Day 1 of Advent

 We are decorating a "Jesse Tree" for Advent this year. We started tonight. I got the idea from a blog that a friend recommended. This is the link: http://www.aholyexperience.com/2011/11/free-jesse-tree-advent-family-devotional/
Since deciding on this Advent project, I've discovered that many of my friends are doing the same one! I will try to blog what we're doing each day, but I can't promise consistency. ;-)

This is the notebook that I put together with each day. Our ornaments are to the left. We'll cut one out a day to hang on our "Jesse Tree." Tonight's devotional was:

Isaiah 11:1-2

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;

from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him

the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,

the Spirit of counsel and might,

the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord.

 The commentary on that verse tells us that one bite from the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden and our "tree of life" fell. We've lived our whole lives like stumps, cut off from God. Out of our fallenness, springs our only hope, a fragile shoot. Out of the last forgotten son of Jesse, comes this branch. He is the one that will wear the crown of thorns and die on a cross and become that ladder for us back to God. Jesus will go to impossible lengths to rescue us. So today we started Advent, the season of waiting. But, we know "new life is stirring."

 Our project was to plant wheat or grass seeds, later to be used as Jesus' manger. Each child put in some grass seeds and talked about things they did today that showed acts of kindness and love. We are excited to see new things grow as we anticipate Love and New Life coming in the form of a baby.

 Andrew putting his seed in. He said that he helped mommy today at the grocery store. (boy did he) ;)

 Tabitha said she cleaned up the house. (I would say more like under the homeschool table and picked up her shoes) BUT she did show love by obeying.

 Carissa prayed today, that's how she showed love. :-)

 Ethan put the laundry in the laundry room and helped clean the table after dinner.

 Taylor helped with the little kids at swim practice and she took treats to one of her coaches.

 I know it looks like a pie, but it is a bowl of dirt with our children's grass seeds.

 Taylor hanging the first ornament.

 A stump with a branch growing from it.

 Our "Jesse Tree."

Watering the seeds before evening chores and bedtime.