This is an idea I got from a homeschool message board and I have kinda tweaked it and made it my own. I thought it sounded like so much fun. I will post the pictures after the New Year.
Idea ~ Have paper bags with a clock on the outside of the bag, on each hour beginning at 5:00pm, the kids read a rhyme and open the bag. You have bags to open on the hour all the way to midnight!
Here is a list of what we are putting in our bags and the rhymes I made up to go with the bags.
5:00 ~ In the Bag : Twister game and party hats
Note: Twist and Shout and jump all about the party has just begun! So, put on a smile and your party hat and lets have some fun fun fun!!
6:00 ~ In the Bag : Makings for smores
Note: A better snack there never will be, if you are camping or down by the sea. We must wait for ‘08 a little bit more, but while you do, enjoy a SMORE!
7:00 ~ In the Bag : Face paint and bubbles
Note: I feel pretty, how bout you? Let’s paint our face like the fancy folks do. You be a joker and I’ll be a cat then we will blow with the bubbles till our bubble juice runs out!
8:00 ~In the Bag: Sparklers and noise maker craft supplies
Note: It’s time to get loud, its time to get brite, or we might not stay up for this long, happy night. With markers and beans a noisemaker we will shape, and then with the sparklers we will celebrate!
9:00 ~ In the Bag: A book, puzzle and suckers
Note: Let’s snuggle up and read…. now please stay awake, How bout some sugar for goodness sake! Let’s work on a puzzle for a minute or so, only 3 more hours to go!
10:00 ~ In the Bag : A movie and popcorn
Note: By now it’s time for pajamas and a movie. Has this been fun? Has this been groovy? Let’s all grab a spot and start the show, pop some corn and 1 2 3 …GO!
11:00 ~ In the Bag: Cookies and new cups for milk and a notebook.
Note: No bedtime is complete without a glass of milk and a treat, so lets pass out the cookies and eat eat eat! 2007 is almost gone and it has been great, write down a memory to celebrate!
Last Bag @ 11:45 ~ A piece of candy, and a scripture for each child to read.
Note: A last sweet treat to end ’07.Let’s read God’s word and talk to Him in Heaven.
On TV, the ball will drop, shiny and great. Happy New Year, kids, It’s 2008!!!!
Friday, December 28, 2007
New Years Eve Bags
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Word for 2008
I read in a book somewhere about choosing a word for the new year. A word that would describe how you would like to look at life, about your attitude, hopes, dreams and even prayers. My word for 2008 is" Aware".
I want to be aware of how much the Lord has given me. Aware that my children are a joy each day even when they are cranky, messy and loud! Aware of my handsome husband and his godly influence in my life, as the leader of our home and as my pastor. Aware that as a pastor's wife, I have been given the gift to touch people in our church with kindness and prayer. Two amazing things that don't require a depth of talent or spiritual gifts ,only willingness. I want to be aware of how I take care of my body and what I eat. Aware that not everyone I love will be with me always and I should cherish each moment.
I want to be aware of the gift I have been given in an education and aware of the freedom I have to teach my own children at home and watch them grow. I get so busy sometimes with life that life goes by so fast and I don't even realize how awesome God is and how He has blessed me. I want to be aware that HE is with me always and no matter what will be. I don't know what joys and hurts 2008 holds, but I want to be aware of my God and His amazing gift of presence in my life.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Esther's joke of the day
Esther just walked into the kitchen and said;
Esther: Mom, what did the snowman say to the other snowman?
Me: What??
Esther: I smell carrots!
Steak & Shake and Santa Clause
Every year that we have been in Florida we always go to Steak and Shake for dinner on the night that we go to the mall to see Santa. It is a fun little tradition that we all look forward to (especially the egg nog milkshakes!)
Monday, December 10, 2007
A Homeschool Funny!
You Know You're A Homeschool Mom When...
You get to change more than diapers, you get to change their minds.
When a child busts a lip, and after seeing she's okay, you round up some scotch tape to capture some blood and look at it under the microscope!
You find dead animals and actually consider saving them to dissect later.
Your children never ever leave the "why?" stage.
When your teenager decides to take one community college course, and comes home and asks you why the teacher wrote "At" on his paper. (A+)
You ask for, and get, a copier instead of a diamond tennis bracelet for your wedding anniversary.
Your kids think reading history is best accomplished while lying on the floor with their head resting on the side of their patient dog.
Your husband can walk in at the end of a long day and tell how the science experiment went just by looking at the house.
You never have to drive your child's forgotten lunch to school.
Your child will never suffer the embarrassment of group showers after PE.
The only debate about the school lunch program is whose turn it is to cook.
You never have to face the dilemna of whether to take your child's side or the teacher's side in a dispute at school.
If your child get's drugs at school, it's probably Tylenol.
Your neighbors think you are insane.
Your kids learn new vocabulary from their extensive collection of "Calvin & Hobbes" books.
Your formal dining room now has a computer, copy machine, and many book shelves and there are educational posters and maps all over the walls.
You have meal worms growing in a container....on purpose.
If you get caught talking to yourself, you can claim you're having a PTA meeting.
Talking out loud to yourself is a parent/teacher conference.
You take off for a teacher in-service day because the principal needs clean underwear.
You can't make it through a movie without pointing out the historical inaccuracies.
You step on math manipulatives on your pre-dawn stumble to the bathroom.
The teacher gets to kiss the principal in the faculty lounge and no one gossips.
Your honor student can actually read the bumper sticker that you have put on your car.
If your child claims that the dog ate his homework, you can ask the dog.
Some day your children will consider you to be a miracle-working expert and will turn to you for advice.
Your kids refer to the neighbor kids as "government school inmates."
You can't make it through the grocery produce department without asking your preschooler the name and color of every vegetable.
You can't put your produce in your cart without asking your older student to estimate it's weight and verify accuracy.
You live in a one-house schoolroom.
Friday, December 7, 2007
A thought (or two) for the day
Psalms 107: 7 Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.
Normally I am a NKJV girl. I like the sound, I have memorized many verses in this translation and so it just sounds more like the Bible to me. I have recently began to take my Bible Study a little deeper and explore other translations of verses and the Lord has opened my eyes and spoke to my soul so much through this. I use to think you had to pick a team and stay on it. KJV, NIV, AMP etc etc. I am thinking now it is more like a team of players and the game goes a lot smoother if you can utilize each version at different times or even better cross reference and use them all together.
Today was a good example. In Psalms 107:7 I love that the NIV's translation says FULL redemption. Meaning to the top, complete, all the way around. We are not talking about salvation. Of, course that is full, we are talking redemption from sin.
How may times does something in our life go wrong and we hear a preacher's voice in our head say ,"Your reaping what you sow". That verse in Galatians Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. KJV is true, yes you will reap corruption if you live of your flesh, but those of us who are saved are not of flesh, but of spirit and those verses say the spirit reaps life everlasting! Funny how that part doesn't stick in our head as well does it??
Full redemption! Life Victorious! So why do so many Christians live with their head down waiting for the hammer to drop on them because of all those past sins that are just waiting to catch up with them?
How much more joy would we, as Christians, have in our life if we would grasp the fact that bad things do not happen to Christians just because God is punishing us? He doesn't want us to live under that type of pressure and hopelessness, (cause let's face it, we all sin, so if that is the case, we all are waiting for that hammer to drop). I do know a certain enemy of the body of Christ that would love for us to live that defeated life.
One of my very favorite verses in Jeremiah took on a whole different light this morning as I read it in the Holman Christian Standard Version. Jeremiah 29:11 -14
For I know the plans I have for you this is the LORD's declaration plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you the LORD's declaration and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and places where I banished you the LORD's declaration. I will restore you to the place I deported you from.
Ever feel deported? I have. Remember His promise is to restore us because His redemption is full. Below is a quote from the Beth Moore Bible Study I am doing right now.
"Allowed to do so through our confession, invitation and cooperation, God can restore our identity, our purity and our sanity! He not only diffuses our past of all power to harm and haunt us but HE infuses it with power to help others. Redemption is incomplete if our negative past is only diffused. Satan won't be completely sorry and God won't get all the glory until the bad is used for good."
Live victorious .....your redemption is full.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Christmas First Cointhians 13 Style
I am going to post this and read and reread it this season until it sinks in!
If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.
If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.
If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.
If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.
Love is kind, though harried and tired.
Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way.
Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can't.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust.
But giving the gift of love will endure.
My all time favorite Christmas recipe!
It is called Mocha Punch and it is sooo yummy! I only make it at Christmas and New Years cause, I promise...I would drink the whole punch bowl all by myself! I have even had coffee hater's say they like this and my children looooove it! This is a smooth, creamy punch that is like sipping a chocolate shake.
Ingredients
1- 1 1/2 quarts Water
1/2 cup Instant chocolate drink mix
1/2 cup Sugar
1/4 cup Instant coffee granules
1/2 Gallon vanilla ice cream
1/2 Gallon chocolate ice cream
1 cup Whipped cream, whipped
Chocolate curls, optional
Preparation
In a large saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Remove from the heat. Add drink mix, sugar and coffee; stir until dissolved. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight. About 30 minutes before serving, pour into a punch bowl. Add ice cream by scoopfuls; stir until partially melted. Garnish with dollops of whipped cream and chocolate curls if desired.
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Monday, December 3, 2007
Please watch
This video by Go Fish is such a blessing and really brings the Christmas season into perspective. It is only about three minutes long and it surely will bless you! Merry Christmas!!
