Last Christmas I went through the story of Jesus' birth with Isaac through some little pictures I drew. This year I wanted to figure out some more ways to focus on Jesus' coming during Christmas time in a way that would help the boys learn the story and also become tradition for our family. I was so excited when a friend from our church, who was also my Bible study teacher, told me about the traditions she and her husband had started when their children were little. She said they were hoping to share with a younger family what they do to pass long encouragement and ideas! I was so excited and felt so very blessed when they invited us over to share and for a meal! They gave us all the information for how to do a Jesse Tree and gave us a beautiful book, called The Advent Book, as a gift. I made all the ornaments for the Jesse tree and took the boys outside to hunt for some sticks to make our tree:) Each day of December, leading up until Christmas, we read a portion of a Bible story and hung an ornament that symbolized each story. Each story points us to Jesus. Each night we also opened a new door in The Advent Book. The Advent Book has 25 doors to open. Each one has a beautiful picture and tells a small portion of the story of how Jesus came to us. Then, each Sunday we lit an Advent candle, read a portion of scripture, and sung a Christmas hymn. I am looking forward to continuing these tradtions each year! Isaac enjoyed it so much and I know Declan will as he grows and understands more;) I am just so blessed and thankful for my friend Tiffany who helped me actually put into practice what I had wanted to do for my family:) It really helped me to get some practical ideas.
Isaiah 11:1
"There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit."
John 1:14
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."
