Advent- Dec. 22-24

Okay...life is getting busy in the final preparations for Christmas.  I am snuggling, laughing and watching Christmas movies instead of blogging.  So, I'm finishing up with this last post before Christmas. 

Truth in the Tinsel:  

The Wise Men and  a beaded Cross

    Advent Calendar (Dec. 22) Symbol:  X-Mas/Chi-Ro symbol Scripture: Luke 1: 30-33 Activity:  Go see lights  

 (Michael totally cracked me up in his get-up)  

 

Advent Calendar (23rd)

Symbol:  Straw

Scripture: Isaiah 40:3-5

Activity:  Walk around the neighborhood to see lights 

(It was raining, so we had to put this one on hold)

Advent Calendar (24th)

Symbol: Manger (from our nativity set)

Scripture: Luke 2:7, 11-12

Activity:  Put out reindeer food

Jesse Tree (22nd):  Joseph

Matthew 1:18-25

 

 

Jesse Tree (23rd): Mary

Luke 1:26-38

Jesse Tree (24th) :  John the Baptist

Luke 3:1-20

The last advent candle has been lit, we are ready to celebrate the birth of our KING!

Advent- Dec. 21st

Truth in the Tinsel: Stars

  Jesse Tree:  Zechariah and Elizabeth  Luke 1: 5-25  
Advent Calendar: Symbol:  Frankincense (cotton balls with frankincense oil) Scripture: Matthew 6:19-20
Activity:  Bake cookies       We had some friends over for art projects and our 100th Day of School Celebration.     

We made hand print signs to send to the Helping Hands project for the surviving students from Sandy Hook Elementary School.  For information on how you can participate, check out their website- The Helping Hands Project

Time capsule ornaments

 

      We did buttons and thumbprint "inchies" project.  Our own versions or various projects we saw on pinterest.       

    Each of the kids played a Christmas piece on the piano or flute to share with the group.  Lots of talent!     

Now, school is done...time for baking, wrapping and being together with no more commitments...aaaahhhhh!!!!

Advent- Dec. 20th

Jesse Tree: Nehemiah  Nehemiah 2:11-20           Advent Calendar: Symbol:  Myrrh (actually some Chinese all-spice or nutmeg) Scripture:  Matthew 2:1-2 Activity:  Watch The Christmas Carol          Truth in the Tinsel:  Temple  

Advent- Dec. 19th

Truth in the Tinsel:  Shepherds

Jesse Tree:  Daniel

Daniel 6:10-23

Advent Calendar:

Symbol:  Gold

Scripture:  Psalm 19:9-10

Activity:  EAT your gold coins!

 

I ran out this morning for the LAST time before Christmas!  WOO HOO!!!  Whatever I forgot, can stay forgotten or JP can go get it.  Hopefully, we don't pick up any bad germs between now and then.   We spent our afternoon working on various projects. 

Something happened today that reminded me just how "rich" we are...

We have food on our table every meal, clean clothes, nice house, 2 cars that run, a good job for my husband so I can be a stay at home mom, beds for our children, heat, an education, running water, garbage service, and any other material thing I forgot. 

But even more than that...we are rich in love, have an intact family, we like being with other, we have friends and good neighbors.  

But even more than that....we are rich in God's grace, love and forgiveness,  in His peace and goodness, in His comfort, we've been saved from an eternity spent apart from the One who loves us more than anything else. Even if we lost everything else, we could still say how "rich" we truly are!!!!

Advent- Dec. 18th

Truth in the Tinsel: Angels            Advent Calendar:  Symbol:  Three Wise Men Scripture:  Matthew 2: 1-12 Activity:  Play a game        Can you tell who won? (Tera is the champ of Clue, but Daniel was so happy to win today)  

    Jesse Tree: Jeremiah  Jeremiah 9    

Advent- Dec. 17th

Every day this week, the kids are working like crazy on their science fair projects...but we're finding some time for art, too! Tomorrow, Tera and I will spend the majority of the morning at the local community center filling food baskets.  She is SO excited!!! 

Cubist Christmas Trees 

 

Winter Trees

    Jesse Tree: Jonah Jonah 1          Advent Calendar: Symbol:  Wreath Scripture:  John 3:16 Activity:  Make a chocolate pretzel wreath             Truth in the Tinsel: Sheep     

Advent- Dec. 16th

Jesse Tree:  Elisha

2 Kings 5:1-14

 Advent Calendar:

Symbol: Christmas ornament

Scripture:  James 1:17

Activity:  Watch a Veggie Christmas 

(again, we didn't get to this, but there is always tomorrow)

This is probably the favorite Advent activity for my children. When my oldest two were babies, a lady in our church gave me this nativity set as a secret angel gift. All the figures are separately placed onto a wooden base. Even baby Jesus is separate from the manger. So every night the last twelve days before Christmas, the kids take turns putting out a figure. As the nativity gets fuller, they know Christmas is approaching. On Christmas Eve, we put out the manger and fill it with straw. Christmas morning we place baby Jesus in the manger after reading the Christmas story.  Christmas is coming..I can see it!!!