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Preparing my family to welcome and receive Christ at Christmas…

11.28.2009

UPDATE: A quick update because I originally shared this post 9 years ago;)—I *just* got this SWEET book in the mail that was just published in 2015 called “Our Family’s Jesse Tree”. You can purchase it on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Our-Familys-Jesse-Tree-Activities/dp/1535461470 It’s a GREAT price and it comes with templates for all 25 ornaments, an opening activity, scripture reading, an application summary and a family prayer! This is a SWEET book y’all!!! All you would need to do is make your ornaments from the templates!

We’ve got our tree up. We’ve got the decorations everywhere. We have the music on…all day in the background. I find myself through out the day saying under my breath, “It’s the most GLORIOUS time of the year!” I wanted to update my Facebook status with that phrase today and just never got around to it. YET, the thing I love most, most, mostest about this time is sweet time sharing Christ and the preparation of Christ with my children.

Our family tradition is to walk through the Blessed Christmas with the Jesse Tree. You can buy different Jesse Tree devotionals, we just happen to have been given by Richard’s mother the Blessed Christmas version which is amazing (includes scripture reading, devotional, prayer and ornament/symbol for each day).

jessetree

And this is by far the sweetest part of my day–every day–during the holiday season. The Jesse Tree devotional concepts are taken from the verse Isaiah 11:1 that says, “But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse and from the roots a bud shall blossom.” Jesse was the father of David and from David the royal line would be established…1000 years later leading up to the birth of Jesus. In 28 days—tonight being the first…we will walk through these 1000 years as a family!!! Each night, the story will have an ornament/symbol representing that night’s story. Every year I get so excited to think what God can and will do in my children’s hearts as we walk through the gospel leading up to the birth of Christ! I’m already anticipating tomorrow nights lesson on Creation…the ornament for the tree is leaves:). If you want to do this too–the first ornament will start Sunday night…and if you read this post a few days late–you can easily catch up by doing a devotional in the morning and night! We do ours at night, and it’s such a sweet time bonding as a family. After each lesson and prayer, we sing two hymns that are related to Christmas and Christ’s birth. It is SOOOOO powerful!!!

And get this—tonight as we sang “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” (AFTER we had just sung “Joy to the World”)…our 10 foot decorated foyer Christmas tree fell over! It was HYSTERICAL! I guess even the trees want to praise Him!!! Well, I’ll be! Needless to say, I *highly* recommend every family considering walking through the Jesse Tree with your family or adopting some type of sweet devotional during the holidays. To me, there is no sweeter way to prepare my family to welcome and receive Christ at Christmas…He is the reason for the season after all! And when you come before Him in praise and teaching little ones about Him each night…your heart will be just as changed as you take time to honor and receive more of Him this season!

Wanna make your own? This is different than ours…but looks great too. If you are crafty, check this link out for a guide: http://www.rca.org/Page.aspx?pid=1628

Another great site with parent devotionals, heirloom ornaments and even coloring pages that coordinate with each days devotionaals…lots of ideas and resources to start your own Jesse Tree tradition: http://www.jesse-trees.com/

Don’t have time to make your own? Get your own copy of one just like ours here: http://thejessetree.org/ A percentage of proceeds go to FCS Urban Ministry Charis Community Houseing, ADUFRAM and Mission Honduras (http://www.missionhonduras.com/)

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5 comments

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Kim - November 29, 2009 - 4:25 am

Perfect timing! Love this post!
Thank you,
Kim

Beautiful Mess - November 29, 2009 - 5:47 am

That sounds so neat. Will have to look into it.

theheartofachild - November 29, 2009 - 8:17 am

Thanks for the links! I have friends who have made them, but I haven't gotten around to doing it. Buying it all made up sounds much better!
Jenny
AGCI (waiting on Abby in India)
needhamfamily5.blogspot.com

Are These Kids All Yours? - November 29, 2009 - 11:56 am

What a great idea to add to our traditions.

Coffee Filter Wreath – Total Cost $4! » Babe of my Heart - November 20, 2010 - 4:23 pm

[…] speaking of crafts and Christmas…it reminds me to remind you of my last year’s post on preparing your children for Christ a Christmas post…with the JESSE TREE!!! Ok…off to take a nap while the kids nap!!! (SOMEBODY has decided to stop sleeping at night […]

This Thanksgiving…may Philippians 4 be the song in our hearts

11.26.2009

Philippians 4 is my song today, and this chapter has always been a personal favorite of my heart. This morning as I put my baby Frank down for a nap, this chapter came to my mind and I had to run to my room and be fed by the truth of where we find our peace. Thanksgiving can often be a day of busy–running from home to home…not always peaceful and most all of us are with family…although many do not have peace with members in their family…and peace is not something we all feel in our hearts on this beautiful day of thanksgiving. I am so blessed to have sweet relationships with my family where we experience peace–but I know this isn’t the story for everyone so these verses will speak differently to all of us today. Some of us that have peace can get caught up in the “to dos” and the day is quickly gone before we had time to rest in the gift and transformation of true “thanks” giving.

This passage will speak differently to all of our hearts…but today may these verses fill you with thanksgiving reminding you of how blessed you truly are! And may these verses remind you today where our peace can be found and comes from. Philippians 4:4-9:

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

Read this again. Let those words from Paul to those he loved and longed for and held as a crown penetrate your heart as you go out this Thanksgiving. And feast on this in remembrance of how the Lord has grown your hearts…(Philippians 4:12-13, 19)

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength…my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

To live in need and to live in plenty—all of us in some ways have experienced both. Then I think about the orphans we serve in Zambia…their words of knowing and trusting in the Lord and their JOY in having Him and trusting in Him for daily bread–literally. I think of the baby that we will welcome home forever in 2010…Oh Lord how you have greatly provided for us…and it is YOU who has shined great mercy on us to give us just a portion of your heart in this!!! I think of my “other” Momma Judy–who is battled breast cancer and is spending this Thanksgiving doing chemo–yet even during chemo treatments she made me a Thanksgiving love basket to love on my heart with (She will also serve 50 some odd people in her home tonight with desserts, coffee and a annual visit from Santa! Help me Lord to serve like this…even when I have many excuses not to!)

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These stories have shown me that God will meet ALL needs according to His riches! Help us Lord to cling to this…BELIEVE this…and find our peace in You and be thankful this day. I feel like our family is now living in a time of plenty. Thank you Jesus! And I am so excited to open our hearts and home in our plenty to another babe. Oh that we would use all that the Lord has given and blessed us with for HIS glory!

And today to remember many things we are thankful for…we’ll be taking our leaves of thankgiving off of our Thanksgiving tree that we have thought about all month…

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Putting them in this jar given from Judy in our Thankgiving basket…
And sharing them later…and throughout the year…to remember all the reasons we are thankful!

[One of the thankfuls that MUST be shared…Laney’s: “Mermaid Shout”. This is one of the reasons Laney (3) is thankful this year. Just in case you didn’t know–a mermaid shout is what a mermaid can do when she needs help…and for my 3 year old…this is truly something to be thankful for;)]

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Kristi J - November 27, 2009 - 8:26 pm

too cute…love it, kj

The Story of Lilly - November 28, 2009 - 6:29 pm

LOVE the thankful tree!!!

I am thankful… » Babe of my Heart - November 3, 2010 - 12:26 am

[…] painted our tree on kraft paper so it could be displayed and then thrown away later. You can see it here. I bought a little die cut last here at Hobby Lobby that is shaped like little leaves. Each day my […]

This needs to be a bumper sticker…

11.24.2009

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Jenn - November 24, 2009 - 7:18 pm

HA HA!!! Man…I got a new phone and I can barely figure out how to dial the dumb thing…let alone text with it 🙂

Have a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving!! Let's touch base next week when we get some new numbers 🙂

Jenn

Jennifer - November 24, 2009 - 7:46 pm

That is so cute!! I am glad I don't text at all! 🙂

Kristi J - November 24, 2009 - 9:56 pm

hilarious…I still can't text yet…I'm way too slow 🙂 kj

Kelley Brown - November 25, 2009 - 7:14 am

This is hilarious! I saw someone doing that the other day, driving 10 miles an hour, and it drove me nuts! 🙂

Lauren - November 25, 2009 - 7:40 am

LOVE IT!!!

Momma bought your crib today!

11.23.2009

I went ahead and did the inevitable…and bought a crib for our little one since Mr.Frank has at least another year and a half or two in his (he just turned 1 two weeks ago)! Finding one that would work was a bit tricky because I needed the crib to be under 40 inches in height for a little nursery plany, plan. Frank’s crib is white–so I decided to do something different…and since baby #4’s nursery will be in the office off of our bedroom and our furniture is dark wood…we got this…

A little bit of a modern look I know—which is so not my style. But I need it to go in a perfect little nook that has a incline on the ceiling…which WOULD be perfect to hang a mobile from…IF I was mobile person…which I’m not. But if I was…it would be perfect. Anyway, here’s our find…

It can convert later to this…I know this is super blocky—but I do have a plan:) As if that rail would really keep a toddler in it;) Having this baby in the office off our room should be really entertaining!

And if you are an almost 4th time mommy like me…you know the real trick to peace is not the bed—but it’s the bedding (interior of crib bumpers) and paint color. That bedding above would make for one stimulated baby! Cute yes, and awake, stimulated baby too. Not what I like to go for in the nursery;).

I always have to smile at myself thinking of my first baby’s nursery—it was VERY busy with lots of colors, lots of busyness and lots of decorations. It took me awhile to figure out why it took the little booger so long to go to sleep (finally a seasoned mom peaked in the nursery, turned the bedding to the solid side…and WA LA! Peace, rest…NAPS!) He just had too much to look at! And then I was a firm believer on how an environment can effect rest. So, now—to find or make peaceful bedding bedding baby #4. This is my Frank’s peaceful place…with a blue serene ceiling for him to see while he lays. I do love prints too—so I always just have the fabrics with prints put on the outside of the crib bumpers and solids on the interior…

Yes, maybe too soft for a boy—but I’m going for a good nap schedule here people.

I’m also a believer on paint choices and how the environment can change a mood. A little Young trivia, every nursery has had the walls or ceiling painted a light blue…even Laney’s wall were light blue!!! I’m a nut about good rest so blue has always been a part of my baby’s rooms. And it was well worth working around it! Check out what studies say how a room color effects your mood:

RED

Raise room energy level. A great choice when you want to stir up excitement (dining/living). Red raises blood pressure, breathing and heartrate.

YELLOW

Yellow is energizing and uplifting. People lose tempers more in a yellow room and babies cry more. This feeling can create a feeling of frustration and anxiety.

BLUE

Blue brings down blood pressure and heart rate. Calming, relaxing, serene. Light blue creates calming effect.

GREEN

Green is considered the most restful color for the eye. Combining a color of blue and green creates refreshing cheerfulness. Green also has a calming effect.

PURPLE

In a darker hue creates creativity and lighter lilacs brings the same restful quality as blue.

ORANGE

Evokes excitement, enthusiasm and energy. This color is best for an exercise room. In anxient cultures orange was use to increase energy levels.

Now, once the babies turn 3 and 4 there’s NO calming them down…so that’s when I paint their room whatever color I wanted to to begin with:). Guess we better get out the blue paint once again…or maybe not…my office is olive green…and that wouldn’t be such a bad thing either!

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Beautiful Mess - November 24, 2009 - 7:47 am

That is a GREAT crib. Love it!

and paint color is totally important–I am right there with you 🙂

Brian and Heather - November 24, 2009 - 7:49 am

I remember how excited I was the day we got our crib for Isaiah =) How fun! And thanks for sharing about the colors…I'm a first time mom so I was excited to see that my color choice, light blue, was in the calm category. You'll have to share a picture when you've got his cozy room ready!

BringOurAngelHome - November 24, 2009 - 11:48 am

I've been thinking a lot about painting my son's room a light blue. When I was pregnant with him we were remodeling THE ENTIRE HOUSE and I was so sick of painting at that point. We painted it beige before we knew he was a boy. But, I think I'm ready for a change now! You're right about setting the mood though! =)

Lauren - November 24, 2009 - 11:57 am

Our master bedroom is a pale mint green and the curtains and bedding are all white … it's so light and airy! I never have any trouble falling asleep and relaxing with a book – now I know why!!

We're planning on doing our nursery with simple solids too (though I love pattern too) … and I think we want to continue the muted, pale green

Thanks for all the color info! 🙂

Kelley Brown - November 24, 2009 - 1:49 pm

You have such great insight on decor. 🙂 By the way, your last comment to me meant so much…I love how you "get it" and know exactly the emotions I feel. Thanks for validating my thoughts! 🙂 Any more updates for ya'll?

Jenn - November 24, 2009 - 2:54 pm

uh…so you're saying my mod polka dots might be a bit too much huh?? ha! oh well…I am a pattern kind of gal. nothing in my house is serene and quiet! although Frank's nursery is beautiful!! And I LOVE the new crib! I think it is a good mix of modern and classic with the dark wood!!

Jenn

Sam - November 25, 2009 - 3:56 pm

I love Frank's room. It's so precious. The new crib is beautiful.

This makes me feel more confident about choosing lilac and sage for our LO's nursery! Hopefully those colors will balance out the black and white damask, stripes, and polka dots . . . . 🙂

The Story of Moses

11.23.2009

Getting geared up to stop by photography business and be 100% mommy ALL THE TIME has my creative juices flowing…and I’ve been thinking about pouring into my babies more and more at home. Granted I was just photographying families 2 days a week—but if you are a photographer, you know what goes in behind the scences with 2 days a week of work. I often felt very distracted at home and not 100% there…feeling like I had to answer my phone when it rang in case it was a client, thinking about the emails that needed to be returned and going over my “to order” list always in my brain. I’m so excited to be closing shop and focusing more on my role as mommy!!!

I have always loved stories on felt–I’m a visual learner. So to help my children learn Bible stories, I invested in Betty Lukens Bible Felt Stories. You can buy yours here: http://www.bettylukens.com/ We are having fun with the stories (not so much fun cutting them out…but the end product is worth it!) There are a few stories you can purchase pre-cut:)

Here are the stories in action (please excuse my Pharoah upclose craziness and voice over)…this is just real life…but if you can get through my Pharoah voice over…Laney’s part is just too cute in her squeaky voice at the end:) The great part of this is mommy can teach and tell the story, and then you can sit back…sip your coffee…and be entertained as they retell you and their siblings their version! It’s really too cute to hear how they understand and take in each story!

Not only is this great for the kids–but it will bless you too as you rethink some of the greatest stories written about in the Bible. Today I have been thinking so much about how the Lord involved the princess and Jechebed to raise Moses. I immediately begin to think of our baby’s birth mother, wonder whether we will get to meet her if she is still living (something our agency requires if they are living) and how I can minister to her during that encounter. Oh Lord, prepare my heart!

We are off to delivery a meal to a friend…and then try our best to make the most of this murky, gloomy day! I ordered our Christmas cards yesterday—and created some prayer bookmarks to go in them. Can’t wait for them to come in!!! And I’m world’s worst about keeping up with addresses, so email me your address if you are blog friend and want us to send you one! We’d love to share our card and prayer bookmark with as many friends out there as we can as we covet all of your prayers now and in 2010! XOXO!

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