On the 7th Day of Christmas...

We don't watch tons of tv in our house, but I am thankful for my DVR... I recorded many wonderful shows on the real meaning of Christmas for the kids and we still are watching them. Just last night, we watched the Legend of the Christmas Flower, a sweet story about the pointsetta. We are also still singing and listening to Christmas music. And while our neighborhood is being de-Christmas'ed, we are shining bright! I wonder when my neighbors will start to talk...ha!

So for the 7th day of Christmas, I bring you our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day pictures, plus this video of Thomas singing the song his choir sang at the Christmas Eve service (next year I'm bringing my camera to church!)

Before We Ring In the New Year...

I cannot let the New Year come without reviewing some of the fun we had these past few months (so much to say, so many pictures to show...sit back with some hot cocoa and enjoy!). Our family celebrations began in mid-November with Thomas' birthday and BUG party.
Here are some pictures:


For Thanksgiving, we traveled to Greenville to visit the South Carolina Franklins... To say the cousins had fun would be an understatement!


We started Advent with our church playgroup making gingerbread houses and paper Advent wreaths...

From Gingerbread Houses

From Gingerbread Houses

Then it was time for Hudson's 2nd birthday party. Catch him if you can! Hudson is two and he is on the run...Watch the slideshow for some Gingerbread birthday fun (and the most precious little bakers you've ever seen!)


Other late November and December fun included the Thomas and me traveling on the Polar Express...

From Polar Express 2009

From Polar Express 2009

From Polar Express 2009

Seeing Santa at the Santa's Workshop PALS fundraiser...

Visiting the walk through Nativity at Briarwood on a very very cold night...

Happy Birthday Jesus parties with friends...













ZooLight Safari...













And A Night in Bethlehem and Living Nativity at St. Mark UMC with friends...

From Painting and Living Nativity

Clearly this was a busy holiday season and the best part was that it was filled not just with activities but people we love dearly. Our celebrations on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will wait until the next post...

Jesse Tree ~ Day 25

Joy to the World!

Christmas Day December 25

Today’s symbol: Candle

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5

“The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.” John 1:9-10

“ Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” John 8:12

Ideas to do and talk about:
*Color the candle ornament and talk about Jesus being the Light of the World.
*We'll talk about what difference that makes in our lives. I love to see the children in children's chapel reach out as they put out the candles at the end of chapel and then they put their hand to their heart. Picture a roomful of precious children reaching out for the Light of Christ...Lord, may that physical action be followed by each little heart trusting You and seeking to follow You...
*We will read another children's bible version of the Christmas story.
*Not a Christmas song, but I enjoy Watermark and this song of praise speaks beautifully to the Light of the World:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U-3Sh7QNd
*Light a candle! (one that can burn all day would be great)

May all the blessings of Christmas be yours...

Jesse Tree ~ Day 24

Christmas Eve! December 24
“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” Luke 2:1-7

Today’s symbol: Stable

Ideas to do and talk about:
*Read a story of the birth of Jesus in a children’s Bible.
*Attend a Christmas Eve church service…We are going to the Blessing of the Creche at our church.
*Sing Away in a Manger and O Little Town of Bethlehem...
*Color the stable and add as many people from the nativity story as you which…Mary, Joseph, Jesus, Angels, Shepherds….

Here are pictures from our painting of a precious stable scene with friends and our visit to "A night in Bethlehem and Living Nativity" at a local church...

Jesse Tree ~ Day 23

December 23
“And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.’” Matthew 1:20,21

Today’s symbol: Hammer

Ideas to do and talk about:
*Read Matthew 1:18-25 and talk about Joseph’s dream. What was he told to name the baby? What does that name mean?
*Play with tools and pretend to be a carpenter like Joseph.
*This is a beautiful song and the pictures of Joseph’s role in Jesus’ life were so touching to me:

*Color the hammer ornament!