Farewell to Fall Y'all!!!!

Its always amazing to me how we quickly turn from one season into another, and although its still officially fall…its looking more like winter around here! So before we got completely into the Christmas festivities I wanted to share a few of my favorite pictures from the last few weeks…..

Caroline's Fall Music Performance….

 Having fun on fall days….

 Fall field trip with Molly Cate….

 Thanksgiving celebrations at school…

 A visit to Hattiesburg to celebrate a wedding and Thanksgiving….

 Thanksgiving at Jills!….

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY to KEN!!!!…..

Last but not least a Thanksgiving visit with Ken's Grandaddy!!…

Jesse Tree Prep

I believe that we will get out our Christmas decorations this weekend! I have already seen a few houses decorated and of course all the stores are decked out.  With all the lights, decorations, shopping, parties, programs and more that we will be bombarded with over the next 6-8 weeks (not to sound like a scrooge) I want my kids to remember the REAL reason we are celebrating! That is why a few years ago we started the Jesse tree.

For a few weeks leading up to Christmas we hang a new ornament on our designated tree.  Each ornaments retells the greatest story ever told.  A TRUE Christmas story! It starts in the beginning and ends with the birth of our Savior! 

This tradition can be a relatively simple one.  There are sooooo many resources out there and fun ideas! 

How we do it…

I have all my ornaments pre made and ready to go.  I wrap each ornament in a bag with the Bible verses we will read, also a fun snack or candy treat for my kids.  I label each bag with a number based on when we will open them.  Each night leading up to Christmas we take turns opening a gift, reading the verses and talking about the story and how we are waiting on our Savior to be born.  

Ornaments can be pre made, bought, or made each day by your kids.  Do what works for you and your family! 

This year I plan on having a Jesse Tree Journal for the girls.  Each night they will record or draw what we discussed or something new they learned.  I think this will be a great keepsake and so much fun to look back over in the coming years!

The Bibles we will use this year:

The Jesus Storybook Bible

The Gospel Story Bible

The Big Picture Story Bible

The Ryrie Study Bible

We will implement some of the things for the lessons I planned last year on the days that we have time. My main goal is to simply sit and read the Bible with my family and discuss this Holy season!! 

You can see all of my Jesse Tree lessons from last year HERE. Or look under my archives from last Nov/Dec.

Our Ornament List:
1. Earth: Creation
2. Apple: Adam and Eve
3. Rainbow: Noah
4. Stars: God's Promise to Abe
5. Bundle of Sticks: Isaac
6. Ladder: Jacob
7. Coat: Joseph
8. Burning Bush: Moses
9. Lamb/Passover Door: Passover
10. 10 Commandments: Moses gives God's Commandemtns
11. Wheat: Ruth
12. Red Rope: Rahab
13. Trumpet/Ram Horn: Joshua
14. Male Crown: Samuel
15. Shepherds Crook: David
16. Stone Altar: Elijah
17. Sun: Isaiah
18. Tears: Jeremiah
19. Lion: Daniel
20. Whale: Jonah
21. Female Crown: Esther
22. Watch Tower: Habakkuk
23. Heart: Ezra: God's people turn their heart back to God
24. Pen/Tablet: Zachariah/John
25. Angel: Mary
26. Manger: Jesus' Birth
27. Star: Wise Men

My prayer is that you and your family will choose to make Jesus the center of your season even when the world is bombarding our children telling them it is not. 

"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."  2 Timothy 3:14-15

"And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."  Deuteronomy 6:6-7

October Wrap UP!

Wow! October is already over which is crazy hard to believe!?!

We've had so many fun fall activities, I've decided to fill them in all one post!

Caroline had a really fun hayride and pumpkin picking party....

We also got to go to Jack and Caroline's open house......

Guess Who???

Next we were off to Caroline's room....

Jack visiting with Mrs. Cathy!

We had two fall parties last Friday...

One with our prayer partner from The Neighborhood School...

David and Caroline....

The 2nd was Ken's office party....

Jack was in wild form thanks to no nap!!!

Saturday morning we were up and out again for Jesus Loves Memphis!! This is such a fun time and even more special since we were back at The Neighborhood School!!

Saturday night we had a neighborhood party and the local policeman came to check in on us and pass out stickers!!

Dress up at gymnastics! Can you spy the girls???

Enjoying the afternoon together!!!

Yesterday we geared up for a little Trick or Treating, we were thankful the rain ended and we were able to get out of the house!

Our neighbor was sweet to take a family picture for us in front of her giant pumpkin!!

Munching on some of the goods!

She counted every piece...55! Oh MY!!!

Today we did a little relaxing at the park...Oh Fall...I wish you could stay longer!!!!