Wow!  It's been a reeeeeally long time since I've been here.  I'm loving reading over all my old blog entries!  So many things I had forgotten about! 

If any of the 'powers that be' come around deleting abandoned blogs, please leave this one as I want to go through and save all these old entries so I never forget all those precious times I would never remember without these posts.

Welcome to Freebie Friday!

A week from today is Christmas! This time of year, as we turn our thoughts towards the birth of Christ, is the perfect time to share the BEST freebie of all with kids! The free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ!

Romans 6:23 tells us:

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

And in John 3:16 we learn:

For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

and Acts 16:31 tells us

. . . Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved . . .

It is all so simple, and it's FREE! Click here to find freebies that will help you share with children how Jesus died for our sins and offers us eternal life as a free gift.

It's the BEST freebie of all!

I will see you next year!

Happy homeschooling,

Jamin

This was another idea that I saw at a Baby Shower recently.  Again, very simple, but I had never thought of doing a baby gift like that OR seen it at another baby shower.

All one lady did, was buy 3 sleepers BUT she bought them in graduated sizes.  6 months, 8 months and 12 months.  What a good idea!  I love it. 

Just thought I'd share it with you.....

This was something I saw at a Baby Shower a little while ago.  One lady had been to a craft show and bought 3 receiving blankets and a baby quilt for the baby.  What was so neat was how the receiving blankets were displayed.

They were tied together with strips of material.  SO simple, but so effective.  So, there were these 3 receiving blankets folded into a square, then they were kinda gift wrapped with a long strip of muslin material and had a small bow.  SOOO cute.

When I wrapped these holiday pillowcases , I did the same thing.  I folded them carefully to the same size and stacked them.  Then I used Christmas ribbon to tie them together.  I think they were a nicer presentation that way.  I need to remember this tip!  Smile

So, I have this little girl in my life that I babysit.  She comes from a pretty well off family that buys a lot.  I was trying to think of what to get her for Christmas and I thought of holiday pillowcases. 

I went to our local fabric store and they were having a GREAT sale on good fabric - almost all were $16 a meter and up - on sale for $4.  Yes!

I bought 4 cute prints - kites, Noah's Ark, space, and flowers....  But there the material sat.  I just haven't had time to sew them up AND my sewing area is a dungeon. 

(SIGH - I've combined my storage and laundry area this year - and my sewing area is in there, too.  It's not working well.  The sewing desk gets piled with items to be mended and it just isn't appealing to sit down to sew AND two days ago, our fluorescent lights stopped working in there.  I need some new lights, but I haven't had a chance to pick them up.....)

Was talking to a friend about it, and she suggested having the girls sew them.  What a good idea.  They are a gift for their friend, as well....  And I have been wanting to have them start sewing AND it is a perfect project for beginners - all straight lines....

Anyway, I brought our sewing machine upstairs to the dining room table.  Pinned one edge of a pillowcase and got one girl sewing.  Pinned as fast as I could - barely keeping ahead of them!  AND Redhead AND Jewel (12 and 10) sewed 2 pillowcases each!  They loved it.  Had no problem sewing a straight line (or mostly straight) and they were thrilled to actually make something usable.  Very cool!

Here are a couple links:

Easy Holiday Pillowcases - the easiest method possible!

Holiday Pillowcases by Crafty Chic - a little advanced with 2 different fabrics

It sure was a positive project AND making it part of our Christmas Home School got it done! 

I posted this 2 years ago on my blog.  I still love it , so I thought I would share it again.  I don't dislike Santa...but Jesus is the real reason for the season!  Only 1 more week until Christmas!

Why Jesus is Better Than Santa Claus

By Rev. James Spellman of Ohio

*Santa lives at the North Pole... JESUS is everywhere.

*Santa rides in a sleigh... JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

*Santa comes but once a year... JESUS is an ever present help.

*Santa fills your stockings with goodies... JESUS supplies all your needs.

*You have to wait in line to see Santa... JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

*Santa lets you sit on his lap... JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

*Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, what's your name?"... JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our head.

*Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly... JESUS has a heart full of love.

*All Santa can offer is HO HO HO... JESUS offers health, help and hope.

*Santa says "You better not cry"... JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you."

*Santa's little helpers make toys... JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

*Santa may make you chuckle but...JESUS gives you a joy that is your strength.

*While Santa puts gifts under your tree... JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.

Its obvious there is really no comparison! Jesus is still the reason for the season. Yes, Jesus is better, he is even better than Santa Claus.

 

I found this poem over at the 1+1+1=1 blog.  It is part of a lovely FREE Christmas Symbols lapbook she has put together!  I just LOVE the poem!  It completely speaks to how I feel about Christmas in my heart!  

Happy Homeschooling,

Jamin

I've made an effort to do more crafts with our girls this fall - serious paper crafting.  smile 

I've also made an effort to have some of their friends in to do those crafts with.....   It is going so well.  Sometimes I wonder if the prep. time is worth it, but the kids are loving it.... 

Today, we did three crafts - two were GREAT and one needs a little work. 

Paper Punch Santa was GREAT.  We did a similiar shaped craft in the fall - with a thumbprint pumpkin and *Happy Fall, Ya'll" on it.  Very effective.  This was totally cool, too.  Once you learn the shape of the container, you can adapt it for anything.  Holds about 3 or 4 candies..... 

AND the Paper Punch Santa was so fun.  The kids did a Punch Card Class a month ago (w/ Stampin' Up) and loved making shapes with punches.  I'm not into Santa, but it is seriously cute and I had all the punches it needed.

Half the kids loved this one.

GORGEOUS Christmas Tree Box - This was a hit.  Lots of prep. for me - but there were 8 kids at the class.  Make sure you have a scoring blade in your paper cutter - makes it a lot easier.  This is a triangular box that makes a LOVELY tree ornament.  You can get the candy inside by pressing the sides together - so it could be reusable.  VERY, very nice.  (I used sequins instead of jewels - very effective and less costly.)

The other half of the kids loved this one.

Beanie Gift Card - Love this idea.  My card worked out, but it was tough for the kids to understand how it worked AND half of their cards didn't work.  I need to figure out why.  Still a cute idea.

I did quite a bit of prep.  Had everything cut and some things even pre stickyed....  With that many kids, I need to keep things going.  I learn something every afternoon we do crafts like this.  Today, I am glad anew that I home school two, and not a classroom.  Smile

Just wanted to share a quick little comment that Redhead shared with me the other day. 

She told me that she told a couple friends about our Christmas Home School plans and what we were doing for them each day - THEN she said how much fun the last few days have been.  She has really been enjoying the *Christmas* extras....

This caught me totally offguard - she hadn't said anything to me OR in my hearing this week. 

I was thrilled. 

Doing anything extra takes a bit of time, energy and planning.  It sure is nice to know that she is enjoying it - spurs me on to continue having Christmas fun.....  smile