Amy

Advent Resources: “Jesus, The Light of the World”

November 25, 2014 by Amy 1 Comment

Do you use something during the weeks leading up to Christmas to help focus your attention on Jesus?

Candace Crabtree has written a fabulous book to help you examine the role of Jesus as the light of the world. The book takes an unusual form – that of devotion merged with prayer journal – which leaves your use of it wide open.

How?

Each day’s reading has three sections: scripture, devotion, and a place to journal your prayers. The scripture is straight from the Bible and each reading is about light. The devotional section is full of questions to ponder and information to digest. The journaling section is just that – a lined, blank page for you to write out your thoughts and prayers.

What makes this so special? Several things.

We decorate with lights and celebrate Jesus as the ‘Reason for the Season,’ calling Him the ‘Light of the World,’ but nowhere else have I seen anything that focuses so completely and Biblically on what that really means. I love this perspective on a character and role of Jesus, and its uniqueness should definitely garner attention.

The format of this journal makes it extremely flexible. It’s deep enough to use as an adult study and make the scriptures the focus of your personal quiet time, but there are also enough questions to make it a great prompt for discussion. You could easily read the scripture around the breakfast or dinner table and talk about its meaning throughout the meal as a family.

But that’s not all. Don’t I sound like an infomercial now? But really, this is one of the best aspects of this ebook. In addition to the basic script of the story, which I really liked, there are lots of bonus features. Songs you can listen to and Pinterest boards to follow. The Pinterest boards share information about arts, crafts, decorating, and additional educational resources. How great is it that one resource can provide so much other information?

I love Jesus: Light of the World, Praying the Scriptures through Advent. I can’t wait to dig deep into it even further in the coming weeks.

If you’d like to grab your own copy of Jesus: Light of the World, click here.

Do you celebrate Advent?

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Club, Boys’ Edition: “Masterpiece” by Elise Broach

November 21, 2014 by Amy Leave a Comment

This month we read the amazing

Choosing a tee-shirt design

After that we split up to work on a t-shirt design. Each boy snagged some paper and a pen and worked on a plan, and ten they got together to see which elements they could put together for one cohesive picture. The guys did a great job of working together to plan one picture that would suit everyone.

Making his club-friendship tee-shirt

Then, having prepped their shirts, they grabbed their bleach pens and went to work. First they drew the design on their shirts with chalk, and then they traced over their lines with the pen. We let them dry overnight, and then washed and dried them to set the bleach.

The Friendship Contract

While the shirts were drying, the boys talked about how friends treat each other. They made a list of things that friends should and shouldn’t do, and then we wrote it up as a contract for each boy to sign. Even after we finished, they continued to think of things that they wanted to have added to the contract. They were surprisingly excited about it!

After that, we made friendship necklaces out of washers and shoelaces. Sounds strange, I know, but they really liked it – and the metal washers on the black string looked quite masculine. They used Sharpies to decorate the washers to fit their theme, and My Little Man refused to remove his for days.

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What are your kids reading right now?

Scripture Car Stickers

November 20, 2014 by Amy Leave a Comment

Do you like scripture journaling? Are you a slogan kind of person? Do words and pictures stick in your head?

That’s how these scripture car stickers came about. Micah 6:8 stuck there fast, and it evolved into this form. I like that it helps me remember the meaning of this verse – and there are more available if you’d like to remember to “do right, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God” as well.

These sturdy car stickers measure 6″ x 4″ and are $5 each. They are bright in color and simple in style, meant to share the meaning of this verse with others.

Proceeds benefit children’s ministries at Warren’s Grove UMC. These are available for purchase through the Products page on this blog.

Questions? Ask away!

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Hearts for Home Blog Hop – November 20, 2014

November 20, 2014 by Amy Leave a Comment

Introducing … the Hearts for Home Blog Hop! A Nest in the Rocks is now one of the co-hosts for this weekly link-up, which means that every Thursday you’ll find lots of great tips, recipes, and other family-friendly ideas listed throughout this post. If you’re a blogger, we’d love to have you link up your posts and join us. You can find information about the other co-hosts of this hop here.

The most clicked-on post from last week was Mommy Burn Out Series Post Roundup.

Some of my favorite posts from last week were:

– Mr. President, we don’t need better preschools

– 40 Prayers to Pray Over Your Husband

– Giveaway: Hymn Art Necklace and Lilla Rose

If your post is listed above, please grab one of our ‘Featured Blogger’ buttons! Congratulations, and thanks for writing such inspiring posts.

Link up your family-friendly blog posts below. Please add our button to your post to link back to this one. Happy hopping!

An InLinkz Link-up

“The Christmas Cat” by Melody Carlson

November 18, 2014 by Amy Leave a Comment

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After years abroad, Garrison Brown returns home to Vancouver to build a new life. When his beloved grandmother passes away a few weeks before Christmas, Garrison goes to her house to sort out her belongings, including six cats who need new homes. While Garrison hopes to dispense with the task quickly, his grandmother’s instructions don’t allow for speed. She has left Garrison with some challenging requirements for the future homes of her furry friends–plus a sizeable monetary gift for the new owners. Garrison’s job is to match the cats with the right owners without disclosing the surprise gift. Along the way, he may just meet someone who can make him stay. Humorous and heartwarming, this latest Christmas story from bestselling author Melody Carlson is the perfect gift for pet lovers and anyone in whose heart Christmas holds a special place.

BThe Christmas Cat“>The Christmas Cat, and it’s appealing to dog lovers like me, too.

I received a free copy of The Christmas Cat from Baker Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.

“Trading Secrets” by Melody Carlson

November 17, 2014 by Amy Leave a Comment

Back in fifth grade, Micah Knight got an Amish pen pal, and over the years, they’ve exchanged many letters–and many secrets. At age seventeen, Micah finally has the chance to meet her pen pal face-to-face. The only problem is that because of confusion about her name when the pen pals were assigned, her pen pal was a boy, Zack Miller. And all this time, Micah’s never told Zack that she’s actually a girl! While she wants nothing more than to experience life on Zack’s Amish farm, she’s afraid he’ll hate her for deceiving him all these years. But she makes up her mind to face the music–and that’s where the fun really begins.

Trading Secrets is great fun – and it’s not just for slumber parties anymore! Carlson has penned a fantastic story of choices, responsibility, and growing up – and it’s a enjoyable from Page 1 to the last.

A spin-off of the trading places scenario, Carlson ups the ante with this story – because instead of trying to get into a better situation, Micah knows that telling the truth will cost her the most important friendship of her life. In spite of the high consequences, Micah is determined to do the right thing and help Zack’s family at the same time – even when it’s difficult and uncomfortable for her.

I admire Micah’s dedication to woman-ing up, if you will, to the confusion that spun out of control. It would have been much easier to zip off and ditch Zack’s friendship, and with it the disgust of his family, but she sticks it out through thick and thin, determined to help wherever possible. It’s that very choice that makes the romantic angle of the story work, too. Unlike most teen stories, where a single glance and a chiseled face ‘make’ the foundation of someone’s undying love, Micah doesn’t deny her attraction to Zack and hopes for an appearance to match the character he’s shared with her over the years – because that is what has held her devotion for years. Their admiration starts as a true, deep friendship, and not only does this set a great example for teen readers, but it makes for a wonderful story.

I haven’t read a Carlson story yet that I haven’t enjoyed. Her trademarks are smooth writing, fun characters, and deep lessons – and this one fits all three to a tee.

I received a free copy of Trading Secrets from Baker Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.

Book Club, Girls’ Edition: “Masterpiece” by Elise Broach

November 14, 2014 by Amy Leave a Comment

This month’s book is true genius.

We read Masterpiece by Elise Broach. It’s the story of Marvin, a stag beetle, who lives in an apartment with James’ family. James is not appreciated by most members of his family, and so he decides to draw a picture for James’ birthday. Following that they have lots of at and friendship related adventures together.

Masterpiece is a very quoteable book! There are deep thoughts all through the story, and the characters make tough decisions that are great conversation starters. The girls discussed these choices for a long time before heading into the kitchen….

Makin’ Pinch-Me Cake

where they made a Pinch-Me Cake. I heard lots of giggling while they rolled the balls of dough in cinnamon and sugar.

Brainstorming traits of a good friend

Next the girls moved to the table, where they brainstormed the traits of a good friend. They decided that they each needed five ideas – and when they had those, then they wrote up their ideas as a friendship contract, which they all signed. I was quite impressed with their ideas.

Friendship Contract

Aren’t these great?

Making Club T-shirts

We decided that friendship t-shirts would be a fun thing to make. These girls are great – they get along super well and do all of my crazy projects peacefully, which is really saying something! They jumped on the t-shirt idea (because then they’re showing off their friendship and drawing, too, which totally fits the Masterpiece theme) and worked together to make one design. Then each girl drew the design on the shirt with chalk, and when they were ready, they used a Chlorox Bleach Pen on top. Since their shirts were a turquoise color, their lines turned white overnight, and they now have fancy club shirts.

Eating Pinch-Me Cake

After making their shirts, the girls gathered around the table for a snack of Pinch-Me Cake. They ate almost all of it, much to my husband’s dismay, and seemed to enjoy it.

Masterpiece is an excellent choice for a middle-elementary through middle school reader. With strong themes of friendship and art, your activity choices are endless – and you’ll love the story, too.

What are your kids reading this month?

Hearts for Home Blog Hop – November 13, 2014

November 13, 2014 by Amy Leave a Comment

Introducing … the Hearts for Home Blog Hop! A Nest in the Rocks is now one of the co-hosts for this weekly link-up, which means that every Thursday you’ll find lots of great tips, recipes, and other family-friendly ideas listed throughout this post. If you’re a blogger, we’d love to have you link up your posts and join us. You can find information about the other co-hosts of this hop here.

The most clicked-on post from last week was Nature Photography Contest for Kids – Now Open!

Some of my favorite posts from last week were:

– Hymn Studies for Thanksgiving & Christmas

– 3 Ways Tweens Can Earn Money – This Sweet Life

– FREE 12 Days of Christmas Activity Book –

If your post is listed above, please grab one of our ‘Featured Blogger’ buttons! Congratulations, and thanks for writing such inspiring posts.

Link up your family-friendly blog posts below. Please add our button to your post to link back to this one. Happy hopping!

An InLinkz Link-up

Midweek Missions: Blessing Bags for the Homeless

November 12, 2014 by Amy 1 Comment

We’ve all seen them. People on street corners and busy intersections, holding up signs asking for food or work – or maybe both. People who look a little bit lost and confused.

People who need some help.

Our kids first noticed them several years ago. They wanted to help, but we weren’t sure how to do that – and then we stumbled across this idea (I’d share where it came from, but I have no idea anymore – it was a long time ago!)

Now we make blessing bags several times each year to keep in our car. We hand them out whenever we see someone who might need some help, and they’ve always been well received.

This time we made them at church and invited people at large to come and help. We turned on some music and had a missions party!

We collected donations of small toiletry items, like soaps, shampoos, deodorants, toothpaste, dental floss, chapstick, etc, as well as socks, washcloths, and non-perishable snacks, like granola bars, snack crackers, etc. Then we organized each item in piles on a long row of tables.

We put zip-top bags at the head of the table, and each one of us grabbed a bag and then walked – or danced – the length of the table, putting one item from each pile in the bag.

We took our bag over to the next table, where we laid out small sheets of colorful paper and markers. We drew pictures and wrote encouraging notes and tucked one into each bag. The bags moved on to a third table, while we went back to the beginning and started all over.

When we had used all of the supplies and filled as many bags as we could, we stopped for a cupcake break. What’s a party without cupcakes?

All told, the kids made about 55 bags in under an hour. They’re now residing in our vehicles, ready to find homes with people who need them.

What’s one thing you can do to help someone in need this winter?

Coming this Advent Season: Melk, the Christmas Monkey

November 11, 2014 by Amy Leave a Comment

This post contains affiliate links. Clicking on them supports our homeschooling efforts. We appreciate you using them!

Every year I look for an Advent plan for my kids that will keep the ‘Christ’ in CHRISTmas. Something that will be fun and meaningful for them without stressing me out. Somehow the ‘no stress’ part never really plays out.

But Melk, the Christmas Monkey, looks perfect.

Melk is a Christmas monkey -or sheep, or cow, or whatever you’d like, really – who writes kids letters overnight (because monkeys are nocturnal, of course). He points to projects and activities that are fun, but each letter has a devotional aspect. There’s a point to each activity, and Melk is careful to keep the spotlight on the true Reason for the Season amidst all the holiday cheer.

There are a few things that make Melk different from the other Advent programs I’ve seen. One is simply that you don’t need to do each activity. There are a total of 30 projects in this ebook, so you have more than enough to do one each day before Christmas – but they don’t build upon each other as with some programs, and so you can pick and choose the ones that best suit your family. You could do some one year, some the next, or go for broke and enjoy them all. The planning is done for you so you can enjoy the fun part.

Within those 30 project plans, there’s even more flexibility. Melk might ask you to make something, but there are multiple sets of directions listed, so you can choose the involvement level you like. You could even have older children do more complicated projects than your littles!

About those projects? Many of them are based on popular Christmas activities. Some might be things you’d try to do anyway – but Melk will add meaning to it. Some are spin-offs of these common activities, but all point to Jesus.

The proceeds from Melk help spread the gospel to kids in Mexico. Melk’s creator is a missionary currently living in Mexico, and she’s sharing some of the profits. Not only do you get a great program, but you get to help other kids at the same time.

You can see a sample from Melk, the Christmas Monkey, here. There are also coloring sheets available if you’d like more Melk fun.

I can’t wait for Melk to start sending my kids their Advent letters. Want visits from Melk, too? Click here to get your own copy of this fantastic new ebook.

Do you celebrate Advent in your home? How do you prepare for the birth of Jesus?