The Jesse Tree

Looking for an AMAZING way to share the real meaning of Christmas with your children? Then buy the book...The Advent Jesse Tree: Devotions for Children and Adults to prepare for the coming of the Christ Child at Christmas. It is a very simple book with 25 devotions taken throughout the Bible that ultimately lead up to the birth of Christ. Each night you do a devotion, an ornament is hung on the tree to symbolize that particular message. For example, when we talked about Noah's Ark, I had found a miniature Noah's ark ornament. Some ornaments are homemade...some bought. I started this about three years ago, when Carlie was only two. This year truly has been special, because the girls are older and have really gotten into it. You can simply read the devotion and hang the ornament...or go further with games, songs, drama, etc. In years past, we have actually set up a tent in the living room to describe when God called Abraham to leave his country...to turning out all the lights and using flashlights to describe the creation story...then God said, "Let there be light."
Here are some highlights from this year:
* The first devotion is creation, and last year I actually found a "globe" ornament. A few days after the devotion, Mollie was carrying around the globe ornament...singing, "He's got the whole world in His hands..." SO PRECIOUS...then CRASH! Apparently, Mollie didn't have the "Whole World" in her hands. LOL The ornament crashed onto the floor in a million pieces. Here I come Hobby Lobby.
* Then one night we decided to make Joseph's coat of many colors. We got out clear contact paper and tore all sorts of colored tissue paper and stuck it onto the contact paper...then put another piece of contact paper on the back (sealing it somewhat), and cut out the shape of a coat. It looked really cool, but the amazing part was when we hung it on the tree. The colored lights made the tissue paper almost translucent...really beautiful! Then Carlie made several paper doll dresses. LOTS of FUN!
* The funniest was two nights ago, when we were talking about David and the ornament was suppose to be a slingshot. I didn't have that ornament so I found a rubber band. After the devotion, I got the rubber band and some cotton balls. We pretended like Travis was Goliath and practice shooting him...which lead to wrestling...a BLAST. But perhaps the funniest was watching Ellie get excited watching them. She started talking and kicking those legs...almost like "Let me have a chance. I can bust ole Goliath up, too."

I'm connected to The Network!

Yes, I'm now connected to "The Network"...Verizon Wireless. Santa (aka Travis) thought I finally needed a cell phone. So if you have Verizon...tell me ASAP, because we can talk all the time for FREE. My other precious friends will have to use my anytime minutes or wait till I get home.
It was funny. The service guy was totally shocked I had never had a cell phone before.
Travis said I had to read the owner's manual cover to cover, but I'm hoping to get my super tech savvy sister-in-law, Lanie, to help me get some cool ringtones, plug in my numbers, etc. during the Christmas break.
Speaking of precious girlfriends, here is the 2008 Christmas Bunko picture I missed with some dear friends back in Abilene. Lori and I began this group almost 4 years ago, and I attended the last 3 Christmas ones. So it made me sad not to be there this year, but so happy to see such a precious time continuing.
You know it is things like starting a Bunko group, a Bible study with dear friends, joining Facebook...that keep us connected...keep us part of a community...interlinked, leaning on each other. Now, in O'Fallon I'm so thankful that I try to always be inclusive vs. exclusive...because their comes a time when we are all "The New Kid" and being invited to something really means a lot. So if you have a Christmas party coming up or an ornament exchange...think of someone that is new and invite her. It can truly make a huge difference. We all want to be pursued, captivating to someone. I know I've appreciate all the sweet gestures, kind words that have come my way.

Really cute...

Well, I have to brag on "practically my sister-in-law" Libby Barker. You can view her blog from mine. She is actually my sister-in-law's sister...so what is that to me??? Anyway, Libby is just an AMAZING woman, and has recently started doing photography. So over Thanksgiving break, my sister-in-law, Lanie Walters, mentioned Libby could take some snapshots of us. I was thinking, "Oh, that would be nice." Never expecting that Libby would do an ABSOLUTE INCREDIBLE job. I mean we dressed for a day at the farm there in Paduch, Kentucky...rode in the golf carts, ran down to the lake...basically just had a blast...then a last minute "photo shoot"???

We were all mismatched. Travis broke the chair. I mean just typical stuff for our clan. Hence, why we don't normally do the professional picture thing. Boy, did Libby have an amazing eye, though. I know I keep saying "AMAZING." I just can't get over how Libby turned our shambles into a masterpiece. I just have to share one of my favorite photos she took. So rarely does a camera truly, in my opinion, capture the essence of my girls and Libby did.

Libby, you are SO PRECIOUS to us! We just love you!