Truth in the Tinsel- Week #1

We are so excited to be taking a Christmas adventure with Truth in the Tinsel.  Each day we read a passage of Scripture, listen for the clue word, make a little craft to remind us of the clue and spend a little time reflecting on the Christmas story as it relates to our world.

Everyday we took a link off the chain to find out the secret word.

Remember, it's the process, not the product.  The most important thing is not the craft, but what the craft represents.  Each time we see these objects in the tree I can remind my children of the story behind them and why God used these things to tell His special story about Jesus.

Day #1- Candle- Jesus is the light of the world.
 
Day #2- Kingdom. Jesus' kingdom is forever.

Day #3- Zechariah.  Believe God even when it's hard.

Day #4- Gabriel- God's messenger to Mary (and Zechariah).

Day #5- Mary was the Lord's servant.

Day #6- Mary/Elizabeth both pregnant and rejoicing!

Day #7- Mary's Song.  Shrade spent 1 hour putting the stickers on this CD.

It's amazing how God used different people to carry out his plan. We look forward to learning more about the Christmas story as we go through December!

Big Book of My World by Kali Stileman Book Review (Tiger Tales)

Big Book of My World  by Kali Stileman is an absolutely gorgeous book for young children to discover their world.  This book includes first concepts like counting and opposites.  There are also first words, things to find, favorite things and activities like matching and spotting differences.  Each page is full of bright and beautiful pictures with questions for mom and dad to ask while the little child is enthralled with the pictures.  This is a fantastic book for a young child who is ready to learn about their world.

This new book from Tiger Tales is a perfect book for developing hand and eye coordination (finding pictures and pointing to them).  This book is also great for learning new vocabulary.  Parents and kids will be reaching for this book everyday for new experiences and activities to keep the little brain working.  I know my little girl will blossom in her love for books with this book!


For ages 3-7

*I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Tiger Tales  for my review.  All opinions are my own.*

Find more great books for children at Tiger Tales.

Visit Tiger Tales on Facebook.

2013 Weekly Household Planner Giveaway (ends 12/6)!!

  ATTENTION all busy moms!!  

I have been looking for a complete and easy way to be organized weekly- I found it!  Susan Heid at The Confident Mom has created a weekly planner with everything on it, including household tasks to complete each day.  I don't know about you, but I can get distracted and overwhelmed rather quickly.  I have a million things to do and I don't get to them because I don't plan.  However, Susan has already done ALL the planning for me.  I have been using this planner for a few months and I can see a difference in my day.  I feel much more confident and also I don't have to take extra time figuring out what needs to be done.

Please watch my one minute video and see what 5 things I like about Susan's planner:

To learn more about Susan’s popular and affordable 2013 Confident Mom Weekly Household Planner and
the new Weekly Household Planner Supplement, click HERE. Every mom deserves the feeling of accomplishment and results that will be seen using this planner!

Susan is offering a discount off the entire planner including the supplement  ($2 off on the $14 version).
Discount Code: KNOW13
Valid for one week.  Ends Monday, Dec 10.  If you don't win the giveaway you can still buy with this discount!
Click HERE.





Note: I had my planner printed and bound into a book.  You can do this at any office supply store.  It was less expensive for black and white, but the planner is in color and it's very pretty if you want a color copy!
 
Giveaway:

Win it:  I will be giving away ONE of the Weekly Household Planners with supplement.  You will have a choice to include the Bible reading or not.  Giveaway ends Thursday, Dec 6.  

PLEASE click over to my other blog The Knowlton Nest to enter this giveaway!  

 

LOW entries!!

 

Music Notes: Charity and the JAMband CD Review

Charity's heart and soul for Family Values shines in her moving lyrics and catchy tunes.  She takes ordinary activities in life and shares how to practically exercise them to help others make a positive difference in the world.  She sings about loving kindness, patience, understanding, gratitude, trust and peace.  Her songs touch hearts, young and old, and really sink down deep to ignite a passion for a better mankind.  Her music includes rock and roll, ballads and fun sing alongs.  Take a journey to a magical place where people really do live their values and the world can be a happy family. 

*I was given a complimentary copy of this CD by Elizabeth from Waldmania in exchange for my honest review.**

  Says Charity, "The songs on Family Values distill my deepest intentions and highest hopes as a mother, an artist, and a human being into one simple act: to walk the path of peace and hold out my hands to those I meet along the way."

Charity Kahn has a degree in math from Stanford, has co-authored a book on math and music, and used to be a software engineer in the technology industry.  Becoming a mom opened the door to a new life of musical devotion and creation and allowed her to live her real passion.  Since 2004, Charity and the JAMband have been bringing the rock 'n' roll experience to families, touching the hearts and inspriing dancing feet of this generation's breed of family music lovers.
Visit Charity at Charity and the JAMband.

Fall Bible Reading Adventure Winners!

I am so proud of A and A!  Two moms who started reading my blog about 1.5 years ago and faithfully participated in the Fall Bible Reading Adventure through 1 John these last 2 months.  I am overwhelmed with love and gratitude for them!  They gave me the passion to keep going!  So I am honoring BOTH of them with A Christmas Adventure ebook from Scripture Adventures!  Way to go, ladies!

Be on the lookout sometime in the beginning of 2013 for another Bible reading adventure.  I have some ideas in my mind already.  I might be doing something different this time.  Can't wait to share my ideas!!

Warrior Prayers- 21 Days of Prayer in December Calendar

This month I decided to pray for my son using Warrior Prayers.  Every time I pray these prayers I feel like God does a greater work in me than what I pray for in my son.  But I know that I need to active and intense in my prayer for my kids and this is one of the best resources I have ever used.   Praying God's Word and inserting my son's name is powerful!!  So tomorrow we start our 21 days.  We will only pray Monday-Friday and I will put a little reminder on Facebook for each day of prayer.  I can't wait to see how God is going to move in my life and my son's life.  This is a life-long habit I want to make--Praying for my kids!!

Are you ready?

When?  Dec 3-31
Where?  With Milk N' Honey Learn and Grow blog and Facebook
How? With God's Word and Warrior Prayers ebook
Why?  Because God is the Father of our sons and the best place for them is in God's hands

Pray hard, pray tough and pray out loud!

I will not be posting any more about this challenge on my blog until December 31, but keep up with me on Facebook.

Monday, Dec 3- Heart Change
Tuesday, Dec 4- Obedience
Wednesday, Dec 5- Submission to Authority
Thursday, Dec 6- Integrity
Friday, Dec 7- Avoiding Foolishness

Monday, Dec 10- Pride
Tuesday, Dec 11- Purity
Wednesday, Dec 12- Servant's Heart
Thursday, Dec 13- Honor
Friday, Dec 14- Love

Monday, Dec 17- Joy
Tuesday, Dec 18- Peace
Wednesday, Dec 19- Patience
Thursday, Dec 20- Kindness
Friday, Dec 21- Goodness

Monday, Dec 24- Faithfulness
Tuesday, Dec 25- Gentleness
Wednesday, Dec 26- Self-control
Thursday, Dec 27- Anger
Friday, Dec 28- Salvation

Monday, Dec 31- Humility & Honesty (bonus)

Monthly Plan- December 2012

This month is going to look a little different than normal because Christmas is so special and I want to do activities that will help us focus on Jesus during the holiday season.

Bible time: 
Every morning after we do calendar we will do our special Christmas Adventure: Truth in the Tinsel.  I am so excited to do this with my son this year because I think he will really start to focus on the true meaning of Christmas.

Source: e-junkie.com via Shonda on Pinterest

Family Advent Activities:
This year we are going to do some family advent activities from my Good Morning Girls Bible study.  Subscribe to get the FREE ebook with ideas you can use too!

Source: goodmorninggirls.org via Shonda on Pinterest

Activities for Advent with The Activity Mom:
This website offers "other" activities and crafts for Christmas that are not necessarily Christian, but provide some more fun for the afternoons.  I picked about 10 fun things to do with my son!

Source: activity-mom.com via Shonda on Pinterest

Baking Time:
I want to bake cookies with Shrade to give to our neighbors and friends with a little card to tell them about Jesus' love at Christmas time.

Here are four cookie recipes we will make:

*MGM Cookies (traditional favorite)

*Candy Cane Blossoms- NEW

Source: bakedperfection.com via Sharon on Pinterest

*Chocolate Snowballs- NEW

Source: heavenlyhomemakers.com via Shonda on Pinterest

*Sour Cream Sugar Cookies- NEW

Source: joyinmykitchen.blogspot.com via Shonda on Pinterest

EXTRA bonus cookie to try:
Christmas Cookie Dough Truffles

Source: bakedperfection.com via Shonda on Pinterest

And for Christmas day I want to start a new tradition- making Christmas scones.  I found this idea on Life as Mom.

Source: goodcheapeats.com via Shonda on Pinterest

Giving:
This month we are thinking of different ways to give.  Our church sponsors a dinner for single moms every year.  We picked up a bag to fill with groceries.  I can't wait to take Shrade shopping for someone else. 

Books:
Last year I read a book everyday and did an activity or craft.  It was fun, but a lot of work.  I will still read all those Christmas books, but just for fun! 

Bible Verses:
We will review the Christmas verse from last year from Songs for Saplings and also we have verses every week for Awana all through December.

Luke 2:11  "For there is born to you this day in the City of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord."
It's amazing how fast Shrade learns verses to a catchy tune of music!  LOVE Songs for Saplings.

Academic:
 

  If we have time in our busy days I will squeeze in our academic time that includes the Pre-Reading Curriculum from All About Learning (LOVE this!!).  I also do a little math workbook with Thomas the Train.  We are working on spelling and writing Shrade's first name.  And we do online reading with Reading Teacher.  Very fun!

I know you think everything on here is about Shrade, but I include Jessna quite a bit.  It has been very challenging for me to "teach" with 2 age levels.  I feel like Jessna is not getting the same education as Shrade did at her age.  However, I know it will all work out in the end.

The best part is that next year at this time I will be able to start KINDERGARTEN with Shrade through an online homeschool academy with all the curriculum and support for free.  I'm so excited.  I will be researching it a bit more in the coming months, but as soon as he turns 5, I can enroll him as a student.  That will make all of my teaching a little bit easier.  Then I can do more creative with things with Jessna since I won't be spending all my time coming up with things for BOTH of them to do.

My calendar is already set with all these activities and I have all the materials.  I can't wait to share what we do this month!