colored pencils fill in the lines, beauty starts to emerge. The pictures begin to shine and jump right off the page. I'm a little kid at heart! A couple years ago for my birthday, my entire family sat down and colored the same picture, printed out for each of us. It was relaxing and soothing to me. I loved it, and they were all sweet to participate!

Earlier this week my daughter posted a picture on Instagram of some plant doodles she did during a class at school that didn't quite hold her attention. The bottom of her homework held all these different cute little pots. Each doodle was less than an inch tall. I asked her to bring the school paper home, so I could turn the little plants into coloring sheets. I love the creativity that pours out from her! 

So together, with her help, I came up with a bunch of plant coloring pages to celebrate that spring is here upon us! You can feel free to use the coloring pages for your own PERSONAL use.  But please be kind and do not claim these pictures as your own or offer them for downloads.  It makes me sad to see my pictures on a coloring page website run by someone else.

Tea and Coffee

I am not a coffee drinker, but I LOVE a good cup of tea! I thought it would be fun to make a few coloring sheets showing off my favorite drink! Most of these tea and coffee cup designs are taken from metal wall hangings I saw at Hobby Lobby.

You can feel free to use the coloring pages for your own PERSONAL use.  But please be kind and do not claim these pictures as your own or offer them for downloads.  It makes me sad to see my pictures on a coloring page website run by someone else.

I decided to do something I've never done before. I turned my coloring pages into some clipart!

Meet Samantha: An American Girl

Meet Samantha, another one of my favorite American girls! All four of the original girls are a favorite with me. I read Kirsten, Samantha, Molly, and Felicity's books cover to cover repeatedly. These girls represent a magical time in my life. I was transported to different places and times with just the turning of a page.

I love that American Girl has released each historical character's set of 6 books into one convenient hardback book. I don't know if they still have the books in print, but I do know you can find them inexpensively on Amazon and Ebay if you don't mind used books. This makes it much easier to collect them all. In the past two months, I have been able to purchase them all! I feel like a kid again, excited to read my favorite stories.

These past few weeks, I worked really hard turning Samantha into a fun coloring page. This was no easy feat. I invested hours and hours working on the coloring sheet. I think the hard work has paid off and it is worth it to see this beautiful picture ready to color. In the future, as I read more of the story collections, I will be turning each girl into a coloring sheet. You can check back later for more pages!

To tell you a little about Samantha, I copied these words from American Girl Wiki which tells you a little about her story...

Samantha is an orphan living in the early twentieth century. At the start of the series, she is living with her old-fashioned wealthy Grandma. Samantha only remembers her parents a little bit. Samantha is curious and asks a lot of questions. She is very interested in her parents and their lives, as they died in a boating accident when she was five years old and is compared in looks to her mother. She has a rough side such as climbing trees and feels it is very hard to be a young lady. Samantha is rather bold and mischievous and playful, generally going places she should not, sneaking off, and even standing up to her mocking neighbor, Eddie. Samantha is beguiling and bursting with ideas, and is very imaginative.

If case you haven't seen the books I was talking about, you can buy Samantha's Story Collection on Amazon. This is such a great deal to get all 6 of Samantha's beloved books in one convenient hardback book!

Who is your favorite American Girl?

Interested in some more American Girl coloring pages?

Felicity         Kirsten          Kit          Molly

Prayer Ball for Kids

One of my favorite ways to pray with kids is using our special prayer ball. It gets the kids a little bit of activity while spending time with Jesus. We use the prayer ball as a game. They all LOVE it! You can see from the photos my ball is getting old and worn. The letters are not quite as bright and clear as when I originally drew them onto the ball. This ball has had LOTS of use!

All the kids sit or stand in a circle. I usually start the ball rolling, so to speak. I throw it up in the air and catch it myself. Wherever my right thumb lands, I will pray for that thing. After I say a prayer, I toss it to another kid in the circle. They take a turn praying for something else... wherever their right thumb touches. If the kids are left handed then they will typically catch with their left hand, and they pray for whatever their left thumb is touching. Or if their thumb is not touching anything, they choose the closest thing to it, or what it is pointing to.

The topics are broad on the ball and the kids get to choose how they feel God is leading them to pray. You can see from the above picture my thumb is pointing towards "safety and protection." I could pray for safety for myself, or I could ask God who I should pray about this for. Sometimes a specific person will come to mind. If nobody does, I will ask the kids in the circle if anyone would like prayer for the thing chosen. There is always someone who needs it or wants it.

With praying in a large circle some of the kids are shy and don't like to say their prayers out loud. I never push anyone to pray that is uncomfortable. Typically all the kids will choose to say a prayer, but some will pray silently in their head.  For the shy ones in the crowd, I always give the option of a silent prayer. We all bow our heads, and when the child is finished silently praying they will say a loud "Amen" to let the rest of us know they are done. I encourage the kids to pray along with each person. 

Another option for a shy child, they can choose to repeat a prayer after me. I never make anyone feel bad for being shy about praying. Everyone has different comfort levels, and just because a child doesn't want to pray aloud does not mean they love Jesus any less.

I purchased my ball at Dollar Tree and wrote on it with a black permanent marker. I tried to space things evenly on the ball. 

These are my prayer topics on the ball in no specific order:

Freedom from fear

Good sibling relationships

Trust God

Comfort in sadness

Tender heart

Safety and protection

World leaders

Bright future

Learn God's word

To do well in school

Grow close to God in prayer

Develop skills and talents

Honor your parents

Strong Friendships

Physical health and strength

For patience and perseverance

Family

School teacher

Children's pastor

Pastor of our church

Resist negative peer pressure

To always tell the truth

Hope and joy

Good self-esteem

Make wise decisions

Feel loved and wanted

Respect those in authority

Bullies

Obey God

Every time I pull out the prayer ball I am encouraged by the faith of the children. Their prayers are genuine and heartfelt. They pray a prayer and believe that God will answer it. After their prayer is said, they don't pick it back up and worry about if God will answer. It is simple with children. God promises He will answer. Children expect Him to do exactly as He says. If only we all could have faith like a child. 

St. Patrick's Day Coloring Pages

With St. Patrick's Day soon approaching, I've got some fun new coloring pages for you! Please feel to print and use them. I make them with the sole purpose for others to enjoy. It's a hobby of mine to draw, edit, and create, and it helps me unwind and relieve stress. Life has been a little too stressful lately, and with that you will find me creating more and more coloring pages and worksheets.

You can feel free to use the coloring pages for your own PERSONAL use.  But please be kind and do not claim these pictures as your own or offer them for downloads.  It makes me sad to see my pictures on a coloring page website run by someone else.

I recently just finished a REALLY good book about a couple experiencing marriage difficulties. It had a happy ending and made me appreciate my husband even more. So in honor of my very sweet husband... I have to say I am the luckiest girl in the world. 

Enjoy!