Non-electronic Christmas thoughts

Our kids are grown but they seem to enjoy coming home for some combination of Thanksgiving and Christmas. We almost put the tree up this year while they were still here for Thanksgiving. No grand kids yet. But thinking about traditions.

Years ago someone wrote an article in New Wine magazine about creating Christmas ornaments each year that reminded them of something God did that year, or something to be thankful for. Over the years, we made ornaments and bought ornaments for the tree with that in mind.

You could do that in Sunday school classrooms, too, or even as a multi-generational church activity.

You could even combine Thanksgiving and Christmas: collect magazine pictures of something each child (or person) is thankful for this year. [Instead of a magazine picture of something each person is thankful for, consider a photo of each person.]

Collect metal juice can lids (hammer a hole in the lid for the hook). Glue each picture to a lid.

Seal (with something like modgepodge). Sprinkle the wet sealer with glitter.

Hang them on a class or church Christmas tree.

Send each person's decoration home on Christmas or Christmas Eve.

If you play with this, you'll probably come up with a better idea.

I have to say that if you do this every year at home, eventually you will need a separate memory box to keep all those kid-friendly juice can lid pictures but what a fun box to open with grand kids if you decorate your tree together at the end of Thanksgiving! We have pictures of babies, hamsters, a computer, homes. When I dig out my Christmas boxes, I'll post photos.

Each picture ornament comes with a story and a real live storyteller. :-)

Holidays are Coming!

It's pretty hard to be original when the holidays come around. 

Thinking about Thanksgiving:

We never know when God might call us home.

No matter how old we are, we never know.

How do we nurture, grow, train gracious thankful hearts

willing and able to unwrap each day

like a gift 

and put it to good use?

What are you most thankful for 

today? 

Thinking about Christmas and Jesus:

Can you think of a discouraging or disappointing circumstance 

that turned into something more positive 

than you expected?

What everyday choice did you make recently that 

affected someone else's tomorrow? 

"Lord, it is good to praise you.
    Most High God, it is good to make music to honor you. 
It is good to sing every morning about your love.
    It is good to sing every night about how faithful you are."

Psalm 92:1-2 (NIRV)

Technology Question:

What skills are we (or our kids) NOT practicing when we're sitting at an electronic social device, including the TV?

Is it different than if you're reading a novel or gathering research from books?

Bible Stories, Paper folding, and Paper cutting

Just got back from a very small storytelling festival. Megan Hicks shared her stories for children with origami which made me think of you! Maybe you already tell stories this way.

So here are two sources. Adjust as needed. Use your own skills and creativity.You may need to practice in front of a mirror.  Enjoy!

Bible Stories + Origami with  Christine Petrell Kallevig

Snip and Tell Bible Stories  with Karyn Henley

If  you've already tried activities like these, how did it go?

Are you keeping up?

I don't consider myself techno-savy but I have family members working with kids, teens and families. Sent this to them. Forgot about you!

I assume that if you're an active parent or if you're currently working with children or teens, you keep up on this kind of info. Check this out.

Sidebar: I am not condoning the sites or the advertising and I apologize in advance. I have no desire to offend. But the app info is important. You can be the Navy seal rushing in to retrieve valuable information.

Who is the enemy? Would you recognize the spirit if you were face to face?

More important, can your kids recognize and differentiate between "friend" and "foe"? Do they have the strength and courage to say "Yes" to friend and "No" to foe? How do we train them?

End of Sidebar.

Here's the app info:

Scary apps that you need to know about. For parents, guardians, teachers, anyone with children using computers or smart phones who are in your care...

This site, as well. This one is a bit more tame.