HomeEducatorMom

What is Christmas?

December 13, 2012 by Betty

As my kids are getting to be at an age where they are starting to understand and ask questions about Christmas, I find that I have to think through my answers before answering them. Why? Because I wanted it to be purposeful and pointing them to the real reason for the season, Jesus’ birth. With that in mind, here are 10 things that we did to give us a Christ-centered Christmas. Hopefully you’ll find some of these ideas helpful for your family as well.

1. Study some of the names of Jesus.

As part of our homeschool this week, we looked up some verses in the Bible to find some of the names of God. The boys were so excited to learn these names that they couldn’t wait to share what they learned with Bubba, their dad. After learning that God has a ton more names than what’s listed, Buddy asked if I could give him a list of all of God’s names. We then cut up those names into strips of different colors and made a garland for our Christmas tree. They got a chance to hang it and enjoy the decorations.

To get a printout of the names of Jesus, click on this link Names of Jesus.

2. Sing Christmas songs.

To get a list of some of our favorite Christmas songs, click my post 12 Classic Christian Christmas Songs.

These songs all reference Jesus. They are classics and a must have in your music library. At times it’s neat to see my kids sing or hum the songs with hand motions.

3. Talk about Santa.

We did not major on Santa Clause, but we did touch upon the potential historical St. Nicholas and what legend had to say about him. Afterwards, we made up our own version of Santa Clause delivering gifts on skates. We had a good laugh! Let your kids use their imagination and hear how Santa would deliver gifts. You can read up on The Legend of the Christmas Stocking by Rick Osborne to learn about Santa’s beginnings.

4. Bible memorization

Another activity that we did was to memorize Bible verses. I’ve listed five verses that you and your kids can memorize. We made up our own hand motions to them so that it’s easier to memorize. If you’re interested in a longer list of verses, check the reference section at the end of post. To get the whole account of the birth of Christ, read the books of Matthew and Luke. BibleGateway.com is a wonderful free Bible resources where you can read the Bible online or find Bible verses by theme.

• Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV)

• John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV)

• Philippians 2:8-10 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. (NIV)

• Luke 2:10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

• 2 Corinthians 9:15 (KJV) Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

5. Make some candy cane crafts

To see what we did, read my posts, Christmas Craft for Kids: Beaded Candy Canes and Chenille Stem Candy Canes.

6. Find teachable moments

Whether it’s about Santa at the mall or it’s the Christmas shoe boxes that your kids put together for needy children, be on a lookout for those times where you can teach some meaningful lessons.

7. Create memories and traditions together

I know that this is one of the busiest time of the year for people. There are gifts to purchase, cards to send out, Christmas parties to go to, etc. On top of all this, we all have our normal daily grind that we have to go through as well. It’s chaotic to say the least. That’s why a couple of years ago, I decided that I cannot do it all and still have energy and time for my family. So, I make it a point to focus more on my family time and create memories and traditions together. One Christmas tradition that we have is making a birthday cake for Jesus and our kids look forward to it every year.

8. Minimize holiday stress

This is easier said than done. If we all can minimize our stress, then we could sell millions of books and be well off. If you’re like me, you are a work in progress. You have not arrived, but you’re on the road there. One way that I do this is by recognizing that I will not be able to please everyone with gifts or attending their parties. It’s hard to say no to Christmas parties, but it’s a stress reliever.

9. Teach children generosity

Teaching your kids about being generous is a life-long lesson. Not that it takes a life-long time to teach them but the impact is life-long. Likewise being generous is not seasonal, but in every season of life. There are many benefits physically and physiologically to being generous. For example, by helping others, they are able to see that their needs and issues are minuet. Likewise, helping someone who you don’t expect anything in return builds character and pleases God.

10. Make a birthday cake for Jesus

We do this every year on Christmas Eve. Your kids will love making the cake together, singing happy birthday to Jesus, and eating it. This is a nice way to make Jesus more tangible to your kids. Need some ideas for Jesus’ birthday cake? click Happy Birthday, Jesus.

Resources:

For a longer list of Christmas Bible verses visit this site: 20 Great Bible Verses for Christmas Cards.

Online Bible resources: BibleGateway.com.

To Show Them Jesus

Filed Under: Winter Tagged With: activities to do this Christmas with kids

Sushi Bowl Recipe

December 11, 2012 by Betty

My family loves sushi. A couple of times out of the month I’d make California rolls and my kids just couldn’t have enough of it so I decided to change things up a little bit and convert regular sushi into a sushi bowl. This sushi bowl turns out to be a hit and now one of our favorite family meals. Here’s my version of the sushi bowl.

Ingredients:

2 cups short-grain brown rice
3 1/2 cups water
3 (4-inch) square sheets nori seaweed
6 ounces extra-firm tofu
2 avocado, peeled, pitted, and thinly sliced
3 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted
4 green onions, chopped (optional)

Instructions:

Rinse and drain the rice two or three times. Combine the rice and water in a rice cooker or a saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat, cover, and simmer gently until the water is absorbed, about 45 minutes.

Toast the nori in a preheated 300F degree oven or a medium-hot skillet for a few minutes. Crumble or chop coarsely.

Drain the tofu and pat it dry. Cut the block of tofu lengthwise through the middle to make four 1/4-to 1/2-inch thick sheets of tofu. Two at a time, cook in a dry skillet or well-seasoned skillet over medium-high for a few minutes until browned on one side. Flip gently, then continue cooking for another minute or so, until the tofu is firm, golden, and bouncy. Let cool, enough to handle, then cute crosswise into matchsticks. Repeat with the remaining sheets.

When the rice is done, scoop the rice into individual bowls and top with tofu and avocado slices following with some yummy homemade Ponzo sauce (see below). Lastly, toss in toasted nori and add a sprinkling of sesame seeds. Garnish with chopped up green onion. (optional) Served immediately with Orange-Ginger Dipping Sauce or Ponzo sauce. See Easy Homemade Ponza Sauce below for recipe. Enjoy!

Makes 4-6 servings.

Notes: Other substitutes for tofu are wild salmon filets, chicken or beef. To avoid GM foods (Genetically Modified foods or biotech foods) use organic tofu.

Easy Homemade Ponzo Sauce

3 tablespoons low-sodium tamari soy sauce
3 tablespoons rice vinegar (brown or white)
3 tablespoons mirin (Japanese seasoning wine)

Makes about 1/2 cup

Ponzo sauce from The Taste for Living World Cookbook by Beth Ginsberg and Mike Milken and sushi bowl recipe adapted from 101 Cookbooks.

To get a snippet of GM foods, watch Food Inc., a documentary. Your library might carry this.

Chenille Stem Candy Cane

December 6, 2012 by Betty

As I was looking through my Christmas stuff, I found some more read and white pipe cleaners and my kids wanted to make some chenille stem candy canes as they brought back memories of Christmas past. This is one memorable craft that your kids can do and be reminded of the reality of God’s love as He came to live as one of us.

Supplies:

1/2 Red Chenille Stem (or Pipe Cleaner)
½ White Chenille Stem (or Pipe Cleaner)
Scissors
1 Green Chenille Stem (or Pipe Cleaner) (Optional)
Bell (Optional)

Directions:

1. Twist the red and white chenille stems together.
2. Form into a candy cane, and trim the ends if needed.
3. To make a bow with green chenille stem, first make a loop on one end, then string the bell through. Make another loop. Adjust the bell so that it sits in the middle of the two loops. Using the remaining of the green chenille stem wrap the bow around the candy cane.
4. Candy canes could be used as a Christmas ornament.

To view the Candy Cane Poem and related children’s books see the post on Christmas Craft for Kids: Beaded Candy Cane.

Enjoy!

Filed Under: Crafts, Winter Tagged With: chenille stem candy canes

Edible Snowflakes

December 4, 2012 by Betty

In keeping with the season and continuing on our reading of Snip, Snip… Snow! and other snow books, I decided to do an edible snowflake activity with the kids. They had a fun time and the best part was eating it. Here’s how:

Ingredients:

Flour tortillas, any vegetable oil (I used grapeseed oil), powdered sugar, parchment paper.

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Microwave the tortillas for about 10-15 seconds until they are soft and warm. Fold each tortilla as if you were folding paper or coffee filter to make a snowflake. Read this post Snip, Snip… Snow! on how to cut snowflake instructions. Use kitchen scissors to cut shapes…just like you were using paper. Unfold the tortilla. Lay parchment paper on cookie sheet and brush oil on both sides of snowflake. Bake the snowflake on the cookie sheet for about 5 minutes or until it’s lightly browned and crisp. Remove from oven and sprinkle with powdered sugar or any other edible toppings you would like. Now, enjoy this yummy treat!

Note: In my quest for healthier options, I tried using whole wheat tortillas, but sadly they tasted like chewy cardboard, so you’re better off sticking with your white flour tortillas.

For instructions on making colorful snowflakes, read this post Colorful Snowflakes.

Recipe adapted from MamaJenn.

Filed Under: Books and Activities, Indoors Activities, Winter Tagged With: extension activities for children's snow books

12 Classic Christian Christmas Songs

November 30, 2012 by Betty

One way our family celebrates this season is through singing. Here are some of our favorite Christmas songs to remind us of God’s love by sending his one and only Son into the world to save us from sin. I’ve included sample lyrics for each song and some videos for singing along. Enjoy!

1. Away In A Manger (James R. Murray)

Sample Lyrics:

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
the little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes;
I love thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
and stay by my side till morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay
close by me forever, and love me, I pray;
bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
and take us to heaven to live with thee there.

To hear this song, view this video:

Matt Mattero – Away In A Manger from mattmin1 on GodTube.

2. The First Noel (Traditional English Carol)

Sample Lyrics:
The first Noel the angel did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
in fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.

Refrain:

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
born is the King of Israel.

They looked up and saw a star
shining in the east, beyond them far;
and to the earth it gave great light,
and so it continued both day and night.

(Refrain)

To hear this song, watch this video:

The First Noel from beckylschanck on GodTube.

3. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Charles Wesley & Felix Mendelssohn)

Sample Lyrics:

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King,
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th’ angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King!”
Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail th’ incarnate Deity,
pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King!”

To hear this song, view this video:

Hark the Herald Angels Sing from crosspurposelcgs on GodTube.

4. Joy To The World (Isaac Watts)
Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Sing along to this popular carol here:

5. O Little Town of Bethlehem (Phillips Brooks & Lewis H. Redner)
Sample Lyrics:
O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie;
above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting light;
the hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary,
and gathered all above,
while mortals sleep, the angels keep
their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars together,
proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the king,
and peace to all on earth!

How silently, how silently,
the wondrous gift is given;
so God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him, still
the dear Christ enters in.

To hear this song watch this video:

Matt Mattero – O Little Town Of Bethlehem from mattmin1 on GodTube.

6. Silent Night (Joseph Mohr & Franz Gruber)

Sample Lyrics:

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
‘round yon virgin, mother and child
Holy infant, so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly

7. O Come All Ye Faithful

Sample Lyrics:

O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him
Born the King of Angels:

Chorus:
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of Heaven above!
Glory to God
In the highest:

To hear this song by Jeremy Camp, see this video:

Jeremy Camp – O Come All Ye Faithful from jeremy-camp on GodTube.

8. Adore Him (Kari Jobe)

To see the lyrics and hear this song, see this video:

9. Mary Did You Know (Mark Lowry & Buddy Green)
Sample Lyrics:
Mary, did you know
that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know,
that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you’ve delivered,
will soon deliver you.
Mary, did you know
that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know
your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know,
that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby,
you’ve kissed the face of God.
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb.
Mary, did you know
that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know,
that your baby boy is heaven’s perfect lamb?
This sleeping child you’re holding, is the great I AM

Listen to Mark Lowry and the Gather Vocal Band sing this song on video:

Mark Lowry: Mary Did You Know. from shadowwalker21 on GodTube.

10. Immanuel (Michael Card)

Sample Lyrics:

A sign shall be given
A virgin will conceive
A human baby bearing
Undiminished deity
The glory of the nations
A light for all to see
That hope for all who will embrace
His warm reality

Chorus:
Immanuel
Our God is with us
And if God is with us
Who could stand against us
Our God is with us
Immanuel

For all those who live in the shadow of death
A glorious light has dawned
For all those who stumble in the darkness
Behold your light has come
(chorus)

So what will be your answer?
Will you hear the call?
Of Him who did not spare His son
But gave him for us all
On earth there is no power
There is no depth or height
That could ever separate us
From the love of God in Christ
(chorus 2 x)

To hear this song by Michael Card see this video:

Immanuel from stevenliz91 on GodTube.
11. We Are the Reason (David Meece)
Sample Lyrics:

As little children we’d dream of Christmas morn
And all the gifts and toys we knew we’d find
But we never realized a baby born one blessed night
Gave us the greatest gift of our lives

We are the reason that He gave His life
We were the reason that He suffered and died
To a world that was lost He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live

As the years went by we learned more of our gifts
The giving of ourselves and what that means
On a dark and cloudy day a man hung crying in the rain
Because of love
Because of love

*Chorus
I finally found the reason for living
It’s in giving every part of my heart to Him (every part to Him)
And all that I do every word that I say (you know I’ll be saying)
I will give all my life just for Him, just for Him (everything for Him)

We are the reason that He gave His life
We are the reason that He suffered and died
To a world that was lost He gave all He could give (all that he could give all)
To show us the reason to live

He is the reason to live
(don’t you know do you know the reason
that he came, oh he came to save us
when he gave his life for us) he suffered and died
To a world that was lost He gave everything (everything that He had He gave)
To show us the reason to live

To sing along, watch this video: