Chore Chart update

I saw that many were not able to see the chore chart. I went to Google Docs and published it as a webpage. Try this link and hopefully it will work better. Happy chores!!

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=p6kIPzgJLoJ6cDo_ATJpNFg

Galations Bible Study

I wanted to share the revelation that came to me while in Sunday school yesterday. We were asking why Paul talked to the Galations so harshly about the elemental things they were falling back into.

I likened the walk of man kind to the life of man.

During the time of Adam is like birth. God walked with them and provided all they needed as parents of newborns do.

The Mosiac time period is like the preschool and elementary years. We are under our parents rules and regulations. They guide and instruct us so we can be safe and grow into the person we will become. Everything is laid out for us and we are to obey our parents the first time every time.

While Christ was on the Earth is like our teenage years. Our parents are there to guide and instruct us but not with the firm rules and regulations of our elementary days. But with love, encouragement, good teaching, and support.

The time of the Holy Spirit (our time now in the walk of man kind) is like our adult years. We are to stand on our own two feet. Not bound to our parents rules and regulations but we do remember them and head them as good guidelines for life. Our conscience (the Holy Spirit) should be our guide not our parent's rule.

Death is closer than ever before. Not to be gruesome. But adulthood leads no where else. In the history of man kind the end of life as we know is coming to a close. We don't know the day, as men do not know the day of their death, but we know we are closer than ever before.

As for Paul's talk to the Galations, he was seeing that they were not living as the adults they should be but being confused by the rules and regulations of their past. He wanted them to remember the law and know it was good, but it was not their guide anymore. They were to let the Holy Spirit lead them and nothing else. Good reminder for me!!

New Chore Chart

We've been using the "I Did It - Chore Chart" for the past 2-3 years. We have loved it and it worked great. But lately the cards are missing. The kids say they can't do their chores because the cards are missing. So, I've been searching for a new format. A friend sent me her chore chart. I found several on other blogs and I combined them with what we already use and came up with a printable, check-off list chore chart. This is our first week using it but so far we are happy. We have a few changes we are making but all in all, it's a nicely organized list. I've kept our colored chore cards that I posted before for each room zone.

When they were much younger and just starting chores, I used the "I Can Do It" Reward Chart. This was a great way to start. The I Did It Chore Chart was a great follow up and now we're on to the next phase in training.

You can view our chore chart by clicking here: 2009 Chore Chart

Happy organizing!

Advent Day 1

We started our Advent a day late. Since we started on Sunday at Church and life got busy Sunday night, we started on Monday.

Advent Activity 1

Gather candles - 3 purple, 1 pink and 1 larger white candle, Candle ring, and Cedar boughs

We sent the children out in the dark with flashlights and clippers to bring back Cedar boughs. We set up the candles and made a ring of Cedar boughs. We discussed the meaning of each candle, the living greenery, and the never ending ring (of God's love. We lit the first candle and practiced our Christmas songs for the Church play. It was a beautiful family time together.

Beautiful Christmas Music and Hymns

While searching for hymns for our hymn study, I came across a wonderful blog with beautiful piano music. I love both of Joel Rosenberger's CD's. I am putting a widget with his songs on my blog. I hope you enjoy it too. If you are looking for a nice Christmas gift, this CD is it!!! Check out Joel's website: http://www.freshpiano.com/music.html. Happy listening!

The Mom Song

Homemade Christmas Gifts

I've been researching homemade Christmas gifts. I usually try to have something for the children to make for their grandmothers each Christmas. The kids love it and and their grandmothers love to show off what their grandchildren make. In the past we've made:

1. Christmas decorations
2. Every year we make gift tags out of shrinky dinks with each person's name on it that can do on the Christmas tree after that (I'll give more details on this later),
3. Sock snowfolks (my personal favorite!!) - http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11326. My eldest was 6 when we made these and he got very creative and even made shepherds for the nativity scene out of these. They are soooo cute!!
4. This year we are decorating picture frames with sea shells from our vacation to the beach. We took a picture of the kids at the beach for their first time and will put it in the frames. They have been waiting all summer and fall to finally make something with their sea shells.

I just found this wonderful blog that I will be reading more often. It's hard to find frugal, homemade Christmas gifts that are cute and something you'd really like to give. FrugalVillage has some wonderful ideas! I can't wait to make the first 3 ideas. http://www.frugalvillage.net/2008/11/16/creative-homemade-holiday-gifts/

Happy Thanksgiving week to you all!!