Service Singing

I had an idea this week that went well.  I had several comments on it so I decided to share it in hopes someone could use it.  I made 9 buttons that read "I'm serving the Lord when I serve others" I then pinned them to a scarf that I wore around my neck.  Each button had a number 1-9 on the back of it.  I told the children to pick one of my service buttons and let's find out some ways we can serve.  The following is what I did with each number.

1.  When we love others we serve them.  What is a way you serve?   
    Love One Another pg 136

2.  We have many things.  How can we serve others with the things that we have.
    I am glad for many things pg 15

3.  Jesus showed us many examples of serve.  What is your favorite one.
    I'm trying to be like Jesus pg 78

4.  How can we love and serve people we don't even know.
    Jesus said love everyone pg 61

5.  When we use a happy voice all day long we serve our families.
    When were helping were happy pg 198

6.  What is a way you can serve with your face.  Share a smile with as many people as you can.
    Smiles pg 267

7.  Every member can serve this way.  Young men do this when they are 19.
    I hope they call me on a mission.  pg 169

Barefoot in the Kitchen Advent

It's December.

Ah! I'm not ready for it to be December.

Mike brought a Christmas tree home the other night. I guess that means we need to decorate for Christmas. I don't think I'm over Thanksgiving yet. :)

Of all of our decorations, Mabel and Oliver were most excited about putting up our advent calendar. Do you remember it?

This is our third year with it and it's still their favorite thing. I love that. Do you have an advent calendar at your house?

Maybe sometime I can show you how I made mine.

Nativity Advent

Nativity Advent

My advent calendar is finally finished just in time for a countdown to Christmas!  I searched and searched for some figures to make for my nativity that I liked.  I finally found some here at barefoot in the kitchen. 

For my calendar, each piece was made with rainbow felt and is at least two layers thick.  A round piece of the soft side of Velcro is sewn on the back of each one.  Aren't they adorable?!

 I cut the rough part of the Velcro into little stars and sewed them, along with the stable, onto a 20x30 inch piece of felt.  There are 24 pockets that are each 2 1/2 inches square.  I used a chain stitch to embroider all of the numbers.

Here is the final product.  You can't see in the picture, but there are four felt loops sewn into the top and a long wooden dowel with a string attached to both ends for hanging.  The baby Jesus should be put in pocket 24 to signal that the next day is Christmas!

And because I want everyone to be able to make one too, I got permission from Stephanie at barefoot in the kitchen to share the templates that I created to make my nativity figures.  Sorry they aren't the greatest templates in the world, but it's a start!  Just click the links below to download the templates.  I'm not sure if you have to create an account or not to access them.  Please let me know if there is a better way to share templates.  Now get to work!

Nativity Advent

• Nativity 1
• Nativity 2
• Nativity 3
• Nativity 4