Advent Season

ISAIAH 11:1

Out of the stump of David's family

will grow a shoot.

Jesus comes as a small, green shoot and whispers to us in our noisy world:  "Right where you are, look for the small glimpses of My love unfurling around you like a slender leaf, like the branches of a tree."

"Out of the stump came one tender branch that would grow right into a crown of thorns, right into a rugged cross, right into a ladder--our ladder back to God."

As Christmas nears, our Jesse tree helps us prepare for Jesus's coming.  

Each night, until his birth, we unwrap a part of the story and place a piece of straw in the manger to prepare a comfy place for His arrival.

 

Come celebrate the best love story of all time with us!

Advent celebrations from Christmas Past

https://cyndi-ella.blogspot.com/search?q=Jesse+Tree

“Unwrapping the Greatest Gift

Love Advent season and the nightly ritual with Ella as we make the journey from The Place Where Love Grows to the Never-Ending Christmas.  Its our quiet time together each night where were celebrate the best love story of all time!

Our Jesse Tree ornaments were handmade back when Ella was a toddler and are cherished every year during this season of anticipation. https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/8263750636378117994/1662489515595442533.  

First, we read the scripture/story each day, ask/answer questions, and pass on God’s blessings.  Next, we place the appropriate ornament on a special tree, add one piece of straw to the manger, and end in prayer.  

   

Day after day we repeat this ritual as we retrace His lineage, prepare a comfy place in the manger, and fall in love with Him all over again.  

May your greatest gift this season be His birth!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

Ornaments made with love by Ella

Advent Traditions:  Jesse Tree and Wreath

Advents of Christmas Past

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?rinli=1&pli=1&blogID=8263750636378117994#editor/target=post;postID=293937031112283902;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=24;src=postname

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?rinli=1&pli=1&blogID=8263750636378117994#editor/target=post;postID=1662489515595442533;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=0;src=postname

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?rinli=1&pli=1&blogID=8263750636378117994#editor/target=post;postID=8007809198609956448;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=23;src=postname

A birthday celebration and a bit of Christmas magic...

Christmas...

...was a little hectic this year--not in the shopping-kind-of-way, but in the moving EVERYTHING in our house, garage, and attics, so the long-awaited home remodel could begin.  

Ella asked Santa for the usual wooden top and candy cane (which he obliged:).  

He also surprised her with roller skates and a special handmade Luke Skywalker costume--complete with Jedi robe.  

She played violin in her school's Christmas program.

Made gingerbread cookies with her friend, Gabby.

Stayed true to Christmas pasts--celebrating the journey and birth of our great King.

Enjoyed Elf Shennigans:  "Three Kings" 

Movers

Munchers

Snowman

Coveted daddy time

And...ended the season with our gift of experience:  

family massages to relax those-oh-so-sore-moving-muscles.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Season of Joy

Festivals, Family, Friends, Food...and the birth of a King

  

 

Nutcracker Soldier

Dickens on the Strand

:  :  :  :  :  Joseph, Mary, Jesus, Lamb  :  :  :  :  :  

When we got home from the Children's Christmas program at church, Ella wanted us to re enact, so she could be baby Jesus.  And of course, it needed to happen in kid time...right now.  Troy grabbed a towel and some rope, I grabbed a scarf from her dress-up bin,  Dag was hooded in her sheep blanket, and Ella was wrapped in swaddling clothing and laid in the manger.  

  :  :  :  :  :  School Program  :  :  :  :  :  

:  :  :  :  :  Surprise Visit from Big Sis, Josie  :  :  :  :  :  

:  :  :  :  :  Nawnie, Dag, and Ella  :  :  :  :  :  

:  :  :  :  :  Moody Gardens with Cousins  :  :  :  :  :  

:  :  :  :  :  A King is Born  :  :  :  :  :  

 :  :  :  :  :  Celebration of His Birth  :  :  :  :  :  

 

:  :  :  :  :  The Making of His Cake  :  :  :  :  :  

Season of Sadness...

A family grieving the loss of such a remarkable man, husband, son, brother, teacher, friend, and life-long learner.  We all feel cheated that he was taken from us so young and unexpectedly--yet we are grateful to have had him in our lives for the time we had.  His greatest gifts were his knowledge, compassion, and love of family and teaching, and I was always so proud to call him my brother-in-law.

R.I.P. Sweet John

Love you sister!