Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
Proverbs 22:6
Good morning, friends!
Today I'm featuring another Start 'em Off post where I share some ideas about how I'm starting Newbie off right and teaching him what it means to love God and love others. When I started this series, I was hopeful other mommas and teachers and fans of kiddos would jump in with some of their own Start 'em Off ideas so we can get a good collection of fun ways to engage our children in learning about Jesus and serving others. At the end of this post, there will be an opportunity for you to share your ideas and check out other ideas that have been shared. I hope you'll jump in!
I'm excited for today's Start 'em Off post because Newbie and I spent some time scrambling this morning to get it ready. I've fallen behind my fall craft wagon, and this morning we made up for some lost time in the creating department.
One of the things the Hubs and I really want to nurture in Newbie is a heart of gratitude. We want to live lives of gratitude towards God, and we want that to overflow into gratitude towards others as well.
I believe the habit of gratitude can transform challenging circumstances into opportunities to see God's faithfulness, His goodness, and His love. When we lost our daughter Eden this summer, we turned our broken hearts to God in gratitude for His plan and the blessing that was our first 10 weeks with Eden, and in turn we saw His faithfulness, goodness, and love unfold in ways we could never have imagined.
We want Newbie to know what it looks like to be thankful in all circumstances- to choose joy, and I believe that starts with modeling a life of gratitude each day.
To help us engage in giving thanks for all things each day, we made a Thankful Tree!
Today I'm featuring another Start 'em Off post where I share some ideas about how I'm starting Newbie off right and teaching him what it means to love God and love others. When I started this series, I was hopeful other mommas and teachers and fans of kiddos would jump in with some of their own Start 'em Off ideas so we can get a good collection of fun ways to engage our children in learning about Jesus and serving others. At the end of this post, there will be an opportunity for you to share your ideas and check out other ideas that have been shared. I hope you'll jump in!
I'm excited for today's Start 'em Off post because Newbie and I spent some time scrambling this morning to get it ready. I've fallen behind my fall craft wagon, and this morning we made up for some lost time in the creating department.
One of the things the Hubs and I really want to nurture in Newbie is a heart of gratitude. We want to live lives of gratitude towards God, and we want that to overflow into gratitude towards others as well.
Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever. -1 Chronicles 16:24
I believe the habit of gratitude can transform challenging circumstances into opportunities to see God's faithfulness, His goodness, and His love. When we lost our daughter Eden this summer, we turned our broken hearts to God in gratitude for His plan and the blessing that was our first 10 weeks with Eden, and in turn we saw His faithfulness, goodness, and love unfold in ways we could never have imagined.
We want Newbie to know what it looks like to be thankful in all circumstances- to choose joy, and I believe that starts with modeling a life of gratitude each day.
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. -1 Thessalonians 5:18
To help us engage in giving thanks for all things each day, we made a Thankful Tree!
This project was a piece of cake. We went out to the backyard and found a branch with lots of tiny branches jutting off of it, then brought it inside and stuck it in a mason jar.
Newbie helped me cut out leaves from construction paper, punch a hole in each, and tie a small piece of thread through the holes.
I asked Newbie what he was thankful for, and I wrote it down on each leaf.
He wanted to help, so I let him write out some of the things he wanted to thank Jesus for today. Today Newbie is grateful for Daddy and dogs. Which I thought was funny because those are totally two of his favorite things.
(I felt a little left out when he didn't say "Momma", so I went ahead and made a "momma" leaf for him. I think he'll be thankful for me when I tell him we're having cheesy spaghetti for lunch today.)
When he fizzled out on the markers, I added a few more things I am thankful for, then stashed a pile of empty leaves and a few markers near the tree.
Each day we'll pick at least one leaf and write something we're thankful for, then hang it up on the tree. As we hang the leaf, we'll thank God for whatever we wrote down: "Thank you, Jesus, for Daddy. And dogs." Ha! I think it must delight the heart of God so very much to hear the thank you's of little hearts.
My guess is that tomorrow Newbie will be thankful for his bath toys and Curious George. Its just a guess. =) But hey, God is the giver of all good things, and around here bath toys and Curious George are on the good list. So I think it works!
Another thing we do around here to Start Newbie Off right? Pumpkin pancakes, baby.
Just kidding. Not really. I don't want my boy growing up and thinking he can go through autumn without scarfing down some pumpkin pancakes...that would be nuts!
Today I'm thankful for my pumpkin pancake-lovin' baby boy. =)
Join in the fun and share some ideas by writing your own Start 'em Off post! Link back to Sprinkles and Wrinkles in your post, and then come back here to link up your blog below. I want to
know what you do, have done, or hope to do with your kiddos to introduce
them to and walk them through the beauty of loving God and loving
others. No idea is too small or too big or too simple or too fun! A craft, a prayer, a verse, a song, a book, anything.What do you do/do you hope to do/have you done to Start 'em Off???
Isaac went through a phase where he would thank God in his prayers for carpet. Seriously don't know where that came from!
ReplyDeletelove the thanks tree! i don't have a blog post about it, but i am in the process of putting togehter a-z bible verses for judah and hope to learn. i also am making a flip book out of 3x5 cards for hope to learn scripture that is a little harder. i think it's so important to learn scripture and it stays with you forever!
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