Slow Day

Creative Worship: Prepare Him Room

One of my favorite Christmas traditions has become having a special time of creative worship together with my children. It is always focused on Jesus and usually includes making something with our hands in a form of worship.

You can read about last year here and all previous years are linked here. The phrase I've had on my heart this year is prepare Him room. We've all heard that little part in Joy to the World and my favorite song this year also has the same title from Sovereign Grace Music.

With that thought on my heart, I woke up early one morning and drew a little chalk art - it is on the wonky side and far from perfect, but I'm sharing it here in its imperfect state in case it invites any of you into this preparation in your own homes. You can download the image here.

Rachel made muffins using a mix I'd gotten on sale and we enjoyed a lovely meal together!

In my quiet time that morning, I thought about this idea of preparing. I looked up the word and found that it comes from Latin and means to make ready beforehand.

Then I looked it up in a concordance to see how it was used in the Bible and noticed a few themes:
- food {bread, banquet, stew}
- sacrifices
- battle
- guests

I asked a few questions of my children as we were talking about this together:
- Who came to prepare for Jesus? What did he do?
- How does God prepare for us? {sent a Savior, prepares a place for us in Heaven}
- How can we prepare Him room? {brainstorm ideas}
- Sing Joy to the World; how does our heart prepare Him room?
- Listen to Prepare Him Room, did you hear these words, "Oh, our hearts, as busy as Bethlehem; Hear Him knock, don't say there's no room in the inn..."

 I printed out these coloring pages and we pulled out What God Wants for Christmas and our nativity stamps {from Etsy, don't have a link to share.}

Handmade Christmas: Memories

When Emily turned one, David made a Year-in-Review DVD of her first year. We had a slideshow of photos set to music and videos all together in one place.

We loved it so much that he has made one every year since then!!! We make copies and send them out to all of our family each year. It is always fun to see the new edition and go back and watch previous years - what a treasure!

Some years I am totally boring and just hand them out, this year I was inspired to make little kraft paper envelopes out of wrapping paper and stitch up the edges on the sewing machine. Quick and easy!

Adorable clothespins are from Target Dollar Spot and cute free printable tags are from here.

December Photo Project

I'm continuing to share a photo each day over on Instagram for the December Photo Project!

Slow at Home

We have been staying home. A.lot. And, I am loving it so much. It has me thinking more and harder about how to make this happen more and more.

I think I stay home a lot as it is even without this, but the past proves itself true time and time again that the more we stay home, the smoother our days go. Time literally seems to go slower, it seems like there is more time to go around. Time rapidly disappears when we are not at home.

I'm loving the focus on caring for my family and home by just being in it, enjoying the pure and simple tasks of fixing dinner and cleaning around the shower faucet - things I don't always feel like I have the luxury of time to complete. Well, of course we eat dinner - but you know what I mean right?!

My children have been wild with energy this past week and spending a lot of time playing outside so don't get the impression that it is all calm and peaceful when we spend these days at home. I guess what I want to remember is how good and true and right it feels. How at rest my heart is to be at home. And, I am so very grateful for my dear husband who goes out into the world every day so we can enjoy this precious gift.

Stay home.

Those two words are embedded deep in my heart right now. I am pondering more on this - but for now, just those two words are enough.

I've linked this post before but it is appropriate and encouraging enough to share again: Let's Stay Home

 How does staying home help you? Or do you find your experience to be different?

Slow Day