Advent and Family Inspiration

I love that our family serves at Saint Luke's together. Noelle, Elijah, and Lauren are often at church during the week either visiting me or taking care of Sunday School and Nursery projects. I find it humorous that after being here for over 2 years, Lauren still asks, "Where are all the people?" when they stop by during the week. 

The picture on the right is the Advent craft Noelle came up with to help families make Christmastime about Jesus. All it took was some coordination, a few Christmas decorations, a hundred or so Advent candles, and a large willow tree that blew down in one of our member's yard. Now our kids can't wait till we "do Advent" each night. 

After dinner, we dim the lights, light the candles, and read a devotional. Lauren always asks to read. I usually say that she can when she gets bigger but one night, when Noelle was at a meeting, I let her read. Lauren immediately started telling us about her favorite Bible Story - Jonah. Things were going well and I was thinking I may actually put her in charge of reading each night but then the mad snowmen started getting intertwined with Jonah running from God. I thought it best to interrupt and close in prayer before Elijah got too confused. Maybe we will wait till she gets a little bigger...

Our faith is to be lived out everyday, not just when "all the people are at church." As 2010 draws to a close, I want to thank my family for letting me share a few everyday stories about them with our church e.g., missing Jesus at my mother-in-law's house and Thankfulness.