Christmas is an amazing time of year with so many opportunities for focusing on Jesus.  We had our first Christmas at home last year and these are some of the things that we did and are repeating this next year.  It was a blessed Christmas focusing on Jesus.  

Christmas Eve, waiting for baby Jesus

Nativity:
This is our nativity but each piece gets wrapped up and put under the tree.  I only have 15 different pieces, so each evening (the 15 days before Christmas) our daughter opens up a present.  She is delighted with each one and our worship that night focuses on the part of the Christmas story that the object represents.  As she get older we will get more in depth with the lessons.

Christmas morning opening up baby Jesus

Presents:

We have asked everyone in our family give our daughter one present for Christmas.  We do the same.  We don't want Jesus to get lost sight of in the midst of "getting."  We have talked a lot this year about the way we give Jesus presents for His birthday is by giving to others.  “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."  Matt. 25:40  Therefore we are looking for the "least of these" to help.  Growing up, we adopted a family every year and brought Christmas to them, we are wanting to continue that tradition.  We are also planning on visiting an elderly person with no family on Christmas day and taking them dinner.  We want to focus on giving special gifts to Jesus.

Advent Wreath of sorts:

Instead of a wreath we have four candles on the mantle (hard to see in picture, will put up a better one soon).  Each candle represents a different part of Christmas, we did peace, love, joy, and hope.  The four Friday nights before Christmas we would light a new candle until all four were lit.

After lighting the candle, we had little cards to hang on the Christmas tree.  One for each person present. On the card we wrote how we had experienced each of the four characteristics (love, joy, peace, and hope) of Christmas that year.  Then we wrote how we thought God had experienced each (love, joy, peace and hope) because of our lives in the past year.  Then the card was hung on the tree.  

Birthday cake for Jesus:

We have a birthday cake for Jesus after Christmas dinner.  My mom sent some ideas for the cake.  Here is the link if you are interested. 

Cards:

One fun part of Christmas is receiving Christmas cards from friends and family.  At dinner each night, one can pray for the families of the cards that were received that day in the mail.  

Santa:  

At this point we are telling our daughter about the historical character St. Nicholas.  We have also been telling her that Santa celebrates Jesus birthday by giving presents to people.  Trying to focus it on the giving aspect.  

These are some of the things we are doing this holiday season.  I would love to hear about traditions you have. I will try to post more as I get time, time has been lacking lately...  

Chad Stuart, a pastor and good friend, has a blog that is really good for those who are interested.  He shares thoughts on things of God.  I am referring you to a post he wrote called "What My Parents Did Right."  He shares some good things to consider and apply. 

Sabbath Pajamas

We have previously posted on Sabbath PJ's but have added some elements.  On Friday evening baths are taken and then white pajamas, worn only on Sabbath, are put on.  While dressing we talk about how Jesus takes away our dirty clothes and gives us clean white clothes.

Some verses that we use to go with the lesson are: Zechariah 3:1-6, Rev. 3:4-5, 18

REQUEST:
I know most people have special things for kids to play with during church, things they only get during church.  If you have anything that is special, that your child likes a lot, I would love to know what it is.  If you could send a picture of it to growingtoknow@gmail.com, that would be wonderful!  Thanks so much! .  

scripture songs

Heather Steinke, wrote quite some time ago about a CD she found.  The CD is all scripture songs and is amazing.  I have to admit that the other scripture songs I have are good but they are for kids.  I love this one!!  It is one of my favorite CD's and I hope this group continues to write more songs.  Heather says she leaves it in her car so while driving it is playing for her little one.  She says they are still not tired of it.  I highly recommend it!  You can find it here.  They allow you to listen to a sample of all the songs. 


If you like that, here are some blogs that she also recommends.  They have some great ideas and are very helpful.  
http://www.doorposts.com/blog/

http://www.icanteachmychild.com/

http://www.makeit-loveit.com/

http://raisingolives.com/

Thanks so much Heather for all the great resources!  

Operation Christmas Child

Here is a great way to focus kids on helping others.  We are looking forward to doing this next week.  November 14-21 is the collection week.  You can find more information for packing your shoe box here.  We are hoping to make it a little party for the kids. 

Loving our neighbors

"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”    Matthew 22:36-40


Megan, a friend who is living with us for a couple of months, challenged me with the idea of raising our daughter to live to give.   It is a total mind shift but I believe a biblical one.  "You shall love your neighbor as yourself", is pretty far reaching.  I have to admit that I do a lot more for myself than those who have greater needs around me.  So in a small way we began to love our neighbors.  We needed bread so we made some for us and some for our neighbors.  Calissa had a blast and talked about her little friends next door and across the street who were going to receive the bread.  We made it a little more special than usual.   

 I need to get a food marker to draw eyes on next time. 

On a little more serious note, I have been thinking a lot about the way we live for awhile. 
I have curtains, a couch, plenty of food, toilet paper etc.  There are many around the world who are dying from lack of food and I have the ability to help if I were to love them... I could go with a lot less so that they might have life.  I know I can't afford to feed all the hungry in the world but I can feed some, I can love some.  What if I spent just as much on others as I do myself?  

Temptation

In learning about Jesus' temptation in the wilderness, we wanted our daughter to understand what temptation is, and what it feels like.

Our daughter loves ice cream more than anyone I have ever known.  She can hardly contain herself with it so it was the perfect way for her to feel tempted.

We put blueberries and ice cream in front of her and told her not to eat the ice cream but she could have the blueberries.  We then left the room and watched from where she couldn't see us.  She poked  the ice cream with her fork but eventually put it down and ate the blueberries.  It was a great way to talk about temptation.  After that we read the story of Jesus temptation in the wilderness from the bible (NIrV), using felts to illustrate.  Although, I must admit that our daughter now thinks Jesus was offered ice cream instead of bread...

We then talked about how Jesus and His words (Jesus answered temptation with the word of God, nothing else) help us to beat temptation.

"For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted."  Heb. 2:18


The next morning for breakfast she got an ice cream breakfast with a little real ice cream (on the side) too.  

More food ideas from friends

could use for the story of Samson or Jonathan

Jonah, fishermen turned fishers of men, or the coin found in the fish's mouth are some options

Noah's ark

Dove:  came to Noah, came down after Jesus' baptism

Raven fed Elijah

Angel:  Zachariah visited by, Mary visited by, Shepherds.... lots of options

Little Dresses for Africa

Little Dresses for Africa was previously posted...

Here is one of the dresses made at a sewing party.  It was made out of a pillow case.  This particular dress is going to go to Fuji with a medical mission trip led by Carmie Hadley.

While making the dresses, my daughter kept clarifying that the dresses were being made for other little girls who didn't have clothes.  I want to do this again when I have older children that are learning to sew, it is VERY simple to make.

If you are interested in the mission trip, they go several times a year and are in need of those in the medical profession.  I can put you in contact with the leader.

Here is a link with instructions directions for makeing a dress from  pillow cases.  

Music

Recently I have searching for more scripture songs.  I know that when a scripture has been put to song, it is hard to forget.  All during the week we play Steve Green's CD "Hide 'em in Your Heart" .  I want our minds filled with God's words.  


While contemplating all of this a friend that I hadn't seen since high school sent this  link!  It is a song that covers  the main ideas of the 10 commandments.  He learned it growing up and said he still refers to it.  

I also received CD suggestions from a mom whose son I taught while in high school.  He is now in college.  He has a heart for Jesus and for service.  His mom said, "he fell asleep many nights listening to these songs."


*these are not scripture songs  

1.  Cedarmont kids hymns (she did not recommend other albums by them)

2.  "Sleep Sound in Jesus" by Michael Card

3. "Come to the Cradle." by Michael Card

Coming soon, we are going to post some video's of scripture songs written and sung by Godfrey and Debbie Miranda!!!  I can't wait!  :)  

The mother of Moses

This excerpt if found in Patriarchs and Prophets, page 244, by Ellen White.  My father-in-law sent this to me.  It is very motivating and affirming of the role a mother plays in the life of a child.


 "How far-reaching in its results was the influence of that one Hebrew woman, and she an exile and a slave! The whole future life of Moses, the great mission which he fulfilled as the leader of Israel, testifies to the importance of the work of the Christian mother. There is no other work that can equal this. To a very great extent the mother holds in her own hands the destiny of her children. She is dealing with developing minds and characters, working not alone for time, but for eternity. She is sowing seed that will spring up and bear fruit, either for good or for evil. She has not to paint a form of beauty upon canvas or to chisel it from marble, but to impress upon a human soul the image of the divine. Especially during their early years the responsibility rests upon her of forming the character of her children. The impressions now made upon their developing minds will remain with them all through life. Parents should direct the instruction and training of their children while very young, to the end that they may be Christians. They are placed in our care to be trained, not as heirs to the throne of an earthly empire, but as kings unto God, to reign through unending ages." 

Sharing Jesus

We had the pleasure of visiting with some good friends this last week.  They have a little girl named Genna who turned one in March.  While talking I found that Genna and her mom go door to door and ask for prayer requests.  After praying, Genna gives a glow tract to the people.  These pictures are staged but I found it interesting that when Genna knocked on the door and there was no answer, she promptly tried to stick the tract into the door with no direction or encouragement.  Her mom says that she loves going out and is such a happy little girl during and afterwards.  What a wonderful way to raise a child to share Jesus with others while in the process, actually sharing Jesus.

The Bible in our homes

The more I read, the more I realize that my job raising Calissa has a lot to do with my walk with God.  As I run after God, she will see, He will have victory in me, and He will live out His life within me.  We have such a wonderful, patient, and giving Father!   Here are some quotes that have given me direction with teaching the bible...

"Even when quite young, children notice; and if the parents show that the Word of God is not their guide and counselor,  if they disregard the messages brought to them, the same reckless spirit of, 'I don't care; I will have my own way,' will be shown by the children." Child Guidance  p. 509

"Do not think that the Bible will become a tiresome book to the children.  Under a wise instructor the Word will become more and more desirable.  It will be to them as the bread of life; it will never grow old."  Child Guidance p. 514

"Parents, let the instruction you give your children be simple, and be sure that it is clearly understood.  The lessons that you learn from the Word you are to present to their young minds so plainly that they cannot fail to understand. " Child Guidance p. 514

"The use of object lessons, blackboards, maps and pictures will be an aid in explaining these lessons and fixing them in the memory.  Parents and teachers should constantly seek for improved methods.  The teaching of the Bible should have our freshest thought, our best methods, and our most earnest effort." Child Guidance p. 516

 *  now we have so many more methods that can be used...

"Neglect anything of a temporal nature,(then it talks about unnecessary sewing and such being done away with)...but be sure that the soul is fed with the bread of life....  Make the Bible its own expositor, bringing together all that is said concerning a given subject at different times and under varied circumstances.  Do not break up your home class for callers of visitors.  If they come in during the exercise, invite them to take part in it.  Let it be seen that you consider it more important to obtain a knowledge of God's word than to secure the gains or pleasures of the world."  Review and Herald, Oct. 9 1883

Quiet Book

       Some wonderful friends, Becky and Judy Jarnes, made a very special book for Calissa.  Growing up we had quiet books and I had been wanting one for Calissa.  We got home one day and a very special package was at our door.  Calissa loves the book!.  I try to save it for the sermon so I can actually listen to it!  We have special books and activities that Calissa only gets to play with during church and this is now a favorite!

The fish and turtle can be put in the net.  The cup, fork, knife and spoon are all attached by Velcro too.

Queen Esther's hair is to be braided and the giraffe's spots are removable.

The tent zips and the Native Americans are great fun as well as the shapes that have their proper place.  

Flowers for arranging and a boat for building

Matching the heads with the proper attire and helping the bees into the beehive

Baby Moses hiding in the bulrushes and trying on some mittens

They put a surprise bag at the end so we could have something new in it each week!

A great addition to a church bag!!

Sabbath's special food

Previously we had posted ideas for making Sabbath special.  Well here are a few Sabbath meals that people have shared... :)  If you have any, we would love to see them.

I know this looks like it might take a lot of time but we do this every Sabbath and are no later for Sabbath school than we were previously. :)   We actually look forward to making them each week and our daughter gets very excited Sabbath morning as she is getting up for breakfast.

Beavers - pancakes; beaver tails - fruit leather;
water - blueberry yogurt; tree and dam - pretzels;
greens - celery leaves; sun - tangerine

Elijah on Mt. Carmel
Alter - tater tots; fire - Morningstar stipples;
 Offering - Morningstar  veggie sausage patties;
Elijah- pancake; belt - stripple;  

Caboose - pancake and strawberries; wheels - grapes;
train tracks - celery, sun - tangerine slices 

Moose - pancake; trees pretzels and parsley

snakes-alternate strawberries and bananas on skewer

Owls - pancakes; beak - carrot;
 perch - pretzels and googly eyes

Baby Moses
Baby - pear; water - Jello; land - pancake;
basket - kiwi; bulrushes -  green onions

octopus - hot dog

Worship Ideas

The Seventh-Day Adventist church has a website dedicated to reformation and revival.  On this site are many great resources.  Here is a link to some worship ideas for children.  

Discipline

I have been reading more that usual about discipline.  :)  I have found some helpful advice and caution to say the least. 

Parental approach and attitude:

"Be firm, be decided in carrying out Bible instruction, but be free from all passion.   Bear in mind that when you become harsh and unreasonable before your little ones, you teach them to be the same.... You are, parents, the light of your home.  Then let your light shine forth in pleasant words, in soothing tones of the voice.  Take all the sting out of them by prayers to God for self-control.  Angels will be in your home, for they will observe your light.  The discipline you give your children will go forth in strong and clear currents from your correctly managed home to the world. "  Child Guidance p240

"Sometimes they (children) will have to be punished, but never do it in such a way that they will feel that they have been punished in anger." CG p244

"Your children may have done something that demands punishment; but if you deal with them in the spirit of Christ, their arms will be thrown about your neck; they will humble themselves before the Lord and will acknowledge their wrong.  That is enough.  They do not need punishment." CG p.244


"If your children are disobedient, they should be corrected....Before correcting them, go by yourself and ask the Lord to soften and subdue the hearts of your children and to give you wisdom in dealing with them."  CG p. 244

Some advice on discipline:

"The moment that the child begins to choose his own will and way, that moment his education in discipline is to begin...Frequently mere babies show a most determined will.  If this will is not brought into subjection to a wiser authority than the child's untrained desires, Satan takes control of the mind and fashions the disposition in harmony with his will." Child Guidance p 230  


Some Bible verses that support this idea are:  
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?  Jer 17:9

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezek 36:26

      "Eli did not manage his household according to God's rules for family government.  He followed his own judgment.  The fond father overlooked the faults and sins of his sons in their childhood, flattering himself that after a time they would outgrow their evil tendencies.  Many are now making a similar mistake.  They think they know a better way of training their children than that which God has given in His Word.  They foster wrong tendencies in them, urging as an excuse, 'They are too young to be punished. Wait till they become older and can be reasoned with.'  Thus wrong habits are left to strengthen until they become second nature.  The children grow up without restraint, with traits of character that are a lifelong curse to them and are liable to be reproduced in others.   
     There is no greater curse upon households than to allow the youth to have their own way.  When parents regard every wish of their children and indulge them in what they know is not for their good, the children soon lose all respect for their parents, all regard for the authority of God or man, and are led captive at the will of Satan." CG p 231

   
     "Tell your children exactly what you require of them.  Then let them understand that your word is law and must be obeyed.  Thus you are training them to respect the commandments of God, which plainly declare, 'Thou shalt,' and 'Thou shalt not.'  It is far better for your boy to obey from principle than compulsion."  Child Guidance p 225

Book on Prayer

I have come to love this book!

It starts with a little girl having bedtime worship, and the girl realizes she can talk to God all the time. The next day she goes through a number of different situations where she realizes, "that's when I can talk to God."  

The book covers praise, thanksgiving, confession, requests of different types, when God answers a prayer, praying for others to know Jesus, disobedience and confession.  The book ends with discussing how God talks back to us. 

It is excellent in my opinion!  Now when our two-year-old hears sirens she wants to pray for the people.  Two-year-old children can understand the material,  but this book is appropriate for much older children too.