O CHRISTMAS TREE

Today we did our annual visit to the Christmas tree farm.  This year we actually had all 5 kids with us.  The past couple of years one or two of them have been off at college.  Nice to have the whole gang participate today!

Posing in Santa's sleigh.  Our fearless leader (ahem, always needs to be in charge) Ben took on the responsibility of Rudolph!

Feeding the sheep in the barn

Off for a ride in the wagon out to the field.  

It was blustery, cold, rainy, and muddy- but fun!  

Lydia found our perfect tree.  

The little boys "helped" cut it down.

Below is summary of something I found online that gives a Christian meaning to the many "things" of Christmas.  I love decorating for the holidays.  I thought these explanations would be good for the boys and I as we enjoy those pretty decorations- 

a good way to remember the real reason we celebrate Christmas!  

CHRISTMAS TREE remains green all year round, showing the everlasting hope of mankind. The needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of our prayers that always reach God.

STAR: The Bethlehem star was the sign of promises long ago. God promised to send a Savior to deliver the world. The bright star pointed to the fulfillment of that promise—God’s only Son had been born!”

CANDLE symbolizes that Jesus, God’s Son, is the light of the world. When we see this light remember the One who overcomes the darkness.”

WREATH reveals the endless nature of God’s love. Real love never ceases. Nothing can stop God’s amazing love.”

SANTA symbolizes the generosity and good will we show to others because God has given us His very special Son. 

CANDY CANE represents the shepherd’s staff. The crook on the staff rescues sheep who have strayed from the flock. God never gives up on people who wander from Him.”

ANGELS shouted the glorious news of the Savior’s birth. These heavenly messengers sang ‘Glory to God in the highest! Peace and good will to everyone on earth!’”

GIFTS: God deeply loves people, so He gave them His most precious gift—Jesus, His only Son. When the wise men arrived in Bethlehem, they bowed before the Child and presented gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. This is why we give gifts to others each Christmas.”

Click HERE for complete version of "Teach Children the Real Meaning of Christmas"

IT'S ALL HOW YOU FRAME IT

This year we celebrated our Thanksgiving dinner in the community room at my mom's nursing home.  It was actually our turn to host the gang at our house, but we thought it might be easier to bring the party to my mom since our house isn't set up that great for her wheelchair.  

I'm sure none of us expected at last year's Thanksgiving that this year we would be eating at a nursing home.  

However, as I sat and looked around the room full of family and friends enjoying the yummy food everyone brought, I realized it's all how you frame it.  

The community room at the nursing home is beautiful and BIG.  The little kids had room to play the fun games my mom had organized.  We were so proud of how my mom took on the role of hostess by planning activities for the kids and the adults.  

Of course, we wish the stroke had never happened.  We wish she could be living at home with my dad.  

But as I get older (Sorry Lord, I'm so slow to catch on), I'm realizing true thanksgiving isn't just being thankful for the good and easy in life.  It's being thankful for the bits of good you can find in the midst of a difficult situation.  That is when we have the opportunity to truly praise the Lord- when we trust Him enough during  a time that is not going according to our plan.  

So did we have Thanksgiving dinner in a nursing home?  OR did we have Thanksgiving dinner in a beautiful facility the Lord has provided to help my mom and dad at this time in their lives?

I guess it's all how you frame it...

Here are a few photos from our dinner 

"GOSPEL IN COLORS" CURRICULUM: REVIEW LESSON

Click HERE for explanation of the 5 gospel colors.

I made these flashcards to use each week.

This is the picture bible we use with the boys.  We love it because of the way it is written and the cute and colorful illustrations.  

Plus it offers a Bible story videos also. 

Click HERE for The Beginners Bible information.

WEEK SIX: REVIEW

1. Bible Story- 
Plan of Salvation, various Scriptures
Click HERE for ABC's of Salvation lesson

2. Songs-

Wordless Book song- use each week

Jesus is my Super Hero song

Jesus is the Great Good News song

O Happy Day song

3. Covered by the Cross game-

Click HERE for Covered by the Cross game

4. Craft-

Click HERE for Butterfly craft

The boys will color the butterfly using black, red, white, yellow and green.

5. Object lesson- 

Click HERE for Salvation Cups object lesson

6. Book-

Click HERE for A Birthday Party for Jesus book

7. Talk Through Plan of Salvation and Pray 

NOTE: Only if child seems ready.  If not ready, that's ok.  

God has a special timetable for each us.  

Click HERE for Salvation for Kids Step by Step

8. CELEBRATE!  Use the story or song about the Lost Sheep parable to let the boys know how excited and happy the Lord (and us) is that they have accepted Jesus as their Savior!

 

Story of the Parable of the Lost Sheep

The Lost Sheep song

"GOSPEL IN COLORS" CURRICULUM: GREEN

Click HERE for explanation of the 5 gospel colors.

I made these flashcards to use each week.

This is the picture bible we use with the boys.  We love it because of the way it is written and the cute and colorful illustrations.  

Plus it offers a Bible story videos also. 

Click HERE for The Beginners Bible information.

WEEK FIVE: GREEN

1. Bible Story- 
Fruits of the Spirit, Galations 2:22-25 
and 2 Peter 3:18
Note: The Beginners Bible does not have this story.  
You could use this link to explain fruits of the spirit:
Click HERE for Fruits of the Spirit lesson

2. Songs-

Wordless Book song- use each week

Fruit of the Spirit song

The B-I-B-L-E song

Love the Lord song

3. Gospel Color Worksheet- 

Color green space for this week

I made this worksheet to fill in each week.

4. Fruit of the Spirit game-

Click HERE for Fruit of the Spirit game

5. Craft-

The boys will glue the fruits of the spirit on the tree branches.  The Bible, church, and prayer pictures will be glued down by the roots.  This shows how we can grow our relationship in the Lord in order to produce fruit.

6. Academics-

a. Online Lesson

Click HERE for Starfall color green lesson

Note: I am a member of Starfall.  Best $35/year I could spend for the boys!

b. Song: 

I chose this series of color songs because it also works on learning how to spell color name

c. Choose which object is green activity.  

You could make up your own activity using objects around the house.  However, I use "Circle Time Activity Center" software.  I did not buy this, it was given to me as a gift.  Very nice to use and looks like it only costs $19.99?

Click HERE for information on this Circle Time software

d. Color Green worksheet

Click HERE for worksheet

7. Object lesson- Jonah loves ranch dip.  So we are going to make a small amount of homemade ranch dip.  Then we are going to talk about how we can keep adding the ingredients in order to make more dip so that we never run out.  This is to show that we have to work on growing our faith by continuing to read the Bible, pray, and go to church.

8. Book-

Click HERE for Gus Grows a Plant book

9. Prayer. 

Boys pray if they want to, and then I close in prayer.  

"GOSPEL IN COLORS" CURRICULUM: YELLOW (Gold)

Click HERE for explanation of the 5 gospel colors.

I made these flashcards to use each week.

This is the picture bible we use with the boys.  We love it because of the way it is written and the cute and colorful illustrations.  

Plus it offers a Bible story videos also. 

Click HERE for The Beginners Bible information.

WEEK FOUR: YELLOW

1. Bible Story- 
Heaven, Revelation 21:2-4 and Revelation 21:21b

2. Songs-

Wordless Book song- use each week

Heaven is Real song

Heaven is a Wonderful Place song

When I Get to Heaven song

3. Gospel Color Worksheet- 

Color yellow space for this week

I made this worksheet to fill in each week.

4. Heaven worksheet-

Click HERE for What You Can Do in Heaven worksheet

5. Craft-

Click HERE for Heaven craft

6. Academics-

a. Online Lesson

Click HERE for Starfall color yellow lesson

Note: I am a member of Starfall.  Best $35/year I could spend for the boys!

b. Song: 

I chose this series of color songs because it also works on learning how to spell color name

c. Choose which object is yellow activity.  

You could make up your own activity using objects around the house.  However, I use "Circle Time Activity Center" software.  I did not buy this, it was given to me as a gift.  Very nice to use and looks like it only costs $19.99?

Click HERE for information on this Circle Time software

d. Color Yellow worksheet

Click HERE for worksheet

7. Object lesson- I showed boys a wrapped gift.  We talked about how exciting it is to see this present because if it from someone who loves us, then we can be assured it will be nice gift.  But I didn't let the boys open the gift.  I explained heaven is like this unopened gift.  We can believe it is a wonderful place that we want to go to someday because we know God loves us.  But we can't really completely imagine how wonderful it will be until we actually see it.

8. Book-

Click HERE for I Promise book

9. Prayer. 

Boys pray if they want to, and then I close in prayer.  

"GOSPEL IN COLORS" CURRICULUM: WHITE

Click HERE for explanation of the 5 gospel colors.

I made these flashcards to use each week.

This is the picture bible we use with the boys.  We love it because of the way it is written and the cute and colorful illustrations.  

Plus it offers a Bible story videos also. 

Click HERE for The Beginners Bible information.

WEEK THREE: WHITE

1. Bible Story- 
Jesus Forgives Peter, John 21:1-14 and Psalm 51:7

2. Songs-

Wordless Book song- use each week

You Forgive Me song

Jesus Paid It All song

Lord I Lift Your Name on High song

3. Gospel Color Worksheet- 

Show white space for this week

I made this worksheet to fill in each week.

4. Craft-

I made a snowman out of black circles (sin).  Boys glued a red heart on the middle snowman circle (Jesus dying for us) and then we glued white cotton balls (forgiveness) on the snowman.

5. Academics-

a. Online Lesson

Click HERE for Starfall color white lesson

Note: I am a member of Starfall.  Best $35/year I could spend for the boys!

b. Song: 

I chose this series of color songs because it also works on learning how to spell color name

c. Choose which object is white activity.  

You could make up your own activity using objects around the house.  However, I use "Circle Time Activity Center" software.  I did not buy this, it was given to me as a gift.  Very nice to use and looks like it only costs $19.99?

Click HERE for information on this Circle Time software

d. Color White Game

Click HERE for snowflake matching game

Since white is hard to color, 

I found this matching game instead.

6. Object lesson- We redid last week's object lesson (I let the boys color red and black markers on a hard-boiled egg to show the problem and sin and the solution of Jesus).  Then we peeled the dark shell away to the boys the white egg beneath.  

NOTE: start with a new egg and not egg from last week.  On the old egg, the marker colors bleed through over the week so you wouldn't have a white egg- kind of ruins the object of the lesson :)

7. Book-

Click HERE for Snow Day book

8. Prayer. 

Boys pray if they want to, and then I close in prayer.  

"GOSPEL IN COLORS" CURRICULUM: RED

Click HERE for explanation of the 5 gospel colors.

I made these flashcards to use each week.

This is the picture bible we use with the boys.  We love it because of the way it is written and the cute and colorful illustrations.  

Plus it offers a Bible story videos also. 

Click HERE for The Beginners Bible information.

WEEK TWO: RED

1. Bible Story- 
Jesus Dies for Us, Matthew 23-27 and John 3:16

2. Songs-

Wordless Book song- use each week

Have You Heard song

John 3:16 song

Jesus Loves Me song

3. Gospel Color Worksheet- 

color Red space for this week

I made this worksheet to fill in each week.

4. Craft-

I made a black cross (sin) and then cut out red hearts (Jesus dying for us)

 and had the boys cover the cross with them.

5. Academics-

a. Online Lesson

Click HERE for Starfall color red lesson

Note: I am a member of Starfall.  Best $35/year I could spend for the boys!

b. Song: 

I chose this series of color songs because it also works on learning how to spell color name

c. Choose which object is red activity.  

You could make up your own activity using objects around the house.  However, I use "Circle Time Activity Center" software.  I did not buy this, it was given to me as a gift.  Very nice to use and looks like it only costs $19.99?

Click HERE for information on this Circle Time software

d. Color Red worksheet

Click HERE for worksheet

6. Object lesson- I let the boys color red and black markers on a hard-boiled egg to show the problem and sin and the solution of Jesus.

7. Book-

Click HERE for Guess How Much I Love You book

8. Prayer. 

Boys pray if they want to, and then I close in prayer.