Advent

The last two weeks we have schooled officially about half-time (at best), and so the next week and a half we plan to pick it up a bit. The big crunch for a couple of projects are out of the way, and I anticipate being able to focus our hearts even more in celebrating our Saviour's birth. Though we do not know or need to know the exact day Jesus was born we find it thrilling to stop and consider how it must've been when Jesus came to earth: that fixed point in time where He came down from glory to His humble yet destined earthly beginnings.

Advent, the Latin word meaning "to come," is one of the things we'll use to draw us closer each day as a family. Most of my ideas came from a book called Advent Activities for Home and School. Advent has already begun, but it's not too late to turn our hearts in a fresh way to the Lord. Here are the activities we'll be doing, Lord willing! Each activity has a Bible Verse to go with it.

1. Make an advent wreath with fresh boughs
2. Make an advent poster with a Bible Verse
3. Make an advent candle
4. Make a Jesse Tree
5. Make a star and an ornament from yarn: the old "yarn glued on the balloon, and pop the balloon when it dries" trick.
6. Make a map of Palestine noting important cities in Jesus' time.
7. Make a Giving Tree by decorating a pinecone like a regular tree
8. Interview an older neighbor who loves Jesus about how she celebrated Christmas. We'll also be taking her home made cookies.(We're especially excited about this one.)
9. Give ourselves to the Lord in our special family way on Christmas Eve
10. Light the Christ Candle and Read the Christmas Story.

Happy Birthday to My Danny

Danny, this video's for you! : ) I love and admire you, and our children adore you. Not only that, they are big Johnny fans just like you. We're looking forward to this day with you.

A Song Blog!

One Each Day is a song blog. One fresh song a day sounds pretty good to me, and it'll make for a great catalog of my own song loves, and maybe a fun place for you to come by and hear something that either you've never heard before, or haven't heard in a long time. There's one up already, so come on by!

A friend had this song on her facebook page, and I knew I had to post it. It's by Brian and Jenn Johnson. Recall the love of our Lord for us this morning, or whenever you're able to listen.

A Child's Nativity

While we always decorate the interior of our home for Christmas, we have rarely done much to decorate the outdoor portion. In contrast, our neighborhood boosts the usage of our local utilities by atleast a kazillion dollars during the latter part of November and December.

In their desire to get in on the festivities my sweet children made their own miniature outdoor nativity set tonight. (Mary Lee at Into the Abyss has posted photos on her blog) It's very "handmade" and ordinary, nothing flashy at all in a neighborhood full of incredible lights and decorations. It sits on the ground barely visable. If you didn't know it was there you'd miss it. Sound familiar ? The people, including Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and wisemen are all shaped like crosses as that's how construction paper arms work. Here's my honest unredeemed thought process. I was a little embarassed because it looked so childish, it was unpolished, and I wanted something not "like" the neighbors, but I did have something more appealing in mind, certainly something bigger. I have so much to learn in motherhood. Fortunately I knew better than to say something like that to Bethany and Daniel, and held my thoughts to myself.

There was a lesson in this for me....again. I realized there was something to all of this. Jesus: His ordinary and almost unnoticeable birth, His humble beginnings, His cross, the dying daily we are called to embrace as Christians. Missed by many because of His lowly origin. I wonder, am I the only one who needs to learn this lesson? While I do desire beauty, and love to see all of the bright lights and lavish decorations we enjoy in this season of His birth, may I desire the humble King most of all. May I be willing to embrace what He embraced: a cross. May I not resist humility. Though I am a homeschooling mother, I am being heart-schooled through the innocent examples of my own children. With each word I've written I have been taught. I can't wait to see that beautiful nativity in the morning with my heart-eyes on.

Thanksgiving

In his commentary on writing this beautiful piece titled, "Thanksgiving" George Winston states that he had "the Miles City, Billings, MT area in mind"...which is by the way, where I was raised. I thank the Lord for my roots, where I began, where He put what He had for me, piece by piece, into my life. He is still doing so to this today, and for that and much much more I give Him thanks!

While I've Been Dawdling

Dawdling? Maybe that's a bit untrue. Let's say....delaying the inevitable finish of school. I confess, I've had a wonderful time re-doing the looks of Field Notes, our homeschooling blog. I've been adding some great pictures the world has yet to see, so I hope you'll take a peek and allow yourself a little chuckle!

While I have been busy giving myself a blog makeover, the children have been busy, busy, busy, composing songs. Bethany is the choir director (the marching, dancing kind,)and Daniel is the aspiring song writer/composer in residence. The best part has been the heartfelt titles Daniel has ascribed to his compositions: "Oh, How Beautiful Is My Mother", "A Sister's Love for Her Brother", "A Brother's Love for His Sister", "A Father's Love for His Son", and the list appears to be going on. Should I stop this happy train, or keep going? "Hey, is that a hawk?", said the Choir Director. False alarm. For a moment I thought my dream was ending!