Advent Ideas: A Movie & A Book

The last few nights we have been watching 20 minutes of The Nativity Story.  We have a physical copy but you can watch on Amazon.

Something about watching the story, as opposed to reading it in the Bible, causes one to think about it differently.

A few things that come to mind:

- How young Mary was.  The story became familiar to me at a young age and I have always thought of Mary as someone older.
- The scandalous cultural implications of her pregnancy while a virgin.
- The journey to Bethlehem was arduous and long and uncomfortable!
- King Herod was a cunning and evil man.
- The wise men looking for the star, and the astronomy that went into seeking the child.

We're only about half way through the movie.  I'm sure the Lord will cause other things in the story to come alive as we finish it - I just wanted to encourage you to watch it before Christmas.  We've watched it the last 3 or 4 or 5? years.

Secondly, a friend gave me a copy of The Greatest Gift  - Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas by Ann Voskamp. Truly I have enjoyed reading her short, daily devotions leading up to Christmas.  Each day begins with Scripture, then a devotion, a suggested action point (which could be doing something or simply being), and a few questions with space to write reflections.

Merry Christmas, y'all!

Giving: Gospel for Asia

After Thanksgiving, John Isaac collected the neighbors' unwanted pumpkins for cash.  His down-the-street-friend did various chores as well as sold handmade ornaments.  Together they were inspired to raise money for people less fortunate.  Hubby and I contributed a bit as well.

The two boys wanted to consolidate their cash and buy big.  Hubby helped facilitate the process and said it was a bit, ahem, painful getting them to work together and agree.  Bless their hearts.  :)

Here's where they landed.  I am proud of them for working towards a goal and giving selflessly to others in need.

Sewing Machine  $85
Pigs $65
BioSand Water Filter $30
Rabbits $22
Chickens $11
Scale $10

Total $223

About Gospel for Asia

With the ever-expanding population of people in Asia, the need for aid, education and Jesus' love is growing day by day. Gospel for Asia is involved in sharing the love of Christ through national missionaries. These men and women missionaries are trained in Bible colleges to share the hope found in Christ. After training, they go to the unreached people of South Asia and share the love of God in the nations they serve. We also minister to children through our Bridge of Hope program, providing education, quality meals and a loving environment to over 60,000 children in South Asia.

Through our Compassion Services teams, we help victims of natural disasters, reaching out to those affected by catastrophes such as floods, cyclones and tsunamis. We also serve in leper colonies, offer medical clinics in poor areas, and help widows and abandoned children in crisis situations by providing for tangible needs like food, clothing and shelter. We are meeting vital needs for people in dire circumstances.

100% of Your Donation toward Christmas Gifts Goes to the Field

For over 30 years, Gospel for Asia has continued to bring aid and hope to some of the most downtrodden people in South Asia.

GFA sends 100% of the funds for Christmas gifts to the mission field. Nothing is taken out for administrative expenses.

Christmas Morning Made Holy by My Sweet Caroline

This was the first time in my 36 years that I've not celebrated the Savior's birth in Kentucky.  Hubby said, as we were getting things ready for the children last night, "This is the first time I feel like a parent on Christmas Eve."  Usually we wake up at his parents' house and follow the crowd.  Last night we were planning to run the show.  I hope that doesn't sound arrogant.  But if you know me (or my man) you know how much we like to be in charge.  :)

We let the kids open their "stockings" from the Majors grandparents - which was a jackpot of gum.  The kids were over the moon excited.  Especially Caroline.  If she received nothing else for Christmas, her cup was running over.  My parents had also mailed candy and gum, along with a much missed pair of JI's pajamas that we left there during Thanksgiving.

After the kids were in bed, Hubby built a manger to put under the tree from scrap fence wood.  I found a baby to play Jesus in this manger then put the finishing touches on a scavenger hunt for our oldest.  Just before heading upstairs, I remembered to hang the "Happy Birthday" banner.

I felt like a little kid.  The thought of Christmas morning had me so excited that I couldn't go to sleep.  Maybe it was the big pregnancy belly but once asleep, I couldn't stay asleep.  At least I was in a comfy bed.  Poor Mary was sleeping on the cold hard ground on the eve of her baby's birth.

We asked John Isaac to stay in his room until 7:30.  What were we thinking?  The excited boy was up at 6:30.  We conceded and let him come downstairs early.  He was so patient, not asking to open presents.  He wanted to talk with us, talk about the day.  This was his first time waking in Arkansas on Christmas morning, too.  Breakfast would be cinnamon rolls that I'd frozen from last week; they were thawed and I quickly made more frosting.  Hubby went to get Caroline so we could start our day as a family.

She had the classic sleepy head look as he carried her into the kitchen.  I asked, "Do you know what today is?"

"Jesus' birfday!!  Open presents!!"

Big brother showed her to the Christmas tree (where they like to fight over who gets to turn on the lights.)

Then she noticed the addition of the baby in the manger.

"Baby Jesus is here!  Baby Jesus came to us!  He's here!  He came to us!"

It was so sweet I almost cried.  Out of the mouths of babes come the most profound words.  Yes, the King of kings came to us as a helpless baby.

Rolls were ready so we quickly scarfed down our sugary sweet.  While eating, Hubby briefly tried to set the tone for the morning - talking about being grateful, that we would be talking about Jesus...not just presents.  This is Jesus' day.  We had 3 Adornaments that we would read about Jesus in between presents.

Walking back where the gifts were, Hubby grabbed his guitar and we began to sing "Joy to the World."

Hardly could I choke out the words because of what I saw.  I'm tearing up now just thinking about it.  Where was my camera at a time like this?  Actually, it was such a holy moment for me, I was almost thankful that I didn't have the distraction of trying to capture the perfect image for posterity.  Forever this scene will be etched in my mind.

She walked into the room and slowly knelt before the manger.

It was innocent.  Sweet.  Worshipful, as I'd imagined the wise men would have responded as they viewed the Christ child two thousand years ago.  She stared, almost in unbelief into the manger at the babe, wrapped in cloths.  After a few holy seconds frozen in time, she reached out to caress his cheek.


Baby Jesus is here.  He came to us.

Advent at Our House

Three years ago I put together a punchable advent calendar.  It was a lot of work.  I'm all about limiting work.

I like the idea of a meaningful advent calendar but have I mentioned that I'm lazy?

Hubby and I brainstormed ideas for advent.  We came up with meaningful as well as fun.  Yet in the end it looks totally different than what I thought it would look like.  I'll still keep the bucket list we brainstormed and incorporate (some of) the activities before Christmas.

What We're Using This Year
A FamilyLife product was created in 2003 called Prophecy Envelopes.  Unfortunately they are no longer in production - boo for you.  However, you could make something similar.  The idea is to write an Old Testament prophecy on a card and on the other side write its New Testament fulfillment then stick it in an envelope.  Here is a site that lists such verses.

The Old Testament side of the card is gray while the New Testament side is colorful.  I hung them on a simple ribbon with clothespins in our dining room.  In the picture you can see the first two colorful cards on the upper left - today being December 2.  During mealtime, usually dinner, we pull the card down, read it, and talk about the meaning.  We are anticipating the coming of our Savior.

From Trash to Treasure

Catalogs come rolling in this time of year.  For whatever reason, the Gospel for Asia catalog caught his attention.  Our friend, Gramm, from down the street was here as he perused the contents.  Together they became very excited about buying livestock for needy families in Asia.  It thrilled my soul to hear them talking about what they could do to earn money to buy chickens and rabbits for others!  I am impressed by GFA in that 100% of the funds for their Christmas gifts go to the missions field.  Nothing is taken out for administrative expenses.

While we were in Kentucky for Thanksgiving,  Gramm made ornaments and sold them door to door.  So once we made it back home, John Isaac was itching to make money and match what Gramm had done in his absence.  (I love it when competition is healthy!!)

I told John Isaac that if he took his wagon around to the neighbors and asked for their pumpkins, I would buy them from him for $0.25/each.  He rounded up over 50 pumpkins!!!  I was pleasantly surprised by his enthusiasm for this project - and thankful I didn't offer him $1 a pumpkin!

What shall I do with this abundance of orange flesh?  Only a few of them are pie pumpkins.  Well...I have farmer friends who will give them to their pigs and cows.

Meanwhile, Sister enjoyed some free play in the oats.

Hungry for oatmeal, anyone?

Handmade {easy} Thanksgiving Place Cards

Caroline helped me put together these place cards today.  Super easy.  The most time consuming part was cutting out the individual parts - eventually I folded the paper on itself and cut several at a time.

 She loved being in charge of the Elmer's glue - and putting the eyes in place.

Thanks, Mom and Kiddo for the link.  Look here for another easy Thanksgiving art idea.

Meanwhile, Brother decided on his own accord to rake some leaves with the neighbor boys.  Somebody needs to tell him to put his clothes (and shoes!) back on.  It's mid-November silly boy!

Vote Early & Often

We voted today.  Did you?

We've Been Boo-ed!

In our neighborhood, someone started the tradition of "booing."  Basically your doorbell rings and when you answer no one is there but a bag or pumpkin of treats... and a ghost is on your door saying "You've Been Booed." Plus instructions to boo 2 more people.

We were Booed last night. Today JI couldn't stop talking about it. He was so excited. And tonight, when we delivered, it was über exciting!!!! (He went without shoes, of course.) He had very specific instructions on where I should park, when I should turn off my lights, how I should exit, etc.

Trying to keep costs (and waste) down, we colored paper sacs to deliver the goods instead of buying more plastic pumpkins - but anything will do.   John Isaac's ghosts for our neighbors' doors were the best. Esp the middle one (Thou Hath Been Booed!). Caroline just wanted to know the names of all the candies.

My friend, Heather in Phoenix, does this for her friends, too.

8th Birthday Party - Army Style

This year's party was very similar to those in years past (2008, 2009, 2010, & 2011).  John Isaac planned and (mostly) executed it.  The highlight was an obstacle course, as has been the case since he turned 3.  This year I didn't make a fuss about the cake but did add a bit of extravagance with signs.  The signs really were an afterthought that I made the morning of the party with tempera paint and paper sacks.  

A friend let me borrow her fancy schmancy camera that I took a bajillion pictures with - and the ones below were snapped on my phone.  For ease in blogging, these pictures are not the best but will do.

When the kids arrived we had stations set up.  My husband manned the "roll call" table where he acted the part of a drill sergeant and had the kids sign their names on a clip board.  He also assigned them a number that he "tattooed" with a Sharpie on their arm - for identification in the event of disaster.  He gave them ammo (3 Nerf darts) and pointed them to the field bag table and the next station.

The Field Bags

My dad found these really cool WWII era bags (FREE! - headed to rescued from the trash) but there were only 9.  There were 13 boys coming to the party, so I made a few more.  I was nervous the homemade ones wouldn't be as cool as the Army regulation ones but thankfully no one complained. (no pictures of the bags).

 It rained just prior to the party so we moved the welcome stations into the garage.  John Isaac said, "Army men still train in the rain!"

This was Hubby's roll call table, which in the picture has accumulated a few more treasures.

My mother-in-love sat at the "Rapid Deployment Kit" table where she asked the boys to sign a note of gratitude to overseas soldiers.  Of course the note below was my favorite.  :)  Underneath his note you get a glimpse of one of the bags I made - from the bottom of a pair of his pants that had holes in the knees.

The picture below sort of gives an overview of things that the soldiers were asked to add to their field bags.  Night Vision Goggles were glow sticks left over from the 4th of July.  Bandages were strips of an old t-shirt that were eventually used on a wounded man (stuffed animal) on the obstacle course.  My father-in-love camo painted the boys' faces, as he has done in years past.

New this year - Meals Ready to Eat: homemade popcorn and a mini-twix bar.

Canteens were bottled water.

I wasn't sure if it would all fit in their field bags but the boys were up to the challenge!  Below you see a blurry child at the end of the obstacle course, rushing his wounded lion to the hospital.

The firing range is where they shot Nerf guns.  The "grenade" part of the course was where they tried to heave water balloons over the trampoline net into a giant trash can.

"Hang time" was an element where the boys tried to hang as long as they could on rock climbing pulls (I'm sure there's a more technical name for "rock climbing pulls" but that's what I call them.)  You can hardly see them in this picture - they're on the right, green and look sort of like footprints with 3 hand grips.

 

The cake was super easy - plastic army men shoved in the icing.  John Isaac requested grass made from colored coconut.  The boys were extra eager to take home the plastic guys.

I failed to get a picture of the favorite element on the course: search and rescue.  We emptied two bottles of shaving cream into one side of the sand and water table.  The other side was filled with water.  The soldiers searched the "snow" to rescue two fallen men (plastic army guys, like on the cake) then rinsed their hands in the water before heading to the next element.

It took 5 extra adults to pull off this party.  I ran around taking pictures and Hubby was directing chaos. The extra adults stood at different stations to ensure safety and timing.

The boys all had an incredible time and wanted to go through the course again.  We let them.

I tried to figure up the total cost of the party and I think I was able to keep it under $20 = SCORE!

Radio Interviews

Leading up to Easter, I've been interviewed by three radio stations talking about the Resurrection Eggs.  This radio station sent me a link to the interview.  The introduction starts at 43:40  and we say goodbye at 54:00 (you can fast forward to the 43 minute mark, if you'd like).  Before my segment they have some great ideas about Easter entertaining, cooking, decorating, etc.

He is risen!

Thinking of Others

Children are naturally self-centered.  Let's be honest here - I AM self-centered.

Now that we're in the season of "make a list of everything you want for Christmas"it's like pouring gasoline on an existing inferno.  I really have to fight to remember that the month of December is about Jesus, celebrating His birth, not fulfilling all the material desires of Julie.

And how do I help my children understand this?  That is not a rhetorical question, I really would like some ideas.

So far this Advent we have been doing the Adorenaments (love them) and reading Prophecy Envelopes (Old Testament prophecy on the back, New Testament fulfillment on the front), both are products published no longer by FamilyLife.  We are singing and listening to Christmas songs and watched the cute yet accurate cartoon, The Very First Noel.

I've wanted for years to get my act together and pull off a Jesse Tree; it's not happening again this year.  Two years ago we put together a fun Punchable Advent Calendar.

One idea that we're kicking around in the Majors' household is being intentional with random acts of kindness.  A few weeks ago I was inspired by this blog post about what a woman did for her birthday.  That post had an overwhelming response she launched a website around the idea.

So...we have been talking about doing random acts of kindness and gearing up to do something for other people...to get eyes off self and onto others.

For example, the cookies we made were packaged in cute bags to be ready to give away.  When Mr. Intensity's BFF left with his, I made sure that he understood that he was to give some away.

We visited a nearby elementary school and blessed the teachers with treats (cookies and popcorn popped in coconut oil).  Mr. Intensity sorted through some stuffed animals to donate to the school counselor to use as rewards.

Down the street a widower got a visit from our whole family last Sunday afternoon.  He really appreciated us coming.  I must admit I was hesitant about taking the whole family, fearful that we would rock his world.  We stayed about an hour and he was thankful that we came.

A single mom in Hubby's department has a need for meals (she's actually single, no kids, but has temporary yet extended custody of her brother's two small children).  I had some extra in the freezer from the batch cooking day that I was able to give away.

There have been a few others, but one that is funny: I walked into the grocery and jumped in front of an elderly woman to get a cart for her.  I grabbed a cart and extended it to her.  Honestly, I wasn't thinking about trying to be good, or doing a random act of kindness.  She was very surprised by my gesture and said, "Is this your good deed for the day?"

Busted.  I said, "I sure hope there are more good deeds for me today."

Other things on our list (we are striving for more!)

- Mr. Intensity wants to bake more cookies to take to our Rwandan friend, Alphonse.

- There are leaves on the ground in our elderly neighbor(s) yard(s).  The whole family can rake.

- One day we will go on a walk and pick up trash.


And we are praying for more ways to bless others.  I'm all ears for you ideas.

The 7th Birthday Party

As in years past and past, he planned this birthday party.  Is anyone surprised that it was army themed?  :)

Grandma Majors (aka Magaw) wrote a very cute invitation poem, that ended with:


To attend our soiree
You must do these three:
Wear your old clothes
Leave your presents at home
And tell a code word to me.


The Army uses this word
I'm sure you have heard
it used when a soldier gets dressed
JI loves this stuff, never has enough
And for clothes it's the very best!

So when the boys arrived, they met the drill sergeant (aka Hubby) who asked them for the code word.  And if they were prepared for danger.  The party would be potentially dangerous.

Caroline and Magaw were in charge of the name tags - or headbands - soon to be bandages.  But I'm getting a head (pun!) of myself.

Because ours was a dangerous party, the drill sergeant suggested to the moms to outline their sons in chalk.  For identification in the event of death or injury, of course.  Side note:  Hubby asked most of the boys, "Are you prepared to die?"  And most said, "Yes sir!"  But one said, "Um, no.  I don't want to die."  Hubby told him to be outlined anyway.  

The next station was for practicing handwriting.  Just kidding.  Sort of.  :)  The boys were asked to write a short note to a soldier.  It would be included in a rapid deployment kit (RDK) from The Military Ministry.  RDKs include a New Testament, Our Daily Bread devotional booklet, and Knowing God Personally booklet.

Then Major Majors (really- he retired as Major Majors!) applied camo face paint.  One boy said, "Mrs. Majors, I did not want face paint last year.  I do not want it this year, either."  It just made me chuckle. I wouldn't want it on my face either.

Once everyone had arrived, the boys were asked to line up on the fence.  Birthday Boy salutes the drill sergeant.

The drill sergeant gave instructions for the obstacle course.  Note the big-o-knife on his hip, for drama.  He walked them through the course, station by station, before letting them go through it one by one.

They marched to the trampoline where they would get 3 grenades (water balloons) to launch over the net and try to hit the brown trash can.

Then they were to crawl under the trampoline to the next station: Nerf gun shooting.

After firing down range they would turn to get a buddy (aka stuffed animal) to complete the course.  The boys were to protect their comrade in arms until the very end. But along the way, their friend would be wounded.  The red wheel barrow would aid in transporting the wounded soldier to the army hospital.

Once in the hospital, the soldiers would remove their headbands and doctor their comrade.  John Isaac had fully equipped the hospital with pills and fermented cod liver oil.

With bandages in tact, the boys would race their fallen soldier in an ambulance back to the starting point so the next soldier could begin.

 They really got into their parts as soldiers.

 Some more than others.

A good time was had by all.  Even the adults had a great time.  And we couldn't have done it without the adults!  Thank you to Grandpa and Magaw Majors, Alphonse M, and Justin B.

Magaw brought camo plastic cups for the party.  At this point the boys didn't care what the cups looked like.  They were so hot and thirsty they just wanted water!

 And I made cupcakes = easy peasy.  The birthday plates were leftover from the party in the park on Thursday.

 Caroline loved the extra attention.

It was a really fun party.  I loved that it was low stress.  Mr. Intensity and Hubby planned it all.  Plus it cost me next to nothing to host.

Go see what others are doing this weekend.  It works for me.