Christmas Devotion Ideas--Advent Week 1

Hi, everyone!  Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family!  Is your Christmas decorating in full swing?  Well, before the season gets too hectic, remember that it's not too late to download 2 free Christmas devotion packs.  Just click the tab above labeled free devotion downloads for your copy/copies. 

I wanted to share a couple of ideas from our family's devotion time tonight.  This week's theme for Advent is love!  I have also decided this year to use a Christmas color as inspiration for each week's craft/snack.  Our color this week was white.  Our scripture focus was John 3:16-17. 

Christ came to save the world, not to judge it, just because He loved us!  How awesome!  Our family read the story The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado. 

We made cookies, using our handprints, to look like sheep. 

While those cooked, we made snowflakes for our Advent tree using coffee filters. 

We each hung our white snowflakes on the tree with a copy of tonight's verses attached.  We discussed how Christ bore our sins so that we could be pure in God's sight; His great love for us gives us the chance to be spiritually clean.  We also talked about ways we could show the love of Christ to others.  Praying you take some special time to really focus on Christ during this special CHRISTmas season!  Love, Shannon :-)

Christmas Devotion Ideas

With Christmas just around the corner, are you looking for ideas to help your family stay focused on the real reason for the season?  If the answer is yes, then there are 2 free downloads just for you.  I have tried to compile family devotion tips and activities that my family has found beneficial in recent years.  So many other wonderful mothers have influenced me and have helped me to establish wonderful traditions with my own children.  I hope you find these packets useful and family-friendly.  Volume 1 focuses on traditional parts of the Christmas story.  (Just click to download.)
God's Precious Present: Finding the True Joy of Christmas Vol. 1
Volume 2 digs in a little deeper, focusing on various names of God and how these names are referenced in the Scripture.  Names include Yahweh, Yeshua, Immanuel, etc. ((Just click to download this one as well.)
God's Precious Present: Finding the True Joy of Christmas Vol. 2
Enjoy and God bless!

Getting Ready for the Holidays

I am so excited--it is almost time again to start decking the halls.  Yesterday I worked in my classroom to suspend a Christmas tree from my ceiling!  My kids are going to make ornaments and write about their gifts to decorate it.  I have included some pics for you to see! 

Our family went to Lowe's last night, and Christmas decorations are everywhere there too!  Sadiebug espcially loved seeing the pink reindeer.  I guess red and green aren't the only colors for Christmas, afterall! ;-)  I have uploaded my Christmas unit to my Teachers Pay Teachers sight if you are interested.  I have also included the link below.  If you are still looking for Thanksgiving ideas, my Thanksgiving unit is available for purchase as well.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving break, everyone!
Click here to see my "Christmas Unit--Celebrate the Joy of Learning!"

National Gifted Conference--NAGC Photos

Exciting stuff!  Here are just a few of our NAGC photos!  It was such a blessing to meet with so many awesome educators.  One of the best things I heard discussed at the conference was on Saturday morning--kids and adults benefit from having a "growth mindset" instead of a "fixed mindset."  What is a growth mindset?  It's a willingness to grow, change, persevere, and stretch oneself in order to improve.  We should not be afraid to take risks in order to face new challenges or overcome obstacles!  Great food for thought!!!  Enjoy the pictures!!!  This is our fabulous FOCUS team!

National Gifted Conference--NAGC

The National Gifted Conference was so awesome!  I loved meeting so many other wonderful gifted educators, and our presentation went great!!!!  So thankful for all who attended.  I hope to post pictures very soon from our terrific weekend!!!

Veteran's Day Thursday

What a privilege it is to salute our veterans this time of year!  There are some Veteran's day Sudoku puzzles at my TPT site if you are interested in adding a little critical thinking into your Veteran's Day plans!  Most importantly, don't forget to thank the veterans you know this week! 
PS--It's still not too late to spend some time with your family and participate in the "Fall in Love with Jesus" devotions mentioned in my last post.  Happy Veterans Day on Thursday!

Parenting/Kids Ministry--Fall in Love with Jesus

Click Here for Free Downloadable Fall in Love with Jesus Devotion Pack
Tonight I curled up on the couch with my 2nd grader to hear him read to me from Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.  We laughed at Snoopy's idea of a Thanksgiving dinner--popcorn and pretzels, yummy ;-)  Do you treasure times like these with your kids?  Life gets so busy that sometimes we have to make a conscientious effort to carve out a moment of family time when we can. 

Well, I want to encourage you to Fall in Love with Jesus through the use of this family fall devotion pack.  I recommend trying just one idea a week from now until the end of November.  You won't be sorry you did, and your kids will treasure the time with you!

All Aboard!

Hi, everyone!  So glad to have you join me on this journey!  Sometimes the destination may seem a little unclear, but if you love kids and want to see them challenged to be the best they can be, then this is the right blog for you!  Check out lots of my great products at my Teachers Pay Teachers site.  See the link to the right of my postings.  I look forward to having you join me on this journey! :-)