So, for the last few years I have struggled to find an advent calendar that works for our family. Are we the only ones out there whose children can't sit still and cooperate for more than 2-3 minutes? I mean, in the past we have tried to do some of the longer devotionals out there and in the end Jeff and I just got frustrated and mad because our kids are apparently all ADD and hyperactive and can't listen:). Seriously, it's like we bring out the Bible or something serious and our kids go wild. Pull out Cat in the Hat and they will listen like angels.
This year, I was determined to get ahead of the game and make my own advent calendar that would work for our chaotic family! This means it needed to be fun, short, and easy! I just finished it up yesterday so we can start it this weekend on December 1!
I got all my supplies at Hobby Lobby for half off or with their coupon. This is totally customizable. You can get whatever type envelopes you want. I got these that were a little longer because I wasn't sure what candy I was going to get to put inside.
I made these easy devotionals the week of Thanksgiving. It basically just has 1-2 verses each day to read and then a question or two to start a conversation with your kids and explore more about the events and people leading up to the birth of Christ. I did find the order of verses online somewhere but I forgot to bookmark it so I can't give it credit. So I used those verses and topics and then made these little cards on my computer with my added questions. Then I printed them out on white cardstock and cut them into squares to fit into my envelopes. We plan to do these at or around dinner time so we can read the devotion and then have the treat after dinner.
I got some smaller candy to put inside each envelope along with the devotion card, and then the jelly beans are for the Christmas day envelope.
Finished product!!!
I struggled with how and where to hang them. You could string them on a long wall or window or maybe even along a mantle. In the end, I decided on my old windows and they barely fit. But I do love how it turned out and am excited to see if my short and easy devotionals can keep my children engaged and help them focus on the true reason for this special holiday season.
And just for fun...here are my crazy rascals...
And here are your free downloads for the devotions. Just click on picture, right click and save to computer. Then print and enjoy:).
17 comments:
This is so cute Rachel! I was thinking today and let myself off the hook about wanting the kids complete attention. I think sometimes I can over do it and Jesus wants me to just let them be children :) And I believe at the age appropriate time is when I will invest more time in the longer devos and thought provoking questions. Thanks for sharing your idea!
Echoing Joy- this is SO CUTE! I will be shocked if this doesn't go viral on pinterest too.
Awesome, awesome, awesome. You rock and should sell these ideas of yours! Stealing it!
Thanks so much for sharing. I have been wanting to make one and you just took a lot of the work out of it!
Ok...I am going to make this happen. Tomorrow I will move it out of the planning phase and into reality!
THESE are AWESOME!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!! Thank you! Can't wait to download, print & hang them up. You rock!
Love it! Thanks for making this available for everyone to enjoy Rachel. It is so cute and well done. I am looking forward to starting it with my kiddos this weekend.
Andrea
LOVE LOVE LOVE these!!! My kids (and my husband) will think this is a great, simple connection to the meaning of the season! Thanks so much for sharing!!!
Thanks for sharing Rachel! I've struggled with an advent devotion that our kids will sit through and that doesn't involve a super long craft to illustrate the meaning of whatever that day might be about. This is fantastic!!!! Thanks for the free printables!
that comment above this one is Jennifer Hornsby...I didn't sign out of my PTO account before posting. :)
i love this rachel! i'm going to do it...starting next year.:) just can't seem to get things together this december with a newborn and all but i love the idea--thanks for posting!
I linked to your blog from Nester. It is such a lovely blog home and I will be back for a visit very soon. I love this Advent calendar craft. I am the Director of Children's Ministries at my church and I think this would be awesome to do with the kiddos. I am always looking for new ideas. Thanks for sharing this wonderful DIY!
I was just searching Pinterest for an easy least of advent scriptures to read with my kitties, and I found your post - thank you! We'll just read the devotional each night, and I love that you have a question to get the kids involved without getting too deep at this young age.
Thank you so much for these devotion cards. I enlarged them, printed them on card stock and put them with our Elf on the Shelf elves every morning. My 6 year old has been bringing them to me each morning so I can read them to him. We have really enjoyed them. Thanks again and Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!
This is so great- thank you for sharing!! This is a great way to get the kids excited about the true meaning of Christmas. Love it
This is fantastic! I just printed it to share with my church moms group and to use with my own children. Are there devotional questions for Dec 8 and Dec 21? They did not print out on the squares. Thank you so much!
Love this idea! Dec. 13-18 is not printing. Is there a way to get a copy of this a different way. Thanks!
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