November Link Love

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Here are the handful of links I have to share with you this month:

Learning How to Be Blessed – Allison Vesterfelt What does it mean to be blessed and what if I’m blessed and I don’t know it? Great post and reminder to keep my perspective in line.

There are Better Things to be than Rich – Becoming Minimalist (thanks to my sister for this and the previous link) There is nothing wrong with wealth and being rich doesn’t mean you don’t have these characters he talks about. For many of us, though, we’d live more fulfilled lives if we began chasing after these things that are better than being rich with as much intensity as we seek riches.

Your happiness… is not my responsibility – Renee Tougas Thoughts on whether other people’s happiness (even our children’s) is our responsibility

Slow Down Challenge – Jeff Goins This 5 day challenge won’t take much time out of your day but is a good one to take the time to do as we head into what might be the busiest month of the year. It’s hard to remember to savor and appreciate what we have in front of us when we have so many things to do..

Church for Men Did you know that the typical US congregation has an adult crowd that’s 61% female and 39% male? How about that over 70% of the boys being raised in the church will abandon it during their teens and twenties? Neither did I. This website is an interesting read. Their purpose is to help the local church reach more men and boys.

A Man Discovers He’s Sitting with ‘kids’ he saved from the Nazis – I had not heard of Nicholas Winton prior to this video and post. Even when everyone around him was saying there wasn’t going to be a war he did what he knew he should and made a plan to save the lives of the children around him.

What have been your favorite finds in November?

Linking up with Vanderbilt Wife,  Fellowship Fridays

Menu Plan and Goals

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I’m excited! Coming up on the blog the month of December is going to be all things Christmas. You can expect posts with ideas for gifts, holiday recipes, and thoughts on Christmas and the season. What I’m looking forward to the most is having some of my family guest post! I’m excited to introduce them to you and share their thoughts and recipes.

Since Thanksgiving is this week, I’m cutting back on posting. I know I’m not going to be spending time reading and browsing the internet – I’m going to be enjoying my family! So, instead of writing posts that nobody is going to have time to read, I’ve decided to take focus on December.

This week is a short one. When it comes to menu planning the name of the game is to use up what’s in the fridge and hopefully avoid grocery shopping. Here’s our (non exciting) menu before we head into Thanksgiving activities:

Breakfasts:

Lunches:

  • Chicken Gravy over Potatoes
  • Leftovers
  • Salad
  • Baked Sweet Potatoes

Suppers:

  • Creamy Potato Soup (with veggies added in – carrots, celery, and zucchini)
  • Salad
  • Leftovers

Goals (affiliate links):

Linking up with Menu Plan Monday

Menu Plan and Goals

Truth in the Tinsel

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This Christmas I’ll have a child that’s almost three. She soaks up every thing, asks questions, and figures things out in her little brain. I don’t want her to think Christmas is about presents, trees, lights, and cookies. Those things are all fun but that’s not what the season is about. I want her to know the true reason for Christmas – about the greatest gift ever.

Truth in the Tinsel - a way for kids to learn the real story of Christmas

There are many ways to go about this, but this year we have decided to use Truth in the Tinsel: An Advent Experience for Little Hands. (Affiliate links used) Each day there is a clue, scripture, ornament to make, and discussion. The curriculum is written for preschool to early elementary aged kids. An added bonus, there are downloadable ornaments you can purchase if you aren’t crafty or to help with those extra crazy days (we know December will be full of them).

This will be our first year using Truth in the Tinsel, but I think my daughter is going to love it. She’s at the age where she is getting into crafts and loves creating things and learning. This will be perfect.

If you choose to use Truth in the Tinsel you’ll want to print it off or at least look it over before December 1st actually arrives. This will give you time to look over the supply list and see what you have sitting around the house, what you need to keep (you are going to want to keep the lid from that empty oatmeal container), and what you need to buy. My crafting supplies are pretty limited since we are just getting into that stage with my daughter so I’m having to do some scrounging, a craft store run, and substituting for what I don’t want to purchase. If you have a nice craft cabinet, you might not have to buy anything.

I love how a full supply list is given as well as a daily supply list. You can easily find what craft the pop-dots or buttons are used for and decide if you can substitute something else.

(Don’t forget, if you don’t want to do the crafts or worry about rounding up supplies you can use the downloadable ornaments!)

Have you used Truth in the Tinsel? What are you doing to keep the focus on Christ during December in your family?

Truth in the Tinsel - teaching your kids the true meaning of Christmas