We have started two new traditions this year. Last year, the MOPS group I was part of made a Jesse Tree for our families. It is like an advent calendar in that we do one lesson each night leading up to Christmas. There are passages from the Old Testament to read, then a narrative about that particular person or event. It started with creation, and we are currently on Moses and the Burning Bush. Each day after we read the lesson, the boys add an ornament to our tree. Some of them are a little difficult to see in the picture, so I think that when I get some extra time I'll make them a little bigger. I guess that will be about the time Jonathan goes to college.
We are really enjoying this activity each night. The boys listen carefully, mostly, and Andrew often knows the next part of the story. He has asked some really good questions too during our family time. Coleman has enjoyed taking the ornaments off repeatedly and rearranging them. I try to get him to tell me about them as he redecorates each time. He is beginning to remember the characters and events too. This activity has been a great reminder to me that all of scripture points to the coming of Jesus.
I'll share our other new tradition tomorrow, hopefully. I'm thinking that we may be about to reach our tradition capacity around here. . .
I'll share our other new tradition tomorrow, hopefully. I'm thinking that we may be about to reach our tradition capacity around here. . .
3 comments:
LOVE your Jesse Tree! I've seen paper versions of this but have never seen a felt version. Do you have copies of the patterns that you cut out or do you know where I can find them on-line? I like your version much better than the paper versions.
I don't have the patterns Tina. We used a girl's from the group to make the pieces. When (if) I redo the ornaments, I'm going to make them a lot bigger and mount them on brightly colored circles. Lots of the ornaments are dark brown and hard to see. I bet you could find something similar on google.
Thanks, Paige. I'll look there now. We have a Happy Birthday Jesus tree that we do every year. Our felt pics are posted on felt circles. It really does help them to show up.
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