A new tradition

I decided to splurge and purchase the Pottery Barn Advent house this year. (It helped that I had a gift card that took care of a big chunk of the cost.) Anyway, since Dec 1st, the kids have had the chance to open one door each day as we count down to Christmas. I want to make this a family tradition, so I really got my act together and decided to make it really special. So behind each door is an ornament to put on the small tree. Each ornament corresponds with a specific verse or verses from the Bible and I made up a little "mission" for each day that goes along with the verse and ornament. It was a fun project and each year I plan to taylor it to the kids ages. I bought ornaments first and then tried to think of ways to tie them into scripture verses and missions for the day.

Here is the outline of our 25 days:

Saturday, Dec 1st
Ornament – Mary, Joseph, Angel and Jesus
Reading – Luke 2:1-20
Mission – act out the Christmas story with cousins in costumes
Sunday, Dec 2nd
Ornament – heart
Reading – Prov 15:30 (a cheerful look brings joy to the heart)
Mission – give everyone you meet today a cheerful look
Monday, Dec 3rd
Ornament – suckers
Reading – Psalm 34:8 (taste and see that the Lord is good)
Mission – bake something sweet today and share it with someone
Tuesday, Dec 4th
Ornament – star
Reading – Genesis 15:4-5 and Psalm 147:4-5 (count the stars, he knows them each…)
Mission – try to count the stars tonight, amaze at how God knows them each
Wednesday, Dec 5th
Ornament – boat
Reading – Mark 4:36-39 (peace, be still)
Mission – practice being still, play the stillness game (first to move, loses)
Thursday, Dec 6th
Ornament – trumpet and French horn
Reading – Psalm 150:3
Mission – Listen to praise music and play along with your instruments
Friday, Dec 7th
Ornament – sheep
Reading – Psalm 100:3
Mission – play shepherding game (cotton balls/straws/fence –blow sheep in pen)
Saturday, Dec 8th
Ornament – Believe
Reading – Romans 10:9
Mission – recall salvation and belief without sight then watch Polar Express and explain
Sunday, Dec 9th
Ornament – house
Reading – Psalm 122:1 (go to the house of the Lord)
Mission – rejoice about going to church today, skip on the way in!

Monday, Dec 10th
Ornament- ark
Reading – Genesis 6:13-22 (Noah’s ark story)
Mission – watch dvd of Noah story and sing ark song, line up stuffed animals

Tuesday, Dec 11th
Ornament – suckers
Reading – Psalm 119:103 (how sweet…)
Mission – talk about God’s “sweet” Word and go to a candy store in the mall
Wednesday, Dec 12th
Ornament – star
Reading – Phil 2:14-15 (no arguing or complaining…so you shine like stars)
Mission – watch Hide ‘em in your Heart dvd, no arguing or complaining today
Thursday, Dec 13th
Ornament – heart
Reading – Deut 15:10 (give generously from the heart)
Mission – pick out one of your toys to give to someone at playgroup today
Friday, Dec 14th
Ornament – wise men
Reading – Matt 2:9-11
Mission – Think of a gift you can give to Jesus this year for Christmas
Saturday, Dec 15th
Ornament – plane
Reading – Mark 16:15 (Go into all the world…)
Mission – fly around the map and talk about missionaries, tell someone about Jesus
Sunday, Dec 16th
Ornament – harp and violin
Reading – Psalm 150:4 (praise him with harp and strings…)
Mission – sit near the orchestra at church today, listen as they play to God
Monday, Dec 17th
Ornament – heart
Reading – Psalm 119:11 (hidden your word in my heart)
Mission – memorize your AWANA verse for this week
Tuesday, Dec 18th
Ornament – train
Reading – Psalm 18:24a (reward for the righteous)
Mission – do really good today and be rewarded with a trip to I.P. to ride train
Wednesday, Dec 19th
Ornament – peace
Reading – Psalm 34:14
Mission – be a peacemaker at school today
Thursday, Dec 20th
Ornament – noel
Reading – Matt 2:1-12
Mission – watch “The Very First Noel” dvd
Friday, Dec 21st
Ornament – hands
Reading – Psalm 24:4-5
Mission – wash hands with Christmas soap today and talk about a clean heart
Saturday, Dec 22nd
Ornament – joy
Reading – Luke 2:10-11
Mission – go caroling at someone’s house, sing “Joy to the World”
Sunday, Dec 23rd
Ornament – Hope
Reading – Romans 15:4
Mission – take your Bible to church today and read it before bed tonight
Monday, Dec 24th
Ornament – Love
Reading – I John 4:7-12
Mission – tell people you love them today and show them by giving hugs
Tuesday, Dec 25th
Ornament – star tree topper
Reading – Revelation 22:16-17
Mission – Celebrate the Bright Morning Star this Christmas!!

Nativity Scene

All the cousins got together yesterday to reinact the Christmas story together and take a picture for a Christmas card. They had a blast.