Christmas Plates: Gift Idea For The Grandparents

We came up with a great and easy idea for gift giving and we want to share it with all of you. It's something the kiddos can do and make by themselves with minimal help. I found some ceramic plates at the thrift store and it got me to thinking. Why not make these into gifts! So we made this super simple and easy craft and the girls loved it. 

CHRISTMAS PLATES USING SHARPIE MARKERS

CHRISTMAS PLATE SUPPLY LIST

1. White ceramic plates from the thrift store or you can buy new
2. Set of Sharpie markers - fine point 
3. Oven

We began this craft by first making sure the plates were clean. Next we got out our set of Sharpie fine point markers and went to work creating. The girls chose to draw on their plates, but I decided to put a Bible verse on mine. After we were finished we put the plates on a cookie sheet and put them in a 250 degree oven for about thirty minutes to set the marker. We then turned the oven off and let the plates cool in the oven. Ta Da, an easy peasy Christmas gift with a personal touch and frugal to boot!

I'm sure you could decorate white cups the same way if you would rather go that route. The baking in the oven is suppose to set the marker so they can be washed. Suppose to, but I will admit we haven't washed ours so I can't attest to whether or not that is fact.     


                                                   Have fun and Happy Crafting!

Giant Stained Glass Sugar Cookies For Christmas

GIANT STAINED GLASS SUGAR COOKIES

Yesterday was baking day! I tackled a project I had had in mind to do with the girls for awhile. We made giant stained glass sugar cookies. I found a new sugar cookie recipe that doesn't need to be chilled and it is so YUMMY! It's going to be my new, all time favorite sugar cookie recipe!  We had so much fun making and baking these. We will definitely be making these again. 

 Supplies you will need besides the baking supplies and cookie pans and of course the rolling pin are miniature cookie cutters. I also had a cookie cutter with a removable round center piece that I used for the round shapes. To make the giant cookies I used the lid from a large container of baking powder that I bought at Sam's Club. Probably any extra large lid 5 or 6 inches across would work. Also make sure to bake these on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper so they will be easy to remove.

BEST SUGAR COOKIE RECIPE EVER!
 credit given to Katrina's Kitchen for this wonderful recipe

Yield: 3 dozen large cookies
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 6-8 minutes
Total Time: 38 minutes

Soft cut out sugar cookie recipe that keeps its shape and dough does not need to be chilled before baking- perfect edges every time!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of butter, softened
• 2 cups of granulated white sugar
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon of almond extract
• 2 eggs
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 6 cups all purpose flour

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. In the bowl of your mixer cream butter and sugar until smooth.
3. Beat in extracts and eggs.
4. In a separate bowl combine baking powder with flour and add a little at a time to the wet ingredients. The dough will be very stiff. If it becomes too stiff for your mixer turn out the dough onto a countertop surface. Wet your hands and finish off kneading the dough by hand.
5. DO NOT CHILL THE DOUGH. Divide into workable batches, roll out onto a floured surface and cut. You want these cookies to be on the thicker side (closer to 1/4 inch rather than 1/8).
6. Bake at 350 for 6-8 minutes. Let cool on the cookie sheet until firm enough to transfer to a cooling rack.

Notes:

• If you must chill the dough just leave it on the countertop for 10 minutes before rolling or work the dough with your hands for a few minutes.
• I hesitate to put a recipe yield on cut out cookie recipes because the yield varies with the size of cookie cutters being used. This recipe makes a LARGE amount of dough. It can easily be halved to meet your needs.
• You can omit the almond extract if you do not have it available, however the taste is really fantastic with the hint of almond.

I do want to point out that when you make these it is very important they not be too thin. The dough also needs to have nice clean cut edges so the candy doesn't wick up into the cookie as it melts.  These giant cookies are approximately 5 inches across and at least 1/4 inch thick. Also this is very important. When you make these bake the cookies for 6-7 minutes, then remove them from the oven and add the crushed candy to the cutouts, then return to the oven and bake for another 6-7 minutes or so more. Otherwise the candy melts too much and will either burn or run everywhere. Trust me I know from experience! Also it's hard to tell when the cookies are done. Don't wait too long or they will be too done!  Total baking time for us per pan of cookies was about 12 minutes, but that may vary for you depending on your oven. Also this recipe makes at least a dozen giant cookies. We also baked the cutouts and they made nice size cookies even though we used miniature cookie cutters for the cutouts.

Have fun and enjoy baking and creating with your little ones and older ones too!

WATERLESS SNOWGLOBES. A FRUGAL AND VERSATILE CHRISTMAS CRAFT

WATERLESS SNOWGLOBES

I have another fun Christmas craft for you today. Waterless snowglobes! They were so fun to make and the girls had so much fun helping me. The girls loved the little trees and how they looked in the jars. For this craft I went around the house picking and choosing from jars I already had. I also picked up a few more jars from  the thrift store in town. Then the girls and I added fake flaked snow and trees or snowmen or other Christmasy type things.

This craft can be used all winter and for other holidays. All you need to do after you make these is change out the scenes if you want. I plan on using them  for New Years and Valentines Day. I'm lovin this craft already. All that's left now after I've decided how I want these waterless snowglobes arranged is to put my Christmas tablecloth on the table and make my tablescape. Kind of think I want a different look that the world map that is on our dining room table right now. Ha, Ha, imagine a homeschool mom having a world map on the table!

WATERLESS SNOWGLOBE SUPPLY LIST

1. Ice Flakes or Sparkle Flakes from Walmart
2. Jars of various sizes and shapes including lids
3. Small figurines and bottle brush trees to put in the jars
4. Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks 

We started this craft the night before by washing the jars and letting them completely dry inside.  The girls and I then chose what we were going to put in the jars. We were careful not to get our fingerprints all over the glass. I helped the girls shake just enough of the sparkle flakes or ice flakes into each jar to cover the bottom well. We shook the flaked snow into the apothecary jars and placed our figurines or the nativity on top of the snow and then placed the lid on top. The salt shaker and canning jars we hot glued the figurines to the lid first. Then we shook snow into the jar and placed the lid with the figurines attached on the jar and screwed the lid on. We didn't glue the lid on. That way we can reuse the jars for other scenes later. Once you have you snowglobes made you can display them as a beautiful Christmas tablescape. The girls and I are thrilled with how ours turned out. 

                                                    Have fun and Happy Crafting!

Cinnamon Stick Trees. An Easy Christmas Craft

We are on a crafting craze around here these days. The girls and I have been at it again, this time making cinnamon stick trees. If you are looking for a quick craft this is it. No glitter this time! We happened to have everything on hand that we needed for this craft, but if you don't the items needed are easy to find.  This craft was super simple, fast and easy and the girls loved how they turned out. I think they are extra cute too! Notice the little ladybug climbing up the trunk of one of the trees? That was McLarin's special touch! She insisted there had to be a ladybug on hers.


CINNAMON STICK TREES SUPPLY LIST


1. Old Pine Garland
2. Long Cinnamon Sticks
3. Hot Glue and Hot Glue Gun
4. Thread For Hanging- if you want to make these as ornaments
5. Embellishments- such as buttons, snowflakes, small beads, gingerbreadmen etc
6. Gold Star For The Top Of Tree
7. Snow-Tex- for texturing the trunk of your trees
8. Scissors

Before you begin this craft take the pine garland and cut three to five pieces for each tree. I began with a cut piece about 3" and graduated the size of the pieces so each piece was a little smaller. The garland is a little hard to cut so you will need some sturdy scissors. Once I had the garland cut the girls then began gluing pieces of the cut garland to the cinnamon stick. Make sure your little crafters leave enough cinnamon stick at the bottom for the tree trunk. Little ones will need help with using the hot glue gun.

Once the garland pieces are glued on embellishments can be added as you like. After adding embellishments the girls added a gold star to the top of their trees. To add a little whimsey we added some snow-tex to the trunk of each tree. I bought the jar we have at Hobby Lobby several years back. Last of all was gluing on the gold string to the back of the tree to make a hanger. Start to finish this craft probably took us 30-45 minutes max.  Super simple,  hardly any mess and so cute. Have fun crafting with your kiddos! 

Melted Snowmen. A Fun Craft For The Holidays

MELTED SNOWMEN!

 We made the cutest, easiest and fun craft tonight. Melted snowmen! They were so easy to do and they didn't take long at all. Little ones will need help because this craft makes us of a glue gun and glue sticks. The girls has so much fun creating their own version of a melted snowman that we wanted to make sure and share it with you. We will definitely be doing this craft again!

MELTED SNOWMEN SUPPLY LIST

1. Aluminum foil
2. Hot Glue Gun
3. Glue Sticks
4. White Glitter
5. Black Buttons - two different sizes
6. Tooth Picks
7. Orange Magic Marker
8. Pieces Of Cloth -for snowman's scarf
9. Piece of Wire - or something to use as a hanger 
10. Embellishments - if you want. We used really small artificial snowflakes 

I started by giving each of my girls a piece of aluminum foil. This is what they squeezed the hot glue onto. Before we began I broke off the tip of a couple of toothpicks and colored them orange. These were used for the Melted Snowmen noses. I also cut a piece of cloth or felt for the scarves and clipped the ends to make them look like they had fringe. Once they had the glue squeezed onto the foil and their melted snowman was in the shape they liked they placed buttons on for the snowmen's eyes and mouth. 
One of my daughters wanted to use googly eyes. It gave her melted snowman a surprised look and made it uniquely her own! They also arranged the tip of the toothpick I had colored orange with the magic marker before we started. Once the face was on the girls sprinkled the white glitter into the melted snowmen while the glue was still warm enough for it to stick. Next they placed the fabric scarf on the bottom of their melted snowman and placed the hanger in the top, making sure it was secure. The last thing the girls did was to add embellishments to their melted snowmen. They chose to use very small artificial snowflakes. Some were white and some were clear.

A FEW THINGS THAT WE FOUND THAT HELPED
 
A few things we discovered that helped was to squirt the hot glue in a back and forth motion. That way it doesn't end up in a big wavy lump. You can also use the tip of the hot glue gun to smooth out any ridges when you are making the melted snowmen.

It's also a good idea to work fast so the buttons and other snowman parts will adhere well. Otherwise the glue will begin to harden and you'll find like we did your buttons or embellishments will fall off and have to be reglued.

For the hanger I had some tiny candycanes made from wire that we used. They made the perfect hangers. Once your melted snowmen have been created you'll want to peel the aluminum foil off the back. That is easier said than done! We found it makes the job a lot easier if you place the melted snowmen in the freezer for a few minutes. Also using heavier duty aluminum foil helps. The thinner foil tears too easily.

                    Hope you have fun and enjoy making your own melted snowmen!

CHRISTMAS FREEWRITING FREEBIE

FREEBIE ALERT! Free writing resource brought to you by Homeschool Adventure Co.  If you are like me any help with writing is a blessing. Sometimes I get a bit writing fatigued, and that's one reason why  I am so excited to try this wonderful tool out. I'm sure you'll enjoy it and it's FREE!

From Home School Adventure --

Writing can be hard work. Good writing most often results from much rewriting, and much rewriting can make a writer weary. 

Glitter Glue Ornaments Christmas Craft

 

Some of our glitter glue ornaments from start to finish, after they dried and were peeled off of the waxed paper.

Yesterday I suddenly thought to myself we need to make another Christmas craft, how about glitter glue ornaments? Then I pondered, can those even be made? I am happy to report, yes, YES they can! Now I'm sure some of you are beginning to shake your heads in dismay and ask what is she thinking, GLITTER GLUE, No Way! Let me assure you this is an easy, peasy craft with minimal mess........as long as you stick to using  JUST glitter glue. No one glued their heads to the table while doing this craft. Although I have to admit my kitchen table looks like Tinkerbelle dusted it with fairy dust. The only bit of mess was when we used loose glitter. HORRORS! Yes, I use actual to goodness old fashioned glitter at times with my kids while crafting. If you have an aversion to your table looking like is has been dusted with pixie dust, then just use silver glitter glue instead or any other color you want for your snowflakes or other shapes.

 Okay on to the craft we did. First I warned them about the glue and not to be reaching across their waxed paper for anything, but to ask for it to be passed to them. Why? Because I didn't want them glued to the table! Or glue on their clothes. I gathered all the bottles of glitter glue I could find. Too bad for a Christmas craft I couldn't find our red glitter glue bottle and apparently we are out of silver, green and gold. Hence the reason I grabbed a shaker of our white glitter and a regular bottle of white glue.

I spread out waxed paper for the girls and then we used cookie cutters to trace Christmas shapes around using magic markers. Our snowflakes were done free hand. We tried pencil and ink pen while tracing, but we found a magic marker works best. Then the girls just followed the lines with the glitter glue and filled them in as they liked. The snowflakes were done free hand with white glue and then white glitter was shaken onto the top of each snowflake. After they are dry you can carefully peel them off of the waxed paper. If your ornaments stick a little you can slightly wet the back of the waxed paper with a damp paper towel.

Some things we discovered while making these that I want to share with you are the following.

1. Make sure you make thick lines while tracing. Especially if your ornament is going to have a lacey effect.
2. Making a thicker border will make it more substantial and not so flimsy. 
3. Thinner ornaments like the snowflakes take way less time to dry, but still a significant amount of time is needed for them to completely dry.
4.  Snowflakes are delicate if they are made too thin. Don't be afraid to make them thick. 
5. This is a simple easy craft, but don't be in a hurry as it's not fast to finish. 
6. Thinner ornaments take about 12 hrs drying time. 
7. Thicker ornaments I have no idea as we are still waiting 18 hrs later for them to dry completely. I'm guessing at least 24 hrs.

                           Have fun and enjoy making your own special Glitter Glue Ornaments!

Christmas Cookie Baking FLOP!

This year will go down in our memory banks as the year of the crummy Christmas cookies! Talk about horrible! They were awful tasting and to coin one of my own phrases, they were gag-awful. I wanted to do a lot of different things with the girls this December and cookie baking was on the list. So while grocery shopping at Aldi's, the other day I spied some pre-made Christmas cookie dough on sale. I thought what the hay, most things I buy at Aldi's is good, so we'll try these. I bought two cans of the cookie dough mind you.  I figured I would save time by buying pre-made Christmas cookie dough.

A few days passed and yesterday I told the girls we would make cookies in the afternoon if they got the kitchen cleaned up. Once the kitchen was all tidy, or as tidy as it could be gotten by the two girls living here, we got out the cans of pre-made Christmas cookie dough. Oh we were going to have fun and make memories. Well we made memories all right!

We sliced the cookies and put them on cookie sheets and slid the cookie sheets into the oven, then we waited. In no time we had cookies! Everyone couldn't wait to taste them and I was thinking to myself, Way to go self! I had checked off from my list another item I wanted to do with the girls this year. It was so easy and simple. I was almost ready to give myself a big pat on the back........then I tried one of those cookies. I thought I would gag. They were awful. I even said to the girls These are awful! My thirteen year old burst out laughing and said, I KNOW! My five year old only ate a cookie and I'm not sure she finished it. The redemption of these awful Christmas cookies was only in the fact that the dogs loved them! They must taste like something dogs like or maybe it's just that dogs will eat almost anything, but these dogs finished off the plate of cookies with an eagerness that was a sight to behold. Put your fears to rest lest you think the dogs might have been harmed. They are fine and healthy and robust as ever this morning.

The thirteen year old thought it would be funny to put some cookies  in the cookie jar for when their dad got home and watch for his reaction when he bit into one. Ha Ha Ha, I didn't allow them to do that, but I did sort of snicker at the thought. Wicked sense of humor I guess and these girls have inherited it. Oh and if you think the fun stopped after we baked and then sampled these awful cookies then think again. Apparently something had ran over in the oven from a few days before and the oven smoked so bad you'd have thought we were on fire here! We were gagging and even as frigid as the weather is outside we had the doors open and fans on full blast to try and clear the smoke.

Oh yes, we made memories. Just not the warm memories I had envisioned in my head of baking Christmas cookies. I've learned my lesson and I won't be so quick to take shortcuts or pat myself on the back from here on out. Take it from me and save yourself some money and the horror of baking cookies like these, and make your Christmas cookies from scratch!

The worst Christmas cookies ever! lol

Stained Glass Christmas Crafts From Salt Dough

The girls and I have been busy creating lots of fun crafts this week. One of their favorites has been the stained glass suncatchers and salt dough ornaments we made. They were so simple and fun to make. The girls have gotten lots of compliments on them. The recipe is very easy, but I can mess up easy! I used an extra cup of salt, but they turned out anyway. Thank goodness.

SALT DOUGH RECIPE

2 Cups flour
1 Cup salt
1 Cup water

Mix ingredients well and knead dough until smooth. Divide into three equal amounts and roll into a ball. Turn dough out onto waxed paper and roll out to about half inch thickness. Have child place their hand on rolled out dough and help them gently press their hand and fingers into the dough. Gently raise hand. Use a sharp knife to cut handprint our of dough. It helps in removing the cutout dough if you fold the fingers back onto the hand part. You may need to use the tip of your knife to carefully help picking the dough up.

After the handprint is removed fill the area left with clear pony beads. We used round ones and also long ones and a few square shapes. Make sure you make a hole in the top so you can thread some string to hang your suncatcher with. Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 1.5 to 2 hours. Turn off the oven and let suncatchers cool slowly in the oven so they don't crack when they are removed from the oven. Suncatchers and ornaments will turn brown when baked so don't be alarmed. You can cover the brown color with paint or glitter. 

To make the ornaments you use the same dough and instructions, just use cookie cutters to cut the ornaments out. It does seem to help the dough not stick to the wax paper if you add a little bit of flour to the surface of the wax paper. I also had to add a bit of extra flour to the dough because it was too sticky. I added just enough so they weren't sticky when I kneaded the dough and it didn't stick to my hands.

           Have fun and enjoy making these with your little ones. Or older ones too! 

Our salt dough Christmas craft creations!

More Than "Mere" EDUCATION GIVEAWAY

  I am so excited to share with you the More Than "Mere" EDUCATION GIVEAWAY. This is a  super, fantastic give-away. I am so pumped to see who wins. There will be two winners and each will win a fabulous prize package. This is just in time to go hand in hand with the Mere Christianity Critical Analysis Journal that will be coming out in January. I will be doing a review the first week in January to let you know what I think and how our family used it. Hurry and enter for your chance to win a prize package containing this wonderful resource in either printed form or as a download!

The Home School Adventure Co. Launch Team is excited to help celebrate the release of the Mere Christianity Critical Analysis Journal with a special giveaway filled with books that will compliment your classical studies, as well as a couple of special surprises.  

The best news is that there will be two winners, each receiving a very valuable prize package!  

We would like to thank the following friends for their generous sponsorship of this giveaway! Be sure to stop by their websites to say thank you!

Institute for Excellence in Writing
Nancy Pearcey
Trivium Pursuit
Bright Ideas Press
Raising Real Men

Here are the prize packages you could win! 

Prize Package #1

Our first prize package contains all of the print resources from Home School Adventure Co., as well as wonderful books, curriculum, and even a marriage retreat. This prize package, sponsored by the Institute for Excellence in Writing, Nancy Pearcey, and Trivium Pursuit, has a value of $500!

Mere Christianity Critical Analysis Journal $28.95
Philosophy Adventure - Pre-Socratics Complete Set $89.95
Philippians in 28 Weeks ESV $28.95
The Wise Woman with Literaray Analysis Journal Questions $28.95

IEW Teaching Writing/Student Writing Value Pack (Winner's Choice of Levels A, B, or C) $249

The Soul of Science $11.99
Total Truth $25.00
Saving Leonardo $26.99

Teaching the Trivium Christian Homeschooling in a Classical Style $20.40
The Fallacy Detective $22
The Thinking Toolbox $22

Prize Package #2

Our second prize package is filled with all of the resources offered at Home School Adventure Co. in their downloadable editions, as well as a set of all 3 volumes of The Mystery of History by Linda Hobar. This prize package, sponsored by Bright Ideas Press and Raising Real Men, has a value of $300! 

Mere Christianity Critical Analysis Journal Download $18.95
Philosophy Adventure - Pre-Socratics Digital Download $39.95
Philippians in 28 Weeks ESV Download $14.95
The Wise Woman with Literary Analysis Journal Questions Download $14.95

The Mystery of History, Volume I $49.95
The Mystery of History Volume II $49.95
The Mystery of History Volume III $59.95

My Beloved and My Friend book and Marriage Retreat Online $45
Pollyanna Audio Book Download $18

To enter, use the Rafflecopter below. Residents of the U.S., age 18 and older please.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Forgiveness. Are You Resisting?

A few years ago something just wasn't right with me. I had this continual niggling in the back of my mind that I needed to do something, but I was obstinate, refusing to acknowledge what was wrong. I finally started studying  my Bible. I gravitated toward the verses to do with parenting and the responsibilities of parents toward their children. I tell you as I read I was heartbroken and I realized what I needed to do. But I was defiant and fought doing what I knew was right and of course satan whispered in my ear all the things that fed my fear.

Things like, don't ask for forgiveness, they'll think you're weak. Don't admit you were wrong they'll use it against you. Don't seek reconciliation, why should you be the one to always step forward first. You've been wronged too. On and on it went with me opposing taking action. Eventually I could withstand it no longer and I sat down and wrote a letter from the deepest, scariest, most unseen depths of my heart asking for forgiveness. Asking for something that laid me bare, but I trusted God to give me the words to say. Then I waited.

I knew I was asking something that until you have to put it into practice and are asked to forgive is easy. I had to trust that God knew best and that with his guidance I had used the right words so the initiation of healing could begin. For days I heard nothing and so I finally sent an email. In the next few emails the tone of the one I asked forgiveness of was wary. I could sense how my asking forgiveness had uncovered old wounds and at first  I was met with inflexibility because of old hurts. But as we talked I could see those old hurts melt away and forgiveness begin. I wish I could say we lived happily ever after, but life isn't a fairytale.I finally gave is and quit resisting and the fears I had turned out to be lies. Nothing I feared came to pass.

God had prompted me to do what I should have done years earlier, but I had resisted. I had foolishly torn down the walls of my house with my own hands instead of building them up. I had hampered and hindered relationships because I resisted giving up control. Don't be fooled by thinking a poor relationship doesn't have far reaching consequences. It can reach past the present relationship far into the next generations.

My bit of advice from the perspective of my experience is never let the sun go down on your anger. Make amends immediately after a disagreement, ask for forgiveness if you have wronged another and don't be so concerned with who is right.

So You Think You Are Creative? Sandwich Inventions Our Family's Style

My children take after me. We are a breed apart. Sort of a combination redneck/hillbilly/countrified/downhome/common/hicks from the sticks, peeps. To prove it my oldest son, when they were getting ready to leave on Thanksgiving, said he wanted to take some mashed potatoes home. Ya know why? Because he wanted to make some mashed potato sandwiches! LOL

My kids also love my specialty, mayo, cheese and onion sandwiches. It was my invention when I was thirteen and now my kids eat them too! Fried potato sandwiches? We've ate em! Tomato sandwiches? We've ate those too. PB and banana sandwiches? Oh do we love those! They are scrumdilly-icious!

Now the torch is being passed on to one of my younger kids. McKenna just brought me a pork-n-bean and cheese sandwich! HA, HA, HA, HA, HA! Yes, I am eating it and it's pretty darn good!

Oh, and for what it's worth, I once saw in a gourmet magazine recipes for tomato sandwiches! I also saw one for MY onion and cheese sandwiches! SEE?! They are so good my idea was copied! Bwahahahahaha

If eats like these make us redneck/hillbilly/countrified/downhome/common/hicks from the sticks peeps, then so be it. I count it as a badge of honor and I am proud of it!

What Was It LIke In That Stable?

Well it's happened once again. Another year has passed and we are once again decorating for Christmas. We are taking the month of December off from school and concentrating on family. Reading lots of books, baking cookies, doing crafts, looking at the pretty lights, but most of all remembering why we celebrate. Remembering the Hope we have and telling the girls the story of the babe born in a stable long ago. A child who was born to save the world!

Rejoice! Doesn't that word fill you with joy and hope, anticipation and excitement? Rejoice! This time of year is a time of remembering and celebrating our saviors birth. Giving Jesus the honored place. I've often wondered about what it was like in that stable all those years ago. Was it quiet and hushed, and warm with the moist breath of all the animals? Was his bed of straw nice and snuggly and his swaddling clothes warm? Did Mary bring forth her first born son with ease, only needing Josephs hand to hang onto? What was it like in that stable?

I tend to think my warm fuzzy imaginings make it easier for me to paint a wonderful picture of a Holy, Silent Night. Not to mention are probably not close to what actually happened. I have attended enough births to know babies aren't born without laboring and pain and deep gutteral  cries. I also grew up on a farm and I know a stable isn't always the cleanest, warmest, nicest place. It certainly wouldn't be first choice for giving birth for any mothers I know. Was Mary, wanting her midwife? Did she hope for a soft bed for her son? Maybe, but I bet above all else she was thankful for what she had. She had willingly became God's handmaid and trusted him to provide what she needed. What an honor to be the mother of the savior, and to be the first to look into the eyes of God!

Rejoice for we have hope! Sometimes at night I go outside and look up at the inky black night sky. I gaze at the stars hung in the heavens and marvel that God hung them there. I ponder that so many times throughout the ages he has used signs in the heavens to announce something BIG! He announced something monumental was about to take place in the heavens before the birth of Christ. Angels announced the birth of a savior to shepherds tending their flocks on the surrounding hills. The Magi studied and observed and trusted and sought out the King. They traveled from afar for a long while and brought gifts. Those gifts would be presented eventually and needed and put to use in time. There was a purpose. Yes, God knew what would be needed and he provided. Our Lord's birth may have been a stable, but that stable served a purpose of heavenly design. The attendants may have been lowly animals, but they were animals honored to be present for the first Christmas. What was it like in that stable? I think it was just as God intended.

We joyfully head into the season and want to share some pictures of the girls decorating the house as we remember the true meaning for the season and why we celebrate. May this season find you well and may your needs be met. Many blessings to you and yours!

Lights on the mantel

My nativity I have had for years. I love each chipped piece.

Putting the angel on the tree top with big sisters help.

A helping hand is always a good thing especially when it is your sister!

Mere Christianity Critical Analysis Journal 15% OFF SALE!

Here's your chance to pre-order the MERE CHRISTIANITY CRITICAL ANALYSIS JOURNAL, for 15% off! Pre-order this terrific resource from HomeSchoolAdventure.com  now and save. It's full of thought provoking and engaging questions. We are using it as a family right now and will give our review in January. It's a terrific resource to use and it's making our evenings quite full of discussion. Much more fun for us than watching tv.

Cyber Monday Sale Home School Adventure Co.

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When You Feel Out Of Your Element

Ever feel like you are out of your element? Or that you have gotten out of your comfort zone? I know I have. Many times when that has happened to me I have the strongest inclination to hurry back to my comfort zone where I feel safe. Where I don't have to do the hard things.  But you know what? Every time I have gotten out of my comfort zone or felt out of my element, but made the choice to do what needed to be done I've grown. I've also been blessed.

Maybe not immediately, but just when I needed it and at the right time. You may feel like an egg that's expected to fly, but be assured God knows what you have need of. If you indeed are an egg that is expected to fly then He will see to it you are prepared. Life has sometimes occurred for me in dramatic episodes. There have been things I have experienced and later because of those experiences been privileged to help another hurting soul.

Sometimes the things I said I was sure were no help at all. Until later. Later when those individuals came to me, and said how much what I shared helped or how it helped them see through the haze of grief, helped me see the worth of getting outside my comfort zone. Those times helped me see that God's ways are higher than my ways and His thoughts higher than mine.

Christmas Crafts 4 Kids Galore And December Giveaways on TNB

Hurry Teachersnotebook is giving away a bunch of super prizes. The first of which will end tonight.  Check out all the awesome giveaways and Freebies here. Lots of things to be found from PreK to 8th grade and a few beyond.

A few more Christmas things you may be interested in are Christmas crafts.

 CHRISTMAS CRAFTS GALORE!

Printable Letter To Santa 

Make A Cardboard Christmas Tree 

Lego Wall Letter

Make A Cardboard Gingerbread House

Build Your Own Snowman Printable

Popcicle Stick Sleigh Ornament

Tape Dispenser Sleigh

Gingerbreadman Toilet Paper Roll Craft

Dancing Santa

Star Garland


FOR THE BIRDS

Orange Peel Bird Feeder

Feast For The Birds Feeder


HANDPRINTS, FOOTPRINTS

Redbird Handprint

Handprint/Footprint Angel

Christ In The Manger Footprint

Handprint Reindeer


TREES

  Names Of God Tree

Flowerpot Tree

Twig Trees

STARS  AND SNOWFLAKES

 Primitive Star

Clothespin Snowflakes

Jewel Stars

Snowflake Jar

Plastic Icicle


You can find these and many, many more crafts on my Christmas Crafts 4 Kids Pinterest board found here.  Hope this blesses you and your kiddos this holiday season and Happy Crafting!

Remembering When I Promise From This Day Forward

                                                                 November 30th, 1997


Sixteen years ago this day was a Sunday. At this point in the day I was getting ready for the BIG moment! My intended and I were going to be married in a candlelight service after the evening church service. The church was decorated for Christmas and it was beautiful. Every time I watch our wedding video I am mesmerized. Would it be wrong to say everything looked Holy? At the least it looked serene.

At 8pm we were married. It would have been a candlelight service, but we didn't even notice until later that our pastor's wife had forgotten to turn off the lights. lol Everyone got a big laugh when we were told, you may now kiss the bride, because it looked like I almost attacked Fred. What really happened was I lost my footing and fell into him. lol My grandmother was there and she wanted to catch the bridal bouquet so much, but she didn't manage it. We all got a big laugh out of how serious she was about that. lol I sure do miss her. My dad was also there and he has also passed on. Miss him like crazy. In fact his birthday was last Sunday. My FIL was also at our wedding and he too has passed on and left an empty spot.

My kids were small then or at least young. I was a widow with five children when Fred and I married. My youngest then was seven and my oldest just barely twenty-one. Levi was the ring bearer and during the ceremony he got tired and decided then would be a good time to sit down and take a rest on the steps up to the stage. lol Jarred was a taper lighter and I can't remember if it was a man's hair or a curtain he almost set on fire, but I know it was something.

Heather was a bridesmaid and stood up with me. Gabrielle was my flower girl and she took the job seriously. She took her time placing rose petals just so. Wayne walked me down the aisle. After the ceremony he and his friend Josh were so spiffed up in their tuxes they had to go drag main and make sure they were seen. lol We had a wonderful reception after the ceremony with church members, family and friends sharing sandwiches, finger foods, punch and wedding cake. So much food we gave a lot of it away! Our pastor's wife catered the reception and made our wedding cake and the grooms cake. I was very grateful for her help and she did a beautiful job. The main thing I remember from that day is the joy and happiness and love. I was so in love I felt giddy every time I looked at my love. That love would grow into ties that bind and bonds that don't break in the years to follow.

Sixteen years, another pregnancy, a lot of tears, hard work and happenings, some heartache, up's and down's and peak's and valley's, McKenna's surgery and a lot of joy and laughter,  so MUCH joy and laughter, Levi's joining the military and his deployment, an adoption, children married, two dil's, a sil, lots of grandchildren born and some very much loved family members passing on and we call this life and embrace it.

Lord thank you for it all! We are blessed and God willing we will be blessed with another sixteen years and many more.

Pre-Black Friday Shopping Experience

This is what I ventured out last night to purchase. I almost made a mistake and missed out though because I thought it was going on sale this morning during the Black Friday sale at Walmart. I will have a happy little girl on Christmas morning. I am happy I got such a terrific deal, otherwise our youngest probably wouldn't be getting this as a gift.

This year Black Friday was over early for me. I almost messed up because I thought what I wanted was going on sale in the morning, but it was actually last night. I discovered my error at about 9:19 pm. More than an hour after the specials went on sale. At that point I grabbed my car keys and yelled at McKenna to come on and left my husband watching our youngest at home.

I decided to go to a town different than the one I planned because it is closer and I was late getting started. The parking lot at Walmart was almost empty when we drove up at about 10 pm. We went in and looked for the Nabi 2 we wanted and ended up having to ask where it was located. That's when we were told they had already sold all of them.

Bummed I called my dil. As I'm talking to her and walking to the bathroom I told her I'm going back and asking that lady to let me look at the Nabi's in the case. As I look at the Nicklodian and Jr Nabi I noticed another Nabi 2 in a different looking box. My dil said well then it has to be a Nabi 2 because they only have three. A lady offered to scan it and sure enough it came up as $99! My eyes got big and I told her I want it then. I got the last one in the store!
The good news, besides getting one of the Nabi 2's for an exceptional price, is I missed the crazy crowds and the fight that broke out over these things before we got there. The lady that checked us out said it got so bad earlier because of fighting that they had to call the police. I told her well we prayed about this on the way over. This Nabi was meant for us. She told me I believe it! 

God also spared us possibly being injured in the fight that broke out at Walmart before we got there. I am very happy to have missed that ruckus! My husband is still in disbelief that I didn't leave the house to go shopping before dawn  this morning. lol

Celebrate C.S. Lewis Birthday With 20% Off Pre-orders!

It's C. S. Lewis birthday! Pre-order  the MERE CHRISTIANITY CRITICAL ANALYSIS JOURNAL     today through December 2nd and get 20% off! Use code LEWIS-115.

BIG News Plus Homeschool GIVEAWAYS and FREEBIES

I have some awesome and terrific news to share with you all. I am overjoyed to tell you that I recently was given the opportunity to become part of the Home School Adventure Co. launch team. Yes, I know exciting right?!!! I will soon be giving a review of the upcoming release of the, Mere Christianity Critical Analysis Journal. I can't begin to tell you how thrilled I am to get to be a part of this awesome team. I plan to use the journal with my family and mainly my teenage daughter. Early in January I will post my review and let you know all about this awesome resource.

 Now for the second part of my BIG news happening this Friday! As part of the Black Friday events and shopping deals, The Home School Adventure Co., is thrilled to assist the fine folks at Homeschool Giveaways and Freebies by telling you about their giveaway. On Black Friday they will be having a giveaway of more than $1,900 in prizes!



                               Check it out. There are lots of great prizes being given away .

Thanksgiving Fun, Freebies And More!

We have been studying about the Pilgrims for our latest unit. I made some paper suitcases for the girls and they pretended to be pilgrims setting sail on the Mayflower for America. Inside they drew pictures and made a list of things they would take along on their journey. The suitcases were so easy to make. I used to pieces of construction paper and taped them together. Then I cut two handle shapes for each suitcase and taped the handles to each side. Pretty simple, but cute. It also helped the girls realize how little material goods the pilgrims had when they came to the New World.

We also covered the Mayflower Compact. I showed the girls the copy I have. When I explained how the pilgrims wrote with a quill they decided they wanted to try to make one, so we have been gathering feather to make our own quill pens.

Below are some of the Thanksgiving Fun I have rounded up for my crew and also some of the resources we used.

First we made a list of fun things we would like to do. We are sharing our list with you and hope you are inspired by all things fall!

1. Rake leaves and jump in them.
2. Go on a nature walk.
3. Take a drive to look at the fall foliage.
4. Go to a corn maze.
5. Make caramel apples.
6. Pop popcorn and make caramel corn.
7. Go on  a hayride.
8. Make a thankful tree and list our blessings.
9. Make cookies and do a cookie drop.
10. Make some leaf art.
11. Go on a late night drive to look at the stars.
12. Have an indoor picnic on the living room floor.
13. Make a pj run to Sonic.

There you have it our Baker's dozen for lots of Thanksgiving Fun!

Fall Crafts

Wax leaves
Make Leaf Animals
Make A Thankful Turkey
Paper Plate Turkey 
Pilgrim Hats and Bonnets
Toilet Paper Tube Pilgrims  

Math Pages

Skip Counting Turkeys
Hundreds Chart
Addition Fast Facts
Word Problems - FREE download
Greater than Less Than download (TPT)
Measurement (TPT) download
Mayflower Math (5th grade)

Language Arts

Writing Activity
Poems
Thankful Writing Worksheets - FREE (TPT)
Copywork
How To Cook A Turkey (writing worksheets)
Pilgrim's Possessive Nouns - FREEBIE

Science

Balloon Boats Mayflower Race 
Cranberry Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Science - Make a tin foil Mayflower and see how much it can hold!
Carrot Root and Rubber Turkey Bone Experiment
Make Butter
Sprouting Corn
Testing For Starch Experiment

Geography/History

A New Beginning
Where Does Thanksgiving Dinner Come From
Pilgrim's Progress 
The Mayflower Compact
Mayflower Passenger List 
Food On The Mayflower

Bible/Character

Thankful Bible Lessons 
Bible Verses and Copywork
Thankful Bible Lesson and A Game

  Videos

You can find these links and many more on my Pilgrims/Thanksgiving board on Pinterest

            Be sure to follow me on Pinterest for lots of terrific ideas and inspiration!

Home Grown Hearts Academy Homeschool Blog: 2013 Holiday & Black Friday Homeschool Deals

Home Grown Hearts Academy Homeschool Blog: 2013 Holiday & Black Friday Homeschool Deals

Check out the great Black Friday deals listed in this blog post in the above link!

You Are Not HOPELESS!

Years ago I started a journey that I was invited  to go on. I was so excited, but I had no idea what I was going to encounter and how I was going to grow and be changed by my travels.   I had a destination and my goal was to get there! I was ready and faunching at the bit  to go.  Well you know how it is with any trip you begin. You leave on your journey and then you start thinking. You think did I turn off that iron, did I lock the door, did I put a hold on the mail etc?  When I walked over the threshold of my door I KNEW I was ready, but once I started toward my destination I had fears,began second guessing myself, thinking to myself will they like me, will I be good enough, will I measure up? Who did I think I was?

On and On it went and pretty soon I was disheartened and discouraged, but I kept plugging away putting one foot in front of the other.  My thoughts were stealing my joy and I was letting peace fly right out the window! Not only that, but my baggage seemed to get heavier and heavier the longer I traveled. I tried to do all the right things, see all the sights, read all about them and study them and attempted to act first and think later . Some days it worked. Then I would hit a snag and someone would say something to me either I didn’t understand or that made me feel ignorant. I tried   to pretend I was with it. That I knew how to travel and I knew the ropes, but the truth was I was new at this traveling gig. I hadn’t yet realized I was listening to the wrong people part of the time. People who had never really traveled or who had stopped traveling and were outside my traveling circle. I looked like a traveler on the outside, but on the inside I was not yet grounded and confidant, secure in who I was as a traveler.

I made so many mistakes along the way at the beginning of the trip I came near to being left behind by my fellow travelers! Yes, I undertook a journey with other travelers! They weren’t going to force me to continue and they let me make up my own mind to continue or not.  To make matters worse I was traveling with foreigners and at first I just did not understand a lot of what they did or said. They had funny ideas too, and they were always reading. Not to mention, many times they would break out singing. That always threw me into a panic, because I didn’t know the words, the tunes or the songs. I would try to sing along, but most of the time I just sat there like a bump on a log trying to sing, but only managing every fifth word or so, or the chorus of the tunes.

My fellow travelers had meetings too. At first I couldn’t fathom why they regularly got together like they did, but I went along with it. Getting up early or staying late, and getting to those meetings on time and studying what they discussed so I would be presentable and could participate was at first a lot of work for me. After a while of traveling together though I began to notice a peculiar thing. I began to understand their ideas and thoughts. I also learned the words to the songs they sang and began to sing with them. I even understood their language! Getting to those meetings on time was becoming less and less of a chore and more and more of an anticipation that made me feel excited and eager.

Another thing I noticed was my memory improved and my fears subsided. I worried less and less  about what I had done, about my past,  if others liked me or if I would be good enough. MY joy stopped being stolen and started to increase. It increased and increased until it over-flowed and I felt compelled  to share it. That’s how it is with joy. It’s contagious and you can’t help, but share it. It kind of just rubs off on others.

By now you might be thinking my  journey was all peaceful and without problems for the rest of the trip by this point. Not so, in fact I can’t begin to relate how many awful and grievous things happened. Things so out of the norm of everyday life that no one expects to have to deal with them in daily life let alone while traveling.  Those problems or road bumps as I might call them didn’t deter me from my final destination goal though.  I sometimes traveled slower and I sometimes sought out a shoulder to cry on, but you know what? My fellow travelers were amazing! They held me when I cried, gave me a shoulder to cry on, shared sound advice and pointed me in the right direction and helped me keep on the right path. They taught me how to talk to my father about life’s hurdles and it really helped. I didn’t always have a relationship with him. My fellow travelers knew that and encouraged me to spend time with him during my journey.  All along the way they also laughed with me and shared good times and joy too. Eventually I began to read also and the more I read the more I wanted answers to my questions about this trip. I also wanted to know who I was and what my purpose was.  Who did I think I was? Well from the beginning of my journey to now, who I think I am changed.

In the beginning, when I stated this trip I had no idea who I was. Not really who I was or why I was.  I thought I was traveling with foreigners, but I came to understand I was a foreigner too.  I am so glad my fellow travelers are still traveling with me on this journey! Read on and be encouraged!

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead they were longing for a better country – a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:29

WOW! So God wasn’t ashamed to be associated with me.  It matters not so much how the world defines me or who they say I am. Who am I? Who does God say I am?

I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,  says the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!  1 John 3:1

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:17

I have the privilege of being a daughter of the King! I am one of his heirs! I am a child of God, one of his own!  I am NOT an orphan and I am NOT alone! My father is the King of Kings.

Sisters and brothers take heart.  Don’t be discouraged, be encouraged. Don’t be disheartened, be heartened. Cast off the cares of this world and don’t let the baggage this world would heap on you with suffering  cause you to doubt your salvation and who you are. Be assured you are a child of God and have been adopted into his family. He is your father and you are his child.

 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath, but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.  1 Thessalonians 5:9

If you don’t know him yet and think you have to get cleaned up first put that fear aside. Christ died on the cross so that all may be forgiven of sin and he did that before you or anyone else ever attempted to get cleaned up.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son,  that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal  life. John 3:16

 All the cleaning in the world that I ever did on my own to make myself presentable and look good never wiped away or absolved one smidge of my sin. That would be a monumental and overwhelming task that I can never achieve on my own no matter how clean I get, how good I am, how much good I do, or how pious I appear.  I have had tragedies happen and I have grieved and been wounded, but God never once looked at me and said you are HOPELESS!

Scripture says,  You will be secure because there is hope; you will look  about you and take your rest in safety.  Job 11:18

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my savior, my God will hear me. Micah 7:7

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  Hebrews 10:23

And hope does not disappointed us because, God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he has given us.  Romans 5:5

Who do you think you are? God says you are His child, you are forgiven, you have hope, you have a future, you will be secure because there is hope, and you are saved! You are most precious, a rare jewel and YOU were worth dying for. 



You can also read my post as today's guest blogger  at, Home Grown Hearts Academy. Jennifer is my daughter-in-law and a wonderful and talented blogger. Check her blog out with this link.