Celebrating Advent

Advent is sneaking up on me, not that I haven't been aware of it...  It's just that I am letting the URGENT overtake the important ... is that how the saying goes?  There always just seems to be ONE more thing that is screaming for my attention... and then there is the unimportant and the un-urgent that just seems to be the easy thing to do.

So here it is just a few days before December, and I want to let you, my friends and readers, know what I hope to accomplish in the next month in the middle of all the hustle and bustle.

First off, is a fun little blog hop, each week with a different focus! We would love to have you join us.  Each week there will be a link up on the host's blog. Write a post about that them and add yours to the list! We look forward to celebrating with you.

Week one: Advent hosted by Zohary
Week two: Traditions hosted by Katharine
Week three: Decor hosted by Jen
Week four: Cookies hosted by Yours Truly

This first week is all about Advent...

Last year, I participated in a great community called Truth in the Tinsel. I call it a community because we did share pictures and encourage each other on facebook. It was an Advent Experience, just like the ebook says!  When I decided to give it a go last year, I was a little apprehensive. I am a perfectionist. I have four kids. Nothing ever turns out perfect... especially crafts! I have a knack for starting things and never finishing them.  However, THIS we actually finished and we actually enjoyed it (most days) and Yes, we did double up on a few days and I did fudge a few crafts. But that's the beauty of it! There are plenty of options for you to choose from and it's easy to find one that fits your schedule.

and this year, Amanda has added printable ornaments (for $3.99) for those of you that don't do crafts!

The ebook itself is just $7.99 and you can use it year after year... and your kids will love you for it!! My kids have already started asking me when we are going to start the ornaments... I better get on that! :) Or maybe we can just re-use last year's ornaments!

For more on Truth in the Tinsel (and some cute pictures of my kids' ornaments) you can check out...
my review last year
my first update
my second update

...


For myself this year, I am going to work my way through Walking to Bethlehem. It was written by my dear friend Katherine, and although I received an advance copy to review, I just wanted to wait until December to really dig into it during the Advent season.

I love her style of writing and I haven't read one devotional that didn't just meet me where I was! She's amazing like that! Check out her book, Grace and Fresh Ink, too. It would be a great way to start the new year.




I also have two freebies to mention:

Just got notice of this one today! It's More Than Candy by SarahMae, free to email subscribers on her blog.  As a child I remember the Hershey Kiss Advent ribbon that we used EVERY year (and I loved it) but I also remember doing "more than candy," like our Jesus box that we put money in all month long and then found someone to bless it with for Christmas. Can't wait to check this one out! :)

and a free family devotional with Jesse Tree ornaments from Ann Voskamp. "I want a Christmas that you can hold."


So many options, and while I know I can't do them all, I still want to try. So would you pick one or two and join me in this Advent Journey?!?!  
Let me know which one you are going to use... or if you have another Advent tradition, please share it in the comments!


ps. this post does contain affiliate links, but I would share them anyway...

12 Days til Christmas...

So we are still progressing in our Advent project this month, although I have discovered that it is very difficult to do the craft 4 times over with my kids and I tend to get frustrated! I definitely can not take pictures of the process, so most of my pictures are just the end result!  As I was reviewing the fantastic book, Truth in the Tinsel, just to get a burst of inspiration to keep going even when I get frustrated, I discovered that I was making it harder on myself by trying to read the scripture and work on the craft at the same time... duh, I know! So I am hoping that this week goes smoother as we focus on the passage before we ever touch the craft!

Before I share our progress and the cute adorable crafts my kids are making, I wanted to let you know that it's NOT TOO LATE to join in!!

Amanda is running a "12 Days TIL Christmas" sale for 20% off the book PLUS a free 12 day alternate schedule featuring the best 12 crafts. You can get your copy with code 12DAYS. The link to the alternate 12 day schedule will be in your download email

Here is some of our fun!

Day 7: Mary's Song: We only did one of these... I'm afraid to part with my CD's even the ones I never listen to.

I also wish that I had seen some of the adjustments that others did with this ornament because the marbles are HEAVY... but I do like the way it turned out... once I let it dry!

And this picture reflects why doing crafts is so hard for me... I don't have enough patience to let it dry! :)

Day 8: The Rising Sun: this is another one of my favorite ornaments... so much so that we made extra for the nursing home Christmas caroling the kids do with AWANA (they give handmade gifts to the residents).

I even took it a step further and printed out the verses for the back of the ornament as a reminder!!

Day 9: once again the clothespin ornament... this time Joseph! It went better than the Mary ornament, but still not one of my favorites.

Day 10: Joseph's Dream: not too great on the pillows, I confess, I did most of the work myself, the kids just stuffed the cotton balls in! :)

 My favorite part of this Advent "experience" is listening to my kids read the Scripture and fumble over big words... but in the end, I know they are getting it!

This has not been easy for me... it takes me out of my comfort zone.  I have not been a crafty mom, and maybe I could skip that step, but I know the kids look forward to it... except when I get uptight over it.  I am just praying that the crafts will serve as a reminder to my kids of the truth of the gospel and Jesus coming to earth... for us, for you, for them, for me!!

Go get the book at 20% off... for Monday, December 12, ONLY! (code: 12DAYS)

linking up to Manger Mondays...

Ps: this post contains affiliate links

Advent for the kids...

Sometimes I get so overwhelmed and tired of all the commercialism surrounding Christmas. I just wanna throw it all out the window and just forget about it (maybe it's partially because money is so tight in these days).  I mentioned Truth in the Tinsel a few weeks ago... and I was really nervous about committing to it.  I never considered myself a crafty mom (perfectionism takes over and it becomes un-fun real fast).  But I am happy to say, that so far so good (mostly)!!

I am loving the facebook page with examples, encouragement, and ideas from others that are participating in Truth in the Tinsel this year!! You should really check it out!  One of the things I discovered is that some moms are really organized and plan ahead... like they have each day's craft supplies all gathered and bagged neatly by day...  This here, this is my organization!

Just wanted to share a little of our journey and encourage you, that it's not too late to join in!!


Day 1: My son missed out because he was at karate... my daughter on the left is a perfectionist... all neat in a row! This was a great start to our Advent Experience. Jesus is the Light of the world! LOVED listening to my 6YO read Isaiah

Day 2: The coming Kingdom: I was totally gonna skip the painting step, but I just couldn't and I am so glad I didn't! The kids were so proud of their work and I LOVE them, too!!

Day 3.  I made this one on my own with them watching... I just couldn't come up with a way to do 4 of them... until I saw all the great ideas on the facebook page... paper plates?!?!  Why didn't I think of that?

Day 4: Gabriel the angel... seriously think this one is my favorite ornament so far! I did most of the work for each one, but they picked out the colors, wrapping paper, and all.

Day 5: Mary... this one was just a nightmare, that's all I'm gonna say

Day 6: I call this day Redemption because we recovered from yesterday.  This day was Mary and Elizabeth. Once again, I was going to try to take the easy way out... not do four sets, use crayons instead of watercolor paints... etc. but my little rule follower saw the page and insisted that we paint! :) and then we did do 4 sets and I had to cut them ALL!!

and then my sweet little children started puppet shows and re-enacting Luke 1!!  :)

 They couldn't even keep the dolls still long enough for a picture!! :)

This great ebook also provided stuff for advent calendars and I printed these nice little clues... and I am doing NOTHING with them... O well, maybe next year! :)

So this is my little Truth in the Tinsel update... Hopefully I will be back next week with another update!! :)  you know you want to join in!! :)

Linking this up to Manger Mondays (although this is Tuesday! :)

Celebrating Jesus

I am soo excited I don't know where to begin!!  Thanksgiving was yesterday which means it's time to bring out the Christmas music and decorations... as soon as I get back to my house that is!  In all honesty, I really wasn't that excited about Christmas.  I am a stingy scrooge and hate spending money... although I do like to give gifts. I am a people pleaser so I stress too much about people liking the gifts I get them... but that is not what this post is about!

Each year, I get overwhelmed with the materialistic nature of Christmas, and I so want to return to what Christmas is all about.  I want my kids to know the true "reason for the season!" and the importance of what God did on "Christmas" by sending His Son to earth for us, for ME, for YOU!!

Last year, I discovered this post on Advent with the Jesus Storybook Bible... which we already have and love. So I attempted it.  We actually did most of it, although quite a few nights we had to read a couple of stories to catch up. Last year, I also printed out Jesse Tree ornaments... and they sat in the drawer for the whole month of December, so I am not sure what makes me think that I can do THIS, but I am going to give it a go!!

One of the great blogs I read is Impress Your Kids.  It gives lots of good ideas for kids crafts, using them to teach your kids about the Bible!! Today is the release date of her new ebook, Truth in the Tinsel! The regular price is $4.99, but you can buy it today, Black Friday for $2.99!!  I was so excited to get a pre-release copy to review!  I have been looking through it on and off for the last week, getting more and more excited about giving it a go with my kids this year!  I know that it will mean so much to them!

What is giving me the most freedom is the alternate schedules. I have 4 kids, so I think we might try the one where we do a few days together and the kids can each do a different ornament.  This also helps me because it is almost guaranteed that I will not do this every day!

There is also a GREAT full supply list. It is perfectly detailed for someone like me.  And she also provides the list by day, so I know which supplies I need the first week to get started.  and then there is this sentence ... "Many of these items are interchangeable."  because I will be interchanging items!! :)

I want to tell you EVERYTHING about this great ebook, but I am telling you that you should go check it out for yourself.  Your kids will thank you! :)  Be sure to join the Truth in the Tinsel Facebook page, where Amanda will be providing challenges and encouragement throughout the advent season.  You can also post pictures of your kids working on the ornaments!!  So fun!

Tell me what you do for the Advent season, or let me know if you are participating in the Truth in the Tinsel experience!

PS. for a brief moment, I really considered getting the Star Wars Lego Advent Calendar... If I did that, I could probably even get my hubby to participate! :)

PPS. The CSI Project is all things Advent calendars this week, so even though this isn't my work, I am linking this up so more people can hear about Truth in the Tinsel!



disclosure: IF I did it right, some of the links in this post are affiliate links...