Meaningful Days of Advent

I found a VERY COOL blog yesterday (by designer Ali Edwards) showing how to make a small memory book for each day in December and was inspired to make one with our family. One thing I really like about the idea is its potential for helping us to make the most of the days of Advent. As I looked through her examples and at my own inspiration books, I'd like to suggest a twist on the memory book idea. I hope to use the added incentive to make the days count- not only to do fun things- but to bring meaning and illumination to this season of preparation which is so rich with depth and meaning. An easy way to start is to find out what meaning lies beneath things you already do--- such as the Christmas tree, lights, or Advent wreaths. An excellent resource is Lisa Whelchel's The ADVENTure of Christmas. By making the memory book and journaling with the kids WHY we do the things we do, we can added another layer to the building of faith along with making memories. I don't expect that every entry in our December Daily book will have deep meaning (some may just show mugs of gourmet hot chocolate or a fun craft), but by starting to intentionally to look for the why's behind the traditions, I know we will have a rich and blessed Advent, filled with the Truth rather than just the all too familiar holiday hustle and bustle ending with the "stuff". Praying your family finds creative ways to make the most of this Advent, preparing and rejoicing for His coming~
Katherine

Raising Godly Daughters

I was recently asked for recommendations for resources to prepare for discussing "girl" topics. We have used many wonderful resources which are worthy of sharing. I have just ordered several more (which I'll try to review in the not TOO distant future) which I hope to use in the next year or two with my girls. (Raising a Modern Day Princess, Passport2Purity, Secret Keeper Girls, Six Ways to Keep the "Little" in Your Girl) Below are the books we've already used and recommend. I also recommend anything by Vicky Courtney, Dannah Gresh, or Leslie Ludy. These women have a passion to see a virtuous generation of godly girls survive the bombardment of their culture and mature into godly women. For more information on this topic- check out Generations of Virtue. Do you have resources you don't see listed? PLEASE COMMENT and share them with us!!!

Helpful Resources for Character Training

I found several resources at the website which I am hoping will be helpful resources for character-training in our home. I thought I'd pass the link on before I forgot, but I hope to write an update of how we've used them and the impact they've made on our growth sometime down the road!

Doorposts appears to be a Reformed ministry for homeschooling families. They have been operating for a number of years and have developed some neat helps for families. I am always happy to support families who serve the community by working together.

Hope you find something helpful to growing the disciples in your home!
~Katherine

Am I being modest?

Check out this great quiz with your tween or teen- or consider using it to begin training a school age girl how to think about fashion. Click around the Secret Keeper Girl website for great articles and tools for keeping your girls on the path to purity!

Generations by Sara Groves

This song has been one of my favorites for awhile, and it encourages me to make good choices, make the hard choices, and to press on and do what is important now, because it WILL make a difference- not just for my family, not just for my children, but for my children's children and beyond. Here is one version- another link to a different video below. Enjoy-
katherine



Another version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuVhVX9IJL4

Sermons to Aid Us in Raising Disciples

Hi friends,
I thought I would share a couple of sermons from the fall that relate to raising up disciples at home- and it's importance.

"Passing on the Faith" from Oct 18, 2009 (scroll down on that page)

and "Finishing Well" about leaving a legacy of faith, by Pastor Ray from September 27, 2009.

Be nurtured,
Katherine

Set Some Goals!

Two posts in one day, WOW! I just watched the "rest of the story" about Tim Tebow which aired on a Focus on the Family commercial during the Super Bowl. It's a great story for MANY reasons- but in listening to his mom and dad talk about parenting, I noted that she emphasized, that though they fell far short, they had goals and aims for their children, particularly to know the Lord. This echoed a theme I've been reading in George Barna's "Revolutionary Parenting". So, taking the advice of this mother and father with 5 grown children who love the Lord (5 for 5, not bad!)- and confirmation from Barna, I'd say setting goals, particularly goals for the spiritual walk and growth- are a GOOD IDEA! Watch the interview here. Oh, and she homeschooled all 5 kids through high school. Wow.

Resources on Sale!

Thought I would pass this along. It does include some materials that are for the homeschool which may not apply to everyone- but there are a lot of other great resources available as well. I loved that question- because it is vital for us to ask. Who will win the hearts or our children? Will it be us? Will it be our Lord? or, will it be their peers, their favorite singer or movie star? Even if the resources offered aren't what you need right now, I encourage you to think about that question and what your family is doing to work on the answer. God bless you as you seek to make disciples at home.
Katherine

Using Literature to help Disciple Your Children

I have found that one of the best partners in the process of helping my children to become Disciples of Jesus is a really good book! Great Christian literature steps into the Titus 2 model and walks alongside us - letting the older teach the younger the ways of the Lord.

Some of my favorites have been Louisa May Alcott's Little Women (the movie, while good, does not maintain the distinctly Christian, discipling attributes), The Original Elsie Series by Martha Finley (though I recommend starting this with younger girls say 5-7, as an older girl in school will find it over the top and not be able to relate), and of course the Chronicles of Narnia.

By reading these books (and so many others!) aloud, we have the opportunity to discuss their successes and failures and apply them to our own lives. Once the child is able to read them independently, hopefully the lessons will be reinforced time and again.

What books have you read to your children that were very helpful in teaching your children the virtues of the faith?
As you share, note the gender and age of the child to whom you read the book.