A Journey of Joy – Page 4 – Faith, Family and Home Learning

Christmas Tree 2013 ~ family traditions

December 7, 2013Written by Joy

We have several family traditions that we like to keep during the Christmas season. One of those traditions that we love to do, is going to pick out our Christmas tree. Every year, usually the Saturday after Thanksgiving, we head out to choose a tree. The past couple of years, our oldest son hasn’t been able to join us, but this year, he made sure that he was off work. We enjoy this time with one another, to bond together as a family and to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. Jesus.

Samuel and Claire

I love watching the kids run from tree to tree, checking out the size, if there are any holes in the tree, is the trunk straight. They look at everything! Even the older two kids get into making sure the tree is just the right one.

Michael and Claire

This day was no exception. It had to be just the right one. They looked at almost every single tree in the lot. It was so much fun and a lot of joy, watching the kids. All the laughing, smiling and joking with one another, brings so much happiness to this momma’s heart.

Sarah and Samuel

They did finally all agree on one tree and then we were on our way home with it, tied to the top of the van and joking all the way home, wondering if we would have a tree still attached to the van.

Once we got home, dad put the tree in the stand and then we got the tree set up in the corner of the room. Dad then gets the lights and puts them on the tree. We usually let the tree settle with the lights and then the next day, the kids put the ornaments on the tree.

Kids decorating tree.

I love watching the kids decorate the tree. They look at each ornament and always ask, “who made this ornament?” Or “who gave us this ornament?” I love reminiscing with the kids about Christmas’ of the past.

Some of the ornaments that are our favorites, I am sharing below. The angel topper is 20 years old. We got that angel when our oldest son was 11 months old. It has been with us through our moves to NC and CO. I look forward to seeing my husband put it on the tree, every year.

Angel Topper

Being from Florida, we are huge Florida Gator fans. When we moved to NC, we had a friend who didn’t want us to forget about Florida and he sent us these ornaments. The kids are so careful when they put these on the tree. They make sure they are up at the top, so they don’t get knocked off.

Gator Ornaments

Other than our angel topper, I think my favorite ornament is one that I painted with the kids. It truly summarizes what the who Christmas season is all about. Jesus. All because God sent His precious Son to us, in a Holy Night.

O Holy Night.

My husband and I do our best to teach our children about Jesus and why we celebrate his birth. While we have some amazing traditions, teaching them about Jesus is our most important one.

What Christmas traditions do you have with your family? I would love to hear about them!

2013 Christmas, family, Jesus, traditions, tree

a Colorado sunrise and sunset

December 2, 2013Written by Joy

The sunrises and sunsets that we have seen since we have been living in Colorado, have truly been amazing. I never get tired of watching God’s creation. This blue and orange sky was just a little more special tonight with the Denver Broncos beating the Kansas City Chiefs. It was almost like God was smiling on us, the Denver Broncos fans. 🙂

The picture of the sunrise was taken with my phone. It just did not do the actual sunrise, justice. It was just beautiful. I enjoyed watching the sun come up, as I was taking my husband to church for his early morning worship band practice. This quiet time with God is so important to me. Enjoying the stillness of God, as He kisses the earth with the sun.

Colorado Sunrise

The sunset was equally as beautiful. Like I said, it was almost like God was smiling on us Denver Broncos fans.

Colorado Sunset

Do you enjoy watching the sun rise or watching the sun set?

2013, photography Broncos, Colorado, Denver, photography, sunrise, sunset

Colorado Symphony ~ field trip

November 26, 2013Written by Joy

A couple of weeks ago, the kids and I were able to attend a program for kids, put on by the Colorado Symphony. We went to a program last year and loved it, so the kids and I were really excited about the concert this year. Music is a big part of our family and any time we have a chance to experience different types of music, we do our best to attend.

Colorado Symphony

This year, the Colorado Symphony played a tribute to Latin Music, Musica Latina: A Symphonic Celebration of the Americas. The conductor, Scott O’neil did an amazing job explaining the different types of beats and rhythm of the songs they played. I was truly excited, because I had never heard any of the composers or songs that the did play.

In the hour long program, they played 7 songs; Alberto Ginastera -“Los trabajadores agricolas” from Estancia, Silvestre Revueltas – Sensemayá, Arturo Marquez – Danzon No. 2, Joaquin Rodrigo – Allegro con spirito from Concierto de Aranjuez for guitar, Traditional – El Mosquito, Jose Pablo Moncayo – Huapango, Alberto Ginastera – “Malambo” from Estancia.

Samuel and Claire waiting for the concert to start.

Once the music started, Scott O’Neil and the Symphony held our attention to the very last note. From the beautiful solos of the guitar and the percussionist playing an all wooden Marimba, the sound was truly amazing. We are truly blessed living in an area, where we can experience the sounds of other cultures.

I highly recommend checking in your area, to see if their is a program like this. It is truly an experience that you soon won’t forget and will be counting down the time, until you can attend another program, like it. I know our family is looking forward to being able to attend another concert soon.

2013, family, field trips, homeschooling Colorado, Colorado Symphony, family, field trip, homeschooling, Latin Music, Marimba, Symphony

My Christmas Wish: A Devotional Prayer Journal for Kids ~ review

November 25, 2013Written by Joy

Disclaimer: I received this ebook in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own thoughts. Affiliate links are included in this post. If you purchase anything, I will get a small percentage. This does not affect your price at all.

As a parent, it is important for me to teach my kids the true meaning of Christmas. While we talk about Jesus being the true meaning of Christmas and we read the bible to show the kids, sometimes, it is nice to have something for the kids to write and look at on their level. This is where Heather Bowen and her “My Christmas Wish: A Devotional Prayer Journal for Kids“, come in.

So what is My Christmas Wish: A Devotional Prayer Journal for Kids? This devotional is a fifteen day journal that will help restate what you have been teaching them. How does this Christmas journal help reiterate what you have been teaching your children? Over the 15 days of this journal, you and your children will read scripture, pray, games, puzzles, journaling, crafts, baking and even service projects.

I mentioned that one of the ways your children will be learning about the true meaning of Christmas, is through journaling. Heather uses an acronym WISH (write, investigate, share and hear). For example, on the first day, the kids will write ways they can obey, they will look up scripture to investigate more, they will share with someone what they have learned and then will hear more from scripture when a parent reads to them.

My Christmas Wish: A Devotional Prayer Journal for Kids is a 69 page devotional that is written for ages 4-12. However, it can be adapted for any age. I found myself enjoying reading the journal. While I haven’t started using this with my kids just yet, I am truly excited to have found a fun way to help the kids understand even more, the true meaning of Christmas. I am looking forward to digging more into scripture, sharing with my children and learning with them ways to not only for us to focus more on Jesus during this Christmas season, but learning ways of sharing with others, the true meaning of Christmas.

Heather, at UpsideDown Homeschooling is having a sale right now for My Christmas Wish: A Devotional Prayer Journal for Kids. You can purchase this great devotional for you and your children for $2.99. Be sure to look at her Gratitude journals while you are at her blog. I know you won’t be disappointed in the product!

2013, family, God, review Christmas, Heather Bowen, Jesus, Journal, My Christmas Wish: A Devotional Prayer Journal for Kids, review

The Answers Book for Kids Volumes 5 and 6 ~ review

November 23, 2013Written by Joy

I am excited about this months books for Moms of Master Books review. That’s right, I said books! We received the two newest books from The Answers Book for Kids by Ken Ham and Bodie Hodge.

If your kids are like mine, then they tend to ask a lot of questions. It is just their way, they are always curious. Sometimes it can be hard to answer questions when you just don’t know how to explain it to them. Especially for me, when it comes to asking questions about the Bible and Creation. It can be hard to explain to young children, to where they can understand. This is where Ken Ham and Bodie Hodges come in at. They have this great series of books called, The Answers Book for Kids that helps you answer those questions that are asked by kids. Yes, these books are actual questions that kids have asked. I can’t wait to tell you about Volume 5 and Volume 6.

The Answers Book for Kids are wonderful! They are small hardback books, with the dimensions of 6×6 inches. They are very bright and colorful and just the right size for small hands to hold. There are 48 pages for each book with 20-22 questions, per book. The pages of the book are very sturdy and are very easy to clean, for when those curious and sticky hands want to look through the book.

The Answers Book for Kids, Volume 5, answers 20 questions from kids about Space and Astronomy. In this book, Ken Ham and Bodie Hodges will answer questions that kids have asked about Space and Astronomy and answer them, by finding the answers from the bible. What I think I love the most, is they give scripture that you can look up to see where they got the answer from. Here are just a few examples of the questions that were asked by kids:

How big is our galaxy?
What is the purpose of stars?
How hot are the sun and other stars?
Will the sun ever run out or blow up?

The Answers Book for Kids, Volume 6, answers 22 questions from kids on Babel and the Ice Age. Here are some of the questions that are answered in this book:

How big was the Tower of Babel?
In what time period was the Tower of Babel built?
What is the Ice Age?
How does an ice age happen?

I love the formats of those books and love how Ken Ham and Bodie Hodges, takes the time time answer these questions that are asked by kids. They use scripture to answer the questions and then explain it to kids, in a way that they can understand.

If you have a curious child, who is constantly asking questions, these books are just for them. I know my children have thoroughly enjoyed reading them. When my kids found out that there were 4 more books in this series, they asked if I could order them!

These books are $7.99 each on the New Leaf Publishing Group website, or you could even buy the ebook for $5.99.

What questions have your kids recently asked you, that have had you stumped or you just didn’t know how to explain the answer to them?

2013, homeschooling, review Astronomy, Babel, Bodie Hodge, creation, God, Ice Age, Ken Ham, Space, The Answers Book for Kids Volume 5, The Answers Book for Kids Volume 6