Sheltering Through Kindness (Fill A Bucket)

Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile. ~Mother Teresa

November 9-13 is World Kindness Week. One of character traits I was most passionate about teaching my girls was kindness. When I see young children acting in an unkind manner it makes me sad, because I know unkind children grow up to be unkind adults.

With school beginning soon, this would be a good time to discuss bullying with your children. According to a study by the National Center for Educational Statistics (2015), one out of every four students (22%) report being bullied during the school year.

 

























The best way to teach kindness is to model it. With small children it's also good to find ways to reward their kind behaviour. I recently came across this delightful book by Carold McCloud. Fill a Bucket: A daily dose to happiness for a young child. The bucket filling is a metaphor for kind behavior--both given and received. Be prepared to hear "The Bucket Song" over and over! 

Why not purchase one for a friend's child? Many times purchasing extras like books are last in line for parents raising a family. When I give a child a gift it frequently involves a book.

Fill a Bucket is for ages 4-8, although I feel a younger child would enjoy it, too. The author has written another title, Have You Filled a Bucket Today? for older children. These books are $9.99, (paperback $8.99) which seemed a bit high to me. But I can rationalize my way all around book purchases. So think of it as a learning tool, or that it's fostering a love of books. I'm gifting mine to my grandchildren, and that's the best rationalization there is!

Gift the book with a small bucket 

Print and cut out the hearts and stars from the printable below. On a tag write these instructions: When you are kind to someone, write their name on a star--because you're a star. When someone is kind to you, write their name on a heart-- kindness makes your heart smile. I added a name/Scripture verse tag, too.

A book all parents and teachers should read is Frank Peretti's "The Wounded Spirit." It will help you to be more aware of the symptoms of the bullying and unkind actions of school age children. I heard Peretti speak on this topic and what he endured at school was only tolerable because of loving parents and the unconditional love of our Heavenly Father. Not all children have this strong support system.  

Willy Davis said, "If you step on people in this life, you're going to come back as a cockroach." While that's not how we would train our children to be kind, we need to to not only teach them, Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32), but how that looks in 2015. Let's train the next generation to be kind. Being proactive now will prevent wounded spirits later.  

Is Your Child a Bully?
Good Girls Bully, too 
Children's Journal Sheet for Bullying


Download here: Kindness Bucket Stars and Hearts

Gifting Books: Inspired You & Giveaway

If our highest priority is walking in faith and loving our families, we'll find joy in the sofa stains, the scratches on the dining room table, and the pile of shoes by the door.  ~Marian Parson

Shelter a friend with the gift of a book

In the flyleaf of "Inspired You:  Letting God Breathe New Life into Your Heart and Home," Marian Parson writes, 

Homes don't have to be magazine material to be special, comfortable and inviting. The goal you're working toward is home. Not a perfect home. Not an "impress the neighbors" home. Just home -- one whose walls and rooms tell the story of the family who lives there.

My sister's home does look like magazine material. It's a gift from God. But the beauty in her home is not the perfection, the beauty is in the feeling of warmth the minute you walk through the doorway.
It's the tea light candle tucked in a china cup, the stack of old books waiting to be read. It's in the family pictures which grace her grand piano and tabletops. It's in the joy banner her daughter made her which hangs over her kitchen table and speaks clearly of the the joy in her heart and home.  

Melodie's touches

Marian says, "Almost anyone can create an amazing space with a limitless budget, but it takes a lot of creativity, resourcefulness, and patience to put together a space with limited funds." Melodie's antique basket, overflowing with hydrangeas.(Basket cost 50 cents at a yard sale.

I loved reading this book, but viewing the pictures inspired me, too.  I can't wait to see who wins it. Leave a comment, either here or on Sheltering Tree's facebook page if you'd like to be entered to win. 

Click to see larger

One of the projects in the book is a framed chalkboard. Any frame will work and a thin board sprayed with chalkboard paint. It is a great way to gift this book. I wrapped it with a paper sack, wrapped it with twine and tucked chalk into the twine. The tags are below for you to print.

I leave Miss Mustard Seed's final words with you.  

Hopefully you'll create an inviting home for your family, you'll find increasing joy,

and you'll discover the inspired you.

 Click for Marian aka Miss Mustard Seed's blog.

Karen from Pink Parsonage won Homemade with Love.

 Linked to:

Sarah and The Homemaking Party

Mama Bear and Thriving Thursdays

Jessica and Thoughtful Thursday

Sew in the Morning and Giveaway

A little consideration, a little thought for others makes all the difference.                                                                          ~Eeyore

Imagine putting away the steel needles we use today and using one of bone or wood splinters.  I’m sure they would ruin many of the fabrics we use today.  But -- Dorcas had a garment-making ministry and used the bone needles like a pro.  Acts 6:36 tells us she was full of good works and acts of kindness to the poor.  Dorcas focused on the widows as she sewed (by hand, remember) coats and other garments for them.  She made clothing for the children of younger widows.  Recipients of her craft and kindness were often those who could not afford to buy the material, much less with the ability, or, in the case of the older widows, had the keen eyesight necessary for sewing.

Dorcas reminds me of my mother-in-law.  RB’s mother was a first class encourager and many times used her needle (and sewing machine) to bless others.  Some garments were made for those she and her husband shepherded.  Other times she sheltered fellow pastors’ families or missionaries.  Mother Kuhn loved shopping for others in thrift shops, altering dress shirt sleeve-lengths for some, hemming suit slacks for others.  My daughters would snuggle in nighties made by Grandma Kuhn.  I don’t know how many tea towel toppers she made, many times giving them to all the ladies of her church, the evangelists to take back to their wives after a revival, to shut-ins, or to a sick or discouraged friend. 

Each generation is unique.  What one does, the next carries on in a whole new way.   DeLynda, from our church, uses her sewing skills, too, to shelter others.  Gifts from her embroidery machine are present at each baby and wedding shower, college bash, and even in our church mailboxes.  Her most recent blessing was covers for notebooks.  Each one was different, embroidered with our name, complete with a sweet note in the pocket.  DeLynda has made almost 50 of these covers.  Different from Dorcas and her hand sewn clothes, different from Mother Kuhn and her refurbished clothing — unique! I don’t know about the other ladies, but I feel sheltered every time I use my sheltering notebook.

Ah, wait!  The needle blessing doesn't stop with DeLynda’s generation.  These Crabtrees shelter! She taught her daughter-in-law to sew, and I don’t think her machine has stopped since—a quilt for her daddy, made from her grandmother’s clothing, dresses for her sweet daughter, Maddy, and gifts for others, including a new updated tea towel topper.

What can you sew to shelter someone?  To get you excited about a new project, this week’s giveaway is The Simple Life Fat Quarter Bundle - Tasha Noel for Riley Blake Designs - 6 pieces (Total 1.5 yards). The giveaway is open for all of my readers, so leave a comment, and  I’ll let you know who wins next Wednesday. 




Here's a few easy projects to get your creative juices going.
Better Homes and Garden
Martha Stewart
Elm Street Life

Random.org chose Margie from Margie’s garden to win “Baking for Friends.”  If any of you sheltered someone with a baked treat this week, I’d love to know.

Sharing the Shelter

Do you have a recipe, craft or sewing project, an encouraging devotional, favorite book you like to gift, or other sheltering idea you’d like to share?  Link up and enjoy the ideas.  I like keeping the rules simple:

• Only two links per blog each week 
• Grab my button or leave a text link-back 
• Visit the two blogs before yours 
• Shelter someone! 

Linked to:

Life in Bloom
Thoughtful Thursday
Faith Filled Friday

An Organized Kind of Girl

Nowhere can we get to know the holiness of God, and come under His influence and power, except in the inner chamber. It has been well said: "No man can expect to make progress in holiness who is not often and long alone with God. ~Andrew Murray

The yarns were tangled, beads and wiggle eyes mingled with buttons and brads.  The pipe cleaners were hidden under a pile of felt and the paint pots were separated from the brushes.  Scissors, glue guns and glitter formed an unhealthy alliance.  Fragments of felt hid pipe cleaners, while art markers had a mind of their own and were found in among it all.  Requests for "Where's the felt?" caused me to panic and search through craft drawers in hopes of finding it. For an organized mind, this was not working.  

An idea on Pinterest caught my eye.  An old dresser, minus the drawers, painted and sanded into a Shabby Chic beauty.  They filled it with clear shoeboxes--that sure spoke to me.  As I should have guessed, a trip to all my favorite thrift shops yielded not one suitable dresser. So I improvised.

I emptied a bookcase, found an online source for black photo boxes, and waited -- a bit impatiently -- for them to arrive. What fun! My handy dandy labeler printed my labels with glee.  I certainly got my organizational fix by the time my project was finished.  


Sometimes my prayer time gets all mixed up without any organized thoughts. My request for a blogging friend gets all tangled up with thoughts of an idea for a blog post.  My praises for blessings are hidden under planning a meal to serve on my new fall dishes. Prayers for my grandchildren are shoved aside
 by the planning of a craft project Morgan would enjoy. In desiring to communicate with my God, the disorganized thoughts pushed out that closeness I craved.  When praying for one of my small group friends' needs, I'd find myself telling God how to solve their requests.

Melanie's Family

F. B. Meyer said, The greatest tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer but unoffered prayer.  In allowing my mind to travel its own course, I was cheating those for whom I had promised to pray.  I wanted so much more from my communication with my Heavenly Father.  

So... after pondering and praying, I've come to the conclusion to re-focus by saying aloud -- Dear Lord, I want, above all:

A heart filled with God's holiness

A mind filled with the sacred

A strength from a contrite spirit 

Open hands and heart

An inward quietness

Sincerity motivated by faith

I want to go about my daily duties thoroughly present with intentionality, yet filled with abiding prayer -- so filled with God that my very breath is a prayer of praise.  

Admittedly, I haven't arrived, but I'm on the road.  I'm getting my thoughts in the right boxes, and I'm setting both eyes on the Throne of Grace.  It's a beginning...  

* * * * *

Great Prayer Life Tools

Getting Down with Jesus

Across My Kitchen Table

Organizing Made Fun

Lorie Newman

IPhone Prayer List App--$1.99

The Better Mom

Reflecting the Designer

Linked to

Spiritual Sundays

Soli Deo Gloria

Sheltering Ties

Open your hearts to the love God instills...God loves you tenderly. What He gives you is not to be kept under lock and key but to be shared.  
                                                                                     ~Mother Teresa

I have found the hearts of God's true disciples are bound in love.  I think I see this most clearly through the eyes of blogging.  I'm amazed at the love that has been born in my heart for those I have never met.  There's a passion in my blogging sisters. A passion for sharing the lessons God is teaching. Women writing authentically in the midst of life's messiness. 


How can you meet a sister through the words of grace and not feel a tug of love?  In these grace-filled words they offer peace, pour oil of comfort, share joy, and celebrate the mundane.  Mentors surface, blurring the edges of age--the young mentor the older, and the older reach back to grab memories to mentor the young.


This sharing of Christian love isn't a newness that came with the blogging in the 21st century.  In 1740, John Fawcett was born in England.  When Fawcett was 30 and pastoring a small congregation, he wrote a song celebrating the tie that binds God's people together.  

"Blest Be the Tie That Binds"

"Blest be the tie that binds

Our hearts in Christian love!

The fellowship of kindred minds

Is like to that above.

Before our Father's throne

We pour our ardent prayers;

Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,

Our comforts and our cares.

We share each other's woes,

Our mutual burdens bear;

And often for each other flows

The sympathizing tear.

This Christian love has spanned the years, joining hearts together with ties that bind.  Ties that are formed of kindred spirits--spirits whose goal is to follow God with heart, soul and mind.  Kindred spirits I have found in the words of my blogging world.  We admit our fears, share our hopes and dreams, shed tears in shared grief, and just as quickly rejoice in our blessings.


But our ties do not end when the computer is turned off.  It is then we meet at the Father's throne, asking God through Jesus Christ to comfort, encourage, and meet financial, emotional and physical needs. Our posture and our words lack the formality of the 17th century, but God hears our prayers just as clearly.


I'm blessed.  Blessed to have these ties.  Blessed to be gifted love from women of God who live around the world.   Blessed by those who breathe encouragement when it is called, "Today."

 Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today.

Hebrews 3:13

* * * * *

Celebrate the Ties

Father's Day is over, but these projects can be easily adapted to other occasions.  Jonathon and Emily are leading Children's Church for June.  This is the project they helped the children make last week.  She found the idea on Vippins.

These fun treat ties were made by Krista, a friend of mine.  She combined a couple Pinterest ideas. The ties are filled with Lemon Snack Mix recipe.  The tag says:

Here's a special tie for you, 

to tell you thanks for all you do. You are 

T-errific 

I-ncredible 

E-xtraordinary 

Happy Father's Day!




One last idea that I found and really liked.  RB's ties are not safe!  He better put them under lock and key.

Linked to:

Five Filled Friday

Friendship Friday

Spiritual Sundays

Monday's Musings

The Shelter of God's Promises

The sacred promises, though in themselves most sure and precious, are of no avail for the comfort and sustenance of the soul unless you grasp them by faith, plead them in prayer, expect them by hope, and receive them with gratitude.  ~Charles Spurgeon
 

I think ladybugs should have the cutest bug award.  Unfortunately, I still don't want them in my house.  Unless they are the kind Melanie made this week--cookie ladybugs! 

I'm a researchaholic and I'd love to share what all I learned about this little bug (like their wings beat 80 times a second) but you all might not find the facts as fascinating as I did.  For fun I'll share these myths with you:

• If a ladybug lands on you in Brussels, the spots on that ladybug indicate how many children you will have. 
• Many farmers around the world have believed that the spots on a ladybug tell the fortune of the next harvest; if there are fewer than seven spots, the harvest will be good. 
• Some people believe that if a ladybug lands on you, you can count the spots and you will soon receive dollars in the same amount as the spots. 
• In Sweden, if a ladybug lands on a young girl's hand, it is said to be taking measurements for her wedding gloves.
• When people in France see a ladybug, they believe good weather is coming in.

Myths are fun, but I'm thankful I don't need to hang my life on the ladybug. What would happen in Brussels if I had three ladybugs land on me?  I love children, but at 50, I do think that would cause me to panic!  

No, I choose to place my confidence in something far greater than folklore or good luck.  I place it on the trusted, tried and true promises of God. I am "fully persuaded that God has power to do what he promised."  I read that there are 3,573 promises in the Bible.  In Herbert Lockyer's "All the Promises of the Bible" he claims there are 8,000.  No wonder Paul wrote, "Because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises" (2 Peter 1:4).

God-breathed promises, scribbled down by His scribes. God promised Abraham He would make him a great nation. Promise fulfilled. God promised Moses Pharaoh would release the Israelites from slavery.  Promise fulfilled. God promised Joshua He would be with him and give him victory over Jericho. Promise fulfilled. God promised Solomon He would give him great wisdom.  Solomon's wisdom is legendary. Promise fulfilled.


On and on throughout the Bible God promises, and His promises come to fruition.  Is it any wonder that, when I claim His promise to "keep me in perfect peace," I trust in the fulfillment of His promise.  I can take my needs to God, knowing He has promised to supply each one.  


Oh, the promises our Heavenly Father--

     Grace: amazing and redemptive

          Mercy: undeserved and wondrous

               Joy: bubbling and overflowing

                    Love: unconditional and abundant

                         Victory: triumphant and overcoming

The promises of God.  Inexhaustible and trustworthy.  I rest in them, they give me confidence and power.  Charles Spurgeon said,  “As you read God’s promises over, one after the other, you say to yourselves, “This is my checkbook. I can take out the promises as I want them, sign them by faith, present them at the great Bank of Grace, and come away enriched with present help in time of need. That is the way to use God’s promises.”

Jesus came as a promise from our Heavenly Father.  The Holy Spirit came as a promise from God's Son. With the fulfillment of those promises, I can rest--rest with assurance that all God's promises to me will be fulfilled. With Spurgeon, I am grasping them by faith, pleading for them in prayer, expecting them with hope, and receiving them with gratitude.

Standing on the promises of God our King,

Through eternal ages let His praises ring.

Glory in the highest I will shout and sing,

Standing on the promises of God.

* * * * *

Ladybug Blessings

Promises from God for Laedee Bugg

I found this book (shown above) on Amazon ($6.99)and knew it would be a sweet addition to a little girl gift basket.  


This was a group project. Melanie cut the paper confetti lady bugs with her Silhouette.  She, with help from Landon and Morgan, also made the ladybug decorated sugar cookies. All I had to do was make the stuffed felt ladybug, wrap it all with cellophane and tie the bow around it. (Ladybug ribbon from Hobby Lobby.)


I made the felt ladybug from a picture.  I'd love to give credit to the one who originally made it, but I'm unable to locate it. I glued everything except the wings.  The eyes are black pony beads.  The flower is attached with a brad.  

Morgan gave the gift to her cousin, Makenzie. I hope they will always remember that God's promises are true!

Printable ladybug bookmark

Printable ladybug maze
Ladybug crown

Linked to:
Going Green with the Mommy Mess

Seeds of Faith

Reflections of His Grace

Brag on God Friday

Winsome Wednesday

Shelter of the Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Don't fight with the pillow, but lay down your head

And kick every worriment out of the bed.  

Edmund Vance Cooke

RB and I had a bit of a vacation in Pennsylvania this week. From the moment I stepped in my parents' home I felt peace and rest. It was a laid-back trip filled with card-making, idea-sharing, sister-blessing and mom's famous raspberry cheese cake. We even took a nap each afternoon.

RB was teaching an online class, but I won't tell you how many times I found him, computer on lap, fast asleep.  He usually doesn't vacation well, so seeing him rest made me happy.


There have been times in my life that sleep evaded me. Many times I would stare at the ceiling for hours before falling asleep, only to wake with a migraine.  I'm thankful that doesn't happen very often anymore.  My secret to falling asleep is two-fold.  First of all, I am obedient to Philippians 4:8.

Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

The other verse I quote is Psalm 4:8:  I will lay down in peace and sleep. Add a heating pad to those two verses and I will usually sleep.  

My doctor wants me to get ten hours of sleep each night.  Like that will ever happen!  I do adopt Thomas Hood's words, 

O bed! O bed! delicious bed!

That heaven upon earth to the weary head.

Last week I made my grandkids pillowcases.  They were a big hit. Ethan smelled his and said, "It smells just like your house."  He assured me it was a good thing!

Making pillowcases is an easy project.  There are hundreds of tutorials online, but this is one on Dana Made It.  I don't have a serger so I made French seams on mine.  If you don't have children to sew for, consider making a few for Craft Hope's ConKerr Cancer project.  It's a beautiful sheltering project.  

Craft Hope has a book, Craft Hope: Crafts for a Cause.  There are thirty projects in the book for different charities.  This is what they say about their projects:

 We are healing hearts. Spreading love and hope. Sharing joy. Absolutely priceless. Your hands alone are touching lives through your beautifully handmade donations.


When it comes to sheltering, there's such variety.  The way I shelter may not be your choice.  We are, however, commanded to shelter others.



Make sure you don't take things for granted and go slack in working for the common good; share what you have with others. God takes particular pleasure in acts of worship—a different kind of "sacrifice"—that take place in kitchen and workplace and on the streets.

I hope you all can find some restful sleep this week -- sleep that gives you energy to shelter.  Bake some cookies, sew a pillowcase or offer a hug.  Be creative and share with me your sheltering plan.  Nothing brings me more joy than reading sheltering reports and ideas.

Generous hands are blessed hands.

Proverbs 22:9 

Linked to:

Spiritual Sunday

Soli Deo Gloria

Encourage One Another

Reflections of His Grace

Handmade Wednesday

Sheltered by God's Leading and a Giveaway

I looked at that handsome face one more time, kissed him on the little mole between his eyebrows, and told him the next time I would kiss him would be in Glory.  In faith, I turned and walked away, knowing that my  Savior would lead me.  ~Terri M. Stellrecht 

For those of us who have lost children, our minds hold on to that "last moment" we looked into our child's face.  My last moment was of a tiny sleeping face.  I rocked Sarah to sleep and laid her in her crib. For Terri Stellrecht that last glimpse was looking into the face of Trent before they closed his casket.

On Friday, February 18, 2011, God did the unthinkable in their lives in choosing to take Rob and Terry's 12-year-old son, Trent, home to heaven in a skiing accident.  Terri says, "It is only considered the unthinkable because our plans are not God's plans, and our ways are not God's ways."  In her book, How My Savior Leads Me, Terri tells the story of their tragedy.

Terri's book wasn't an easy book for me to read.  It tugged at the place in my heart graced by Sarah's memory.  But even in a heart-place occupied by the sunshine of a dark-eyed angel it brought memories of the first few months of my personal tragedy, and gently reminded me I'm not alone.

Terri's writing included contrasts -- from a point of one of the greatest pains a parent can face, to another of following Jesus through the grief journey, rose an arc connecting them in the form of a rainbow. It's an honest story of struggle, of a mother's grief, but most of all, a reliance on the leading of our Savior. Everyone's grief journey is different, but a central truth runs through them all -- either you choose to trust God or you turn your face from Him.

Whether you are walking your own journey or know of someone who is, I believe Terri's book will touch every reader.  She has provided a signed copy for me to give to one of my readers.  Simply leave me a comment if you wish to be entered in the giveaway.  I'll choose the winner next Monday. You can read more about Terri's journey at her blog, Where My Savor Leads Me.

One of the songs used at Trent's funeral was Casting Crown's Praise You in This Storm. Terri's book authentically offers the pain of the storm -- while documenting her praise through it all.

And I'll praise You in this storm,

And I will lift my hands,

For You are who You are

No matter where I am.

And every tear I've cried

You hold in Your hand;

You never left my side.

And though my heart is torn,

I will praise You in this storm.

* * * * *

A Simple Desk Reminder

Perfect for Sheltering

1. Cut tagboard for the back the size you choose.
2. Copy hymn, All the Way My Savior Leads Me, to heavy paper.
3. Tape song to back.
4. Type, print and back words, add glitter sugar and glue to    hymn.
5. Glue picture and color blocks (I used a square and circle).
6. Glue crocheted lace and crinkled seam binding ribbon to bottom.

7. Decorate. I used chiffon flowers, paper leaves, crocheted heart and a black button
8. Punch hole in right top. Using three shades of ribbon, tie bow through hole.
9. Wrap Terri's book with the desk reminder with tissue, tying with ribbon.  Stick a sprig of lavender in the bow.

Linked to:

Soli Deo Gloria 

Thought Provoking Thursday

Brag on God Friday

Reflections of His Grace

Handmade Wednesday

Inspire Me Monday

Penny Pinching Party

Finding Childlike Joy

 The way to Christmas lies through an ancient gate....It is a little gate, child-high, child-wide, and there is a password:"Peace on earth to men of good will."  May you, this Christmas, become as a little child again and enter into His kingdom. ~Angelo Patri

Sweet Morgan visited with me today.  Even before her mother left the house she bounded to the back door saying, "Mawmaw, I found it!"  Aunt Melodie had sent some Christmas packages and I thought Morgan found them.  Instead, she pulled me into the living room exclaiming, "Look, Baby Jesus!"  She literally bounced from Nativity to Nativity pointing out Baby Jesus in each one."  It was holy ground -- a child's delight in the gift God sent from an overflowing heart of love for those He created.  Three-year-old Morgan may not be able to discuss the theological process of the Son of God leaving His Heavenly home, but she already knows and loves Baby Jesus.

I wonder if this is what Jesus was thinking of when He said, "Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."  If you're like me, the whole Christmas rush of buying, wrapping, baking, writing programs, helping with visuals, decorating, {deep breath} entertaining, taking pictures and creating cards, writing Christmas letters...whew...it all combines to cloud my joy.

As I looked again at the Son of God through the eyes of my granddaughter, I was filled with the joy of the season.  I followed Morgan around and listened to her exclaim over Jesus' bed, the blankies and not one time was she distracted with the lights on the tree, the candles, the gold beads or the angels.  She was focused on Jesus.

Even in the midst of  my duties, I am determined to stay focused on Jesus.  Focused on the gift the God of this world--my God--presented to a dark world.  On the gift delivered by a young Mary. The one delivered in a stable, visited by shepherds, lauded by wise men.  The same gift offered to the world today.  Most of all, I want to cherish the joy.  I want to see the sparkle of falling snow, feel God's love as I choose Christmas gifts for those I love.  I want the words I write to swell with the joy I feel.  I want to host my friends with the same peace Mary showed to those who visited her newborn Son, and as I light the candles, I want to remember the Light who came to shine in the darkness.  

This joy--the joy offered to me by my little Morgan--will color my celebrations.  The Christmas programs will be more poignant, Pastor Clemens' sermons will be more meaningful, and as I sit and see the colors of Christmas dancing in the fireplace, I'll thank God for the child who led me and the Child who came to be my Savior.

* * * * *

Kids Focusing on Jesus

Here's a few fun ways to focus on Jesus with your children.

Make Nativity cookies together, using this rolled cookie recipe for a fun change.

Read this book together: Grandma's Christmas Cookies. The book is out of print but you can order a used copy on Amazon.  This book is based on the birth of Jesus and includes four cookie cutters of an angel, star, camel, and sheep who are featured in the story.


Reenact the Christmas story using Playmobil's nativity scene or Nativity stickers

Listen to Cedarmont's Christmas Carols -- traditional Christmas Carols sung by children.

Color a free Nativity set using tp rolls.

Other fun free printables can be found at:

Bible Kids Fun Zone
Printable Christmas cards or thank yous.
Road to Bethlehem File Folder Game
Printable Christmas Puzzles

Sheltering -- Pumpkin Style

If someone were to pay you 10 cents for every kind word you ever spoke and collect from you 5 cents for every unkind word, would you be rich or poor? ~unknown

My friend, Stacy, (name has been changed to protect the guilty) was a young wife and eager to make her husband proud cooking for their first revival.  One thing she was sure she could do was make a pumpkin pie.  The crust formed a perfect circle.  The pumpkin was spread in the pan. All was ready -- time to bake it.  Stacy was so happy when it came out of the oven.  Admiring the golden brown crust, she sprinkled cinnamon on the fragrant orange masterpiece. She couldn't wait to serve it.

Stacy's husband beamed all through the meal.  He knew how hard his bride had worked to make this a special meal despite her lack of experience and their tight budget.  I don't recall what Stacy served for the main course, but I do know the crowning glory was the pie.  Well, until the evangelist took his first bite. His face reflected panic -- to swallow or not to swallow?

You see, Stacy's mother always used pumpkin pie filling.  Stacy used solid pack pumpkin with its bland earthy taste. No matter how delicious the pie looked, without the sugar included, it was disgustingly bitter.

How many times do we approach people without the sweetness we need?  Our abrasive words, stinging with sarcasm or imitation sweetening substitutes, can hurt, whether spoken, repeated or posted on a Facebook wall (of course in hopes they will be read by the nameless one intended).

But like solid pack pumpkin, adding the sweetness of the Holy Spirit keeps the words of our mouth acceptable, not only to others, but also to our Heavenly Father.

I find such joy in keeping my words sweet.  But when I allow my words to trample over the quiet checks of the Holy Spirit, to rush out in judgment or with deliberate criticism, I grieve.  And in the grieving, I taste solid pack pumpkin.  Unsweetened.  The tasteless words spoken cannot be unsaid.

Each day, when I spend time with God, I pray these words as a benediction: "Let the words of my mouth be acceptable unto you...my God and my Redeemer."  I love the sweetness.  The joy.  The spicy pumpkin orangeness of acceptable words.

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Little Pumpkin Boy

I saw a little boy with a pumpkin hat and thought my 'lil pumpkin boy needed one, too.  

I found the Beanie Baby Pumpkin Hat pattern and believe me when I say this is super easy.  I finished it in an evening.  For Camron I added five rows and adjusted the stem to fit.  I didn't make the vine.  Wouldn't a red one with a brown stem be cute?

I used Vanna's Choice yarn.  It crocheted great.  Morgan saw me finishing the hat and thought she needed a purple hat.  It was a toss up -- pink or purple but purple won.  I used this pattern from Craft Bits.  The only problem is she thought I could finished it before her momma came to pick her up.  Mawmaw's not that fast!

It would be cute to gift the hat along with A Pumpkin Prayer by Amy Parker.  This is a book teaching thankfulness for God's blessings.  It's a board book for ages one and older.