When board game pieces, pawns, and cards have gone astray. Remember to hang onto the old spinners before you throw the game away! The spinners can be purposed for numerous activities. Just think of the opportunities!

I can picture old spinners as:

• chore wheels (sections of bathroom, kitchen sink, bed)
• picture wheels (each person of the family has a photo on the spinner)
• reward and consequence wheels for those happy and not-so-happy times in family life
• conversation starter wheels for family meals

Wow the ideas are virtually limitless!

I made a Prayer Wheel.

Prayers can be heard around my table almost any night. Some are sung. Some are rhymed. Some are memorized. Some are repetitious. Some are thoughtful. Some are short. All are beautiful in God’s ears. Still, I’d like to shake it up a bit.

Here is how to make one of your own.

1. Pop off the plastic spinner and glue on paper to cover the base.

2. Trace the spinner base on another piece of paper. Create a circle and cut it out.

3. Glue circle to base. Add strips of paper or line stickers to create sections.

4. Finish with stickers or collage images of “topics” you would like to pray about.

Topics included on my wheel are:

• free choice (to get my little one to tell me what is on his mind)
• the church and showing God’s Love
• United States, our country’s leaders, and the World
• sickly, hurting or injured people

Happy Spinning!

Take this dying old board game for example. I purchased this Bob the Builder game at a thrift store for $2.

Upon returning home, I immediately plucked the battery-operated, medium sized, Scoop (character) from the game, that was, after all, why I purchased the game in the first place.

So, what stopped me from throwing the rest of the game pieces away as soon as Scoop had been purposed to the sand box?

Hording? Maybe.

Lazy? Probably not.

Forgetful? Sort of.

Hopeful? Bingo!

I am just one of those people that love to create with “inspirations” all around them. Yes, I suppose “inspirations” could be code for clutter, junk, or just the plain old recycling bin. Neat Pete is currently being gracious (or just too tired) as he is letting me  keep 3 + empty milk containers on-hand, ‘just in case’. Bless him.

On with the game board dissection.

I have been wanting to make or buy a sign with the word, Love, Beloved or Loved, for my bedroom for quite some time. I looked at the six-sided pieces in the game box and thought, they are just what I had been waiting for.

• Cover with pretty paper (double stick tape)
• Embellish with letters
• Tape Together (duct tape)
• Make a Sign
• Attach Letters to Sign

I snagged a sign I already had in the house.

The sign was "wrapped" in butcher paper.

Ta Da! The sign I've been wanting! I may cover that wire with ribbon and add color in the letter D for definition, but I love my sign. Ha, it truly is, loved.

So there ya go. I also transformed the spinner from the game into a Prayer Wheel. More on that tomorrow!

Ryan’s warm up round before the game.

Daddy caught the game on the video camera.

Ryan ran in his Z-strap sketchers for the game.

Molly cheered on the players from the stroller.

Ryan ran with a 1/2 smile 1/2 pant! It was a very hot and humid morning.

Our new sporty guy still has room for his biggest fan, his Mom. He stopped to pick a dandelion for me on the way to practice.  I am so grateful for a happy, healthy and active preschooler that I adore! Go Ryan!

Ryan squinting in the sun to give me a prize from the field. Thanks Buddy.