reflections

the year is almost at a close and it's been a bumpy year full of peaks and valleys - but it seems like there were more valleys.

The year started off with personal loo, then I lost my job. I remember thinking "what next Lord? surely you have a plan for me." 'for His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watched me...'

I quickly found new employment - I wasn't even unemployed for 24 hours. What began as a great new job full of challenge and growth ended up with near lawsuits for work place abuse and harassment against my employer.

The good things that came out of that was Tehmadflip got to stay at home with the kids for a while. I made sick money for doing very little which gave us enough money to buy a truck (which we sold) and a house and move 2000km (or so) across the country for a better life.

I had to leave some family and friends behind, which is always sad. And my kids still cry for them, but time heals all wounds.

I could focus on all the things that I neglected to do, or should have done. I should have spent more time in prayer and less time watching TV. I should have spent less time cleaning and more time reading my bible. I should have spent less time worrying about silly little things and more time chasing my kids.

But a lot of good came from the valleys I walked through, and I look back and am grateful for all of it.

I lost my job, but found a new one.
There was work place abuse and harassment, but the money I made allowed me to buy a house and move (something we had been talking about for years)
I achieved my first degree black belt in Shotokan Karate (a goal I had put on hold for almost a decade)
I got to start my own business and stay home with my kids
Tehmadflip got to also get some time home with the kids.

All in all, it was a great year and I am looking forward with anticipation for what the Lord will bring forth in this new year coming.

Day 8 - Sun

Luke 1:57-80

Thank goodness for the dollar store at Christmas...where else could I find gold sparkel-foam that was sticky on one side for 1/2 a dollar?

This was about Zechariah describing Jesus as the “rising sun” coming from heaven to
“shine on those living in darkness”. The kids related this back to the first craft of making a candle. Pumpkin turned off all the lights to demonstrate darkness and then turned on the Christmas Tree lights to show how Jesus is the light. We talked about night and day and how in the morning the world is dark and the the sun comes up and there is light. Since the sun doesn't rise until after 7am, the kids are usually up to watch the sky change a rainbow of colours.

Day 7 - Song

Luke 1:46-56

Sing Mary Sing! (great song) We covered a CD in jewels and glass stones - that was a fun craft and the next morning, the kids pulled it all apart. I think they had more fun ripping it then they did gluing it.

Mary was so encouraged when she went to visit Elizabeth, that she burst out in song to the Lord. Then we all sang a made up song to God. It was so refreshing to hear the little voices of my kids praise the Lord from the heart and not worry if the melody made sense or if they were singing on key or if the words rhymed. It was just pure praise.

Day 6 - Elizebeth and Mary

We got a bit side tracked and day 4 and 5 didn't happen (they were the angel and Mary). Saturday was just a crazy day...I don't even remember what happened....I think Steve ended up having to work most of the day. Sunday we went into town and the kids were so over-stimulated and over-tired by the time they got back, they barely made it to 7:15pm before they crashed.

So the verse was Luke 1:39 - 45. Now that Pumpkin has met some of her cousins, she understood the relationship between Mary and Elizabeth when I compared it to that of her relationship with cousins. I subbed Tummy for Womb as that's not really conversation I was prepared for at 7pm after a loooooooong day.

the craft turned into an extended colour session. Boo painted himself in marker, and Pumpkin removed the glue stick from the tube and smeared it all over her hands. Back in the bath they went. sigh.

But they had fun and learned a little bit :) mission accomplished.

Day 3 - Zechariah

Luke 1: 5 - 25

This was a long passage for the kids and they had a hard time staying focused, however, once I paraphrased it, it was better.

They tried to be quiet for 2 minutes - just like Zechariah had been silent for almost a year....they lasted about 30 seconds before bursting into laughter.

Pumpkin thought her Zechariah would look good with an X over his mouth to symbolize silence...then she added whiskers. Boo liked that idea and added whiskers to his own face with a marker (i will have to wash that off later) and now he is crawling around the house like a cat meowing.

Day 2 - Kingdom

Same verse - only today, Pumpkin wanted to repeat the whole verse after me, so I spoke slowly and in little chunks so she could keep up. Boo had fallen asleep and didn't participate in day 2....which is kind of good as he had a difficult day and the craft was to paint a toilet paper roll like a crown and stick jewels on it. Paint would have been everywhere....

Pumpkin also remembered the verse from yesterday and that Jesus is the light. She went over to the Christmas Tree and stepped on the switch that turns the light on an off.
"see mommy, when I turn the light s off, it's very dark. and then I turn them on there is light! just like Jesus - He is light"

Boo thought his craft from yesterday would look better in pieces...then he was upset with his choice, so we made another one.

24 days of advent - Day 1

I was reflecting once advent started. How do I make this important to my kids? How to I get them to focus on giving rather than getting? How often do we talk about Jesus in the days and week leading up to Christmas?
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Then I read a blog post by my friend and there was her thoughts on Advent and a very handy (and cheap) link for http://truthinthetinsel.com/ - a hands on approach for young children all about advent and the real reason for the season. I almost jumped for joy - I bought it and we started yesterday.

Day 1 - we read Isiah 9: 2 - 7. Not sure how much my kids got out of the scripture, but the craft was good and brought home the message.

This morning Pumpkin wanted to do the next craft right away! I'm saving it for after dinner as our evening ritual...it's a very nice way to end the day.

Today Pumpkin ran around the house singing her made-up song:
"i wonder what I can give for Christmas.
I love because of Jesus.
I give because He gave.
I want to give away Christmas.
Give away Christmas.
Give away Christmas"

I can't wait to see what else this will foster in my kids....and in me