Angels, Candy Canes, Nativities, Oh My!

We have had a FULL weekend, even though we weren't all feeling the best.  Thankfully, greens and some essential oils have kept ME from getting the crud the girls got!  I do NOT have time to be sick, and if I am down for the count, who is going to take care of ME?  Moms don't get sick days!!!



Today has been a BUSY Monday.
6 loads of laundry, so far.
Disinfecting, organizing, and catching up.
Got the fridge cleaned out.  Not because I wanted to, but because it was BAD.  And empty.
I really, really, really need to get groceries, but sick girlies have changed my plans for the day.

We've had another morning at home, resting.
And yet somehow, we have done so much.



Kellah did her homeschool work.
We all did an experiment to see how a volcano works.

The girls made their own nativity scenes for our Advent Jar activity.





We actually managed to stay up on those this past weekend too, despite feeling icky!
The girls made handprint angels and then painted candy canes.



We talked about what in the world CANDY CANES have to do with Christmas.
Can anyone tell me, without checking out the link first?!
I was super proud of Coralyn for knowing and being able to explain it to her sisters.

We also got our Angel Tree gift that we will deliver to church on Wednesday.

I love that we are really making a concentrated effort to stay focused on the TRUE meaning of Christmas this year.  I feel like we have in the past, but this year is even more intentional.

With all the projects and crafts, I pray the girls remember the HEART behind everything we have done.  My desire is for them to grow in their understanding of who Jesus is and be committed, even at a young age, to live passionately for Him.  I have found myself praying for them more and more.  I long for them to stand out, by standing up for what's right no matter what everyone else around them is doing.  I fear they will be ridiculed or left out or worse, but I pray all the harder for them to choose friends who will build them up and encourage them to run after Jesus, no matter the cost.  I have been praying for their future husbands too, that they will be men of faith and courage and purpose.  I know God has plans for my girls, and I have to entrust them to Him on a daily basis.

As we do all these Advent Jar activities, I hope they will remember more than cutting and gluing and coloring and decorating.  I pray they will treasure these moments TOGETHER in their hearts.  I want them to realize the value we place on FAMILY.

With that, I also want them to take these traditions with them as they grow up, get married, and start their own families.  Wherever they go, whatever they do, I want the girls to be living for Jesus.  All out.  No holding back.

I don't know what it is about this Christmas season, but I am fired up about making the days count and living in light of ETERNITY.



Maybe it's because at this time of year, we remember how God sent His ONLY Son to earth.  Jesus left the glory of heaven to come dwell with us.  He was born in a manager, surrounded by farm animals and dirt.  His life didn't get any easier as an adult.  He was questioned, doubted, ridiculed, misunderstand, shunned, beat, spit at, and nailed to a cross.  Even as He hung there on the splintered wood, He was mocked.  But never once did He forget why He came.

He gave up  heaven and then His life.
He died, so we might live.

As I see that baby in the manager, I see my Savior, my Friend, my Rock, my GOD.
A little baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes, changed the world forever.
And maybe that's why I am so passionate about pouring into my girls now, while they are young.
Maybe that's why I am all the more convinced God can use children, including MY girls, to make a HUGE impact on the entire course of history.



Who knows what He has in store for our family?!
What I do know is that right now, I am given TODAY.
And I want to make the most of today.
So, we make angels, candy canes, and nativity scenes all in hopes of fixing our hearts and minds on what REALLY matters.  For only as we do that can we go out and love others, spread hope, shine a light, and BE Jesus to the world.  Only then can we bring joy, inspire strength, crush fear, and rise up as the overcomers we are.



Won't you JOIN us?
Yes, during the holidays, but also in the days and weeks and months to come...



May we be men, women, boys, girls who FIX our eyes on Jesus so we can live the lives Jesus came to give us in the first place.