A Joy Filled Home

By Nicole VanGelder

Family Devotional: Through the Bible Series: Genesis

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This devotional is not created to replace a Bible Reading plan or your personal daily connection time with the Lord. Instead, they are meant to be a short, easy time of connection between both your family and the Lord. If you’d like, read the entirety of the scripture focus as a family. You can do this out of a “regular” version of the Bible, or you can find it in a Children’s Bible. In either case, I encourage you to find a version that you are comfortable with and is easy to understand for you and your children. If your children are old enough, have them read along in their own Bibles! If the reading is too long, you can do the devotional by reading only the verse highlight instead. 

Also, it can be helpful to reiterate the value for the Bible each time you read from it, as well as ask the Lord to speak to you and help you to understand and know Him. You can do this through a simple prayer like this, “Thank you Lord for giving us your words in the Bible. We know that your words are true. Please help us to understand them. Help us to know you and your ways and live according to them. Amen.”

Scripture Focus: Genesis 1-2 

Verse Highlight: Genesis 1:31 “God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.”

Introduction Question: What is something in your life that you would describe as “very good”? 

Discussion: It’s hard, if not impossible, to imagine what it would have been like to witness the creation of the world. Most of us have made something in our lives—a picture perhaps or a lego building. When we cook, we take ingredients and form them into an entirely new dish or product. But, we all start with something. Art materials, ingredients, blocks, and so on. It is beyond our understanding to make something from nothing. Yet, that is exactly what God did! The Bible tells us that God created everything out of nothing. He spoke and out of His words life came! He spoke the earth and all that is in it—plants, animals, the sea, and dry land—into being. He spoke and the earth and planets and stars were born. He spoke and time itself was created! All the Lord had to do was speak and things came into existence. That is difficult to understand, but it helps us to know how powerful the Lord actually is!

And, no only that, but when He was done, everything God was created was very good. Nothing God created was not good. This is because God is powerful, but (thankfully!) He is also good! His ideas are good. His ways are good. And his Because of this, we can trust Him. 

One last thing: Just like God created the world around us, He created people! In fact, it was people that He created in His own image. That means that He created each of us to be like Him. Because of this, we should have great value for ourselves and others because we all were created in the image of a God who is  both powerful and good. 

What is one way you see the goodness of God in the people in our family? What is one way you see the goodness of God in the way you were created?

Closing Activity: Close in prayer together. Have each person in your family thank the Lord for the person on their right. 

Bonus Activity: Color the giraffe coloring page and share the following facts about the way that they were created. 

giraffee coloring page

giraffee coloring page

Did you know that scientist can’t figure out how giraffes were created? In fact, each giraffe can be considered a mini miracle! This is because of the way their heart pressure works. Your heart pumps blood through your whole body. This is important because blood carries nutrients that your body needs. The force your heart is pumping with helps to determine your blood pressure. A giraffe needs high blood pressure to get blood all the way around its body. Do you know why? Because it has such a long neck! If it didn’t have high enough blood pressure, the blood would not make it up to its head. So, it makes sense that God would create the giraffe to have high blood pressure. But, there is one thing that could be a big problem. In order to drink water, giraffes need to bend down. Because of their high blood pressure, when they bend down, this could (and should!) cause them problems! In fact, with their rate of blood pressure, it their heads could be expected to explode when they bend down! Yet, we don’t hear about exploding giraffes. (And, if it were to happen, we can be sure that not only would we hear about it, but there would probably be some viral videos, too.) We also don’t hear about fainting giraffes. Have you ever gotten light headed when you stand up real fast? This is related to your blood pressure and your body adjusting as you go from sitting to standing. This is the miracle part: God created giraffes so that their blood pressure would adjust so that they could safely bend down to drink water and then stand back up without problems, but no one can figure out how He did this! Scientist are starting to understand a little, but they still have a long way to go to decoding this mystery. Yet, God easily created this unique and beautiful animal. This is because God is much smarter than we are. He is powerful. He is smart. And He is good. He created giraffes and all the rest of the animals and world, even people! So when we look around us we can see God’s beauty, wisdom and creativity. 

A Devotional for Moms: “Suddenly” happens on the Journey–so does Grace!

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Verse Highlight:

John 1:17 “For of [Christ’s] fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.  For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized [or came into being] through Jesus Christ.”

Dear Moms, 

My husband recently shared a story about what childbirth has been like for me. I don’t know what your process has been like, but I’m do know that it has had beauty and pain unique to you and your journey. In my case, my body doesn’t go into labor on its own and when I am in labor, it is back labor that doesn’t easily progress. As a result, my labor is induced and tends to be lengthy without much progress at all until, suddenly. Suddenly! Things start to happen. I once had a nurse check me because of the pain and urge to push that I was experiencing. She was doubtful that anything had happened, but checked me because I asked. She quickly told me to close my legs and not push, as she rushed to get the doctor because I was “suddenly” completely dilated and ready. 

The truth is that none of my labors, personally, were sudden. They all took hours of time (and Pitocin and other help) to occur. Yet, they often felt “sudden” when it was time for the baby to actually come. This is a lot like motherhood—and life in general, for that matter. A lot of motherhood is made up of small moments and the mundane interactions and tasks of daily life. But, then big moments come “suddenly”. Suddenly your infant is a toddler, who suddenly becomes a Preschooler and so on until you are looking at your baby in adult form! 

This is why it is important to make the most of every season. Every season matters. The small moments are what form the basis for the big ones. The relationships that are formed in daily life will become the foundation for your life-long connection. Every season matters and I’ve heard people say that you don’t need to enjoy them all. That it’s enough to simply get through them. And, I understand that. However, I want to challenge that notion. 

The word enjoy has joy right in it! And joy is not merely a fleeting emotion based on circumstances—and thank goodness! Joy is something that you cultivate in your inner life. It is possible to have joy no matter what is happening around you. Please don’t misunderstand, I’m not saying that some (maybe even all?) seasons don’t contain grief or the stress of trials. I’m not talking about a surface smile that betrays the inner struggle or pain that may be happening in your heart. Part of your journey is learning how to experience the fullness of emotions without letting them shipwreck your journey! But, it is possible to have joy in every season. I think it is actually important! It is part of growing your character. Learning how to be content in every season. Learning how to live with peace and joy in your daily life—always. 

The good news is that there is grace for this. The bad news is that grace is received in a process. 

John 1:16-17 “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’” For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.”

Of Jesus’s fullness we have received, and grace upon grace. Of Jesus’s fullness you have received, and grace upon grace. This passage isn’t talking about motherhood or daily life. But, His grace works the same way. You have already received everything you need through Jesus. He is the key to joy, peace, love, contentment, mercy, grace, provision, and so on. He is the key to everything! So, today, I want to challenge you to find in Him all that you need to face your day with grace. And even with joy. Before you know it, this season will have passed and you will “suddenly” find yourself in a new one, so don’t miss the treasures this season contains while it is here!

Today’s Action Step:

Start a habit of thankfulness. Each day, spend time genuinely thanking the Lord for specific people, opportunities, and so on. You will find that as you do this, your heart will change. You will find it grows with affection and true gratitude to the Lord for His Presence and the gifts He has given in every area of your life. 

I don’t know what your day faces or what this season is like for you. I know these past two years have created some sort of weariness in all of us. But, this is a new year filled with new opportunities to find grace and joy in it all. You’ve got this, Mama! Grace to you! May you find joy in each season, starting with today! ❤️

Family Devotionals — Tips & “How Tos”

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I can (faintly) remember regular uninterrupted quiet times: early morning prayer times, late nights in the Word. In depth Bible studies & rich community life around them. Then I had children. 

It would be an exaggeration to say that this completely stopped, but the form it took certainly changed. I’ve since discovered that—like most things—my “quiet times” or personal “devotion” times change from season to season. In some ways this has created a much deeper & more authentic connection with the Lord for me. I have learned how to connect with Him throughout my days, not just in uninterrupted time blocks. The result of this is a relationship that is much more “real” than religious. And sometimes (for example: adjusting to a new baby, going through a sickness, etc.) it is all you can do to maintain any type of connection to the Lord because there is no capacity for more than the whispered prayers of your heart. And the good news is that the Lord remains constant even in seasons like this! He is gentle & kind, faithful & full of mercy & grace. 

But, those seasons should be temporary. It is important to find ways to prioritize your connection with the Lord in more proactive ways. One way that I do this is by having consistent “Family Devotionals”. Let me warn you: this is not for the faint of heart! Kids (especially younger kids) are not built to sit quietly for long periods of time. Life doesn’t stop simply because you open your Bible or turn your heart towards the Lord in prayer. But, let me also encourage you: not only does it grow better over time, but the rewards of this time are immeasurable (both here & now & in eternity someday)!

So, today I am going to share a few things I’ve learned over the years with hopes that it will help you to create special times of connection between you, your family, and the Lord. 

  1. Create a Consistent Time, Place & Name

First, it is very helpful to create a consistent time and place to have family devotionals. Notice that I said “create” not find. Rarely will you find time for anything. Life is usually too busy for that! Instead, you will need to create time for the things you value. And this should be something you value greatly! So, create time in your schedule for regular “Family Devotions”. Also, you don’t need to call it “Family Devotions” but do create a name for this time! That way your family will begin to understand the expectations around this experience. I also recommend stocking up on Bibles (children’s versions if you have younger kids), journals, coloring supplies, worship music & any other supplies that will be helpful to have on hand during this time. (Create a space to keep these, too. That way each time your Family Devotional is set to begin, everything you need is on hand already.)

Also, it is okay to start small and work your way up. What I mean by this is that you don’t need to find hours of time each day in order to feel like you are successful. Instead, maybe you start once a week and work your way up from there. It’s also okay if you don’t ever do it every day! The point is to create consistent points of connection between you, your family & the Lord; to show value for the Lord; and to create space to help your children learn practical skills for connecting with the Lord in His Word, in prayer, and in times of worship. 

  1. Consistent Values, Various Methods

Determine from the beginning what values are driving your Family Devotional time. Why is this important for you & your family? Once that is clearly answered you may need to experiment a little bit to find the best way(s) to accomplish your goal. Also, as your children grow in age & in their understanding of & relationship to the Lord, the way this time is structured should changed, too. Also, it can simply be fun to use different methods from time to time. Perhaps you want to use a devotional book where everything is already prepared for you. Maybe you will read through a specific book of the Bible together. Whatever method you use, I recommend that you make sure your time includes:

  • Prayer—Make sure to start your time together with prayer. It can simply be a “Thank you, Father that you are with us. We turn our hearts to you right now & ask for you to speak to us & help us understand your heart & words. Draw us close to you & each other during this time. Amen.” It is also good to spend time in prayer for people or situations that you know that need prayer, as well as to regularly spend time thanking the Lord and worshiping Him with your words. I do recommend that you find ways to let everyone participate (out loud), though not everyone needs to participate each time. Also, remember that prayer should be talking & listening! (And I highly recommend sharing what you are hearing the Lord say with each other & taking note of what is said in a journal or something. I have had the Lord speak powerfully in my life by listening to what my young kids were sharing during times like this!)
  • Worship—Worship is often associated with music and for good reason. This was true even in Biblical times. If you are able to lead worship musically yourself, that can be helpful for this time! My husband sometimes does this for us on the guitar. Otherwise, I will play different worship music (using my phone) and the kids & I will lead worship that way. There are some very powerful songs that can help create special moments in God’s Presence this way! It is helpful also to play the same music often enough that you are familiar with it & can easily sing along & have a general understanding of what the song is about. I also allow my kids to dance or draw & color during times of worship, encouraging them to make sure what they are doing is in connection to worship of the Lord. I don’t enforce any specific rules over standing or sitting, etc. as I long ago learned that what was happening outwardly may not accurately reflect what is happening inwardly. However, I do make my kids participate with this time. Also, it is important to note that music is not necessary for times of worship! Reading a Psalm, sharing prayers of worship, writing a poem in praise of the Lord, etc…there are many ways to worship. So don’t feel constrained by what your picture of “worship” may be. The important thing is to connect your heart in awe & wonder of the Lord and then express that awe to Him!
  • The Word—One of the main ways that the Lord connects with us & teaches us is through the Bible. It can be difficult for us to understand how precious this book truly is, simply because we have such easy access to it. But, the Words in it are of such great value that people in other nations will risk their lives for it! That isn’t because it is a religious text, but because it contains the very words of God—the words of life. But, with that said, getting through it can be difficult. It was written in other languages, to people of other cultures and time periods so it shouldn’t be surprising that it can be difficult to understand! The good news is that there are a lot of tools to help. If you are new to reading the Bible, I encourage you to find a devotional book that can help you understand as you read. It is also helpful to start reading in one of the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke or John (at the beginning of the New Testament). Also, I personally love to read in different translations. (There are apps that make this possible for free too, like Bible Gateway.) 

Our family uses a Bible Reading Plan for our family devotional now, as so many of our children are now old enough to read on their own. We open in prayer, spend some time in worship, then will read on our own (the little ones read in a children’s Bible, color or look at books during this time) then come back and share what stuck out to us as we read, and then close in a time of prayer. However, for years, this wasn’t the case. Instead, I shared a Bible story or passage & we had discussion / activity around it. (Sometimes these were from a devotional book, but often we just created them on our own as we went.) Whatever method you use, take some time to learn about the Bible a bit/use tools to help you & your family grow comfortable & confident reading the Bible personally. 

  • Connection—This may go without saying, but the point of doing Family Devotionals is to create connection with God and also each other! It is helpful to keep this in mind because that will change the way you approach this time. It isn’t about you simply connecting with the Lord. You also want to connect your hearts with each other too. This means that you value what is happening with your family during this time too! As you patiently listen to them & invite them into the process, you will find that your relationship with both them and the Lord deepens as a result!
  1. Keep Little Hands Busy

Practically speaking, it is always helpful to have a plan to keep little hands busy! The ultimate goal is for your kids to learn how to (quietly, when appropriate!) connect with the Lord themselves. But, younger children may have difficulty sitting quietly for the duration of your Family Devotional time. To avoid frustration at this, be prepared to keep them busy! Provide coloring materials, books to look at, or other “quiet” activities to keep them busy. Let them move around (as quietly as possible). Encourage them to dance & participate when possible during times of worship. Include them in short prayers. The point is to make them a part of this time, but don’t get frustrated if they are not at the development level needed for your ideal devotional time. Instead, find ways to engage them & then let them be. As they grow the way they engage will grow too, and you don’t want this time to be one that is filled with conflict or dread for either of you. 

  1. Teach, model, then let your kids make it their own. 

There are many benefits to creating consistent Family Devotionals. You will find it is good for your heart and relationships! However, one of the purposes of this time is to empower & equip your children to connect with the Lord personally themselves—long after they are no longer living in your home. This means that you need to find ways to help them to “do the stuff” themselves so that they grow comfortable and confident in their own prayer lives and connection with the Bible, etc. Because of this, it is extremely helpful to teach them but not try to control them! Their relationship may look different than yours! Their expressions of worship may look different! Perhaps they dance before the Lord or use other creative expressions. Their time in the Bible may look different! Maybe they find life in a Bible Translation you don’t. And so on and so forth. With this in mind, consider the values you are trying to instill in your kids: a love for the Bible? A personal connection with God? A heart of worship? A fruitful prayer life? (And so on.) Ask the Lord to help draw your kids into those thing, then do your best to lead, but trust Him to be the One to actually establish that firm foundation in your children’s hearts & lives. Also, it is important to note that your children will learn from you both as you intentionally teach them and as you live. So do your best to live and grow in these values in your personal life, too. 

  1. Family Devotionals are not a task but a value, so stick with it!!

You are growing a relationship not merely passing down a religion. So, value the experience & use the experience to practice your values! Remember, children loved Jesus! And He loved them. This is just as true today as it was then! So, these times should be fun & full of life, light & connection. Keeping this in mind during your Family Devotional times helps you to value the right things and let go of the things that maybe seem important but actually aren’t. What a bummer if your Family Devotions end up bringing out the worst in your family as you struggle to control behavior and people. That is a sign that something is off. Unfortunately, this time won’t always go the way you hope or want. Some days will be better than others. Sometimes you will see amazing fruit & sometimes you will wonder if anything good is happening. But, if you stick with it, it will be worth it. You will do far more than pass down a religious practice or family value. You will connect your hearts firmly to one another and the Savior Himself. 

Blessings to you!

12 Days of Christmas Family Fun: Giving

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I used to be concerned with how much stuff my kids would accumulate over Christmas. The problem (in my eyes) was that their grandparents spoiled them! And, Jamey & I wanted in on the fun of giving gifts, too! By the time Christmas was over, the amount of gifts was quite staggering. How could I ever raise kids that are generous, thankful and good stewards of what they have been given in circumstances like these?

I do think these are important values to raise my kids with. But, over time, I have realized that my concerns are misplaced. I wanted to limit something in order for something else to grow. And that isn’t how it works. No matter what your circumstances—plenty or want, good times or bad—you need to purposely cultivate the character you would like to produce. And a good place to start is by cultivating it in your life, too! That way you and your family are on the journey together. And at the end of it there will be authentic, tangible results. 

At Christmas—and all the time—it is important to cultivate generosity towards others! This included people both inside and outside of your home. It encompasses finances, certainly. But, it also is much bigger. It is about respect and kindness, humility and thankfulness. There are so many things to be said on this topic! But, for the sake of this short blog, I will only be concentrating on a couple practical things that are mainly financial in nature. Please know that generosity in finances is important, but (in my opinion) it is possible to give financially without actually being generous of heart, which misses much of the point. Cultivating a generous and kind heart in ourselves and our children is a lifelong mission, not just a Christmas time activity. 

With that said, here are some practical ways to practice generosity: 

  1. Teach your kids to share.

Obviously, I know. But, this is a skill that needs to be developed. It is not always easy to share! It is not particularly easy to share the things most precious to us or when things are demanded of us. Teaching our kids to share and be generous even when they don’t feel like it, is important. (This extends beyond sharing stuff into sharing time, skill, care, etc.)

  1. Don’t be concerned with “fair”.

We tell our children that we aren’t concerned about life being fair and they shouldn’t be either. Instead, we will treat everyone well. It isn’t possible to do both because inevitably what is good for one child isn’t for another. Opportunities are are not always equal or controllable. So, instead of worrying about fair—how many gifts each child gets, for example—we will do our best to treat everyone well. 

  1. Give “as you go” / when the opportunity presents itself. 

We make it a habit to keep money, gift cards, necessities with us as we go places and as we see people in need, we freely give it. If possible we pray with the person or offer a kind word as well, but no matter what it is important to treat people with value! There is no need for judgement and kindness is the rule. This also shouldn’t be treated as a big deal, either. It is simply treating others the way we want to be treated. 

  1. Give gifts of love. 

These can be small. They don’t need to be expensive. They can be handmade—treats, cards, pictures, etc. Several times around different holidays the kids and I have put together small care packages for friends and neighbors. Sometimes it is a homemade treat. Other times it is small gifts we have purchased (a favorite card game, for example). Every time it is planned and prepared with love. A token to say, “We are thankful for you! Thank you for being in our lives.” We drive around and deliver them, usually as a surprise, and it is so much fun for all of us!

  1. Give intentionally to causes & organizations you care about. 

There are so many options out there that it can be overwhelming! But, the good news is that there are a lot of great options—from large organizations (like charitywater) to small single person run businesses (like Red Moon Weaving), you don’t need to have a large budget to contribute in significant ways. We give our kids the opportunity to give, but even when they are unable to contribute financially, I occasionally mention different organizations we support financially so that our children a) feel like they are a part of it (because they are!) and, b) as a part of helping our kids learn healthy financial habits. 

No matter your philosophy around gifts this Christmas, generosity is important all year long. Blessings to you and your family as you practice it together!

12 Days of Christmas Family Fun – Secret Santa

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One of our family traditions during Christmas is that our kids do a “Secret Santa” with each other. We put each child’s name in a hat & they take turns drawing names.

The rules:

  1. They can’t tell anyone who they have, except mom & dad. (We keep a master list in case anyone forgets, too.)
  2. There is a minimum amount they must spend. Mom & Dad contribute to this, too. (The amount depends on age, as the younger kids don’t have jobs or the same ability to make money.) We don’t set a maximum amount, however. 
  3. You can also buy gifts for other siblings, if you want. Some years a child or two will buy a small gift for everyone, some kids make things. It depends on the year. There is no pressure to do this, but we also don’t limit their generosity either! Some kids LOVE giving gifts & it is important to them to do so. Other times a child will want to give a gift related to a special moment or connection they have with a sibling, even though that sibling is not their “Secret Santa”. We are okay with this. Our concern is that all in our home are treated very well, so we are not concerned with being “fair”.
  4. Even our youngest children participate (though mom & dad do most of the work when they are quite young).

We also create a list together of gift ideas with a reasonable price range & then we find a day (or two) to shop together! This is always so much fun!! While we go together as a large group, we split up when necessary to make secret purchases, etc. It seems like it would be difficult to do this & keep our secrets, but everyone does a good job of not paying too much attention to what others are doing & instead concentrating on their own mission of finding a gift for their assigned person.

I love this tradition because we have a lot of fun doing it, but also because it draws our kids’ hearts towards each other as they excitedly plan good surprises for one another. It also leaves them with treasured gifts & memories. 

Thanksgiving Family Fun

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It can be hard to manage all the details of Thanksgiving day. Either you are traveling and dealing with all that goes with that, or you are preparing a meal yourself. (I’ve done both, sometimes in the same year! And they both present their own challenges!) So, trying to create special family moments can feel like too much. The good news, though, is that there are a lot of easy ways to add some extra flair—and family fun—to your Thanksgiving.

Following you’ll find some of our favorite family traditions. (We don’t always do them on Thanksgiving Day. Some we do “Thanksgiving Eve” or the week leading up to it.) 

charlie brownCHARLIE BROWN’S THANKSGIVING:

Every year we watch “Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving”. Despite a shocking lack of parental involvement, the familiar faces of Charlie & his friends add a special element to our Thanksgiving. We have a “feast” with the Peanuts of the same food that Snoopy and Woodstock prepare for them—popcorn, jellybeans, toast and pretzels. 

THANKFULNESS TREE:

Shared in another post, you can find it here.

CANDY TURKEYS:

This varies a little year by year, but a few of our favorites have been:

four turkeysOREO TURKEYS:

These are the simplest candy turkeys and turn out so cute!

Supplies Needed: Oreo Cookes, Candy Eyes (available at most grocery stores), Candy Corn, Butterscotch or Peanut Butter Chips, melted chocolate or frosting

Directions: Place candy corn inside of the top of the Oreo cookie to be the turkey feathers. Then “glue” on the eyes and a butterscotch/peanut butter chip with melted chocolate or frosting. If you’d like, you can use the melted chocolate to “glue” the Oreo on top of another cookie to make the turkey stand up.  

 

OREO & PB CUP TURKEYS:Oreo & PB Cup Turkey

Similar to the above turkeys, these are slightly more complex, but even younger kids enjoy making them!

Supplies Needed: Oreo Cookies, Mini Peanut Butter Cups, Candy Corn, Candy Eyes, red frosting, melted chocolate or frosting

Directions: Insert candy corn into a Oreo cookie to be the turkey’s tail feathers. “Glue” the peanut butter cup to the front of the cookie with the melted chocolate or frosting. Then, cut candy corn and mold with your hands to create the beak (you can also use orange gummy candy like Dots for this, do the same thing, cut it to the right size and mold it to the shape you want). “Glue” the beak and eyes to the the front of the cookie above the peanut butter cup. Then “glue” the whole thing on to the top of a cookie that is lying flat to make it stand up.

RICE CEREAL TREAT TURKEYS: 

eliana's turkeyThese take a little more help for younger kids, but are worth the effort! 

Supplies Needed: Rice Cereal Treats Ingredients, melted chocolate coating (make your own with chocolate and shortening or find it ready to melt at the grocery store), candy eyes, red & orange fondant or frosting, cake pop sticks

Directions: Using the fondant, cut out orange triangles for beaks and small red “”wattles” to hang down from the beak. Then follow the directions on a box of rice cereal or marshmallows to make rice cereal treats. Then, form small squares or “turkey” shapes and insert a cake pop stick. (One of our more artistic daughter’s once crafted legs instead, as you can see in the picture. She used toothpicks, orange fondant and melted chocolate.) Make chocolate candy coating and dip the rice cereal treats in the coating until it is covered evenly. Last, add the candy eyes, nose & wattle. If you do this before it is dry, it should automatically stick. Otherwise, use a little more melted chocolate to “glue” them into place. Let dry on wax paper.

CINNAMON ROLL TURKEYS:

I know it is a little bit of overkill on a day already packed with food. But, we start each Thanksgiving with a cinnamon roll turkey. And, I cinnamon turkeyhave to admit, I look forward to it as much as the kids do each year! Plus, we add hard boiled eggs & its an easy & fun, connective breakfast on a busy day. 

Supplies Needed: Large canned refrigerator cinnamon rolls, bacon, small straight stick pretzels, candy corn, candy eyes, red frosting

Directions: Bake the cinnamon rolls as directed, first taking time to tuck in one end to create a flat face/neck. Then frost. Add cooked bacon in between the outer two layers on one side to the be tail feathers (see picture). Then add candy eyes, a candy corn nose, and a small drop of red frosting to be the “wattle”. As a final touch, add pretzel “feet”. 

I hope these add some special family fun to your special day!
Happiest of Thanksgivings from our family to yours! 

A Homeschool Thanksgiving

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give thanksHello, my friends!

I had plans—great plans!—to put together a comprehensive Thanksgiving Unit for you all to enjoy in the days approaching the holiday this year. However, you know what they say about plans. As our family has been going through Covid the past several weeks (or more accurately, covid has been going through our family) plans have changed! Lol. Thankfully, we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and hopefully life will be returning to our version of normal very soon. However, I didn’t want to wait until then to try and get this together, as Thanksgiving is approaching quickly! 

The good news for you is that there are many resources available on-line to help you create a special Thanksgiving homeschool experience. Some years, we have gone all out and done entire units, other years (like this one) I just throw in one or two extra activities to celebrate the holiday. So, here are a few of the things we have done & enjoyed in the past. I hope you enjoy them too. Happiest of Thanksgivings to you all! 

A few of the Thanksgiving Homeschool Books we have used:

  • “Squanto: Friend of The Pilgrims” by Clyde Robert Bulla,  A simplistic chapter book that tells the story of Squanto (Tisquantum)’s life.
  • “Squanto’s Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving” by Joseph Bruchac, Illustrated by Greg Shed, A beautifully illustrated picture book for kids, told from Squanto’s perspective. 
  • “Almost Home: A Story Based on the Life of the Mayflower’s Young Mary Chilton” by Wendy Lawton  The story of what it was like to be one of the pilgrims, as told from a young, teenage girl’s perspective. 
  • “Thanksgiving on Thursday” a Magic Treehouse Book by Mary Pope Osborne

Also, fun for younger children: 

  • “In November” by Cynthia Rylant
  • “Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving” by James Dean
  • “The Thank You Book” (An Elephant and Piggie Book) by Mo Willems
  • “Thank You, Omu!” By One Mora (Not a thanksgiving book, but a great book about sharing and showing thanks.)

Writing Prompts:

  • It was the night before Thanksgiving and …
  • Thanksgiving told from the turkey’s perspective
  • This year, I am most thankful….
  • Imagine you were on the Mayflower
  • What is your favorite Thanksgiving tradition and why?
  • Thanksgiving Acrostic Poem 
  • How many words can you make out of the letters in “Thanksgiving”
  • List of 10* things I am thankful for 

*note: I adjust the number according to the age / writing level of the child completing it

Other:

  • Research the original Thanksgiving menu, bonus if you can find & execute a recipe
  • Research games kids would have played in 1621
  • Find out when Thanksgiving became a nationally recognized holiday. And, was it always celebrated on the the same Thursday in November?

 

Download a template for a Thanksgiving Acrostic Here Thanksgiving-Acrostic

Lined paper with a thanksgiving theme. Can be used with writing activities:  Give Thanks Paper and Thanksgiving Turkey Writing Paper

 

 

Proverbs 5:1-2 Family Devotional

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family devotional

Supplies needed: 1 egg, your family, this devotional

Optional: Bible, Journal, Pen/Pencil

Begin with a short prayer thanking the Lord for this time & asking Him to speak to you & teach you.  Then read and discuss the following: (Note: encourage everyone to participate as appropriate for their age level! This is important for retaining and understanding the material.)

Proverbs 5:1 – 2 “My son, give attention to my wisdom, Incline your ear to my understanding; That you may observe discretion And your lips may reserve knowledge.” (NASB)

“Give attention to my wisdom” “Incline your ear to my understanding”

What does it mean to do those thing? How do you do it? To understand, let’s think about the words used. Give attention. What is something that you pay attention to? 

Incline your ear. What do you use your ears for? How do you listen?

Another way to say this is, “My son, pay attention to my wisdom; listen carefully to my wise counsel.” (NLT) 

Pay attention! Listen carefully!

When you are doing something carefully, you are taking care with it.  We have an activity to do that will help us to remember what it means to be careful. 

Have everyone stand up in a circle. Take the egg and pass it around the circle. Then take a step back & pass the egg again. Repeat this as long as you are comfortable. The goal is to not break the egg. (If it does get broken, that is a lesson too! So, simply clean it up & use it as an example during the rest of the devotional.)

We treated the egg with care, because we didn’t want it to get broken. If we are trying to be careful with something, it changes how we treat it. How do you think we can treat God’s Words with care? 

One reason we are supposed to treat God’s Words with care, is because of what it will lead to. According to this verse, if we do that, then we will “observe discretion and our lips will reserve discretion”. What in the world does that mean? 

Well, let’s read it another way. In the Message Bible, it says it this way: “Then you’ll acquire a taste for good sense; what I tell you will keep you out of trouble.”

We were careful with the egg because we didn’t want to break it. We should be careful to pay attention to God’s Words because we want to live well. He knows best how to live. He knows what actions and values will lead us into good lives—and He wants us to live good lives! He wants things to go well for us! So, it’s important that we listen to Him so we can learn His ways. If we do, the result will be that we live good lives. 

Close in prayer. Thank the Lord for teaching you and leading you all into connection with Him. Pray over your family that you all would know Him and walk according to His ways all your days. 

Cultivating Thankfulness

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thamkfulI recently started practicing thankfulness on purpose. It isn’t that I wasn’t thankful before. In fact, I often found myself thanking the Lord in amazement at His goodness, especially during times of worship & prayer, while tucking my kids in at night, or other moments of awareness of specific blessings in my life. However, I wasn’t purposely cultivating it. It was more of a background noise. Something I took for granted as being true, not something that I gave much attention to making sure was proved through my behavior or consistent heart attitude. 

What I’ve discovered is that practicing thankfulness—cultivating gratitude—is quite different. So is its impact. For me, growing a grateful heart has also grown my patience, love, and joy. Quite simply, I am happier and my actions display it. 

This shouldn’t surprise me. After all, studies have shown that thankfulness makes a positive impact on your mental & physical health. Things like lower blood pressure, happier relationships, and reduced depression are just a few of the positive impacts of gratefulness.*

This shouldn’t surprise me because people like Oprah have been declaring the benefits of thankfulness for years. Even more, it shouldn’t surprise me because the Lord has been recommending it even long before that. In fact, He doesn’t simply recommend it. He commands it. 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us ‘in everything give thanks”. In greater context, it says (starting in verse 15) “See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

To sum up: seek good for all people (always!), Rejoice (be glad!) always, pray always, give thanks always. The key word being always. 

Most of us do these things sometimes, even without trying. But, always? That requires some intentional effort. Which means it isn’t always easy. 

One practical way that I have been practicing thankfulness seems easy enough—and it is on the surface. What I do is this: I list three things that I am thankful for at the start of my devotional times. That’s it. A simple list. I write them out in my “quiet time” journal. Not so hard, right? 

And, some days it isn’t hard at all. My heart is already there & the words just pour out in all sincerity. But, other days? Ehhh. Maybe I’m tired. Or frustrated. Or grieving. Maybe I’m crabby. Or, maybe I’m simply not fully engaged. Even then it is easy enough to list out general reasons for thankfulness. But, if I do that, I’m just skimming the surface. And frankly, I don’t think it counts. I certainly don’t feel happier or calmer or better off. And, I also don’t actually feel thankful.

But, when I dig deep? Especially if I don’t feel like it? It’s amazing the impact it has—on my attitude, my day, my heart. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that my life is changed because of it. One example (of which there are many): One day I was irritated by one of my kids & I chose to be thankful for them. Not just “God, I’m thankful for so & so” in a general way. But, a “I’m going to sit in this until I can actually be thankful & feel it sincerely” kind of way. It wasn’t long before my irritation melted away and genuine care replaced it. I remembered what a gift it was to be their mom & how precious my time with them is. It changed my attitude, and my behavior followed. I was fully present & thankful for the time. I was much more patient and engaged than I would have been otherwise. 

This is just one example. I won’t say that practicing thankfulness has solved all of my problems or made up for all of my shortcomings. But, there is no doubt in my mind that it has not only made me happier, but its also made me a better person. Just as the Lord surely knew it would when He asked it of me. It will do the same for you, too. Try it! You’ll see. 

My challenge to you: Choose to purposely cultivate thankfulness in your life, too. Find a time / practical way to add this to your daily routine so you won’t forget and will be consistent. (Consistency is key!)

The most important thing, though is: Be sincere. I mentioned that I list off three things, but one thing—one sincere thing—is really all you need. 

“The heart that gives thanks is a happy one, for we cannot feel thankful and unhappy at the same time.” 

—Douglas Wood

*Other benefits include: Better sleep, improved decision-making, enhanced positive emotions & self-esteem, more energy, less cortisol (the “stress hormone”) & increased oxytocin (the “bonding hormone”), slower neurodegeneration, etc. 

Sources;”Joynomics: The Study of Joy & Progress”; “Giving thanks can make you happier” Harvard Health; “31 Benefits of Gratitude” Happier Human; “28 Benefits of Gratitude & Most Significant Research Findings” Positive Psychology 

 

Willing to Say No

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Saying NoMy husband is not afraid to say no, and I am so thankful. Early in our family life, we were greatly impacted by a couple of families who lived this way, too—willing to say no to even “good” opportunities because it wasn’t what was best for them. I’m so thankful for their example! Because of it, I have realized how important it is to be thoughtful about our time. Rather than committing to something quickly, we take the time to consider if this is in the best interest of our overall family life. 

This takes courage because, for whatever reason, there can be so much pressure & fear associated with saying no. “Everyone else is doing it.” “What if this is my only opportunity?” “Others will be so disappointed.” Etc.

But, there are a couple of things that can help with this process:

  1. Faith.  Saying no actually requires a great deal of faith because you are trusting that the sacrifice will be worth it. You are making a decision right now for a future that you can’t yet fully see. You are trusting that living according to values will bring about good results in the long term. It often means trusting the Lord to make your way for you at the proper time, too—instead of forcing your own way or saying yes at the wrong time or to the wrong thing, out of fear that no other opportunities will come. 
  1. Clear Priorities. A lot of the time even “good” opportunities require a no. The reason for this is that we all have limited capacity & time. If we say yes to everything, we sacrifice our best for anything because we simply won’t have capacity. We will also end up wasting our time. I’ve heard it said that wise people “invest” their time, rather than spend it & I agree! This means that you recognize that your time is limited & valuable & so you don’t just use it on anything. Instead, you invest it into the people & things that are most important. I find that often when I feel like I have the least time, it is the most important to actually stop & take some time to reexamine my life, reminding myself of the values & goals that are most important. When I do this, it becomes clear what adjustments I need to make to once again be using my time well. 
  1. Flexibility. Seasons change. Circumstances change. What is a yes in one season easily becomes a no in another, and vice versa. And, this is okay! Good even. It’s a sign of growth. But, it’s important to be thoughtful in every season about the way you are spending your time. Don’t assume that something you committed to in the past is still the best fit now. Likewise, it may be that now is the time to say yes to something that you didn’t previously have the capacity for. Which, leads me to my next point…
  1. Courage to say YES. Saying a real yes can take just as much courage as saying no! I think one reason why it is so easy to let our lives be filled with distraction, letting those “urgent” tasks take over our days, is because it is actually scary to say yes. Saying yes to a person or an opportunity, stepping out to take a risk—this requires courage because it might fail. We might fail. Or, at the very least, we may be incredibly uncomfortable as we step into opportunities that require growth & vulnerability. The good news is that I’ve found that when I do this, even if I fail, the failure is never wasted. I learn. I grow. Something happens in the process that makes me see that the process was the point anyway, not the end result. The Lord is masterful at taking our journey & using it to shape us into the people He created us to be! (And, who we are is much more important than where we are!)

Learning to say no with ease & yes with courage will bring great freedom into your life. It is something I am still working on! But, I’m so thankful for those that have helped me to understand how important it is to do so. I am also thankful that God’s grace is with me in the process! Even though I won’t get it perfectly right all of the time, I can trust Him to guide & help me in this process. You can too!