2018, what a year! It has been a roller coaster ride of events and emotions, but I wouldn't change it. It taught me some important lessons and made me step back and re-evaluate where my time is spent.
For the first time in my life I am working part time. That is not easy for me as I have either worked multiple jobs or full time since my freshman year of high school. At first I fought God on this one. I didn't think it was right or that it should be this way. It took many rejections and words from a new friend made in my part time position to see that this is what this year is supposed to look like for our family. I am supposed to be stepping back and spending more time with my sweet girl and husband. We have had more movie nights, weekend adventures, and have eaten much healthier as I now have more time to focus on making healthy meals. It has not been an easy transition. There has been lots to figure out, but God has seen us through each moment.
Even though we made it through the roller coaster ride of 2018, I am hoping that 2019 is a little less crazy. Although if its not we will just pray and follow God's lead to make it through. With that said, I do have some goals for 2019 that I am hoping to accomplish.
1 - Cook three or more healthy meals a week. This sounds like it would be easy but for us it is not. I have done better the last few months but I need to up my game and hit the three a week mark. I tend to fail towards the end of the week because we have swim classes and game nights with family.So I am hoping that if I can get two healthy meals at the beginning of the week then I can focus on one towards the end of the week. Our little family can use left overs for the days in between.
2. Actually organize all my personal and professional files. You would think that this would be something that I already have done, but no. My files are a hot mess and really need to be organized to regain a measure of sanity.
3. Live in the moment. I want to spend more time focusing on the here and now, instead of worrying about the future and holding onto the past. I have been blessed with a beautiful life and I need to spend more time actually enjoying it and showing my daughter how to enjoy life as well.
I don't know that I will be successful with all of these because sometimes life just happens and you have to change your goals, but these are the goals I would like to attempt in 2019.
Here's to 2019....may your be full of adventure, love, and many blessings : )
Ashley
Monday, December 31, 2018
Saturday, December 1, 2018
Advent Adventure: Days 2-6
Today I will briefly walk through the next 5 days of the Advent packet, so that you can get an idea of what is coming. Throughout this post, if you click on any of the book titles you will be taken to that book on Amazon so you can purchase it if you choose to.
DAY 2
For day 2 the theme is Prince of Peace which is mentioned in the Scripture verse for the day, Isaiah 9:6. Once again since my daughter is not able to read yet, we will be doing a letter hunt in the scripture verse as we read it. This is just to get her engaged in the reading of the verse.
The story for day 2 is called The Best Thing About Christmas which you can get on Amazon or you can try the read aloud link in the packet. We will end our time by listening to the song "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.
DAY 3
The theme for this day is Immanuel which is found in the verse for the day, Isaiah 7:14. We will continue to do a letter hunt with our little one, but you could also look for sight words with older ones or have them draw a picture to illustrate the verse.
The project for this day is actually the start of a two day project. For this day you will be making a wreath. We will most likely be making a handprint wreath, but there are other options in the packet. We just have a lot of fun tracing our hands : ) I will include a picture of our final product under day 4.
Once we have finished our wreath we will read the sweet story God Gave Us Christmas. There is a read aloud link in the packet for this story, but we prefer the actual book. We will finish our time listening to one of my favorite Christmas songs, "O Come All Ye Faithful."
DAY 4
The theme for day 4 is God's Son and is found in the theme verse 1 John 5:11. We will continue to do a letter hunt with our little one, but you could also look for sight words with older ones or have them draw a picture to illustrate the verse.
The activity for this day is to make the paper candles that attach to the wreath. I have provided information about each candle and the colors for each candle. Your church may use different colors or may have a candle mean something different. I just went off of what I found to be the most common in meanings through research and the colors that our church uses.
We will finish our time with the story Christmas Time: It's All About Jesus and the song "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel." This story does not have a read aloud link available so you would need to use the actual book or read from a different nativity themed book that you already own.
DAY 5
Our theme for day 5 is hope and can be found in the verse Matthew 12: 221. Since we have already done several letter hunts with verses, we are going to take a break and create a picture to go with our word. We will make a colorful design to cover a standard sheet of copy paper and then we will use black marker to write the word HOPE in big letters in the middle.
Today's activity is similar to Day 3. We are making another handprint wreath. I promise I am not crazy and no its not because I couldn't come up with other ideas. I chose this because this will be a wreath that we hang up on one of the bedroom doors. I really like wreaths and how you can use them as a visual reminder of Jesus. Wreaths were traditionally made with evergreens, so the green of a wreath reminds you that God's love is everlasting. It is without end. The red of the berries that are usually found on leaves remind us of the sacrifice that God's own son made to save us from our sins. and the circle has no beginning and no end which reminds us that God is eternal.
After we finish our wreath, we will read the story Who is Coming to Our House?. I love this story and it is a good example of keeping hope. This story has a read aloud link in the packet that you could use. Once we have read our story we will listen to the song "For Unto Us a Child is Born."
DAY 6
Our theme for today is light and we read about it in our verse, John 12:36. We will continue to do a letter hunt with our little one, but you could also look for sight words with older ones or have them draw a picture to illustrate the verse.
The activity for today is to make a candle. In the packet I listed a few ways that you could make a candle. We will be going with option two where we make a paper candle using the template that is provided. There is a color by number candle sheet in the packet, and directions for a toilet paper roll candle. If you are craftier, and braver, than me you could definitely use this day to make an actual wax candle.
We will keep the candles with us as we read one of my favorite Christmas stories, The Night of the Las Posadas. This story is such a great reminder that our Light (Jesus) is always there with us and uses every situation to spread his word. This story also has a read aloud link in the packet. We will end by listening to the song "Joy to the World."
I hope you enjoy the next 5 days of time shared with your little ones focusing on the reason for this beautiful season.
Ashley
DAY 2
For day 2 the theme is Prince of Peace which is mentioned in the Scripture verse for the day, Isaiah 9:6. Once again since my daughter is not able to read yet, we will be doing a letter hunt in the scripture verse as we read it. This is just to get her engaged in the reading of the verse.
The activity for this day is to make Christmas cards. There are two templates in the packet or you can come up with your own. We will be doing a little of both. I won't lie. I may have used this day as my motivation to actually send out Christmas cards from our little family this year.
The story for day 2 is called The Best Thing About Christmas which you can get on Amazon or you can try the read aloud link in the packet. We will end our time by listening to the song "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.
DAY 3
The theme for this day is Immanuel which is found in the verse for the day, Isaiah 7:14. We will continue to do a letter hunt with our little one, but you could also look for sight words with older ones or have them draw a picture to illustrate the verse.
The project for this day is actually the start of a two day project. For this day you will be making a wreath. We will most likely be making a handprint wreath, but there are other options in the packet. We just have a lot of fun tracing our hands : ) I will include a picture of our final product under day 4.
Once we have finished our wreath we will read the sweet story God Gave Us Christmas. There is a read aloud link in the packet for this story, but we prefer the actual book. We will finish our time listening to one of my favorite Christmas songs, "O Come All Ye Faithful."
DAY 4
The theme for day 4 is God's Son and is found in the theme verse 1 John 5:11. We will continue to do a letter hunt with our little one, but you could also look for sight words with older ones or have them draw a picture to illustrate the verse.
The activity for this day is to make the paper candles that attach to the wreath. I have provided information about each candle and the colors for each candle. Your church may use different colors or may have a candle mean something different. I just went off of what I found to be the most common in meanings through research and the colors that our church uses.
We will finish our time with the story Christmas Time: It's All About Jesus and the song "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel." This story does not have a read aloud link available so you would need to use the actual book or read from a different nativity themed book that you already own.
DAY 5
Our theme for day 5 is hope and can be found in the verse Matthew 12: 221. Since we have already done several letter hunts with verses, we are going to take a break and create a picture to go with our word. We will make a colorful design to cover a standard sheet of copy paper and then we will use black marker to write the word HOPE in big letters in the middle.
Today's activity is similar to Day 3. We are making another handprint wreath. I promise I am not crazy and no its not because I couldn't come up with other ideas. I chose this because this will be a wreath that we hang up on one of the bedroom doors. I really like wreaths and how you can use them as a visual reminder of Jesus. Wreaths were traditionally made with evergreens, so the green of a wreath reminds you that God's love is everlasting. It is without end. The red of the berries that are usually found on leaves remind us of the sacrifice that God's own son made to save us from our sins. and the circle has no beginning and no end which reminds us that God is eternal.
After we finish our wreath, we will read the story Who is Coming to Our House?. I love this story and it is a good example of keeping hope. This story has a read aloud link in the packet that you could use. Once we have read our story we will listen to the song "For Unto Us a Child is Born."
DAY 6
Our theme for today is light and we read about it in our verse, John 12:36. We will continue to do a letter hunt with our little one, but you could also look for sight words with older ones or have them draw a picture to illustrate the verse.
The activity for today is to make a candle. In the packet I listed a few ways that you could make a candle. We will be going with option two where we make a paper candle using the template that is provided. There is a color by number candle sheet in the packet, and directions for a toilet paper roll candle. If you are craftier, and braver, than me you could definitely use this day to make an actual wax candle.
We will keep the candles with us as we read one of my favorite Christmas stories, The Night of the Las Posadas. This story is such a great reminder that our Light (Jesus) is always there with us and uses every situation to spread his word. This story also has a read aloud link in the packet. We will end by listening to the song "Joy to the World."
I hope you enjoy the next 5 days of time shared with your little ones focusing on the reason for this beautiful season.
Ashley
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