Music Paper Chain and Christmas Links

Megan kept saying, 

"It just seems wrong to cut up this old hymn book!"

"Are you sure it's OK?" 

But cut we did, one inch strips, and then with glue stick,

 

made rings of music to go 'round the tree.

 

~~~~~~~~~~

Don't have an old hymnbook laying around and want to get your craft on with your kids this weekend?

Here are a few links I've found:

 printable nativity paper dolls : 

just print, cut, and play! Cute.

colorable nativity paper dolls

print, color, cut, and play! Classic.

Ann Voskamp's free advent devotional, Jesse tree, activity book
A must read. For elementary aged kids to adults.Ann's writing consistently brings me to tears. Paper ornaments for a Jesse tree. 80 pages, free to print!


advent calendar, gift tags
 lovely projects

advent coloring pages 
 a coloring page for every day of advent, complete with a related Scripture. Great for young children.

Then there's my collection of ornament crafts:
sled
reindeer
the prettiest clay ever
crocheted snowflake
tin can lid angel

The snow is coming down here, whiting out the surrounding fields. It's cozy, being blanketed in white. Cookies are on the agenda this afternoon with a generous side of Christmas music.

What creativity are you cooking up?

Sponsors/ Affiliates: Shop the DaySpring Online Store

Victorian Valentine Adornments... and then some

 

Supplies laid around the house, begged to be made of use...

Antique postcards that have been hiding away for 20 years inspire a window treatment.

  

  

 

    you can just ignore that really long red string....scissors, coming right up

 

Love, Light.

And this is how we know what love is: 

Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.  

And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

1 John 3:16

~

Lest you think our home is a quaint quiet atmosphere of children happily sketching and joyfully helping me in my decorative endeavors, let me tell you how it went when I tried to make this day special.

I prepared pink heart shaped pancakes, called the children down to breakfast, and eagerly awaited their excited exclamations of joyous delight in the Valentine breakfast.

 Instead, I heard cautious and suspicious voices ask:

"What makes them  pink?"
"Did you add flavoring?"
"Do they taste the same as usual?"
"Are you sure you didn't add something?"
"Did you say fruit coloring?"

Now, really, am I that awful a mom that my children think I would ruin a holiday breakfast? Give me some credit kids!

In their defense, when I explained I had only added food coloring, they happily stuffed their mouths. And suggested that on St. Patrick's day we have green four-leaf clover pancakes....

And then they proceeded to fight over the last three of MY specially-delivered chocolate covered strawberries.

Hmmph. Laying down my life. One strawberry at a time.

An Esther Style Makeover

Recent homework for my current Bible Study, esther:It's Tough Being a Woman discussed beauty. Young, beautiful girls were chosen for King Xerxes harem, but evidently their young beauty wasn't enough. A full year of beauty treatments followed their royal abduction. The point is, beauty wasn't something to posses, it was something to be DONE.

Sound familiar? We're never quite done attaining beauty, are we? It's a never ending process. Hair to cut, color, wash, and style. Nails to file, paint. Fingers and toes! Skin to moisturize. Legs to shave. Every day. (Or not!) Eyebrows to pluck. (Just kidding beauty know-it-alls. I know the proper verb is TWEEZE) Eyelashes to curl. Makeup to apply. New clothes. New shoes. Soaps and creams and gels and sprays and deodorizers....you know what I'm talking about. Gosh, it's a lot of darn work! And a lot of pressure. And since not many of us are willing to give up even a brush-full of bronzer , how are we to escape self-absorption? Or avoid painful insecurity? I think you know. It's a HEART thing. Esther didn't rise from the likes of Persia's top model contestants to be queen solely because of her beauty. Those over her care were drawn to her inner beauty.

I wonder what Esther honestly thought of the beauty applications. I wonder if she judged them silly and pagan or if she enjoyed the pampering. I wonder if she remembered God's thoughts on beauty as she was subjected to each "treatment". I bet she did.

"Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart." 1 Sam. 16:7

Let us not be as Jesus called the Pharisees in Matt. 23:27: "... like white-washed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of bones..."

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment... Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."1 Peter 3:4

I submit to you a meditation for your personal beauty treatment.  As each product is applied, pray the corresponding prayer.

Cleanser: Lord, exfoliate my heart. Remove the deadness and hardness of my heart that is hindering your complete work in my life. "Create in me a pure heart, Oh, God and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me." Psalm 51:10-12

Moisturizer: Lord, forgive my failures and soften my heart to do your will.

Day Solution: Lord protect me from evil today. Help me to stand up to temptation and remember that no temptation comes that is not common to mankind, and you will provide a way out of the temptation. 1 Co. 10:13

Foundation: Lord, I put on the shield of faith today. I believe you. I trust you. Ephesians 6:16

Lipstick Let the words of my mouth be acceptable to you today, Lord. Psalm 19:14

Eye color: Lord, let my eyes reflect the Spirit of Christ that lives in me. Let the light of your countenance shine through my eyes for your glory. Matthew 6:22, Luke 11:34

Fragrance: Lord, help me share the grace of your Son with someone today. "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in Christ's triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ." 2 Corinthians 2:15

May our inner beauty grow and our focus remain, always, on our King.

I designed this post in a printable card to post on your bathroom mirror or tuck in your make-up bag: