Advent- Dec. 11th

Truth in the Tinsel:  The Name of Jesus

Jesse Tree:  Ruth

Ruth 3:1-4:15

 

Advent Calendar:

Symbol:  3 Trees Cards and Coins

Scripture:  Isaiah 11:1-5

Activity:  Read The Story of the 3 Trees

Advent- Dec. 10th

Truth in the Tinsel:  Joseph's Pillow

Jesse Tree:  Gideon

Judges 7

Advent Calendar

Symbol:  Candle

Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16

Activity:  Play a game

Okay...so I planned to do "regular" school until Dec. 21st.  What was I thinking????  Well, I was looking at our days and saw that we would hit 100 days right on Dec. 21st.  The kids asked to do  the 100th day of school celebration.  What a perfect day to do that!  That's when I stopped thinking.  

I started thinking again at the end of last week.  It's not so much the kids going crazy...as it's ME!!!  I'm ready for a change of pace, a mini-break.  So, I put away the assignment sheets and regular order of business and started planning.  

We'll spin the next TWO weeks doing a wide variety of learning things.  Games, Jesse Tree/Advent activities/reading and audiobooks/more games/computer games/cooking/lots of ART PROJECTS/ music fun/ Science Fair projects/community service/instrument lessons and practice...how do we ever find time for all the "regular" school?  I'm really looking forward to this!   We were home all day today...so that was such a great beginning to the week. 

Nativity Silhouette

We got the basic idea from the link above, then we just used our Full Moon Project technique.  

Check out  Books Should Be Free website  for various Christmas audiobooks.  We listened to almost all of The Christmas Angel today. 

Weekend Happenings

It was such a beautiful weekend--70 degrees in the middle of December!!! So, we took the opportunity to have church at a local park. We also had an impromptu photo op.

 

Later Sunday afternoon, my husband's employer had a Christmas party for the kids.  We had a really fun time.  It's the first time my kids have ever seen inside the building where my husband works.

Reindeer Food and Crafts

    Balloon Animals  

     Santa  

      Cake and Hot Chocolate  

 

Advent- Dec. 9th

Truth in the Tinsel:  Joseph

 

 

Jesse Tree: Rahab 

Joshua 2:1-20 

Advent Calendar:

Symbol: Shepherd's Staff (or candy cane) 

Scripture: Psalm 23 

Activity: Make cookies/ Have a candy cane

Advent- Dec. 8th

We skipped our Truth in the Tinsel today.  Frankly, Michael had a pretty long day and I didn't want to do it,  just to say we did.

Jesse Tree:  Joshua

Joshua 1:1-11 ; 6:1-20

Advent Calendar:

Symbol:  Christmas Tree

Scripture:  Luke 2:52  (I'm not sure why I thought this verse went with today's theme...
I'll change that before next year)

Activity:  Watch Charlie Brown Christmas

We did something extra tonight----Grinch Floats!   (Basically, lime sherbet and Sprite)

Then, we had to watch The Grinch that Stole Christmas!

Advent- Dec. 7th

Truth in the Tinsel: Mary's Song 

 

    Jesse Tree: Moses Exodus 3:7-12; 4:16; 32:11-14          Advent Calendar:  Symbol: St. Nicholas (We talked today about the stories of the real St. Nicholas, a bishop from Asia Minor) Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11  Activity: Read Twas the Night Before Christmas (I found a free Reader's Theater version on TpT)    

Not growing weary...

What day is it?  All my days this week have been filled with one thing after another.  Busyness has come and it won't go away.  Going...going...going.  These are not really things we can bow out of or want to---flute lesson, piano lesson, shopping for the needy, meetings, and the dreaded doctor's appointments.  So I'm starting to let go of some other things that really aren't essentials. 

Daniel went for a physical therapy evaluation today for a range of motion issues in his leg tendons.  He is also a toe walker, but not to the degree that will add to the duration of our therapy.  So she is going to try shoe inserts for him...and 6 WEEKS of once a week appointments.  Then four different stretches, two times a day.  If you have a 10 year old boy, you will understand that this requires full supervision. (sigh) JP is going to a chiropractor to address some issues, as well.  We just had the two older kids' checkups, so it feels like we've just been in and out of doctor's offices lately.  (I have thought of how thankful I am to have healthy kids.  Their checkups were the first time the doctor had seen them since their last checkup.)

I've had a headache since yesterday...today it feels like a migraine-off and on.  I'm just tired and pooped. 

Our advent activities have been a real bright spot in the week.  It brings me back into focus.  Reminding me of what's important...

This scripture has been going through my mind today..."Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."   Galatians 6:9  I have to admit I'm feeling kinda weary and worn down today.

Which makes this next verse all the more important to remember:

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  2 Corinthians 12:9  

I know I can't do everything on my own...it's only through His strength that I'm able to "not grow weary".  

 

Top Ten- Christmas Songs

My top ten favorite Christmas songs:  Well, I have to confess I'm not really consistent when it comes to having music favorites.  I like tons of different kinds of songs depending upon what day it is.  So this list should probably be titled...the ten songs I can think of that I like today.  :)

1. Silver Bells



2. O Holy Night




3. Christmas in Dixie





4. O Come, O Come Emmanuel





5. Come Now Our King





6. Sweet Little Jesus Boy




7. You Gotta Get Up by Rich Mullins




8. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree  (Brenda Lee version only)





9. Christmas Is All in the Heart




10.  Welcome to Our World

Advent- Dec. 6th

Truth in the Tinsel: Mary/Elizabeth

Jesse Tree: Joseph

Genesis 37:3-4; 50:15-21

Advent Calendar:

Symbol:  Gift (ornaments)

Scripture:  Matthew 2:10-11

Activity:  Read The Gift of the Magi  (We actually listened a Librovox recording)

Since we love Adventures in Odyssey, we also listened to Gifts for Madge and Guy (a funny adaptation of this story)

We're reminded today about the "real" gift given on that first Christmas! 

"O come, let us adore Him!

O come, let us adore Him!

O come, let us adore Him,

Christ, the Lord!"