Friday, December 27, 2013
A Little Break...
The Morning MOPS blog will be taking a break for the next little while. Enjoy your New Year's celebrations! We will see you back on Monday, January 6th, 2014.
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Tuesday Treasure
John 3:16-17
For this is how God loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
For this is how God loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
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| Christa Tietjen Photography |
Monday, December 23, 2013
What They Really Want More Than Anything
He wanders up the stairs, first one up this morning, and asks for his morning dose of chocolate
milk. I tell him I'll get it for him in just a minute, as I am waking the others to get ready for church.
I wake each child up and the youngest one is raspy with a runny nose, so I decide to keep her and her brother, patiently waiting for some chocolate milk, home with me and send the older two to church with their dad.
I head back to the kitchen, open the refrigerator to retrieve milk and chocolate syrup, and discover no milk. It's then that I remember I didn't make it to the store yesterday and we drank the last of the milk last night.
But I spot two caprisuns and I think they will like that, so I offer one to the boy and to his sister. She is happy, however, he is not.
"I want chocolate milk!" he cries.
"I'm sorry, we used the last of the milk last night. But I'll buy some more today so you can have some later."
"I want chocolate milk!" He persists throwing himself prostrate on the floor pounding his fists. "I'm sorry, honey. We'll buy more later."
Knowing there is no reasoning with him, I simply set the caprisun down and walk away to give him some time to work it out on his own.
Tantrums are never easy to contend with, but as I walk down the hall, I remember the statement I read in Raising Great Kids a few years ago. The statement that encourages parents to empathize with their child's struggle because this stage of life is hard on them, as they are expected to transition from completely selfcentered to thinking outside of themselves. ~ Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend
I wake each child up and the youngest one is raspy with a runny nose, so I decide to keep her and her brother, patiently waiting for some chocolate milk, home with me and send the older two to church with their dad.
I head back to the kitchen, open the refrigerator to retrieve milk and chocolate syrup, and discover no milk. It's then that I remember I didn't make it to the store yesterday and we drank the last of the milk last night.
But I spot two caprisuns and I think they will like that, so I offer one to the boy and to his sister. She is happy, however, he is not.
"I want chocolate milk!" he cries.
"I'm sorry, we used the last of the milk last night. But I'll buy some more today so you can have some later."
"I want chocolate milk!" He persists throwing himself prostrate on the floor pounding his fists. "I'm sorry, honey. We'll buy more later."
Knowing there is no reasoning with him, I simply set the caprisun down and walk away to give him some time to work it out on his own.
Tantrums are never easy to contend with, but as I walk down the hall, I remember the statement I read in Raising Great Kids a few years ago. The statement that encourages parents to empathize with their child's struggle because this stage of life is hard on them, as they are expected to transition from completely selfcentered to thinking outside of themselves. ~ Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend
I wonder to myself how I can help him, when my explanations and solutions only instigate
retaliation, yet I know leaving him alone in his threeandahalf year old distress is not the answer
either.
I'm wandering aimlessly through the next room as I recall what we've done with every other tantrum we've encountered over the years.
And I contemplate how I can give him what he might want even more than that chocolate milk.
Then I walk back over to him.
Still crying into the carpet, fists pounding, I squat next to him.
"Drew, can I hold you?"
"I want chocolate milk!" he bellows into the carpet.
(I wait a couple of seconds)
"Drew, are you ready for me to hold you?"
"I want chocolate milk!"
(I wait a couple of more seconds)
"Drew, mommy is going to pick you up now."
I lift him up and bring him in close to me.
He lets me.
Yet, he's still crying on my shoulder, "I want chocolate milk."
I walk him over to the couch and sit with him nestled into me.
He then pulls back, looks over to the table I had set the caprisun on and cries, "I want a caparisun."
"Okay," I thankfully comply.
I'm wandering aimlessly through the next room as I recall what we've done with every other tantrum we've encountered over the years.
And I contemplate how I can give him what he might want even more than that chocolate milk.
Then I walk back over to him.
Still crying into the carpet, fists pounding, I squat next to him.
"Drew, can I hold you?"
"I want chocolate milk!" he bellows into the carpet.
(I wait a couple of seconds)
"Drew, are you ready for me to hold you?"
"I want chocolate milk!"
(I wait a couple of more seconds)
"Drew, mommy is going to pick you up now."
I lift him up and bring him in close to me.
He lets me.
Yet, he's still crying on my shoulder, "I want chocolate milk."
I walk him over to the couch and sit with him nestled into me.
He then pulls back, looks over to the table I had set the caprisun on and cries, "I want a caparisun."
"Okay," I thankfully comply.
I set him aside and stand up to retrieve the caprisun, punch the straw into the pouch and hand it
to him.
"I want you to sit with me," he whimpers.
And I do, as he slurps his caprisun down and tosses the pouch aside.
And I continue to hold him, as he watches an episode of the Backyardigans with his little sister, who leans into the other side of me.
And everything is okay again, because more than the things our children throw fits over, more than what they relentlessly beg us for – as much as they may seem to push us away over these matters, we are what they really want more than anything.
They don't want our reasons, excuses, or explanations.
They don't care that much about the thing they can't have, really.
They want us at the very core of their distress our time, love and affection. They want our acceptance, approval and affirmation.
And this, with proper timing, could be the solution to just about any distress in a child's life.
- Theresa Miller, MOPS Mom
"I want you to sit with me," he whimpers.
And I do, as he slurps his caprisun down and tosses the pouch aside.
And I continue to hold him, as he watches an episode of the Backyardigans with his little sister, who leans into the other side of me.
And everything is okay again, because more than the things our children throw fits over, more than what they relentlessly beg us for – as much as they may seem to push us away over these matters, we are what they really want more than anything.
They don't want our reasons, excuses, or explanations.
They don't care that much about the thing they can't have, really.
They want us at the very core of their distress our time, love and affection. They want our acceptance, approval and affirmation.
And this, with proper timing, could be the solution to just about any distress in a child's life.
- Theresa Miller, MOPS Mom
Theresa is a wife and mother of four children (3, 5, 7, and 9), who are embarking on their first year of homeschooling. Theresa has been involved in Sheridan MOPS for the last 9 ½ years, serving in multiple leadership positions, including Day MOPS Coordinator in 2007-2008. She took one year off, then started the Sheridan Evening MOPS group in September 2009. Theresa has published an article with MOPS International MOMSnext Ezine, in addition to other on-line publications. You can find Theresa encouraging mothers on her blog, Heavenly Glimpses.
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Christmas Caroling!
Don't forget! Today is our day to enjoy a festive, social adventure and take our little ones to bless the residents at Sugarland Ridge with our presence. It's CHRISTMAS CAROLING DAY!
We are meeting at 9:30 AM at FBC to run through the songs with our kids (moms, we would love to have your voices join us, too!). We will be sure to save a little bit of time for juice and cookies and then it will be off to Sugarland. We plan to caravan over around 10:10 AM. We are scheduled to sing at 10:30 AM and expect to be done no later than 11:00 AM.
We're looking forward to seeing you!
We are meeting at 9:30 AM at FBC to run through the songs with our kids (moms, we would love to have your voices join us, too!). We will be sure to save a little bit of time for juice and cookies and then it will be off to Sugarland. We plan to caravan over around 10:10 AM. We are scheduled to sing at 10:30 AM and expect to be done no later than 11:00 AM.
We're looking forward to seeing you!
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Thursday Thoughts with Theresa: On the Gift of Belonging
She sits tall at the table for Saturday morning breakfast – the morning feast we have once a
week in the dining room. She watches her fiveyearold brother make silly gestures, as he finds
his place across from her. She smirks at him and says, "You're so silly, Drew," then looks over
at me with that approving smile in her eye. Her sister walks into the room and she offers her the
chair her sister sits in every week, next to her. She looks my way through the corner of her eye
and tilt of her head, with that approving smile, once again.
This is a girl who had a good night sleep, but also a girl who has a strong sense of belonging.
This is a girl who knows her name – who reprimanded anyone who called her "honey" or "sweetie" or said she was beautiful at the age of two. "I not honey. I MADELINE."
This is a girl who confided in me the night before that she was going to grow up to be a great leader, like Moses.
She's three – one of the most impressionable, at times difficult, yet beautiful stages.
Isn't this what family was designed for? To be that warm place of belonging, where love is constant and unconditional. A place of security that allows them to know who they are – to dream, spread their wings, fail and try again.
Family is where it starts.
And for every year that our children grow, they need that strong sense of belonging. They need that sense of, this is who we are: the Millers (insert your last name). Everyone else may approach life that way, but we approach it this way. The next family may not have the Saturday morning breakfast feast as their tradition, but we do.
This is a girl who had a good night sleep, but also a girl who has a strong sense of belonging.
This is a girl who knows her name – who reprimanded anyone who called her "honey" or "sweetie" or said she was beautiful at the age of two. "I not honey. I MADELINE."
This is a girl who confided in me the night before that she was going to grow up to be a great leader, like Moses.
She's three – one of the most impressionable, at times difficult, yet beautiful stages.
Isn't this what family was designed for? To be that warm place of belonging, where love is constant and unconditional. A place of security that allows them to know who they are – to dream, spread their wings, fail and try again.
Family is where it starts.
And for every year that our children grow, they need that strong sense of belonging. They need that sense of, this is who we are: the Millers (insert your last name). Everyone else may approach life that way, but we approach it this way. The next family may not have the Saturday morning breakfast feast as their tradition, but we do.
The traditions we create and the love we generate infuse belonging into each of our
children's lives.
Yet that is not where it ends.
Everything we offer this life is only a means to the end. Family provides that sense of belonging that gives our children the desire and confidence to impact the world; the belonging that perpetuates a sense of their own identity. If we miss family as our priority, we've missed the mark completely.
Because their sense of belonging in this temporary home is only a shadow of their belonging to a heavenly home – to their Heavenly Father, who knows them by name.
This child, who is three, is far from perfect. She climbs over tables and counters, she throws books and toys when she get mad, she tests me.
Yet, she doesn't need to be perfect to belong. I know who she is. Her temper and defiance do not define her. She is a child of God and that is how I treat her – through discipline, by grace.
This is how we step in as Jesus to our children. We stand between their sin and who God created them to be – by grace. We step in so they can discover the miracle of Jesus for themselves through our example.
And it is when they can say, I am a child of God. This is who I am. I know where I belong – it is then they will understand the true means to the end for which they were purposed.
Will you celebrate this gift with me? The gift of One who has come, as an infant, to this lowly world so that we would always have a place of belonging in his high and lifted up Kingdom.
- Theresa Miller, MOPS Mom
Yet that is not where it ends.
Everything we offer this life is only a means to the end. Family provides that sense of belonging that gives our children the desire and confidence to impact the world; the belonging that perpetuates a sense of their own identity. If we miss family as our priority, we've missed the mark completely.
Because their sense of belonging in this temporary home is only a shadow of their belonging to a heavenly home – to their Heavenly Father, who knows them by name.
This child, who is three, is far from perfect. She climbs over tables and counters, she throws books and toys when she get mad, she tests me.
Yet, she doesn't need to be perfect to belong. I know who she is. Her temper and defiance do not define her. She is a child of God and that is how I treat her – through discipline, by grace.
This is how we step in as Jesus to our children. We stand between their sin and who God created them to be – by grace. We step in so they can discover the miracle of Jesus for themselves through our example.
And it is when they can say, I am a child of God. This is who I am. I know where I belong – it is then they will understand the true means to the end for which they were purposed.
Will you celebrate this gift with me? The gift of One who has come, as an infant, to this lowly world so that we would always have a place of belonging in his high and lifted up Kingdom.
- Theresa Miller, MOPS Mom
Theresa is a wife and mother of four children (3, 5, 7, and 9), who are embarking on their first year of homeschooling. Theresa has been involved in Sheridan MOPS for the last 9 ½ years, serving in multiple leadership positions, including Day MOPS Coordinator in 2007-2008. She took one year off, then started the Sheridan Evening MOPS group in September 2009. Theresa has published an article with MOPS International MOMSnext Ezine, in addition to other on-line publications. You can find Theresa encouraging mothers on her blog, Heavenly Glimpses.
Tuesday Treasure
Luke 2:7-15
7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
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| Christa Tietjen Photography |
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
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| Christa Tietjen Photography |
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
Monday, December 16, 2013
A Hymn on the Nativity of My Savior
by Ben Jonson
I sing the birth was born tonight,
The Author both of life and light;
The
angels so did sound it,
And like the ravished shepherds said,
Who saw the light, and were afraid,
Yet
searched, and true they found it.
The Son of God, the eternal King,
That did us all salvation bring,
And
freed the soul from danger;
He whom the whole world could not take,
The Word, which heaven and earth did make,
Was now
laid in a manger.
The Father's wisdom willed it so,
The Son's obedience knew no "No,"
Both wills
were in one stature;
And as that wisdom had decreed,
The Word was now made Flesh indeed,
And
took on Him our nature.
What comfort by Him do we win?
Who made Himself the Prince of sin,
To make
us heirs of glory?
To see this Babe, all innocence,
A Martyr born in our defense,
Can man
forget this story?
Friday, December 13, 2013
Mentor Mom Highlight & Introduction #4
Introducing…
Jere Frady
Jere has helped us out as a Mentor Mom for the last 3 years.
She loves it because MOPS provides a place for mothers to interact with one
another with a Christian influence.
Jere and Ray have been married 32 years, and have spent
those years in Sheridan. They have a blended family: Ray had 3 children and
Jere 1 when they were married. Two of these kids are now married and Jere and
Ray get to enjoy 6 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.
Jere’s favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:7 – “And the
peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and
your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Jere likes crème brulee, the color green (about any shade,
but especially forest and Kelly) and cross stitching. She enjoys Rosamunde
Pilcher’s books (English novels) as well as The
Great Exchange.
Jere is gifted in the areas of encouragement and
friendliness (hospitality).
Jere likes to be messy!
When asked how she most often deals with messes, she
replied, “If it’s a physical mess, right away – but if it’s an emotional or
spiritual mess, I pray and find time to share with a good listener.”
Jere said she got a lot of insight from Dare to Discipline by James Dobson as her kids were growing up.
She recommends we take time just before our husbands get
home to do our hair and makeup – to help them feel special and like we’re
taking time and putting in some effort for them.
Jere asks us all to remember to be a parent in authority while our kids are growing. Then, we’ll get to enjoy them as friends when they are grown. She urges us all to discipline our children in our home (and reap the benefits in public). “Be consistent and follow through,” she says. “Don’t make idle threats.” And, most importantly, she reminds us to teach our children about Jesus by our own examples.
Jere asks us all to remember to be a parent in authority while our kids are growing. Then, we’ll get to enjoy them as friends when they are grown. She urges us all to discipline our children in our home (and reap the benefits in public). “Be consistent and follow through,” she says. “Don’t make idle threats.” And, most importantly, she reminds us to teach our children about Jesus by our own examples.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Thursday Thoughts with Theresa: Experiencing Christmas with All 5 Senses
Sitting
on the couch wrapped in your hubby’s arms or with a little one wrapped in
yours, peering at the Christmas lights with the scent of a pine candle burning,
sipping eggnog, and the soft sound of Christmas music filling the air.
Bundled
up in outdoor gear feeling the crisp cold air on your cheeks, noticing the
smiles on little one’s faces and listening to the laughter and squeals that
fill the scent of fresh air as you run through the snow with them, then
trudging back into the warm house for a cup of hot cocoa.
Feeling
the warmth of soup cooking and hearts giving by serving in a soup kitchen, with
the aroma of savory abundance; hearing the chit chat of the string of people as
they stagger through the line, looking into the eyes of a stranger, and tasting
the same communal soup that each one in the room partakes of.
It’s
not just in baking those cookies, putting up the tree, listening to angelic
music, or going to that party that truly brings us in step with the spirit of
Christmas. What I have found helps in experiencing a spirit of Christmas, in
calm or chaos, is experiencing these moments fully, with
all five of our senses
working together.
Because
our senses are how we experience our world and, with them, we can experience
more fully the spirit of this season with those around us. And isn’t that what
the spirit of Christmas is truly about? relationship? Engaging in family and
community, whatever that may look like for you, in celebration of the greatest
gift of all – Jesus – so that we can be in relationship with God through him?
However,
we can only fully experience this when we choose not to let the tidal
wave of the season carry us away from being present to the moment. And in order
to do this? to experience Christmas with all five senses? We have to be willing
to slow down, cross out a couple unnecessary demands, and engage in the moments
that are offered us.
God
is so much bigger than our hustle and bustle, and in spite of ourselves, He
wants to bless us this season.
We
have twelve days to anticipate Jesus' coming and then another twelve to
celebrate His birth. Are we possibly at a point where we can slow down enough
to be intentional about receiving Him?
My
prayer for us this season is that we all may experience peace and joy as we
engage all that we see, hear, smell, taste and feel fully in the moments. And
may we recognize it when our Savior takes these moments to bless us abundantly!
-
Theresa Miller, MOPS Mom
Theresa is a wife and mother of four children (3, 5, 7, and 9), who are embarking on their first year of homeschooling. Theresa has been involved in Sheridan MOPS for the last 9 ½ years, serving in multiple leadership positions, including Day MOPS Coordinator in 2007-2008. She took one year off, then started the Sheridan Evening MOPS group in September 2009. Theresa has published an article with MOPS International MOMSnext Ezine, in addition to other on-line publications. You can find Theresa encouraging mothers on her blog, Heavenly Glimpses.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Christmas Meeting TODAY!
Good morning!
Please join us today from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM for our Christmas meeting. We'll be hearing a message from Tony Forman, pastor at Cornerstone Church. We will also enjoy Christmas music & atmosphere, and many of you will receive some early Christmas presents by way of a WHOLE LOT of DOOR PRIZES!
We look forward to seeing your lovely faces and your beautiful children.
P.S. Please don't forget to put our Caroling adventure (celebration!) on your calendars. We will meet at FBC on Wednesday, December 18th at 9:30 AM for "practice" with the little ones and enjoy some festive refreshments. Then we will caravan over to Sugarland Ridge to sing for the residents. Caroling will begin at 10:30 AM. Please dress in comfortable, but festive attire.
Please join us today from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM for our Christmas meeting. We'll be hearing a message from Tony Forman, pastor at Cornerstone Church. We will also enjoy Christmas music & atmosphere, and many of you will receive some early Christmas presents by way of a WHOLE LOT of DOOR PRIZES!
We look forward to seeing your lovely faces and your beautiful children.
P.S. Please don't forget to put our Caroling adventure (celebration!) on your calendars. We will meet at FBC on Wednesday, December 18th at 9:30 AM for "practice" with the little ones and enjoy some festive refreshments. Then we will caravan over to Sugarland Ridge to sing for the residents. Caroling will begin at 10:30 AM. Please dress in comfortable, but festive attire.
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Tuesday Treasure
Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
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| Christa Tietjen Photography |
Monday, December 9, 2013
More Advent Ideas!
I know you need MORE Advent ideas… right!? So, try not to get overwhelmed, or make yourself feel like you have to do EVERYTHING. (Remember back to the post about SIMPLIFYING Christmas…) But, I know that I'm always looking for ways to make Advent tangible for kiddos.
This is such a magical time of year and there is such a HUGE gift we can give our children in really taking the time to teach them the story of Christmas.
You know, including all the bits about God prophesying his gift for 100s of years - so clearly that Wise Men from the East read the stars and knew the time had come!!!
And, helping them imagine what it was like to be a shepherd on a hill… to suddenly have an ANGEL appear to them. And then a heavenly HOST of angels singing! Remember, these were probably very young men, the youngest of the family sent off to tend the flocks. Fantastic! Just imagine their energy and excitement (come on, you know what adolescent boys are like, right!?)
I could go on and on about this, but I think I'll refrain. :) And, I'll let y'all browse through a few sites I found with Advent activities specifically for kids. Free printables, free ideas, pure joy…
The Happy Home Fairy has put together these free printable cards with snippets of scripture for every day in December. Read them all and you have the whole story.
Focus on the Family has a post on Celebrating Advent. It lists daily scriptures for all 4 weeks as well as ideas for preparing yourself and your kids for Christmas.
One Dog Woof has put together Advent flash cards that fit into an Advent Calendar with pockets. The flash cards are available free to print and have little pictures along with a scripture for each day. They would be great to just have around next to your dinner table or in a Christmasy basket for your kids too look at, read and play with. They'd even be great as a little sequencing game: mix them up and ask your kids to put the Christmas story in order.
Adriel Brooker with the site, I Still Belong, put together an Advent reading list using the Jesus Storybook Bible for her 3 year old. If you haven't seen the Jesus Storybook Bible, be sure to check it out! It really is great for the wee-ones. If you'd like to forgo reinventing the wheel, download her list and start the story-time!
AND, Faith Gateway has a free Jesus Storybook Bible Advent Calendar printable by Zonderkidz. All the pictures are available in high resolution, so your prints will be pretty. :) You can use these as a calendar, as flashcards or hang them on a ribbon (or string) with clothes pins for a cute Christmas banner.
Happy Advent to you all! We can't wait to see you for our Christmas meeting on WEDNESDAY. Blessings upon your week.
This is such a magical time of year and there is such a HUGE gift we can give our children in really taking the time to teach them the story of Christmas.
You know, including all the bits about God prophesying his gift for 100s of years - so clearly that Wise Men from the East read the stars and knew the time had come!!!
And, helping them imagine what it was like to be a shepherd on a hill… to suddenly have an ANGEL appear to them. And then a heavenly HOST of angels singing! Remember, these were probably very young men, the youngest of the family sent off to tend the flocks. Fantastic! Just imagine their energy and excitement (come on, you know what adolescent boys are like, right!?)
I could go on and on about this, but I think I'll refrain. :) And, I'll let y'all browse through a few sites I found with Advent activities specifically for kids. Free printables, free ideas, pure joy…
The Happy Home Fairy has put together these free printable cards with snippets of scripture for every day in December. Read them all and you have the whole story.
 |
| From happyhomefairy.com |
One Dog Woof has put together Advent flash cards that fit into an Advent Calendar with pockets. The flash cards are available free to print and have little pictures along with a scripture for each day. They would be great to just have around next to your dinner table or in a Christmasy basket for your kids too look at, read and play with. They'd even be great as a little sequencing game: mix them up and ask your kids to put the Christmas story in order.
Adriel Brooker with the site, I Still Belong, put together an Advent reading list using the Jesus Storybook Bible for her 3 year old. If you haven't seen the Jesus Storybook Bible, be sure to check it out! It really is great for the wee-ones. If you'd like to forgo reinventing the wheel, download her list and start the story-time!
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| www.adrielbooker.com |
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| Sample Page from Jesus Storybook Bible Calendar |
Friday, December 6, 2013
Mentor Mom Introduction #3
Introducing…
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| Nancy Kopsa |
Nancy has been involved with MOPS programs for over 10
years. She enjoys her participation in MOPS because of all the good connections
she makes with the mothers at her table(s).
Nancy is married to Gary. They’ve been married 46 years. 45
of those years have been spent in Sheridan! They have 2 daughters who are both
married. Their oldest lives in Sandpoint, Idaho and has 6 children. The younger
lives in Castlepines, Colorado and has 3 children. One of these precious little
ones was adopted from China. With such a large extended family, Nancy is busy
being Grandma!
One of Nancy’s favorite Bible verses (it is so hard to
choose just one, isn’t it!?) is John 15:5. Or rather, the last part of John 15:5 - Jesus says, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” Nancy
likes this because it reminds her that we may do many things, all day and night
long, but we can do nothing of real value apart from Jesus.
Here are a few of Nancy’s other favorite things:
-
lemon cake with cream cheese frosting
-
the color red
-
a good long walk outside by herself or with a
friend
Nancy’s spiritual gifts are the gift of encouragement and
the gift of teaching children.
She does not like to be messy. And thus, Nancy deals with
messes quickly.
Nancy recommends Honey for a Child’s Heart by Gladys
Hunt for all us moms. It is a resource for finding excellent books of different
age levels. It is especially good for finding books for (important!) family read aloud time.
She wants to remind us all how important it is for us to go
out on dates with our hubbies. Remember that time away is very special to both
of you. She also urges us all to remember that as husbands and wives, as parents, we are both on the same
“team.”
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Thursday Thoughts with Theresa: On Advent and Creating Traditions
We are the first week into Advent now, which is preparing for the coming of the Christ
child. But it’s not too late to jump in and start a new tradition.
So many years passed I have felt that the meaning of Christmas just simply got away from me in the hustle and bustle of the season. Well-intended, we threw in scripture and the Christmas story, but the tree and the list and the gifts became all-consuming. Before I knew it, it was Christmas Eve and I felt like the last twenty-four days had been a complete whirlwind.
Here are just a few resources to set your Advent season off in the right direction:
The ADVENTure of Christmas
We just ordered this book this year and it looks great! Amazon describes it as the following:
The ADVENTure of Christmas is a guide for moms concerned that their children are losing sight of Jesus in the midst of the distractions the holiday season brings. Lisa Whelchel was such a mom, but instead of abandoning the traditions of Christmas she rediscovered their original meanings, which were intended to remind people of God's unfathomable gift. Hanging lights on the house, wrapping gifts, and decorating the tree have become opportunities to teach her children about how they relate to Jesus' birth. With The ADVENTure of Christmas, mothers can redeem what's been lost from the very symbols that are gentle reminders of the true meaning of Christmas.
Family Book of Advent, by Carol Garborg
So many years passed I have felt that the meaning of Christmas just simply got away from me in the hustle and bustle of the season. Well-intended, we threw in scripture and the Christmas story, but the tree and the list and the gifts became all-consuming. Before I knew it, it was Christmas Eve and I felt like the last twenty-four days had been a complete whirlwind.
Here are just a few resources to set your Advent season off in the right direction:
The ADVENTure of Christmas
We just ordered this book this year and it looks great! Amazon describes it as the following:
The ADVENTure of Christmas is a guide for moms concerned that their children are losing sight of Jesus in the midst of the distractions the holiday season brings. Lisa Whelchel was such a mom, but instead of abandoning the traditions of Christmas she rediscovered their original meanings, which were intended to remind people of God's unfathomable gift. Hanging lights on the house, wrapping gifts, and decorating the tree have become opportunities to teach her children about how they relate to Jesus' birth. With The ADVENTure of Christmas, mothers can redeem what's been lost from the very symbols that are gentle reminders of the true meaning of Christmas.
Family Book of Advent, by Carol Garborg
This is a great little book that incorporates 25 stories and hands-on activities to celebrate
the meaning of Christmas. I love this hands-on approach for my kids!
Our first project was making a wreath designed to emphasize the names of Jesus. As we go through the devotions this Advent season, for any name of Jesus that we discover, we create a star, write the name on it and add it to the wreath.
Jotham’s Journey Trilogy, by Arnold Ytreeide
These are gripping stories that hold the attention of an older audience, about 6 - 8 and up.
Choose one book per Advent season and rotate between Jotham’s Journey, Bartholemew’s Passage, and Tabitha's Travels: A Family Story for Advent.
Jotham’s Journey: In this widely popular, exciting story for the advent season, readers follow ten-year-old Jotham across Israel as he searches for his family. Though he faces thieves, robbers, and kidnappers, Jotham also encounters the wise men, shepherds, and innkeepers until at last he finds his way to the Savior born in Bethlehem.
Bartholomew’s Passage: The highly anticipated follow-up to Jotham's Journey! Bartholomew's Passage is an engaging story that guides families through the Advent season. Young Bartholomew's adventures start when Roman soldiers destroy his village and disperse his family, continue through his enslavement to a tyrannical master and his escape with his new friend Nathan, and end with a reunion with his family in Bethlehem. Along the way Bartholomew makes a new friend, a young boy named Jotham!
Tabitha’s Travels: Curious, competent, and courageous Tabitha is the daughter of a shepherd who is taking his family on caravan to his birthplace. Along the way, she meets and becomes friends with Jotham and Bartholomew, watches as Romans take her father prisoner, spends time with Zechariah and Elizabeth, helps Mary and Joseph just before Christ’s birth, and ends her travels at the stable in Bethlehem.
The Greatest Gift, by Ann Voskamp
Ann describes her book as the following:
“a New York Times Bestseller (free download of 25 ornaments with the book) – a fresh, all new unwrapping of The Love Story - your love story ... ... God starting a Christmas revolution, us all turning toward Jesus. A whole bunch of us who just want to open that present, moment by moment, all through Advent, the rest of our lives — the greatest gift of His Presence.”
This offers a hands-on approach, as well. Print out Ann Voskamp's free Jesse Tree ornaments and create a Jesse Tree for your family devotion time, which is based on this verse:
“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit...In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious.” Isa 11:1, 10
We've been coloring and cutting out the ornaments, that go with each day leading up to Christmas, for our Jesse tree.
Finally, Head over to Ann Voskamp’s blog, A Holy Experience, to be inspired by this post.
There are so many things that we can do to help turn our focus toward Christ this Christmas season. My advice is don’t try to do it all. Start with one new meaningful tradition and add to it with time.
Whatever we do, the most important thing is finding ways to point our eyes and our children’s eyes toward Christ through the anticipation of his coming. Be blessed.
- Theresa Miller, MOPS Mom
There are so many things that we can do to help turn our focus toward Christ this Christmas season. My advice is don’t try to do it all. Start with one new meaningful tradition and add to it with time.
Whatever we do, the most important thing is finding ways to point our eyes and our children’s eyes toward Christ through the anticipation of his coming. Be blessed.
- Theresa Miller, MOPS Mom
Theresa is a wife and mother of four children (3, 5, 7, and 9), who are embarking on their first year of homeschooling. Theresa has been involved in Sheridan MOPS for the last 9 ½ years, serving in multiple leadership positions, including Day MOPS Coordinator in 2007-2008. She took one year off, then started the Sheridan Evening MOPS group in September 2009. Theresa has published an article with MOPS International MOMSnext Ezine, in addition to other on-line publications. You can find Theresa encouraging mothers on her blog, Heavenly Glimpses.
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