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By kcharles, December 6, 2011 2:03 am

Meet Barnabas.  A rather humble little bear with a propensity for travel.

Barnabas was the creation of a first grade class I had 13 years ago.  He was our mascot and travelled everywhere with us, my students, their families, etc.  He carries a backpack that documents his adventures in a journal and with photographs.  Back in the day, we created  a bulletin board in his honor, charting his travels across the states or world. 

Since the kids and I are homeschooling this year, we have dug poor dusty Barnabas out of the basement.  (I love Barnabas for social studies especially and he wasn’t learning too much in his confinement!)  So now he is back at it again, pen in hand, ready to document his adventures. 

In fact, I caught him eating clam cakes last night and double fisting it with a Dunkin D’s in one hand and a Del’s lemonade in the other.   Hmmmm…. where on earth could he be? 

Read more up on how Barnabas can be used for Family Ministry here.

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By kcharles, December 4, 2011 1:37 am

Last year, I happened upon Red Letter Words: Faith Inspired Art. 

As soon as I saw her site, I loved her work.  I especially loved the word of God – like this canvas art and this greeting card set for youth group girls.  But then I wondered if she could design a custom print for me - one of all of the places God has allowed us to serve since Paul and I got married.

So I contacted her, placed an order, and she was sooooo sweet about creating this canvas.  The cool thing was – she was just as excited about this idea as I was!  She was great to work with, personable, and a complete blessing.  

This was the only Christmas present that I almost could not wait to give Paul.  It hangs in our home so that we see it every time we head out the door.  It’s a reminder of how God has been faithful through ordinary us (even though we are I am terribly inept at times!)  It also helps us to remember the missionaries still serving at each location.

Now I need another good idea for him.  Anyone?  What have been some of your favorite Christmas gift ideas?

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By kcharles, December 2, 2011 12:55 am

My mom and I had a funny relationship as a teenager.  I loved her dearly, but I never knew how to show it. 

She loved hugs.  I didn’t.  She expressed her love through field hockey to ballet shuttles, healthy dinners, and a clean home;  acts of service, really.  I am embarrassed to say that I rarely picked up a finger to help. 

But one Christmas, I got it. 

I knew that my mom responded to words.  Bible verses, quotes from the pastor, music lyrics, lines in literature, funny sayings,  my own writing, words of encouragement from each of our family members, etc. 

And so I wrote.  And I wrote.  And I wrote.  With my own hand on scrap pieces of paper, I wrote out 365 notes of encouragement.  It took me forever, but it was my act of love. 

And it was the best Christmas present I’ve ever given.  I still remember how she opened it up and cried.  And every day she told me how much it meant and cried some more.  That would have been 20 something years ago. 

Since then, 365 Days of Love has made a couple other appearances.  We have given one to Paul’s dad (a pastor), his mom, and another to my mom last year.  Thankfully, the computer does shorten the time it takes to make these, but it still is time consuming – personally selecting 365 quotes.  However, I would do it all over again in an instant.

Especially to see those smiles.  And to express love and encouragement each day for the next year. 

365 Days of Love would be perfect for a loved one, a pastor, a missionary, military personnel far from home, a beloved teacher, a college student, a widow, someone battling an illness, a close friend.  If making it with kids, allow them to decorate the bucket however they want.  Older children can also help by finding quotes and cutting out the slips. 

Let me know if you give this a try!

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By kcharles, November 29, 2011 8:35 am

Time spent together as a family.  Messy.  Laughter ringing loud.  Antagonizing.  Whining.  Sweet.  Quirky.  Much Grace given.  More received.  A great treasure.

If you’re looking for a Christmas gift that kids can make this year, consider a Family Treasure Chest that highlights time spent together.  Have your kids decorate it, however they want.  Little hands will LOVE you! 

Give it away to a treasured loved one – mom, dad, grandparent, aunt, uncle, etc.  Throughout the year, they will collect and store small momentos of time spent together.

Include a ticket stub, a bracelet from a museum, a picture from a photo booth, a map, a prize won, etc. 

Every Christmas, go through the treasure chest and re-live your memories.  Create a new family tradition!  I LOVE this gift because it places more value on TIME SPENT TOGETHER as opposed to gifts given. 

That makes me smile:)

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By kcharles, November 27, 2011 12:05 am

1.  Decorate a maybe real tree (if I can coerce enough!)
2.  Go see lights - Talk about  The Light and being a light
3.  Make a Christmas gift for a loved one
4.  See a live nativity
5.  Donate food items to a family in need
6.  Have a family Christmas movie night with buttered popcorn
7.  Cuddle up with a cup of hot chocolate and the Crippled Lamb, by Max Lucado
8.  Write our Compassion children
9.  Have fun with the Elf on a Shelf (just with his silly antics, not the good/bad thing)
10.  Bake and Decorate cookies to donate to the Homeless Shelter (and keep some for ourselves:)
11.  Read about the birth of Jesus – Celebrate with a birthday cake
12.  See the Nutcracker with Selah (the boys will probably do something manly)
13.  Help address cards and watch old Christmas classics
14.  Have a Christmas Tea Party with Selah’s Grandmothers
15.  Send something special to our missionaries
16.  Make a new ornament for our tree
17.  Skype with friends around the world to wish them a Merry Christmas (Miss Carolyn – that’s you!)
18.  Make a simple Gingerbread House
19.  Deliver Christmas treats to our neighbors
20.  Make a Jesse Tree and do the Advent readings
21.  Celebrate Jesus’ birth at the candlelight service at church
22.  Deliver hot chocolate to a Salvation Army bell ringer
23.  Stuff each other’s stockings with encouragement and thanks
24.  Pray for the persecuted church every day of December
25.  Choose a gift from the Compassion Gift Catalog

How do you celebrate Christmas with your family?  What are some of your favorite holiday traditions?  I would love to hear!

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By kcharles, November 24, 2011 9:48 am

Just wanted to say that I am grateful for you. 
Enjoy your day with the ones whom you love!

Because of Jesus,
Kristin

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By kcharles, November 13, 2011 12:21 am

It’s that time of year! 

For a shopping spree.  For wheeling around a cart whoohoo-ing and loading it up.  With cars and footballs and princess crowns and lip gloss.  With toothbrushes and soap and playing and prayer and squeezing into shoe boxes. 

I hope I never forget her giggling and dancing in the aisles and her heart so big it may just burst.  And the four year old hiking the ball for the boy so much like him. 

And it’s the lunch of fish and bread all over again.  Meager offerings to be multiplied by broken hands Who heal.  And with the small giving up, we are the more blessed than tiny hands receiving. 

We are the more blessed.

Operation Christmas Child’s National Collection Week is November 14-21, 2011

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By kcharles, October 31, 2011 11:45 pm

Beyond

meeting neighbors
reaching out to the community
visiting old neighbors and friends

dressing up and pretending
eating candy
laughing

using it as a springboard to teach about fear

spending family time
giving to others
celebrating children

favorite childhood memories
leaving our light on and opening our door
not allowing fear to to have a foothold in faith

this is a great article too.  (Christianity Today)

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By kcharles, October 18, 2011 10:50 pm

 What I needed to hear this week.  (For our kids)

Sweetheart.  (I don’t know how to help you.)

Yum.  (Slow cooked butternut squash with apples.) 

My next DIY project  (I am my Beloved’s and He is mine.)

Chalk Talk (A great early childhood resource)

What favorite links have you found this week? 

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By kcharles, October 16, 2011 9:06 pm

One can never consent to creep
when one feels an impulse to soar. 
- Helen Keller