...but the fire is so delightful...Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.  Yes, winter weather has hit.  My kids love it!  Me?  I like snow in December and I like my cozy warm fires.  I like hot chocolate and the beauty of the snow on the trees. 

I also love the Advent season.  Our family will either use the advent candles with nightly Bible readings or the Jesse Tree.  I love both.  We never have observed both traditions in the same year...until this year.  Jeff has decided that since the kids love all of it, why not combine them?  Here is what we are doing:  First, Jeff has the boys create a decoration that has to do with the Bible story for the night. (sometimes we skip this part)  He thinks up the most creative crafts you can imagine.  Then, after clean up, we turn the lights off and the advent candle is lit.  Then one of the boys will play a Christmas carol on the piano.  After this, Jeff reads the Scripture and there is a super-mini discussion.  Then the candle-lighter gets to choose a song to sing and then he prays.  This week is the prophecy candle so all of the scripture has to do with prophecy concerning Jesus.  Well, late last night, I was reading in bed.  I thought all of the boys were asleep when the silence was broken by my #2 son rushing into my room with his Bible in hand.  "Mom!  I found tons of prophecy in the book of Matthew!"  Then he wanted to read me 2 chapters!  Yes, 2 chapters.  I asked for a paraphrase instead of the reading.  There have been a lot of different kinds of problems in my home this week and at times the discouragement was overwhelming.  However, the excitement that my son showed for God's Word was incredibly uplifting.  If you want to observe either Advent or Jesse Tree, it is not too late.  Do a search on the internet and you'll find all kinds of free resources.  It is so neat to light the Jesus candle on Christmas morning.  Each candle makes your room brighter, a visual lesson on how Jesus brought light to a dark world. 

Have a super great weekend!

Anissa