Hi everyone! I’m so excited for today’s post!
Mainly because I’m partnering with one of my favorite ministries, Samaritan’s purse. And also because I have a fun FREEBIE for you today AND a giveaway!
The bloggers of iHomeschool Network have come together to help support the Samaritan’s Purse Literacy Campaign. We’re sharing our favorite books, along with some fun family activities, as well as giveaways!
The Jesse Tree
The past couple years we’ve been putting up a Jesse Tree in our home to help remind us of the true meaning of Christmas.
The Jesse Tree gets it’s name from Isaiah 11:1-2 “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon Him.”
The main Branch is a Biblical sign of the expected coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ and the faithfulness of God. The other branches of the tree represent a piece of the stories that make up the whole story of God’s relationship with His people. As we read through the stories we see God’s people awaiting the coming of the Messiah. Similar to how we anxiously wait through each day of December in anticipation of celebrating the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ.
Creating a Jesse Tree for your family is a fun, hands-on way to walk through the story of Jesus. As you read through the daily devotions, you’ll add an ornament to your tree. Each one representing the ancestors of Jesus and the events leading to Jesus’ birth.
I created the Jesse Tree Advent Unit along with ornaments for our family to use with the study. The ornaments come in black and white so your kiddos can color their own ornaments, and full color if you prefer a ready-to-go pack!
–> Download the Jesse Tree Advent Study <–
The download includes the Jesse Tree printable ornaments, as well as a daily reading schedule starting on December 1st and running through December 24th. Each day you will read the associated scripture for that day. Then have your kiddos color and hang the appropriate ornament on your Jesse Tree.
Optional: Have students pick out one key verse from the day’s reading, and copy it onto the backside of that day’s ornament as a nice reminder.
The Tree:
We normally use a small Christmas tree to hang our ornaments on, but you can use anything that works for your family. I’ve seen people create a tree silhouette with black construction paper taped to the wall. Or you can even have your kiddos create a lapbook, and add the ornaments to that for a lasting keepsake! The download includes a cover page for a lapbook, or you can just use it as a fun coloring page!
Giveaway!
To go along with my printables, I’m also offering a giveaway for one of our favorite Christmas books, The Jesse Tree by Geraldine McCaughrean.
What’s the story?
Mr. Butterfield, the carpenter, has serious work to do – he’s carving a new Jesse tree inside the church. But a curious young boy wants to know what he’s doing, and is very persistent. In order to explain his carving, Mr. Butterfield begins retelling the great stories from the Bible that he knows and loves so much. As he does so, and in spite of his short temper, small miracles begin to happen.
This colorful story goes so well with the Jesse Tree daily devotions in my download, so we read it as we go through the month of December!
Enter to win a free copy of The Jesse Tree! (CLOSED)
A special note from Samaritan’s Purse:
“Literacy is essential for those who yearn to escape poverty. Yet all too often, poverty-stricken children never learn to read and write because they cannot afford to attend school. Your $15 gift can provide supplies or a month’s tuition for a child who is eager to learn and ready for God’s wisdom.” ~ Samaritan’s Purse
Wow, so I know that’s a lot for one day, but I hope you’ll enjoy the Jesse Tree download and giveaway. And I pray that this post helps raise awareness for the Samaritan’s Purse Literacy Campaign!
If you choose to participate in the Jesse Tree Advent activity: Make sure to send me a photo of your tree, I would love to see them! Or leave a comment with a link to pics your blog in the comments below!
My favorite winter scent is that of a freshly cut Christmas tree, it brings back so many memories and I hope to give my kids the same pleasure when they are grown up and celebrating the holidays with their kiddos.
Cinnamon sugar cookies!
Favorite winter scent is cinnamon sticks. anything apple cinnamon… especially burning in a fireplace . thanks for the giveaway…been looking to do this this year, never tried to use the Jesse Tree before. Thanks
I love the scent of vanilla all year round! 🙂
my favorite scent (for Christmastime and always) is newborn. <3 especially at this time of year when we think of baby Jesus, there is nothing like the fresh tenderness of an infant. they are so precious, and they have such a clean, yet personal fragrance when you snuggle them close, your nose nestled into their neck… it's beautiful. breathtaking. a priceless memory. to this day, I still have a few pieces clothing my babies wore that smell like "them." <3
My favorite scent is cinnamon. 🙂
favorite winter scent would be real christmas tree and a fire burning in the fire place with cookies baking in the kitchen 🙂
My favorite outside scent is the crispness of the air before and after a snow storm. The way that it tingles your nose and makes you want to go in and sip hot cocoa.
My inside favorite is the smell of baking, from the flour, cinnamon, the warm smell of the oven, and the sweet mouth watering smell of the cookies when you first take them out.
Yum I’m hungry now!
I also LOVE the smell of cinnamon, especially during the winter season!!
My fave winter scent is a cinnamon candle.