A Joy Filled Home

By Nicole VanGelder

Happy May Flower Activity!

by

May is here & hopefully with it will be flowers & sunshine!

Here is a simple craft that my daughter helped me to put together for a curriculum I created that goes along with this theme that you & your kiddos can have fun doing together. See example below. To make, simply use the templates provided to print & color as many flowers as you would like. Cut the flowers and leaves out then attach them to straws or pencils to act as the stems. Color the pot template provided, cut it out & attach it with glue or staples to another piece of paper to create a pot that opens at the top. Put the flowers into the pot and create a beautiful bouquet.

Supplies needed: crayons, paper, straw or pencil, printed templates (see below), glue/staples, scissors.

I hope you enjoy!

Flower Pot Activity Sheet

Flower Pot Activity Flowers

flower in pot craft

flower in pot craft 1

Family Easter Week Bible Readings & Activities

by

Dear Friends,

I hope that this Easter week is a special one, and that these days leading up to Resurrection Sunday are filled with a renewed wonder at just how good the Lord really is!

During 2020, I put together some simple devotionals for families of our church to do together in the days leading up to Easter. (Note: They do not cover, or even attempt to cover, all of the events leading up to the death and resurrection of Jesus.) They are simple but I hope your family enjoys them together! (Don’t feel pressured to do them all! Instead, pick and choose what best fits your family and the time you have.)

READING ONE:

Read: Mark 11:15-18

Note: This reading can be startling because it seems to be a moment of uncontrolled anger. However, Jesus may have been angry, but He hadn’t lost His temper! He had already been in Jerusalem and knew what was happening. When He took this action He did so because He was seeking to protect people from the exploitation of the religious leaders. His desire is, and always has always been, to remove the obstacles that separate people from entering into true worship and prayer–and true relationship with His Father. So, the best way to apply this reading may be to simply ask the question if there is anything that is getting in the way of your family (together or individually) spending time in connection with the Lord. If there is, remove whatever the obstacle is! (I suggest not using the same methods Jesus used in this passage though!) 😉 Then, commit to spending a short time together in prayer each day this week.

Optional Activities: 

1. In the days of Jesus, the temple played an important part of worship for the Jewish people. Today, we have the joy of being able to worship Jesus in a different way.  So, throw a family worship party! Some suggestions: put on some music and dance before the Lord; try painting or drawing as an act of worship; praise the Lord with your words during a time of prayer, etc.

2. Do some coin rubbings. This is a simple activity that you should have all the supplies for easily on hand. Find a variety of coins, some paper, and some crayons or pencils. Put the coins under the paper and rub the crayons back and forth over it until the image of the coin appears. As you do this, ask your kids why they think Jesus was so angry and the moneychangers. (They were exploiting people and interfering with their ability to worship God. They were being greedy. They were misusing God’s House.)

3. Look up the what the temple looked like in the day of Jesus. (You should be able to find this with a simple internet search.)

4. And, just for some fun that isn’t directly related to the lesson:Here is a Paper Doll Coloring Page created by my daughter, Eliana. Color, cut out, and have fun getting her dressed up for Easter!

READING TWO:

Read Mark 11:20-26

Discussion Questions:

1.  What does Jesus command in this passage? (To have faith in God.)

2.  According to this passage, what is the result? (That you will be able to pray without doubt.)

3.  This passage also talks about forgiveness. How important is it to forgive?

4.  How do you think faith is connected to forgiveness? (For example: we receive forgiveness through faith. Since we have received such great forgiveness for the Lord, how could we not forgive others?)

6.  Can you think of a time you were forgiven by someone? Or, can you think of a time when you’ve had to forgive someone? How did it feel?

*This would be a perfect opportunity to take some time to release forgiveness over others as needed, as well as to receive forgiveness.

Optional Activities:

1. Taste test: Find an assortment of both sweet and bitter foods to taste test. Have some fun tasting them, and point out that not only do we need to forgive because the Lord commands it, but unforgiveness is bitter. It will make us sick if it stays inside of us too long. But, giving forgiveness freely is sweet. To take this lesson a little further, have fun making some spring themed sugar cookies.

2.  Prayers of Faith: Find a jar or a box and some notecards or small pieces of paper. Have each person write down a prayer request that they have. (They don’t need to share it with anyone else.) As a family, prayer over the requests. Keep the jar over the next year & whenever a prayer is answered, make sure to keep track of that, too!

3.  Here is a fun Bunny Coloring Page. Do your best to find the five eggs that are hidden in it!

READING THREE: 

Read Mark 12:41-44. 

This time of year, when we remember all that Jesus has given to us, it is important to take some time to consider our attitude in return. After all, how can we, who have received so much, not be generous in response?

Discussion Questions:

1. What is your most valuable possession? Is it easy or difficult to share? How about your favorite dessert? Is that easy or hard to share? What is something you have a difficult time sharing?

2. Is it easier to share with your friends than with a stranger? Why/why not?

3. The Lord is very generous with His kids. Why do you think that is?

4. What might make it easier for you to share with others?

5. What is something of value that you can offer God?

Optional Activities:

1. Brainstorm ways your family can practice generosity towards others. Then make a plan for putting one or two of those ideas into practice.

2.  Practice Secret Generosity. Over the rest of this week, each person in your family should look for ways to be secretly kind and generous to one another. Then, at the end of the week, talk about the experience. Even without sharing specifics (although that is okay, too), discuss the impact on your home. How did it feel to do kind things for others? Was there a difference in the atmosphere in your home? Encourage your family to make this a normal practice.

3.  Spend some time in prayer thanking the Lord for His generosity towards you. Be specific. Make a list and post it someplace you can see it to remind yourself everyday to be thankful.

4.  Make one of the favorite desserts mentioned during the discussion questions as a special treat. Make an extra to deliver (while keeping your distance!) to a neighbor or friend.

READING FOUR:

Read John 13-14. 

Note: If you have smaller children, you may want to only read John 13:1-30. After you read through the last supper that Jesus had with His disciples, the best activity I can suggest is to actually take communion as a family. Click here to watch a video to help walk you through this process, then gather the needed elements (and your family!) and do as Jesus commanded.

READING FIVE:

Read John 20-21

The reading today is all about the resurrection of Jesus! If your children have never prayed to receive Christ, this is the perfect opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus with therm. After today’s reading, simply ask your children if they understand why the death and resurrection of Jesus is so important. Explain that because Jesus died and rose again, those who believe in Him and receive Him as their Savior have the opportunity to live with Him forever in heaven someday, and also walk with Him here on earth!  You can ask if they have ever asked Jesus into their hearts / if they have ever accepted Jesus death and resurrection as payment for their sins and made Him their personal Lord and Savior. If they haven’t, and would like to, simply lead them in a prayer like this: “Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross as payment for my sins. I believe in you and receive you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you for coming into my heart and giving me life now and in eternity. Help me to walk with you and learn your ways. Amen.” If your children pray this prayer, make sure to celebrate big!

Optional Activities:

1. Jesus is ALIVE! So, celebrate with a time of prayer/worship. Thank Jesus for the cross and all that He has brought into your lives. Let the joy of that fill your hearts and homes with excitement as you celebrate together.

2. Here are some coloring sheets of the cross (from which Jesus has risen!!) Cross_Coloring_Page  Cross_Coloring_Page 2
Cross_Coloring_Page 3

3. Play pin the tail on the bunny. Here is a template to use: Pin_The_Tail_On_The_Bunny_ 2.

4. Celebrate the empty tomb! First, colorJesus’s_Tomb. Then, color and cut out Jesus’s_Tomb 2 (including the “arm”). Finally, cut on the dotted line on the coloring page and slide the “arm” of the rock into the slit on the coloring page. Now you can open the tomb and celebrate that it is empty!

5. Color the Easter Eggs: Easter_Egg Coloring Sheet 1  Easter_Eggs 2  Easter_Eggs 3

Family Devotional: Through the Bible Series: Genesis 12-21 || Abraham

by

See previous devotionals for tips as to how to open up your devotional time in prayer, etc. For today’s devotional, I do encourage you to find the most complete account of Abraham’s life in a children’s story Bible to share if possible. Otherwise, you can focus on the portions shared in the Verse Highlight. I do recommend looking them up in a translation that will be easy for your kids to follow along with and understand. (If you are interested, you can find a chart that correlates different Bibles with reading levels: https://kidsministry.lifeway.com/2012/08/07/choosing-a-childs-bible-1/ .) 

Scripture Focus: Genesis 12-21  Hebrews 11

Verse Highlight: Genesis 12:1-5 “Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.’ So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the persons which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan.”

Hebrews 11:8-16 “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN IN NUMBER, AND INNUMERABLE AS THE SAND WHICH IS BY THE SEASHORE.

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.”

Introduction Questions: What is the most amazing gift that you can imagine receiving? What if I told you that you were going to receive it on your next Birthday? Would you be excited? Would it be hard for you to be patient until your birthday came? What if you waited and when your birthday finally came, you found out that it wasn’t going to be your gift this birthday—but for your birthday fifteen years from now? Would you still be excited to receive it? 

Discussion: The Lord gave Abraham and Sarah a great promise. This promise was so big, that it would affect the whole world! That’s pretty awesome! There was a catch, though. 

Abraham and Sarah had to wait a long time before the promise would come true. And, a lot would happen as they were waiting. For example: he moved to a different country because of a famine; he fought in a battle to rescue his nephew Lot; he had a son named Ishmael (that was not the son that God promised); he helps Lot escape the destruction of the city he lived in; etc. 

Even once Abraham and Sarah had their son Isaac fifteen years after God first gave them the great promise, the promise wasn’t fulfilled. It was still just starting to be fulfilled. In fact, it is still being fulfilled! This is because you and I and everyone who knows the Lord is considered heirs of Abraham. And, God is known as the “God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob”.

There are a lot of lessons we can learn from Abraham and Sarah, but one important one is this: Patience and faith go hand in hand. When we trust the Lord, it means that we trust Him indefinitely. We don’t need to understand when or why or how. Instead, we simply need to do our best to trust Him, follow Him, and live faithfully. 

The Lord is faithful and His promises will always come true—just like they did for Abraham and Sarah. 

Closing Activity: Spend some time thanking the Lord for His faithfulness. Think of specific times He has been faithful to you or others (even Biblical people) and praise Him for His goodness! Then pray for your family to both see God’s faithfulness personally and to trust the Lord and live faithfully for Him. 

Bonus Activity: Sing Father Abraham

“Father Abraham had many sons… I am one of them and so are you, so let’s all praise the Lord.”

Uhh, what? This was a song many people sang as kids without any idea of what it meant.  (Myself included!) Hopefully the lesson today helps to clear that up! Remind your kids that because of God’s faithfulness to Abraham, everyone who is part of God’s family is part of Abraham’s family, too—even you! Then, have some crazy fun singing (make sure to do the actions!) the “Father Abraham” song together. Remember: the goal is to have fun, so you may need to set aside your pride in order to have some silly (and perhaps silly looking) fun together. Bonus points for group laughing fits!

You can find the song with lyrics & motions here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASXowiv3FAc

St. Patrick’s Day Fun

by

St. Patrick’s Day is a great opportunity to shake up your homeschool routine a little, or just to have some fun celebrating the day with special family time outside of school hours. Following are a few of the ideas we have had fun with over the years. Enjoy! 

Media Recommendations:

Adventures in Odyssey does a great two part series that shares the life story of Maewyn Succat, the boy who we know as St.Patrick. You can find it here: 

https://www.adventuresinodyssey.com/episodes/394-saint-patrick-a-heart-a-fire-1-of-2/

VeggieTales does their own charming version of telling the story of “pig boy” aka: St.Patrick. You can find it here:

https://youtu.be/gBhG-7pj43E 

Writing Prompts:

Choose a writing prompt and give your kids 5-15 minutes (depending on the prompt you choose, plus their age and ability level) to write about it. Then have everyone share what they came up with. 

  1. The day started like any other, at least that is what you thought as you got out of bed & made your way down to the breakfast table. You didn’t pay much attention to the startled gasps in the room until your mom said, “Very funny. You turned yourself green for St. Patrick’s Day. It’s time to get ready for school though, so eat your breakfast & wash it off quickly.” Green? What is she talking about? Then you realize the hand holding your spoon is, in fact, green! Write about what happens next.
  2. Do you believe in luck? Why or why not?
  3. St. Patrick was a remarkable man. Although he was English by birth, he will forever be associated with Ireland because his faith in Jesus impacted that nation so dramatically. What country, culture, or area of society would you like to impact with your life and faith? Why? Brainstorm some ways this could happen. 
  4. Brainstorm an entire’s day worth of meals using only green foods. What would your menu include?
  5. Blinking, you rub your eyes in bewilderment. Yup, its still there. Quickly you close your eyes and then cautiously peek at the scene in front of you. “I must be asleep,” you think. “That has to be it.” You try to jolt yourself awake, but as you are doing so, you feel a tug on your pants. Startled you catch yourself just in time, before you kick what appears to be a quite real Leprechaun. You take the scene in—rainbow, Leprechaun, pot o’gold…wait, that’s not gold!

Easy Crafts:

  1. Color the provided three or four leaf clover coloring sheets. (You might want to add some extra sparkle with green glitter.)
    1. Three_Leaf_Clover_
    2. Four Leaf Clover
  2. Make a rainbow. Cut a paper plate in half & paint a rainbow on it. You can add streamers or yarn in matching colors by gluing them along then edges if you’d like to make it extra special. 
  3. Make a Clover “Suncatcher”:
    1. “Paint” glue on a piece of wax paper. Then put small pieces of different shades of green tissue paper onto the painted area. After it dries, peel the wax paper off & cut into the shape of a clover using the coloring pages provided above as a template. (You can keep the wax paper attached if it isn’t able to be removed easily.) Then tape to a window or use a hole punch and thread to create a way to hang it. 
    2. Put several shades of green crayon shavings between two pieces of wax paper. Then use an iron or hair dryer to melt the crayon shavings. Once it has cooled down, cut into the shape of a clover using the coloring pages above as a template. You may want to line the edges with a construction paper “frame”, but this step isn’t necessary. Then, hang in your window and enjoy!

Easy Green Treats:

  1. Make green rice cereal treats. Simply follow the directions to make rice cereal treats, adding in green food to the melted marshmallows. Let your kids have fun & do their best to craft a clover shape out of a small portion of it. Then, let them enjoy their treat! 
  2. Staying with the green theme, but straying from St. Patricks a bit: Read Green Eggs & Ham by Dr. Seuss. Then enjoy some green eggs & ham by simply adding some green food coloring, or a green veggie like spinach to the eggs as you scramble them. (A purée of green veggies works especially well.) If you’d like, you can make your ham green too. But, it also works to dice some ham and simply add it to your green eggs. 

Family Devotional: Through the Bible Series: Genesis 11 || The Tower of Babel

by

See previous devotionals for tips as to how to open up your devotional time in prayer, etc. For today’s devotional, I do encourage you to read the scriptures below in their entirety. If you have younger kids, you may want to find a Children’s Bible to read from. I also encourage you to get a Bible that your kids can read along with, if they are able. Many find the New International Readers Version and Contemporary English Version helpful for kids. (If you are interested, you can find a chart that correlates different Bibles with reading levels: https://kidsministry.lifeway.com/2012/08/07/choosing-a-childs-bible-1/ .) 

Scripture Focus: Genesis 11:1-9; Matthew 17:14-20

Verse Highlight: Genesis 11:6 “The LORD said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.”

Matthew 17:20 “…truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.“

Introduction Questions: If you could be a superhero, who would you be? What superpower would you most like to have? Why? 

Discussion: A lot of people like to watch superhero movies, especially if they are about people who seem to be “normal” people, but you then discover they can do something that is impossible for everyone else. It’s fun to imagine what it would be like to have a superpower of your own! Part of the reason why that is so fun is because it is not based in reality so people can fantasize about what it might be like. The truth is that it is not possible for us to be superheroes like in the movies. However, did you know that we do get to do things that are impossible? 

The two stories we read today were very different from each other, but they have a common theme. In the first one, the Lord says that the people on earth will find nothing they purpose to do impossible. Isn’t that kind of hard to imagine? He sees that they are united in purpose and are able to accomplish anything. That’s amazing! But, it wasn’t good. Why do you think it was a problem? 

In the next story, it seems like the opposite thing is happening from the first story. In the first story, God steps in and actually prevents people from being able to do what they are working on doing. In the second one, Jesus is instructing people in the opposite way. He tells them that even a little bit of faith will make nothing impossible for them! What is the difference? 

There are actually several differences in the settings & circumstances of these two stories. But, one of the biggest is this: Who people are partnering with. 

When the people were building the Tower of Babel, they were working to accomplish a goal of their own, entirely separate from God. But, when Jesus is instructing His disciples, He is talking about how the Kingdom of Heaven operates. You can access the impossible if you have faith, but it isn’t about doing the impossible. Jesus isn’t saying that if you have enough faith you can fly or have x-ray vision! He is talking about having faith in God. God does lots of things that are impossible for man to do. He can do that because He is God! But, because we know Him, He invites us to join Him! That means that we get to do impossible things, too. But, not just any impossible stuff. We get to do the impossible stuff that is part of His Kingdom. What kind of stuff is that, do you think? (Think of what kinds of miraculous stories are in the Bible: people being saved, healed, and set free; miracles of provision; etc.)

The key to this is to have faith. Stay connected to the Lord. See what He is doing. Learn His ways and the ways of the Kingdom of Heaven. Then, stir up your faith and move some mountains!

Closing Activity: Spend some time sharing some of your favorite testimonies. These can be personal testimonies, testimonies you have heard from others, or Biblical stories. Try to have each person share. Then, share about people or situations you know that need a miraculous breakthrough. Finally, spend some time praying in faith! (Make note of any action step ideas that the Lord brings to mind during this time. He may provide an opportunity for you to step out in faith, along with praying.)

Bonus Activity: Build a Tower. 

The way you do this will depend on the age of your kids and the number of people in your family. If you have small kids, simply have fun building a tower all together using blocks or other material you have on hand. (For a fun twist, you could use marshmallows or another food item and then have one as a small treat.) If you have older kids you could do a contest to build the tallest or prettiest or sturdiest (etc.) tower. You could use blocks or toothpicks or a combination of other building materials. 

Family Devotionals — Tips & “How Tos”

by

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–Christmas Minnie/Mickey Oreos

by

Christmas Oreos2

 

 

 

 

 

Our family loves Disney World. We have a dream of someday experiencing it during the Christmas Season. In the meantime, we have fun with Disney inspired Christmas Fun like these Minnie/Mickey Oreos.

Ingredients

  • Double Stuf Oreos
  • Mini Oreos
  • White Frosting
  • Red Candy Melt
  • Candy Bows (found on Amazon or specialty stores)
  • Sprinkles / Other Christmas Decorations

Instructions

  • Open and remove the middle from a handful of mini Oreos (or, open them and eat the half that has filling and save the other side for use)
  • Then put the plain mini cookie inside the top of the of a double stuff Oreo to make ears. You can use frosting as “glue” to help secure the ears if you would like.
  • Melt the candy melt as directed so it is ready for use.
  • Dip one half of your Minnie or Mickey (the Double Stuff with the ears attached) into the melted candy. I recommend using wax paper to create a place for the dipped cookie to dry/harden. 
  • If you are making Minnie, add a candy bow by “gluing” it on with the frosting. Decorate with sprinkles and other decorations of your choice. 

Note: These were not originally my idea. I saw them somewhere (I think on-line) years ago. 

12 Days of Family Fun — Complete List

by

Christmas is almost here! But, it isn’t too late to create some special family time before it comes. No matter if you use the ideas below or find some of your own, I highly encourage you to take the time to do so. You will find your heart more connected to each other and the season, if you do! Note: More info on some of these can be found on our social media accounts. 

Day One: Watch Klaus with Carmel Puffcorn 

Find the list of other recommended Christmas movies here. 

Caramel Puffcorn recipe can be found on our Instagram Stories here. 

Day Two: Secret Santa (more info here)

This is something our kids do each year, but you could do it with a group of friends, extended family, etc. You can do it ahead of time & exchange gifts on Christmas, or you can do a fun shopping trip together: Everyone splits up & looks for a gift within a specific price range. You meet back together (at a restaurant to share a meal, if possible!) and exchange gifts.

Day Three: Homeschool Activities 

Learn how other countries celebrate Christmas, do a creative writing assignment, and more ideas can be found here. 

Day Four: Practice Generosity (find out more here)

There are many ways to practice generosity over the holidays: both by giving to organizations that help others & by giving to those around you as opportunity arises. And, generosity doesn’t have to be reserved for only those “in need”. Everyone benefits from kindness! It is also important to develop the habit of generosity all year long. However, some simple ideas that you still have time to do this year: donate (good food!) to a local food shelf; make a special treat & deliver it to your neighbors; call a local nursing home or hospital & find out if there is something you can contribute (covid restrictions have changed what is possible in some situations); and/or contribute financially to an organization that provides a Christmas meal to those who woolen’t otherwise have one (one option in the twin cities is Union Gospel Mission—www.ugmtc.org). 

Day Five: Make a Gingerbread House

At one time, I made a homemade Gingerbread train that had train cars that could be filled with treats. It was a lot of fun, but also a lot of work. And, honestly, it was not the easiest project for our kids to help with. So, when my husband had the brilliant idea to buy one of those kits that had everything you needed for a gingerbread house, ready for you to assemble ti, I only pushed back a little. And in the ensuing years it has become a special tradition—that is relaxing & fun!—that our kids look forward to. You can buy kits at most grocery & “big box” stores.

Day Six: Make Mickey & Minnie Christmas Oreos

Christmas Oreos2

christmas oreos

 

 

 

 

Find instructions here.

Day Seven: Make/Decorate a Felt Tree

For younger kids especially, it can be a lot of fun to decorate a large felt tree. These are available for sale on-line. However, another option that can be fun for older kids too is to create your own. Simply buy felt in green & brown to make a felt tree out of, plus other colors to create ornaments. Begin by cutting the green felt into a tree form (this can be as simple as a triange, if you’d like) then add a small square of brown on the bottom to be the stump. (I recommend using “Tacky Glue” or hot glue for this part.) Kids can then create ornaments for the tree with the remaining felt. While you can use velcro to secure the ornaments to the tree, it is not really necessary as the felt will stick together even without that pretty well. 

Day Eight: Grab some hot chocolate & go see some lights.

There is something so special about seeing houses, etc. all dressed up for Christmas. So, wait for it to get dark & go out as a family to see them. You can even have kids in pjs & all snuggled up & ready for bed upon your return. Doing it past bedtime helps to make it feel extra special, but since it gets dark so early in the winter, you can do it fairly early if you prefer. It is also fun to bring some hot chocolate along for the experience, too. Note: Often social media like the Nextdoor App will have recommendations for where to go and see lights in your area. 

Day Nine: Make Christmas Pancakes

Reindeer Pancake

Santa Panckae

Snowman Pancake

 

 

 

 

Using ingredients like pancakes, whip cream, chocolate chips, and fruit like strawberries you can make special Christmas themed pancakes. See pictures for examples of ones we’ve done. I highly recommend making homemade buttermilk pancakes to use for extra deliciousness, but it is not necessary. Note: I got this & the Minnie/Mickey Oreos ideas years ago on-line, but no longer know where the original ideas came from. 

 Day Ten: Christmas Shopping — with some extra blingChristmas Bling

Christmas shopping doesn’t have to be a chore. Make it fun! Add some extra bling and fun to keep the spirits light. On top of actual bling (see pics) you can make this time special by stopping for lunch out or a special treat. You could also create a scavenger hunt of sorts, keeping your eyes open to see how many Christmas sweaters you can find, which store has the longest line, the most packages you see someone carrying, etc. Small things can help you remain present in the moment and add special fun to you time.

Day Eleven: Read a Special Book

There are a lot of fun Christmas Themed books & many are available at your local library. But, a few that are more difficult to find there include: 

  • Red Ranger Came Calling by:Berkeley Breathed
  • Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo
  • Jacob’s Gift by Max Lucado
  • Santa’s Sleigh is on its way to MN by Eric James
  • Olaf’s Night Before Christmas by Disney Press
  • The Three Gifts of Christmas by Jennie Bishop

Day Twelve: Read the Christmas Story as a Family

No matter when or how (or what version you use), take the time to read the Christmas Story as a family. Yes, it is a familiar story. Yes, it might feel awkward if you haven’t done it before. Yes, the kids might get antsy. But, it will be worth it! Taking the time to remember & treasure the first Christmas—and invite Jesus to be a part of this Christmas—is invaluable. I recommend reading the account found in the Luke: 1:26-38 & 2:1-20. (The account of the Magi or wise men is found in Matthew 2, if you would like to include that.) 

12 Days of Christmas Family Fun: Giving

by

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!

Christmas Homeschool Ideas

by

Christmas is full of amazing possibilities for homeschool. Since we are less than two weeks out, however, I imagine that you (like me) are looking for easy ideas that don’t require a lot of preparation. The good news is that the internet is full of resources to help! So, I will do my best to share a few of them here, along with a little of what our family has done in the past. 

First of all, one of my favorite units to do in the week(s) leading up to Christmas is to explore what Christmas looks like in different places.ornaments pic This can be as simple or elaborate as you would like it to be. There have been years that we have spent weeks on this: the older kids research the traditions and celebrations in other countries, present what they have learned (which I supplement as I am able with videos, additional information, etc.) and then we do some of the activities. We have created beautiful ornaments (seen in the pic at the right), eaten yummy food, and had a lot of fun doing this together. Unfortunately, while years ago I discovered a website that had great resources for a unit like this, it is no longer available on-line. The good news is that there are many other options easily available (both free & those with a cost). Here are a few I found with a quick search:

I also recommend looking at your local library for free resources!

A variation of the above idea is to learn about how Christmas was celebrated in history or in different regions of America. 

Other Ideas:

There are also many coloring sheets, word finds, crossword puzzles, and more for you to discover! Even a quick search can help you to find some resources to make the week(s) before Christmas special. One other activity I love is to do a few different writing prompts for creative writing. 

Writing Prompts: 

  • Write about your favorite Christmas time traditions
  • What is the favorite gift you have ever given to someone? What is the favorite gift you have received?
  • Imagine what the first Christmas would have been like. Describe it. 
  • Write the synopsis for a new Christmas movie. 

Story Starters:

  • “The elves were all hard at work in the workshop with last minute Christmas preparations, when suddenly a loud noise startled them…”
  • “We were all excited when it started to snow on Christmas! But, when New Year’s came and it was still snowing…”
  • “Our family was just about to sit down to Christmas dinner when our door opened and in burst a family we had never seen before. ’Hello! We’re here! Merry Christmas!’they greeted us warmly, as they took their jackets off, put down packages, and started to make themselves at home…”
  • “It was a night like all others. I was out with the sheep, keeping watch. I was feeling a little sleepy, actually. Then, suddenly…”

If you’d like, you can use the following pages for Christmas themed stories. There is also one that can be used to make a Christmas acrostic poem. 

Christmas Acrostic

Nativity Writing Paper

Reindeer Writing Paper

Snowman Writing Paper

Tree Writing Paper

There are so many more possibilities, but I hope this sparks some fun ideas for you and your kids. Christmas is a special time, so no matter what you end up doing in the days leading up to it, I hope it is filled with joy, connection, and peace!

Merry Christmas!!