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The Minted calendar winners are… Katherine: love the bookshop one! Heather S: I love the Washi Chalkboard design. Thanks for the chance! I’ve heard of Minted through many blogs and friends, and I love the site and all the options. Kasey: It would be so hard to choose- I love so many of the designs. The journals are great too. Congratulations ladies! Check your inbox for an email from me. You should be hearing from Minted soon!
My heart is heavy…just as I know all of your hearts are too. I really don’t have anything profound to say. No words that will make anyone feel any better. Just, I’m so sorry. So sorry to the families and friends affected by the loss of the precious 26 lives in Newtown, Connecticut. So sorry to the mamas who can’t pick their babies up from school or hold them in their arms today. My heart aches for you and I am praying that you sense the Lord’s nearness to your broken hearts. I read this post by Jen Wilkins on the Gospel Coalition blog over the weekend. It rang true to me on so many levels…if you have a few minutes, go read it today. Longing for the day when all things will be made new (Revelation 21:5) and praying for you, CT!
December 17, 2012 - 6:45 pm
Hugs to you, Jess. Thank you for your sweet heart; I will be joining you in praying for CT. SB [Reply]
December 18, 2012 - 10:03 am
I can’t even begin to imagine the heartache for all the families and their community as a whole. What a senseless loss and what dear children, teachers, and leaders of the school. Noah Pozner’s mother wrote the most beautiful tribute to her little son. It was profound….she said he would not pass this way again and she believed he was planted on Earth to bloom in heaven. I guess God’s garden is really full with all those little sweet children blooming in heaven today. Thank you Jess for being an inspiration to mother’s all over the U.S. I’m sure you would never have thought your life experiences would be an inspiration to others and it is probably a role you never would have wanted but I love the way you live your life with such grace and joy, rejoicing in your daughter’s life and being such a cute mom to your two sweet boys. You never seem to have anything bad to say about the hard things life has dealt you. You only focus on what is good and you do it with faith and trust in that God who gave us all life. I wish you the best holiday season filled with laughter, love, and happiness. May the Lord bless you and yours at the season of His birth. [Reply]
December 19, 2012 - 1:27 pm
I am profoundly sorry too. As a non-believer, I find it difficult to know what to do with the pain this awful news has caused. There do not seem to be support systems for those who do not share a faith. If I was a parent of one of those poor victims, I would not be able to carry on. From what I gather in the news, residents of that community seem to belong to one church or another. I wonder if there are any among them who do not? To whom could those individuals turn? My heart is truly heavy for all of us. It is impossible to look at any school children and feel simple joy after events like those. [Reply] It is almost time for a new year which means time for new calendars. I usually don’t have a calendar hanging up in my house but Minted asked me if I wanted to review their new line of photo calendars so I decided to give one a try this year. I’m thinking I’ll hang mine in the kitchen.
.jpg "IMG_1695") I ordered two. One for me and one for a gift. This is how they looked right out of the box…a little sticker and everything…all ready for gift giving.
I can’t show you the gift calendar…because then it wouldn’t be a surprise…and that wouldn’t be any fun. But I made it with the So Happy Together Standard design. I chose Book Shop Standard for my own calendar design. This is the front. I love how it turned out.
And here is a peek at the inside. I wish I could show you every month because each page is so fun! The calendar is totally customizable and all designs are available in two sizes. You choose your design and then add pictures. You can choose one picture like I did on the left…or multiple pictures like I did on the right. It’s super easy! You can also customize the calendar by adding in your own special dates. That makes it really great if you are giving it as a gift! Right now Minted is running a calendar promotion…buy two calendars get the third free. These would make great gifts if you are still looking for some last minute Christmas gifts. Use promo code GETGIFTY for the discount. Offer ends Sunday, December 16th at midnight. I was only asked to review the calendars but when I was making mine I got sidetracked and ended up ordering some journals too. Minted journals are my favorite. I love that they can be personalized and they make great gifts too!
These are the two I made for my boys. I am hoping to keep a prayer journal for each boy as I pray for them in the coming year. On the inside cover there is also another picture and the verse that we chose for each boy. Aren’t they fun? And who wouldn’t like a personalized journal as a gift? Would you like to win something? Minted is generously giving away three calendars to three of my readers. Here is how you can enter to win… Giveaway Details: THREE personalized calendars THREE winners chosen at random ONE entry per person Giveaway ends Monday, December 17th at 9pm (CST) To enter, visit Minted then come back and leave a comment. What calendar design is your favorite? Have you tried other minted products that you love? And don’t forget about the calendar promo for last minute gifts. Enter GETGIFTY for the buy two get three calendars promo. This code expires Sunday, December 16th at midnight.
December 14, 2012 - 5:41 pm
I LOVE EVERYTHING [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 5:53 pm
I love the washi chalkboard notes design!!! so fun!!! [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 6:06 pm
I’ve never used Minted products but I could get lost in this website. I love both the Wasabi Chalkboard and the Whisper. It would be so hard to choose! [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 6:13 pm
The calendar is so neat! Love that you can customize! [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 6:18 pm
I live the Sew Floral calendar [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 6:19 pm
I have ordered Minted cards before and love their stuff! I like the Pop of Color Grand calendars. [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 6:37 pm
The washi chalkboard notes–too cute! [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 6:43 pm
I love them all!! I was actually planning to make a calendar for my family on CVS.com but these are so much cuter! So glad I saw this post! My favorite is “So happy together.” Hope I win!! [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 7:08 pm
Every year make a personalized calendar for my Mom for Christmas — but by “making,” I mean hand-writing all of the important birthdays and other family events on a pre-made calendar for her. She would LOVE one of these photo calendars, and I would love to make one for her!! Thanks for the giveaways! It would be hard to decide which one, but I am really enjoying the designs that you chose! [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 7:19 pm
The Pop of Color calendars are my favorite!! And I have never used Minted, but I always get the cutest Christmas cards in the mail each year from friends!! [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 7:28 pm
My favorite is days of the week! [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 7:30 pm
The chalkboard or menagerie. I’ve ordered their cards and love them! [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 7:37 pm
Minted calendars are my FAVORITE! I’m a graphic designer, so it takes a lot to impress me, but I dearly love everything Minted sells. In fact, I just made two calendars this week for gifts – Halftone Grand and Simplicity Grand. I would sooooo love to make one for myself. Thanks for sharing this great offer. [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 7:48 pm
December 14, 2012 - 8:02 pm
I love the Grand! I make a calendar every year for my Grandma with family pictures and this would be just perfect! I hope I win! [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 8:04 pm
I love the Wasabi washboard one. What a beautiful website! [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 8:06 pm
I love love the calendars! [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 8:19 pm
Love the Gallery Grand Calendars!! great products [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 8:19 pm
I like the washi chalkboard notes grand calendar. [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 8:23 pm
so dang cute!! I need a new calendar… [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 8:29 pm
Oh…it would be a tie between simply schoolhouse and handdrawn herringbone. Great shop! [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 8:31 pm
I love it all…the pop of color calendar is cute [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 9:02 pm
I love those calendars! [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 9:13 pm
Love minted products, would love to customize a calendar of my boys pictures. [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 9:14 pm
Never have heard of Minted until now. I love the calendars. All their stuff is awesome! [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 9:40 pm
I love the Whisper one! This is the first time I’ve heard of Minted. [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 9:46 pm
They are all to cute to pick from! [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 9:47 pm
I really like the Simple School House and Day in the Life calendars! I have never used a Minted product but it looks like they have some pretty neat items. [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 9:52 pm
i got a journal from there and i love it! [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 9:57 pm
I am in love with their products!! I love the Washi chalkboard design or the Sew Floral [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 10:02 pm
My sister-in-love does a calendar every year for my mother-in-love. We submit pictures to her and she puts the grandkids’ pictures on their birthday months as well as us couples’ pictures on our anniversary month…and then a few in between! It is such a neat tradition that my m-i-l looks forward to each year! I looked through these and if I had to choose I would LOVE the Washi Chalkboard. I like the “NOTES” section that way I can include the special dates to remember for those months! [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 10:07 pm
love the bookshop one! [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 10:07 pm
I love the journals. What a fun gift idea! [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 10:15 pm
I love the Washi Chalkboard design [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 10:20 pm
I love the Handmade Herringbone calendar! I’ve never heard of Minted but it looks like a fun shop. Thanks for the giveaway. [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 10:40 pm
Super obsessed with the glittering confetti grand calendar! I just love personalized calendars. Minted made my baby shower invites and I was obsessed. [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 10:58 pm
I love the book shop one! Your calendars look great! I hope I get to see the whole thing sometime! [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 11:06 pm
So much fun!!!! Love the Washi Chalkboard Notes Standard Calendars [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 11:08 pm
love minted! simplicity grand is my favorite…ordered our christmas cards through minted earlier this month! [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 11:10 pm
washi tape chalkboard notes… [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 11:14 pm
I heart Minted and all of their sweet designs. Calendars are on this years list for the grandparents and these are so FUN. I especially like the Handdrawn Herringbone one! [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 11:18 pm
SO hard to pick just one favorite calendar design, but I think my favorite is probably Washi Chalkboard Notes. But there are at least 5 ot 6 others that would be hard to pass up too! I’ve actually never tried any Minted products, but I really like the idea of the journals you’re doing for your boys and love the design options for the journals too. Great products! [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 11:33 pm
I keep journals for my little girl so they were my absolute favorite! Love the calenders too! [Reply]
December 14, 2012 - 11:42 pm
I love the chalkboard or the Book shop! These are so cute!!! [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 12:52 am
the chalkboard is cute and so is whisper…. love the choices [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 2:08 am
I like the Book Shop and the Pop of Color calendars!! I had never heard of this company. Neat! [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 2:50 am
I love all of it! Thinking about ordering one of their journals for my 2013 prayer journal!!! [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 2:53 am
I like the Washi Chalkboard Notes Standard Calendars [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 3:29 am
I have never used this website, but I wish I had known about them before now! Love their stuff. Definitely love the Halftone Grande calendar! So cute! [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 3:36 am
I really like the Washi Tape Chalkboard design! [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 6:52 am
I think the chalkboard notes calendar is pretty sweet! [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 9:09 am
I love the Pop of Color calendar. I have never had a personalized calendar and always wanted one. These are super cute! [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 9:31 am
I love the chalkboard notes the most! [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 9:33 am
ohhh, the pop of color is perfect!!! [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 9:43 am
I like the Days of the Week calendar! [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 10:18 am
Our daughter got married last summer and we ordered her wedding invitations from Minted. They were AMAZING. Loved every bit of working with them! I would take anything on their site! It’s all good! [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 11:27 am
The glittering confetti is great! [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 11:28 am
I love the birth announcements—especially since I’m expecting our bundle of joy any day now! [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 11:45 am
Oh how would you choose just one to like….they are all so unique! I really do like the Book Shop Grand calendar! I also think the journals are pretty amazing….especially as prayer journals! At a time of the Connecticut tragedy, I think we all need to be praying over our children! [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 12:04 pm
I love the Minted website — always have! The calendar template you used is great. I think the journals are a great idea, as well. The Minted crew also makes fabulous Christmas and New Years cards. Cheers! [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 1:06 pm
I LOVE the book shop standard. I am also in love with those journals. I may just have to go order some now! [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 1:40 pm
The book shop is my favorite too!! I would love to win a calendar! [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 2:32 pm
so happy together standard. i love the journals!!! [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 3:53 pm
My favorite calendar is the “New Leaf” design, because if I win this giveaway, it will be a gift for my dad. My Mom passed away this year in April, and we will hopefully be turning over a new leaf and moving forward in 2013. [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 4:01 pm
OM goodness. I love the journals. I am sure my mom and MIL would love a calendar for christmas! I am such a slacker that i have not even started my shopping yet! eek! [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 4:14 pm
There were several that I liked, but probably like Simplicity the best. [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 4:21 pm
I love the washi tape one! [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 4:26 pm
Love the journals and calendar…which I need desperately!!!! [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 4:40 pm
i was just creating a calendar last night on their site! i hope i win!!! [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 4:47 pm
Oh my gosh! My husband is not going to like that you introduced me to this website! I love the Washi Chalkboard one. So cute! [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 4:47 pm
I’ve never gotten my calendars from Minted so would love to try them! I love the style that you chose! Thanks for the opportunity!! [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 4:48 pm
I don’t think I have seen Minted products before… or at least, I don’t recall them… but what a fun site! I’m particularly admiring their birth announcements right now, and also love that I could click on “gifts under $20″ for affordable ideas with just one click. Pretty great. [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 4:52 pm
I love the Glittering Confetti and the Chalkboard calendars! Great products! Thank you for the opportunity! [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 4:58 pm
Ack! How do you choose?? Will definitely be back to order…how have I been missing this? [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 5:10 pm
I love them all! Little Chic is one of my favorites. =) [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 6:00 pm
I like the Pop of Color and the Simplicity calendars! They are so nice! I would love to make one for a gift:) [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 6:56 pm
i love minted!! i hope I win [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 8:04 pm
Just ordered my Christmas cards from Minted. The service was unbelievable. The cards arrived a day early and they are spectacular. I really like the chalkboard calendar. Fingers crossed [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 8:17 pm
Oh now my creative juices are flowing. Pop of color is where I’d start [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 8:33 pm
It would be so hard to choose- I love so many of the designs. The journals are great too. [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 8:54 pm
Wow, I love all of these! We usually do personalized calendars every year for the Grandparents and I’m thinking, win or not, I’ll get these this year. [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 9:05 pm
Wow, I love them all! [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 10:11 pm
What a precious website! All of it is wonderful, how hard to choose!!! [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 10:31 pm
How fun! I like so many..I think the simplicity one I like the best [Reply]
December 15, 2012 - 11:48 pm
love, love the chalkboard calendar…so fun! [Reply]
December 16, 2012 - 2:28 am
I adore minted and love all of their different designs, can not choose just one! [Reply]
December 16, 2012 - 7:06 am
Love EVERYTHING!!! Wish I would have known about sooner!! [Reply]
December 16, 2012 - 8:37 am
I love all of them! I like your style the best! [Reply]
December 16, 2012 - 8:43 am
I love minted:). We ordered journals for gifts there yesterday! Yay! I love a lot of their calendars…but I think So Happy Together might be my favorite. Today anyway! lol Thanks for the giveaway!! [Reply]
December 16, 2012 - 10:22 am
OH I just love the Pop of Color Grand calendar. My favorite thing about it is you can move the words/text on the cover! AMAZING! I think I spent most of yesterday morning designing a calendar for my parents. While I was at the website I couldn’t help but check out the wedding stuff. Way too cute! [Reply]
December 16, 2012 - 6:39 pm
I love the glittering confetti! I love using calendars to plan my week out. [Reply]
December 16, 2012 - 6:41 pm
i love the glittery confetti! So cute! [Reply]
December 16, 2012 - 7:59 pm
I love the calendar you designed! My favorite is the Book Shop Standard. I’ve never ordered from Minted. I want to order a couple of the journals! LOVE! [Reply]
December 16, 2012 - 8:24 pm
in love with the personalized journals you made for the boys! [Reply]
December 16, 2012 - 9:14 pm
I love the Pop of Color design.. as well as everything else! Love it all! [Reply]
December 16, 2012 - 9:57 pm
I love all of the stationary designs! Can’t even choose a favorite! [Reply]
December 16, 2012 - 11:00 pm
Wow! Love the Minted website…so many incredible products [Reply]
December 16, 2012 - 11:07 pm
I like the Days of the Week Standard Calendar! I love your idea about prayer journals for the year with each boy’s picture on it- such a great way to document your prayers for them and use an adorable notebook [Reply]
December 16, 2012 - 11:22 pm
Oh wow, such a sucker for all this kind of stuff! I love your idea of a prayer journal for your boys and I think I would get ones for my little guys so they can see the works God does in their lives as they grow! [Reply]
December 16, 2012 - 11:39 pm
This is my first time to Minted’s website and I love it!! I love the calendars mostly because I know they will be used at home and at my work! I love the Pop of Color Calendar! [Reply]
December 17, 2012 - 12:35 am
I like the Washi chalkboard calendar!! Our Christmas cards are minted this year. Love them!! [Reply]
December 17, 2012 - 7:34 am
I love the washi chalkboard calendar.. Its so cute. I am in love!! I have never ordered anything from them but now I want calendars and journals. They are way to cute.. [Reply]
December 17, 2012 - 8:42 am
I liked the Whisper design the best…I think. But it’d be hard to choose! [Reply]
December 17, 2012 - 8:46 am
Love these! Thanks for the opportunity. [Reply]
December 17, 2012 - 9:21 am
Washi Chalkboard Notes Grand Calendars [Reply]
December 17, 2012 - 9:22 am
I love them all! [Reply]
December 17, 2012 - 9:24 am
I love all the calendars. I can’t choose! We always make family calendars for the upcoming year. So fun! [Reply]
December 17, 2012 - 10:36 am
The Washi Chalkboard Notes Grand looks awesome [Reply]
December 17, 2012 - 10:53 am
OMG!! These designs are to die for!! So creative, colorful, and inspiring! I love the Pop of Color design and the Circle Color! I would love to win these to create and give them to my parents and brother as they help care for my two boys. Thank you for always giving us a chance to win something!! One of these days the random generator will say ELIZABETH CANNATA is the winner winner chicken dinner (as my kids say)!! Merry Christmas to you! [Reply]
December 17, 2012 - 11:24 am
So hard to choose, but the “fine and fair” calendar caught my eye. [Reply]
December 17, 2012 - 11:31 am
Thank you for the giveaway. I like the Washi Chalkboard style! [Reply]
December 17, 2012 - 11:38 am
There are too many calendar options – I love them all! [Reply]
December 17, 2012 - 12:38 pm
Thanks for introducing me to Mint! Love their stuff. I really liked the pop of color grand calendar. Think I will order a few for gifts right now! [Reply]
December 17, 2012 - 12:47 pm
I love the Pop of Color calendars! Love their site, but haven’t tried any of their products yet! [Reply]
December 17, 2012 - 12:55 pm
Love So Happy Together Standard. How awesome! [Reply]
December 17, 2012 - 1:39 pm
I like the baby journals. I would especially love one with weeks at the top – I’ve been keeping an electronic one but I suspect my son would enjoy a hand-written one. [Reply]
December 17, 2012 - 2:41 pm
Pop of color! [Reply]
December 17, 2012 - 2:49 pm
Love the big month grand, I really need to do something like this for my parents! [Reply]
December 17, 2012 - 3:18 pm
Wow, I’ve never visited their site before but I definately will now. I would say my favorite calendar is the Gallery Wall Standard Calendar; however, there are so many cute ones to choose from. Thanks for the chance to win. [Reply]
December 17, 2012 - 3:54 pm
I love the big month grand calendar! The sepia pictures look so classic. [Reply]
December 17, 2012 - 4:45 pm
love it all…love the so happy together and book shop! [Reply]
December 17, 2012 - 6:20 pm
I like the big month calendars. That would look awesome at my desk at work. [Reply]
December 17, 2012 - 6:52 pm
Precious! I am putting together photos from this year with the intention of making a calendar – and came across your post about this very thing! Minted is a wonderful company with beautiful products. I especially like the Book Shop grand calendar. [Reply]
December 17, 2012 - 10:17 pm
I havent used minted before, but I love both the washi chalkboard and the So happy together, it will be hard to choose. But some how I would manage! [Reply]
December 18, 2012 - 10:38 am
I would totally go with the happy together standard. It would be perfect for this busy second year nursing student! [Reply]
December 19, 2012 - 2:57 pm
I love all the products but pop of color is my fav!!! [Reply] Some of you asked about my felt nativity. After reading Treasuring God in Our Traditions (love this book…you have to read it!), Julie and I were inspired to make our own felt nativities for our kids. We did some research and decided to combine lots of different ideas and came up with our own. We didn’t really use any patterns, but just looked at lots of different nativities and animal shapes to figure out what pieces we wanted to include. We also came up with a daily reading schedule to go along with each piece. We had talked about sharing it on our blogs this year, but never had time to work on that. Sorry I don’t have anything more to share with you right now. Maybe next year! Last year I asked you to share some of your favorite Christmas books…ones that help us encourage our children to focus on and celebrate Jesus’ birth. I tried to link to that post so that you could see the complete list but I could not find it anywhere! Thankfully I wrote a bunch of them down to remember for myself, so here is my list so far. The ones with a star beside are ones that we have and love. I haven’t read the entire list, but the rest were recommended by some of you! Feel free to leave other favorites that weren’t included in the comment section.
* * * Children’s Christmas Books Christmas in the Manger by Nola Buck & Felicia Bond* The Little Drummer Boy by Ezra Jack Keats Who is Coming to Our House by Joseph Slate* The Small One by Alex Walsh The First Night by B.G. Hennessy* Christmas Angels by Gwen Ellis* The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado Mary’s First Christmas by Walter Wangerin Jr. Mortimer’s Christmas Manger by Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman The Christmas Story by Carol Heyer* What Is Christmas? by Michelle Medlock Adams One Night in Bethlehem by Jill Roman Lord Room for a Little One by Martin Waddel* The Christmas Birdie by Mary Ellen Tippin* God Gave Us Christmas by Lisa Tawn Bergren Christmas Is… by Gail Gibbons Alabaster’s Song by Max Lucado The Tale of Three Trees by Angela Hunt * * * Advent Books/Family Devotions For Advent The Advent Storybook by Antonie Schneider What God Wants for Christmas Family Life Why Christmas by Barbara Reaoch Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room by Nancy Guthrie 12 Day Holiday Countdown DaySpring* * * *
My boys have been enjoying our basket of Christmas books. I have several other “fun” Christmas books from my teaching days…we like those too. Funny how since this post is about meaningful Christmas books that Levi is reading Clifford.
Levi loves having his brother’s full attention and bossing him around. It is so cute to see them “playing” together but it usually only lasts a few minutes before Griffin is on to something else.
Levi can entertain himself though. He was reading with such expression. His faces crack me up.
I wish you could hear the stories he comes up with. He has quite the imagination.
What Christmas books do your kids love? *disclosure: affiliate links used
December 12, 2012 - 6:46 pm
Thanks for sharing your list. I love getting new ideas! Levi’s face cracks me up! [Reply]
December 12, 2012 - 11:03 pm
We love Santa Mouse and Santa Mouse Where Are You in our house. I read it as a little girl (a hand-me-down from my big brother) and now we have both for our little girl. It is a big favorite around here, and now when ever she sees a Santa – she asks where Santa Mouse is – and then tells us about leaving cheese for him! SO CUTE! [Reply]
December 13, 2012 - 8:01 am
It doesn’t exactly share the Christmas story but it does highlight the joy of giving,”Mr Willowby’s Christmas Tree” is our very favorite Christmas book! Merry CHRISTmas! [Reply]
December 13, 2012 - 10:34 pm
A book you might want to add to your collection would be the new release, The Sparkle Box. Levi is definitely old enough to begin to grasp this idea and in a few years the boys could both find “giving gifts to Jesus” to be the best thing about Christmas! It’s never too early to start a great tradition! [Reply] Let every heart prepare HIM room. A phrase that is definitely on my mind this year. A phrase that I want to go from just being something I think about to something I live out. But I struggle every year as the busyness of the season rushes in. I want to quiet my heart. I want to slow down. But instead I tend to fill up my calendar and procrastinate on the things that need to be done and the busyness often overwhelms me. I prepare room for parties and programs and Christmas shopping and Christmas baking and all the fun which is involved in Christmas. And those things are all good. But where I struggle is that I prepare room for all those things and don’t leave any room for Jesus. And you know what? When I am not preparing Him room in my own heart it means my kids aren’t either. I want my kids to know that Christmas is about celebrating Jesus. How we do that in our home will probably look different than how you do it in your home. The important thing is that we are preparing room in our hearts for Jesus this Christmas season…and always. And that we are walking alongside our kids so they learn to do the same.
A friend and I each made a felt nativity together last year. Levi liked it last year but he is really getting into it this year. Everyday there are verses to read with a keyword that tells you what piece to add to the nativity scene. Levi was getting really stressed out each day that it wasn’t time for baby Jesus. Soon! Maybe he got a little taste of what it was like to wait for the Savior!
This year I also bought the Truth in the Tinsel ebook. We are not following it exactly. We have actually only made a few ornaments so far (the blue crown on the tree is one that we made)…I’m hoping the next two weeks we will have time to make a few more. We are making our ornaments to go along with the felt nativity and what we are reading that day. It is fun to have a little craft project to do though! I think Levi will like this even more next year when he is a little older.
Our collection of Christmas books is growing. Last year I asked you to recommend your favorite Christmas books that help teach the Christmas story. You had so many good ideas! I am going to compile the list and post it for you later this week. I’ll tell you which ones are our favorite too!
We also have a Little People Nativity for the boys to play with. They both love it. Griffin has mastered putting the angel on top and he claps for himself every time. Levi has been carrying the little people all over the house. Last night he was changing baby Jesus’ diaper and making them all pancakes. They are well taken care of!
I usually end up doing most of this stuff during the day because for us it gets to be too stressful in the evenings with Joel’s unpredictable work schedule and other commitments. It would be more ideal to do this all together as a family but this just works better for us. Did you see the free advent chain printable to go along with the Jesus storybook Bible (our favorite Bible!) that Heather made? So great! We made one for Levi and Joel to do together before bed. That way they can do something special together too! I know these pictures might make it look like we perfectly prepare our hearts for Christmas. We don’t. I fail all the time. Some days I forget to make time. Some days our house is full of sick or whiny kids and it is hard to get anything done, let alone advent activities. Some days the projects are a bust or my kids won’t listen to me. And most days Levi is in his jammies not a cute Christmas sweater. How are you helping your family make room for Jesus? I would love to hear…you will probably give me some new ideas too!
December 10, 2012 - 2:00 pm
We’re enjoying “Truth in the Tinsel” too. I’m modifying the ornaments based on what we have on hand. Even though my girls are only 2, they are really enjoying it. I’m looking forward to seeing your book list. The only one we have right now is “The Animals’ Christmas Eve,” a Golden book. [Reply]
December 10, 2012 - 2:02 pm
Are you just using scriptures for the verses? I’d like to make my own nativity for my grandkids. I have the Little People Nativity too and they love it and take such good care of baby Jesus just like your boys do. I love how you’re teaching them that Jesus is the reason for the season. [Reply]
December 10, 2012 - 3:40 pm
Honestly? With a new baby, we’re barely even celebrating Christmas this year. No decorations, very few gifts, and we can’t go as a family to church because our little guy was a preemie and we aren’t willing to expose him to 300 people and all their germs during flu/cold/RSV season. BUT I love your felt nativity! Maybe next year I will make one. [Reply]
December 10, 2012 - 4:03 pm
I loved this post! Our hearts do need preparing for this season that can get so materialistic and stressful. Also! Did you create your own nativity pattern?! Or would you mind sharing where you got it from?! I really, really love it! [Reply]
December 10, 2012 - 4:15 pm
We are following the advent readings from the Jesus Storybook Bible at night, and during the day doing an advent activity. We do sprinkles of Santa but bigger doses of the main guy! I blogged our advent activities recently. I am constantly amazed at how saturated our world is with Santa. You have to be very intentional about it for sure. [Reply]
December 10, 2012 - 5:00 pm
We arrived home on Sunday morning. Jetlag has meant we are all really sleepy during the day and awake at 3am. I have 8 bags to unpack and the more I look at them, the more they don’t unpack themselves [Reply]
December 10, 2012 - 6:33 pm
Lovely post. Did you use any tutorial or patterns for your felt nativity? I love it! [Reply]
December 10, 2012 - 8:08 pm
This was so encouraging. Thank you so much for sharing. I always love coming to your blog. I so needed this reminder. The true reason for this season….that is so easy replaced with the commercialism of the season. I too want to teach my little boy that Christmas is about celebrating Jesus…and making room for Him. Thank you. And I love all your ideas and traditions. [Reply]
December 10, 2012 - 11:59 pm
I LOVE the felt nativity!! So cute! [Reply]
December 11, 2012 - 12:34 am
I, too, was wondering if you had a pattern for your felt nativity. Your kids are beyond cute and I so enjoy reading your blog. [Reply]
December 11, 2012 - 1:46 am
I love your felt nativity board! You did such a good job! Is “The Tale of 3 Trees” on your book list – it’s my favorite!!! [Reply]
December 16, 2012 - 7:24 pm
I too am doing Truth in the Tinsel although I must admit that MY heart is not as quiet and soaking it in and prepared to welcome HIM and make space for HIM this year and I am trying to swim through that struggle. We are doing a very modified version of Truth in the Tinsel but we’ve done more than the three days we did last year when he was 1 1/2 so I feel good about that and am thankful for a resource that can grow with us and we can adapt as the years go by. I have a pinterest board for Truth in the Tinsel as I’m modifying crafts and stuff and I am making “lesson plans” (the teacher in me coming back out – I loved writing lesson plans) for each day that we do. Most of it is taken straight from her ebook and some of it incorporates a Christmas book that we have that we read instead of doing a craft or sometimes we do something like get out and play with our Fisher Price nativity instead of doing a craft. I have also switched the order of the days mostly at the beginning because I was trying to accomodate a library book that needed to be returned. I have been wrapping the book/nativity/craft supplies either in wrapping paper or a brown lunch sack and then cutting out the clues intended for the advent calendar and putting them on the front and also using a clipboard with numbers printed out on paper that he gets to cross off (because right off we had a super busy December 1st with no time to do something together) so we are working on recognizing numbers too. Your felt nativity is really pretty! Merry Christmas! Kelly p.s. we too mostly do ours during the day without Daddy but there are seasons, right?! [Reply] |
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Haven’t seen much of their site but it looks great
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by Jess
Kasey - Thank you so much Jess! Wow! I couldn’t believe I won. What a fun little surprise before Christmas. Now I have to decide which one to order
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