Story Hour: "Jessica's Box"

This is a new series for you! I will show you a great book along with a variety of activities. These may include Bible verses, art projects and discussion questions or a combination of these. I'm not sure how often I will post these but be on the lookout for more Story Hour posts! 

The other day my son asked me to watch a movie with him while the girls were off playing. So we watched on we've both seen before but we got into a discussion about some of the things we saw happening. One of the girls in the movie had lied to try to impress new "friends." Hunter pointed it out to me and we talked about it.

Throughout the movie the girls mom keeps reminding her that she doesn't need to impress anyone and only needs to be herself.The more I think about it the more it makes me realize how easy it is to think we aren't good enough. Ads, TV shows, movies,friends and family just to name a few, all have an ideal of the person we should be. 

We got a great new book to add to our collection this week and as I read it to the kiddos I really enjoyed it! "Jessica's Box" is about this very thing, being yourself! 

Jessica is getting ready to go to school for the first time and is very nervous. The first day she brings something special to her in the box and is heartbroken when she gets laughed at upon revealing it to her classmates. 

The second day she tries bringing a treat for her classmates. They gobble them up without a single "Thank you!" and again she's sad to not have made any friends. 

Finally after trying to impress the kids with other things she gives up only to be surprised at what happens next and realize she didn't need to bring all of those things to make friends. She just needed to be herself and people would love her just the way she was. 

After reading the book, pull out your Bible and look up a few verses with your kiddos. 

1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Luke 16:15 He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God's sight.

Proverbs 21:2 A person may think his own way is right but the Lord weighs the heart. 

Discussion Questions:

1.How do you think Jessica felt when the kids laughed at 

her? How would you feel? 

2. What would you put into the box and why?

3. Have you ever tried to impress someone? What did you 

do and how did things go?

Activity Ideas

1. Have children draw a picture of themselves OR grab bigger paper and trace your kiddo to have them decorate! 

2. On the paper have them write (or help them if younger) part of 1 Samuel 16:7.

3. Write "People look on the outward appearance at the top

4. Draw a heart close to where ours is and near it write "but the Lord looks at the heart." 

Want to find out more about books like "Jessica's Box" and other amazing books? Join me Monday at 9pm for a Facebook party where you can win FREE books!

Photo from Art and Soul Preschool

Strengthening the Heart of a Homemaker Launch and Giveaway!

Today I have a wonderful ebook to share with you from my good friend Kristen over at Smithspirations! Check it out and enter to win one of the amazing prizes! 


As homemakers, we can easily get overwhelmed, discouraged, or a little weary with our never ending to do lists. I know that there have been many days when I've made it till bedtime, but feel so utterly drained that I wonder how I'll survive the next day. It's normal to get tired with a job that you never leave and that never ends. But we don't have to stay discouraged or weary. There is hope in the Lord! I want to share a new resource with you today that's just been released, and it's perfect for every Christian homemaker who could use a little boost of strength from time to time. It's called Strengthening the Heart of a Homemaker: A Devotional Guide for Your Homemaking Journey.  In this 100+ page digital resource, author Kristen Smith of Smithspirations offers insight, hope, and encouragement with beautiful printable Scripture cards and journal pages, as well as devotional sections that cover many areas of homemaking. Homemakers fulfill many roles, and that's why Strengthening the Heart of a Homemaker offers thirteen sections of encouragement, each featuring one major area of homemaking. You'll find sections for

• General Homemaking
• Caring for Yourself
• Health & Wellness
• Food & Cooking
• Pregnancy & Babies
• Motherhood & Parenting
• Marriage
• The Homemaker's Faith
• Faith for Children
• Homeschooling
• Finances
• Working from Home
• Special Events

For thirteen areas of homemaking, you'll find

• 4 decorative printable Scripture cards
• 1 printable journal page
• 1 devotional guide featuring reflections and questions to consider

This practical resource can be used in a number of ways, making it really flexible and useful to the mom who may only have a few moments to herself daily. Numerous ideas are suggested in the introduction, but you may come up with your own way to use Strengthening the Heart of a Homemaker's printable Scripture cards!

Celebrate the Launch of Strengthening the Heart of a Homemaker with a Huge Giveaway!

Because we're so excited about the release of Strengthening the Heart of a Homemaker , we've gathered together an incredible giveaway set that is going to knock someone's socks right off! These products are perfect for busy homemakers and are sure to bless you in your home! Even better, there are two prize packages, so you're odds of winning are even greater! Both packages are worth well over $100, making these really incredible sets.

Prize Package 1:

• Any Lilla Rose product, up to $16, from Independent Lilla Rose Consultant Kristen Smith
• A 15 mL bottle of Citrus Fresh essential oil blend from Young Living distributor Sara Elizabeth
• A 15 mL bottle of lavender essential oil from Simply Aroma distributor Rachel Ramey
• A travel-size Norwex Envirocloth from consultant Rachel Ramey
• A Mialisia Silver Dream necklace from Mialisia designer Pam Maynard
• Write Through the Bible: Psalms 1, 23, and 121 paperback by Luke & Trisha Gilkerson
• A Bath & Beauty Gift Set from Southern Vines Soap Co.
• A digital copy of The Frugal Secrets of Real Foodies, an ebook I cowrote

Prize Package 2:

• Any Lilla Rose product, up to $16, from Independent Lilla Rose Consultant Kristen Smith
• 15 mL bottles of lavender, peppermint, and On Guard essential oils from doTERRA distributor Stephanie Calderone
• A $50 Tupperware surprise pack from Tupperware consultant Olivia Douglass
• An inspirational handmade necklace featuring your choice of background design and wording from That's Sew Taylor.
• Secrets of the Apple Tree and mini flashlight from Usborne Books Consultant Jacqueline Forrer
• A bath & body gift set from Mountain Creek Gifts
• A 3 Pack of Virtuous Lips natural lip balm
• A digital copy of The Frugal Secrets of Real Foodies, an ebook I cowrote

Just enter using the Rafflecopter below! This giveaway lasts until the January 31 at midnight. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Note: This post includes affiliate links. These do not effect prices to you in any way, only blesses my family with a small portion.

2015 Outreach Challenge

My husband got a few albums he's been wanting for Christmas off of iTunes. Both by a group called Southern Raised. We were listening to these this weekend and one really stuck out to me. Southern Raised "A Soul Going Somewhere."

 

 

As I listened I thought about so many people that I know who aren't saved and those whom I've been called to encourage in their spiritual lives.

 

"A soul going somewhere don't you see them passing by?

A soul going somewhere on this road that we call life.

Tell them of a better way there's more to life than what they say."

 

So often we are afraid to talk to friends, family, acquaintances or even strangers about God and what He's done for us. Instead of thinking about what they'll think of us. Why don't we think of them this way?

 

At some point in our lives, someone saw us as a soul going somewhere. They weren't afraid to tell us of God's love and the danger of not accepting His amazing gift.

 

I have a challenge for you as we start this new year.

 

1. Pray: Ask that God will give you opportunities to share with those around you. Believe me, He may use you in ways you never imagined and you will often feel unqualified but as I've been reminded many times over the past few years God equips the called, not the other way around. He will give you the words to say!

 

2. Look for chances to arise and take them! Don't be afraid of what they'll think or say. More than likely they'll be thankful that you cared enough about them to put yourself out there and share a very important part of your life.

 

3. Pray some more! Chances are that once you've talked to someone once, it will come up again! It may be a while before it does but you've planted seeds and they will need watering eventually.

 

4. Don't give up! A few years ago when my husband was in a deep depression he had men from our church contacting, visiting and praying for him. He got annoyed at times but now is quite thankful that they were persistent in their efforts! I have a friend who I've been encouraging to go to church for quite a while now. She finally went yesterday and then thanked me for not giving up on her. That doesn't mean to continually pester someone but keep praying for them and encouraging them when chances arise!

 

That's my challenge to you! After all everyone around you is a "Soul Going Somewhere" and it's our job to share God's love with them and once they've accepted that to encourage our brothers and sisters!

 

I'd love to hear from you and how things are going with those you've reached out to! I'd also love to pray  for you. To share how you've been using this challenge and what's been happening hop on over to the 2015 Outreach Challenge group on Facebook. There you will find support, encouragement and ideas to get you started and keep things going. I can't wait to "see" you there!

 

Note: I'm not affiliated with Southern Raised nor was I asked to share their video/song. I just felt led to do so!

 

Our New Christmas Tradition

Hey there! It's been forever since I've had a chance to get on and share with you all! I guess I needed a bit of a break. I'm back though and ready to share with you some of the things happening here in our home.here

Today I want to share with you about creating traditions with your family.Traditions can be very old, passed down from one generation to the next. Or you can create your own with your children!

Growing up I have lots of great memories with my dad when we would go and pick out our Christmas tree, strap it into the trunk of the car and drive home with it and then wrestle the thing into it's base. Phew, Lots of work but it made so many memories!

Since our oldest was born, we've had a fake tree. This year we decided it was time to get a real one! There's a local tree farm where you can go and cut your own tree down so a few weeks ago after church we headed over there for our adventure.


After stopping for a map and saws (real one for Wayne and pretend ones for the kiddos) we headed down the hill to a horse and buggy. After realizing the driver was an old friend and getting to chat with him a bit we climbed on in and got ready for our short strip across the lake to the trees.


Me and the 2 younger girls. It was a bit colder than we expected!


Hunter and Chelsea on our carriage ride!

After traipsing through some mud we made it to the seemingly endless field of trees! We wandered around for quite a while looking at trees. Wayne wanted a BIG TALL tree and me, being the more frugal of us was trying to find one that wouldn't cost TOO much.



We spotted one that suited us all after much debate and wandering around. Tall enough to suit the hubby and not an arm and a leg price tag for me. Bonus that it was a big full tree which I love!





Then came the workout, trying to cut down our stubborn tree. Hunter helped .hold branches out of the way but this tree didn't want to go! Finally the man who takes the trees back to the building to be paid for came along and helped us out a bit. Phew!

i




After getting our tree paid for and some hot chocolate for the kiddos we got ready to take our tree home!




I think the hardest part of all was trying to get the tree standing straight! Wayne said "My dad made it look easy!" \After wrestling with our tree on more than one occasion we got it up and decorated. The kids have taken turns watering the tree. I think that this is definitely a new tradition for us! Making memories with our kids that they will remember for a lifetime all while preparing to celebrate our Savior's birth!


What traditions have you started with your family?

Thankfulness devotional dat 2

1 Chronicles 16:34
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

“His love endures FOREVER” Do you know what endures means?

It means it lasts, it doesn’t end and there’s no stopping it. Can you imagine a love like that? God loves us and it NEVER ends! That’s pretty amazing to think of isn’t it? At this time of year, Thanksgiving, we all take time to be thankful for the things we have been given. Many people though, forget to give the glory to God! This verse tells us we are to praise God for the things we are thankful for! We can thank Him through prayer and also through helping others! Do you have plenty of toys in your room and are thankful for them? Give some to kids in need? Have more than enough food in your kitchen? Donate some to your local food pantry.

Teens/Adults- What are some things you are thankful for? Thank God for them now and also pray how you can use some of those things to reach out to others around you. Whether it’s by donating food, clothing or other items to someone in need or doing something bigger like organizing a fundraiser to bless a family in need. Make your list of gratitude and then brainstorm some things you can do to share with others.

KIDS- Think about what you are thankful to God for. Make a toilet paper roll turkey! You will need: Toilet paper roll, markers, scissors, construction, paper googly eyes (optional)

Directions: Draw several feathers on different colors of construction paper Cut them out and write one thing you are thankful for on each. Glue to the back of the toilet paper roll Glue eyes on the front and cut out an orange beak to glue on. Use it as a centerpiece this Thanksgiving!

Example: 

Thanksgiving Devotional Day 1

Thanksgiving is only a week away! My good friend Erin from My Crazy Blessed and Honored Life,  and I have teamed up to bring you a weekmof family devotiomals im preparation for thanksgiving.  Here is day 1.

1 Corinthians 1:4-5
I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way–in all your speaking and in all your knowledge

Paul gives us a great example in these two verses! He prays and gives thanks for his fellow believers! Who are you thankful for? Do you pray for them daily? It’s so easy to get busy and forget to be thankful for those around us! Especially church family whom we only see once or twice a week. They are there to encourage us and help us grow and learn as Christians.

The second verse in this passage talks about God enriching us in knowledge and speaking. How do we gain this? First is by accepting Jesus as our savior, second is by reading His word daily and interacting with other believers.

Teens/Adults-  Here’s some things for you to do to remember to be thankful for those around you! Make a list of ten people whom you are thankful for. Pray for them now and thank God for them. Then pray for them each day this week! You may also want to send one or more of them a little note of encouragement saying that you are thankful for them! You never know how much that little act of kindness could brighten someones day.

KIDS- Think of some people you are thankful for. Pray for them with your parents today and through the week. Draw a picture, make a card or call them on the phone to let them know you are thankful for them!

Craft- If you need something to help you remember your list try making this fun craft. You will need: craft foam or card stock, markers and scissors. Directions: 

1. Trace your hands onto the paper or foam with heels overlapping.

 2. Cut them out but don’t cut the hands apart!

 3. On the middle write (or have a parent write) “People I’m thankful for” 

4. On each finger write the name of one person.

 5. Keep in your Bible or hang on the fridge as a reminder to thank God for each of them this week.

Educents $10 free for new members!

Have you checked out Educents? If not, now is the time! New customers are being offered $10 for joining through this link! Take a look then let me know what your favorite finds are on sale now!
http://www.educents.com/signup-bonus.html