The Shepherd on the Search's Amazing Journey Around the World!

Looking for a way to keep the focus on Christ this Christmas, but still want all the fun build-up of something like the Elf on a Shelf phenomenon? 

Then get your hands on these fabulous resources - you'll have the best of both worlds!

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I received a free copy of this product in exchange for writing a review.  All opinions are my own.

OhMyGoodness, I was super-excited when I wrote this post telling you all about the new Shepherd on the Search tradition I'd discovered, but now that we've been actually using him for days, I'm even more excited than ever!

If you haven't read the background post, pop on over here and get up to speed, then come back to find out how "Hezzie" has been bringing extra faith-filled fun to our house this year!   

Shepherd on the Search - A New Christmas Tradition You Won't Want to Miss!

Looking for a way to keep the focus on Christ this Christmas, but still want all the fun build-up of something like the elf on a shelf phenomenon? Then get your hands on this fabulous resource - it's the best of both worlds!

Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means if you click on a link and purchase something, I'll receive a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting my efforts with this blog!

I received a free copy of this product in exchange for writing a review.  All opinions are my own.

Next week, after you finally emerge from your turkey coma, you'll probably start thinking about pulling all those Christmas decorations down from the attic (unless you're one of those people, who's so on the ball that you can flip your decorating scheme over in the blink of an eye!)  

If you have kids, you'll most likely be pulling out something special to help count down the days or follow certain traditions, as well.  

Many families use an Advent calendar, some put up a Jesse Tree (did you ever see this fabulous version that I wrote about?), there's Truth in the Tinsel, or you might even follow along here with our Celebrating the Season fun.  

Perhaps you're already wracking your brain to come up with the antics that your Elf on the Shelf will be up to this year, or you've started your RAK lists for your Blessings Buddies or The Kindness Elves, instead?

All of those activities are such fun to revisit each year.  Some years, it's fun to just continue with the old traditions and others, it's fun to change things up a bit and switch out the old for new -  or just add a new tradition to your holiday list of standards.

That's what we'll be doing this year and I am SO EXCITED about it - I can hardly wait!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas...

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No, not really.

In fact, it hardly ever looks like the traditional Christmas card around these parts, but now that Halloween has passed, the time has come to start thinking about thinking about this season's celebrations.

I'm definitely firmly entrenched in the "don't flood me with Santa Claus and reindeer until after Thanksgiving" camp, but a girl's gotta plan, and so my brain has already been hard at work - lying in bed at night dreaming up how things will shape up, holiday-wise, this year.

Last year, I came up with my Celebrating the Season concept and we all enjoyed adding another sticker to the trees hanging on the fridge, while focusing on a different Bible story each day and talking about how Jesus fulfilled the Law.

We'll definitely be repeating that tradition this year (and you can, too - click on this link to read all about it and download your free printables), but now that Gv is a bit older and into Cutting All The Things, I thought it might be fun to introduce a new aspect to our festivities and finally create a Jesse Tree for our house.

Imagine my excitement when I met my new bloggy friend Jen from Faith and Fabric and she began telling me about the cool new book she was working on that not only walks you through the steps to create your own Jesse Tree, but gives you all kinds of options for how to do it!

She patiently explains how to create this awesome stitched felt version (which I'm hoping to do when Gv gets a bit older in a few years, so we can work on it together):

But then she also talks about how you can choose to just glue the felt together, to cut everything out from construction paper or craft foam, to print the ornaments out to cut and color, or even to just print and laminate her photos to hang!

She even gives directions on how to make an adorable little felt tree to hang everything from!

This year, my plan is for Gv and I to create an ornament a day using the construction paper and glue method.  We'll probably just hang our ornaments along the mantel, or maybe we'll scout out our stick pile the backyard and find the perfect branch to use as our "tree" (like we did here).

In a few years, when Gv is a bit older, I plan to go full-out and sew some ornaments for a more permanent collection, but I'm really excited for us to get started on our temporary edition when Advent starts at the end of the month.

I lucked out, because Jen generously shared a pre-release copy with me to review, but you can get your own copy of this fabulous book here.

I'm so excited to get working on this fun project - which type of ornament matches up with your craft skills?  I'd love to hear!  Either leave a comment below or email me at lisahealy (at) outlook (dot) com.

Also, if you don't want to miss a single minute of great tips like this and all the fun around here, be sure to sign up for free updates and then look forward to having each post delivered right to your inbox.

Pintabulous Moms Christmas Linky

Celebrating the Season: Worshiped by Kings {Day 37}

Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means if you click on a link and purchase something, I'll receive a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting my efforts with this blog!

Welcome back to Celebrating the Season!  If you're new around these parts, be sure to catch up on all the other posts in this series here.  Also, if you don't want to miss a single minute of the fun from here on out, sign up for free updates and then look forward to having each post, as well as some free printables, delivered right to your inbox.

Songs to Get You into the Spirit of the Season

Some of my favorite music to listen to all throughout the year is Celtic music, so this album gives me a chance to keep doing that during the holidays.  I actually have the Holiday Traditions Celtic Album and enjoy all three discs, but my favorite is Winter on the Moors because it's just so pretty.

Some Reading Sure to Garner a Great Response

Yesterday's book taught you a little about an Italian Christmas tradition, today's shares a similar story from Russia.  Baboushka and the Three Kings will probably end up sparking a compare and contrast discussion with your children.  Besides that fun reading selection, check out Tomie DePaola's Three Wise Kings to commemorate Epiphany today.

Faith Focus to Put You in a Festive Frame of Mind

If you haven't downloaded them already, make sure to grab your free coordinating printables to go along with this portion of the series.  

Day 37 - Worshiped by Kings

Read Psalm 72:10 and then read Matthew 2:11 to see how Jesus lives out Matthew 5:17 (see verse in graphic below) by fulfilling the prophesy of being worshiped by kings.

Add your twelfth and final gift under the tree to serve as a reminder for today's verses.

What will you be doing to observe this final day of Christmas?  Does your community have any special Epiphany activities?  Are any Twelfth Night parties on your social calendar this year?  What did you enjoy best about this Celebrating the Season series?  I'd love to hear!  Leave a comment or email me at lisahealy (at) outlook (dot) com.

Join me throughout the rest of this season for more great ideas to incorporate into your family traditions to help celebrate this special time of year.  Be sure to pin the series landing page so you can find every post, or better yet, sign up for free updates so you don't miss a single suggestion and to get your free printables!

Celebrating the Season: King {Day 36}

Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means if you click on a link and purchase something, I'll receive a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting my efforts with this blog!

Welcome back to Celebrating the Season!  If you're new around these parts, be sure to catch up on all the other posts in this series here.  Also, if you don't want to miss a single minute of the fun from here on out, sign up for free updates and then look forward to having each post, as well as some free printables, delivered right to your inbox.

Songs to Get You into the Spirit of the Season

TransSiberian Orchestra now has several albums full of Christmas music out, but Christmas Eve and Other Stories is still my favorite.  I have to be honest and say that the songs with vocals aren't really my cup of tea, but the instrumental tracks more than make up for it and make the CD worth owning.  My favorites are First Snow, The Silent Nutcracker, A Mad Russian's Christmas, and Christmas/Sarajevo 12/24.

Some Reading Sure to Garner a Great Response

I can remember the first time I traveled overseas during Christmas and how confused I was wandering around Italy and wondering why there were witches on broomsticks posted everywhere.  If only I'd read Old Befana when I was little, then I might have had a clue.  Not only will this book let you in on a little secret about one of Italy's Christmas customs, but you'll also enjoy the familiar artwork of Tomie DePaola.

Faith Focus to Put You in a Festive Frame of Mind

If you haven't downloaded them already, make sure to grab your free coordinating printables to go along with this portion of the series.  

Day 36 - King

Read Psalm 2:6 and Zechariah 9:9, then read Matthew 2:2 and 27:37 to see how Jesus lives out Matthew 5:17 (see verse in graphic below) by fulfilling the prophesy of being called king.

Add your eleventh gift under the tree to serve as a reminder for today's verses.

What will you be doing to observe this eleventh day of Christmas?  Are you familiar with the legend of Befana?  I'd love to hear!  Leave a comment or email me at lisahealy (at) outlook (dot) com.

Join me throughout the rest of this season for more great ideas to incorporate into your family traditions to help celebrate this special time of year.  Be sure to pin the series landing page so you can find every post, or better yet, sign up for free updates so you don't miss a single suggestion and to get your free printables!

Celebrating the Season: Presentation in the Temple {Day 35}

Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means if you click on a link and purchase something, I'll receive a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting my efforts with this blog!

Welcome back to Celebrating the Season!  If you're new around these parts, be sure to catch up on all the other posts in this series here.  Also, if you don't want to miss a single minute of the fun from here on out, sign up for free updates and then look forward to having each post, as well as some free printables, delivered right to your inbox.

Songs to Get You into the Spirit of the Season

If you're looking for holiday music that's a little edgier (while still keeping the focus on the importance of the season), then this is the album for you.  Christmas in Diverse City features not only six TobyMac tracks, but several other hip and diverse artists.  My favorite song is Christmas This Year, although I also really like his work with Jamie Grace on Mary's Boy Child.  Get your body moving and burn off all those extra calories by listening to this CD!

Some Reading Sure to Garner a Great Response

What better accompaniment to the story of Christmas than some of the world's greatest fine art?  I love the unique idea behind The Christmas Story.  Not only does it include passages which faithfully follow the Bible verses, but it pairs these with works from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's vast collection.  This is a perfect way to begin introducing great art to your children.

Faith Focus to Put You in a Festive Frame of Mind

If you haven't downloaded them already, make sure to grab your free coordinating printables to go along with this portion of the series.  

Day 35 -Presentation in the Temple

Read Malachi 3:1 and then read Luke 2:25-27 to see how Jesus lives out Matthew 5:17 (see verse in graphic below) and is presented in the Temple.

Add your tenth gift under the tree to serve as a reminder for today's verses.

What will you be doing to observe this tenth day of Christmas?  I'd love to hear!  Leave a comment or email me at lisahealy (at) outlook (dot) com.

Join me throughout the rest of this season for more great ideas to incorporate into your family traditions to help celebrate this special time of year.  Be sure to pin the series landing page so you can find every post, or better yet, sign up for free updates so you don't miss a single suggestion and to get your free printables!

Celebrating the Season: Prophet {Day 34}

Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means if you click on a link and purchase something, I'll receive a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting my efforts with this blog!

Welcome back to Celebrating the Season!  If you're new around these parts, be sure to catch up on all the other posts in this series here.  Also, if you don't want to miss a single minute of the fun from here on out, sign up for free updates and then look forward to having each post, as well as some free printables, delivered right to your inbox.

Songs to Get You into the Spirit of the Season

It might be forty-plus years since this album's release, but Christmas music by the Carpenters is hipper today than ever before.  Even if you think you've never heard of this duo, trust me when I say that Merry Christmas Darling is a holiday classic we're all familiar with (the other 39 songs are pretty great, too) 

Some Reading Sure to Garner a Great Response

I look at this book's intricate scissor-cut illustrations and I just shake my head.  How on earth can they be done like that?  Besides the cool artwork, The Story of Christmas takes its text from the Bible and captures the essence of this beautiful time in history perfectly.

Faith Focus to Put You in a Festive Frame of Mind

If you haven't downloaded them already, make sure to grab your free coordinating printables to go along with this portion of the series.  

Day 34 - Prophet

Read Deuteronomy 18:15 and 18 and then read Matthew 21:11 to see how Jesus lives out Matthew 5:17 (see verse in graphic below) and fulfills the prophecy that the Messiah would be be a prophet.

Add your ninth gift under the tree to serve as a reminder for today's verses.

What will you be doing to observe this ninth day of Christmas?  Did you make any resolutions?  I'd love to hear!  Leave a comment or email me at lisahealy (at) outlook (dot) com.

Join me throughout the rest of this season for more great ideas to incorporate into your family traditions to help celebrate this special time of year.  Be sure to pin the series landing page so you can find every post, or better yet, sign up for free updates so you don't miss a single suggestion and to get your free printables!

Celebrating the Season: Mary {Day 33}

Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means if you click on a link and purchase something, I'll receive a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting my efforts with this blog!

Welcome back to Celebrating the Season!  If you're new around these parts, be sure to catch up on all the other posts in this series here.  Also, if you don't want to miss a single minute of the fun from here on out, sign up for free updates and then look forward to having each post, as well as some free printables, delivered right to your inbox.

Songs to Get You into the Spirit of the Season

Happy New Year!  Having several close friends whose families have been blessed by adoption, this album just makes me smile.  Steven Curtis Chapman has been one of my favorite artists for years and he has several wonderful Christmas albums out besides this one, but I just love how All I Really Want for Christmas weaves answered prayers (children and families united in love) with the birth of Jesus.  I think my favorite part of the album is the opening track, where one of his daughters recites Luke 2:7-14.

Some Reading Sure to Garner a Great Response

Gv isn't quite ready for this book (she loves stickers, but isn't particular enough in her placement of them yet to make this book worthwhile), but I am definitely planning to have it on hand for her when she is.  The Very First Christmas has sturdy pages and reusable stickers which allow your child to compose each page's scene while you read along.  This is the perfect book to pull out when you need a few minutes minutes of occupied-child-time in order to get something done!

Faith Focus to Put You in a Festive Frame of Mind

If you haven't downloaded them already, make sure to grab your free coordinating printables to go along with this portion of the series.  

Day 33 - Mary

Read Luke 2:21 for a description of Jesus' circumcision, then read Isaiah 7:14,  Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-31 to see how Jesus lives out Matthew 5:17 (see verse in graphic below) and fulfills the prophecy that the Messiah would be born of a virgin.

Add your eighth gift under the tree to serve as a reminder for today's verses.

What will you be doing to observe this eighth day of Christmas?  Are you recovering from last night's festivities?  Spending the day in front of the television watching all the big bowl games?  Honoring Mary and attending Mass?  I'd love to hear!  Leave a comment or email me at lisahealy (at) outlook (dot) com.

Join me throughout the rest of this season for more great ideas to incorporate into your family traditions to help celebrate this special time of year.  Be sure to pin the series landing page so you can find every post, or better yet, sign up for free updates so you don't miss a single suggestion and to get your free printables!

Celebrating the Season: Our High Priest {Day 32}

Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means if you click on a link and purchase something, I'll receive a small affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting my efforts with this blog!

Welcome back to Celebrating the Season!  If you're new around these parts, be sure to catch up on all the other posts in this series here.  Also, if you don't want to miss a single minute of the fun from here on out, sign up for free updates and then look forward to having each post, as well as some free printables, delivered right to your inbox.

Songs to Get You into the Spirit of the Season

I tend to usually choose the fun over the serious, so this album gets more playtime in our house than others.  Rockin' Little Christmas is a quirky collection of great Rock 'n Roll Christmas hits from the '50s and '60s from artists like Brenda Lee and Chuck Berry.  My two favorite songs are Hey Santa Claus and Mambo Santa Mambo.  I dare you to listen to these tunes without getting up to dance along!

Some Reading Sure to Garner a Great Response

We're big fans of counting books around here.  Books like Ten Little Ladybugs and Five Wishing Stars are already almost completely covered in clear packing tape from trips to the "book hospital" after all their heavy daily use.  That's why The Stars Came Out on Christmas is such a fun story for us this time of year.  Each page adds a new star for counting up to the wonder of the Christmas miracle.  I like to describe the illustrations as "happy," because even though they are composed of beautiful colors, the characters look so friendly that they just make me smile.

Faith Focus to Put You in a Festive Frame of Mind

If you haven't downloaded them already, make sure to grab your free coordinating printables to go along with this portion of the series.  

Day 32 - Our High Priest

Read Psalm 110:4, then read Hebrews 3:1 and 5:5-6 to see how Jesus lives out Matthew 5:17 (see verse in graphic below) as Our High Priest.

Add your seventh gift under the tree to serve as a reminder for today's verses.

What will you be doing to observe this seventh day of Christmas?  Do you have big plans for tonight - any New Year's Eve or St. Sylvester celebrations?  I'd love to hear!  Leave a comment or email me at lisahealy (at) outlook (dot) com.

Join me throughout the rest of this season for more great ideas to incorporate into your family traditions to help celebrate this special time of year.  Be sure to pin the series landing page so you can find every post, or better yet, sign up for free updates so you don't miss a single suggestion and to get your free printables!