Just a quick update to thank you for your prayers and let you know we heard some GREAT news from our adoption agency. It looks like the officials in Ethiopia will develop a task force to make better laws pertaining to adoption--and enforce existing laws--but there is no immediate plans to end adoption. That may be their end goal, but it would take quite a while to put that into place. In the meantime, agencies and orphanages will be stepping it up to better protect vulnerable children.
God is so good to us.
Tonight Ken, Jack and I will be going out for a late dinner at one of our favorite pizza restaurants. Then we'll come home to have some chocolate fondue and spend some time playing a riveting game of Chutes and Ladders.
I don't know if we'll make it till midnight; if I fall asleep before, it will be the first time I remember doing that. But I wouldn't be surprised. I guess this is what 42 looks like for me.
We wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. We pray that
your beliefs about yourself, your family, your situation, and your
future will conform to the truth of God's goodness and amazing love for you.
Hugs to you all,
Luann
PS: What are your plans for this evening? Please do share so I can live vicariously. <3
31 December 2013
29 December 2013
Dependence
It's an interesting thing, this adoption journey. As one friend said, it's not for the faint of heart. It's also not for anyone who is an independent, get-it-done-kind-of-
person.
I realized something profound (at least to me) last night. Up until now, everything has been in our power. There was a lot of busy work. Doctors' appointments, fingerprinting, forms to fill out, bills to pay, references to obtain, etc. But it was all doable using our own strength, intellect, and resources.
Although we have surely prayed for this adoption and this child countless times, we haven't been totally dependent on God. We made To-Do lists, checked off the items one by one, submitted the papers, and recruited friends to pray.
Done, done, and done.
But now we find ourselves in a situation that was completely unforeseen and beyond our control. We don't know the key players. We can't just call up Ethiopia and ask to speak to the decision makers. "Hello, this is Luann calling from the USA. You don't know me, but I heard you might discontinue foreign adoptions and was wondering if you would please allow us to adopt one of your orphans."
It's an interesting spot to be in. From the beginning of this process, we've simply trusted God one step at a time. He never promised us an Ethiopian child. He just made it clear that we were to apply to the agency. And then we were to proceed with the homestudy. And then the dossier. And then the next step, And the next.
Now it's in His hands. So we wait. We rely on the One who is able to speak to those in authority. He put them in authority, and He controls their hearts.
The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord;
So if and when a child is placed in our home, we will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it had nothing to do with us. All glory will go to God.
Fitting, since He is the author of adoption.
person.
I realized something profound (at least to me) last night. Up until now, everything has been in our power. There was a lot of busy work. Doctors' appointments, fingerprinting, forms to fill out, bills to pay, references to obtain, etc. But it was all doable using our own strength, intellect, and resources.
Although we have surely prayed for this adoption and this child countless times, we haven't been totally dependent on God. We made To-Do lists, checked off the items one by one, submitted the papers, and recruited friends to pray.Done, done, and done.
But now we find ourselves in a situation that was completely unforeseen and beyond our control. We don't know the key players. We can't just call up Ethiopia and ask to speak to the decision makers. "Hello, this is Luann calling from the USA. You don't know me, but I heard you might discontinue foreign adoptions and was wondering if you would please allow us to adopt one of your orphans."
It's an interesting spot to be in. From the beginning of this process, we've simply trusted God one step at a time. He never promised us an Ethiopian child. He just made it clear that we were to apply to the agency. And then we were to proceed with the homestudy. And then the dossier. And then the next step, And the next.
Now it's in His hands. So we wait. We rely on the One who is able to speak to those in authority. He put them in authority, and He controls their hearts.
Everyone must submit to governing authorities.
For all authority comes
from God, and those in positions of authority
have been placed there by
God. Romans 13:1
The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord;
he guides it wherever he pleases. Proverbs 21:1
So if and when a child is placed in our home, we will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it had nothing to do with us. All glory will go to God.
Fitting, since He is the author of adoption.
God decided in advance to
adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus
Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. Ephesians 1:5
Thanks for all your prayers and kind words.
Please continue to pray for the children in Ethiopia who don't have moms and dads...yet.
We appreciate each and every one of you.
Luann
27 December 2013
Disappointing News
Today we learned that some Ethiopian officials are attempting to shut down all foreign adoptions of Ethiopian children.
According to this article, the House of People's Representatives and the Ministry of Women, Children, and Youth are urging the public and Ethiopian stakeholders to work closely to end foreign adoption. They want to work with local NGOs to care for the orphaned children and protect them from abuse, rather than "giving them away to foreign families."
To be sure, corrupt adoptions have taken place in Ethiopia. Agencies such as Bethany, the one we are working with, closely investigate each case to ensure the children being adopted are truly orphans and truly don't have any family to care for them.
And we agree with the Ethiopian officials, that whenever possible, children should be raised and cared for in their country of origin.
However, with SIX MILLION orphans in Ethiopia, it's going to be tough for an already impoverished country to care for all these children.
It's also tough for families like us who have devoted countless hour and emotional energy preparing for and loving an Ethiopian child we don't yet know.
If you would, please pray for the children of Ethiopia. I understand that the officials there have the children's best interests in mind.
As do we.
We are awaiting word from our agency as to what our next steps should be, if any. They are trying to analyze the situation and the validity of the comments made, and will give us more information early next week.
We are disappointed, but we're trusting in the God who has led us on this journey~
Luann
According to this article, the House of People's Representatives and the Ministry of Women, Children, and Youth are urging the public and Ethiopian stakeholders to work closely to end foreign adoption. They want to work with local NGOs to care for the orphaned children and protect them from abuse, rather than "giving them away to foreign families."
To be sure, corrupt adoptions have taken place in Ethiopia. Agencies such as Bethany, the one we are working with, closely investigate each case to ensure the children being adopted are truly orphans and truly don't have any family to care for them.
And we agree with the Ethiopian officials, that whenever possible, children should be raised and cared for in their country of origin.
However, with SIX MILLION orphans in Ethiopia, it's going to be tough for an already impoverished country to care for all these children.
It's also tough for families like us who have devoted countless hour and emotional energy preparing for and loving an Ethiopian child we don't yet know.
If you would, please pray for the children of Ethiopia. I understand that the officials there have the children's best interests in mind.
As do we.
We are awaiting word from our agency as to what our next steps should be, if any. They are trying to analyze the situation and the validity of the comments made, and will give us more information early next week.
We are disappointed, but we're trusting in the God who has led us on this journey~
Luann
20 December 2013
The Cost of Adoption
A few people have asked about the cost of international adoption. And while every country, agency, and situation is a little different, I can say with confidence that it's a lot.
First there are the costs that your adoption agency outlines for you:
For example, we had to take our dossier documents to an office in Chicago (conveniently located on State Street next to Macy's) to get state-sealed. The cost? $44. Not that bad. But add to that the $38 for parking, the $12 for getting a few items re-notarized, gas money, lunch money, and you've got yourself well over a hundred bucks.
Then I had to make four sets of copies of the 22 dossier documents, each one anywhere from 2-20 pages long. They had to be collated, stapled, etc. All in all, there were nearly 400 pages. Now, I could've spent 27 hours using my home photocopier that takes about 45 seconds per copy, but I opted to take them to a printer. The price for copying, collating and stapling that mess of papers? $90.
But here's the cool thing, and I feel a little like the MasterCard commercial as I write this:
Today we got an unexpected check from a doctor's office in the amount of $220. Apparently we had overpaid at some point. That more than covered the jaunt downtown and the photocopies. God provided. And more than we needed.
Learning about God's faithful provision? Priceless.
When I went to Chicago with the papers, two of my best friends came with me. Stephanie took a day off work to tag along. Heather coordinated babysitting not just for her kids but also for mine. We joked and laughed all the way downtown. They sat and waited with me while my papers were reviewed. When I was told some had to be re-done, they insisted we skip lunch and go re-do them right then. So we traipsed around the city on foot, got lost a couple times, got papers re-notarized, Steph had to loan me cash b/c they were gonna charge extra for a debit card, traipsed back to the first office (all this in 20 degree weather), waited while the papers we re-reviewed, and finally got some lunch. Which, of course, they refused to let me pay for.
Learning about on-earth angels who disguise themselves as friends? Priceless.
Ken read a quote on an adoption blog about a year ago, when we were first investigating the costs. It read, "What God approves, God funds."
Amen to that.
Is international adoption costly? Yes. Are we worried about the expenses? No. Have we thought through how much it's really going to cost? Yes. It's a lot. But God called us to adopt. Of this we are confident. And He who has called us is faithful.
...
Now our dossier papers get FedExed to our adoption agency in Grand Rapids. From there they will go to D.C. to be further authenticated, then on to Ethiopia. And then we wait.
Because there's a little girl out there who needs a home. And our home needs a little girl. And God's timing is perfect.
Thanks for your ongoing prayers, support, and interest. Please pray that all our paperwork is accepted and gets to the right people at the right time.
And please keep praying for our daughter, who no doubt is facing tragedies few of us can comprehend.
First there are the costs that your adoption agency outlines for you:
- Application Fee
- Homestudy Fee
- USCIS Filing of Orphan Petition
- Authentication of Dossier and shipping fees
- Fingerprinting
- Third-party investigation and verification of child's eligibility/orphan status
- Child's medical and lab tests
- Psychosocial assessment
- Care of the child
- Child's passport
- Child's VISA
- Immigration fees
- Legal, court, and administrative fees for Ethiopia
- Airline tickets to Ethiopia (2 round-trip for each parent, 1 one-way for child)
For example, we had to take our dossier documents to an office in Chicago (conveniently located on State Street next to Macy's) to get state-sealed. The cost? $44. Not that bad. But add to that the $38 for parking, the $12 for getting a few items re-notarized, gas money, lunch money, and you've got yourself well over a hundred bucks.
Then I had to make four sets of copies of the 22 dossier documents, each one anywhere from 2-20 pages long. They had to be collated, stapled, etc. All in all, there were nearly 400 pages. Now, I could've spent 27 hours using my home photocopier that takes about 45 seconds per copy, but I opted to take them to a printer. The price for copying, collating and stapling that mess of papers? $90.
 |
| This is the actual stack of papers just for dossier! |
But here's the cool thing, and I feel a little like the MasterCard commercial as I write this:
Today we got an unexpected check from a doctor's office in the amount of $220. Apparently we had overpaid at some point. That more than covered the jaunt downtown and the photocopies. God provided. And more than we needed.
Learning about God's faithful provision? Priceless.
When I went to Chicago with the papers, two of my best friends came with me. Stephanie took a day off work to tag along. Heather coordinated babysitting not just for her kids but also for mine. We joked and laughed all the way downtown. They sat and waited with me while my papers were reviewed. When I was told some had to be re-done, they insisted we skip lunch and go re-do them right then. So we traipsed around the city on foot, got lost a couple times, got papers re-notarized, Steph had to loan me cash b/c they were gonna charge extra for a debit card, traipsed back to the first office (all this in 20 degree weather), waited while the papers we re-reviewed, and finally got some lunch. Which, of course, they refused to let me pay for.
Learning about on-earth angels who disguise themselves as friends? Priceless.
Ken read a quote on an adoption blog about a year ago, when we were first investigating the costs. It read, "What God approves, God funds."
Amen to that.
Is international adoption costly? Yes. Are we worried about the expenses? No. Have we thought through how much it's really going to cost? Yes. It's a lot. But God called us to adopt. Of this we are confident. And He who has called us is faithful.
...
Now our dossier papers get FedExed to our adoption agency in Grand Rapids. From there they will go to D.C. to be further authenticated, then on to Ethiopia. And then we wait.
Because there's a little girl out there who needs a home. And our home needs a little girl. And God's timing is perfect.
Thanks for your ongoing prayers, support, and interest. Please pray that all our paperwork is accepted and gets to the right people at the right time.
And please keep praying for our daughter, who no doubt is facing tragedies few of us can comprehend.
09 December 2013
DIY Duct Tape Stocking
I love this time of year. It's been a little too busy the past week, but our days and nights have been filled with such enjoyable things that I really can't complain.
Last Friday night we went to a Christmas party with our adoption agency. The guests were all families that have been touched by adoption from Africa--whether their kids are already home or like us, they are in process. There were about six or seven families who attended...and lots of kids of many colors. I can't explain how much it affected me to see all the children playing and laughing and running and shrieking. Black skin, brown skin, tan skin, and lilly white skin. I can't speak for the other children, but our little Jack-Jack wasn't fazed one bit by all the cultures and ethnicities represented. All he knew was that there were kids, there were cookies, and there was fun. When the evening came to an end, he didn't want to leave.
A little glimpse of heaven right here on earth.
Yesterday it started snowing while we were in church, and it didn't end until after I went to bed. Thankfully it was a light snow, so total accumulation was just a few inches. Enough to cover the grass and to give Ken a snow-blower induced workout. So thankful for Ken. I threw out my back a week ago, and it still isn't 100 percent.
So, on to the DIY Duct Tape Stockings. So many people, like my husband, have found the joy of using duct tape for all sorts of little projects. You can buy duct tape in just about any color and pattern, and I think Ken has most of them.
Last year I decided to get new Christmas stockings for all of us that reflect something about our personality. I found a stocking for Jackson online that features his beloved Winnie the Pooh. (Thankfully he is even more in love with Pooh this year than he was last year!)
For myself, I bought a stocking with a cardinal. I've become so taken with these lovely birds, and I think they are a perfect decoration for Christmas with their bright red coloring.
I wanted to get a duct tape stocking for Ken, but I couldn't find anything to my liking. That's when I decided to do it myself. Sadly, I was not on Pinterest at the time, so I didn't take any pictures to document the process, but let me tell you about it. It was easy-peasy.
Supplies
The great thing about working with duct tape is that you don't need any other adhesive such as a gun or super glue or even a sewing machine.
1. Flip the fur collar up. You will use this to cover the rough edges at the top.
2. Start wrapping the stocking in strips of duct tape, slightly overlapping each strip. You may need to angle some pieces as you get to the bottom, curved area.
3. Make your "seams" or stopping points on the backside, which is hidden from view.
4. When the whole stocking is covered, fold the fur collar down.
5. Add any accent tape. I used a Dallas Cowboy star for my Texas-born husband. I love that it also seems Christmasy.
6. Add the person's name with glitter glue on the collar. I wish I had done it in chalk first because it came out a little lopsided, but I don't think he noticed. :)
If you make one, please share a picture with me!
Happy Stockings!
Luann
Last Friday night we went to a Christmas party with our adoption agency. The guests were all families that have been touched by adoption from Africa--whether their kids are already home or like us, they are in process. There were about six or seven families who attended...and lots of kids of many colors. I can't explain how much it affected me to see all the children playing and laughing and running and shrieking. Black skin, brown skin, tan skin, and lilly white skin. I can't speak for the other children, but our little Jack-Jack wasn't fazed one bit by all the cultures and ethnicities represented. All he knew was that there were kids, there were cookies, and there was fun. When the evening came to an end, he didn't want to leave.
A little glimpse of heaven right here on earth.
Yesterday it started snowing while we were in church, and it didn't end until after I went to bed. Thankfully it was a light snow, so total accumulation was just a few inches. Enough to cover the grass and to give Ken a snow-blower induced workout. So thankful for Ken. I threw out my back a week ago, and it still isn't 100 percent.
So, on to the DIY Duct Tape Stockings. So many people, like my husband, have found the joy of using duct tape for all sorts of little projects. You can buy duct tape in just about any color and pattern, and I think Ken has most of them.
Last year I decided to get new Christmas stockings for all of us that reflect something about our personality. I found a stocking for Jackson online that features his beloved Winnie the Pooh. (Thankfully he is even more in love with Pooh this year than he was last year!)
For myself, I bought a stocking with a cardinal. I've become so taken with these lovely birds, and I think they are a perfect decoration for Christmas with their bright red coloring.
I wanted to get a duct tape stocking for Ken, but I couldn't find anything to my liking. That's when I decided to do it myself. Sadly, I was not on Pinterest at the time, so I didn't take any pictures to document the process, but let me tell you about it. It was easy-peasy.
Supplies
- An old, ugly, cheap, or unused stocking, preferably with fold-down fur trim at the top. You can buy these super cheap at most stores.
- Duct tape for main part of stocking.
- Accent duct tape, if desired.
The great thing about working with duct tape is that you don't need any other adhesive such as a gun or super glue or even a sewing machine.
1. Flip the fur collar up. You will use this to cover the rough edges at the top.
2. Start wrapping the stocking in strips of duct tape, slightly overlapping each strip. You may need to angle some pieces as you get to the bottom, curved area.
3. Make your "seams" or stopping points on the backside, which is hidden from view.
4. When the whole stocking is covered, fold the fur collar down.
5. Add any accent tape. I used a Dallas Cowboy star for my Texas-born husband. I love that it also seems Christmasy.
6. Add the person's name with glitter glue on the collar. I wish I had done it in chalk first because it came out a little lopsided, but I don't think he noticed. :)
If you make one, please share a picture with me!
Happy Stockings!
Luann
04 December 2013
Bulbous Wreath. Because it's fun to say "bulbous."
Growing up, my mom often hung blue lights for Christmas. I really liked the peacefulness of the blue lights, and now I try to include blue in my Christmas decorations.
These wreaths have been popping up all over Pinterest as well as retail stores, and I thought it'd be the perfect opportunity to go blue. They sell for anywhere from $30 to $100 retail, and I made mine for about $15.
Supplies Needed
14" grapevine wreath
hot glue gun and lots of glue sticks
150 Christmas bulbs in various sizes and colors of your choice
I got most of my bulbs at the Dollar Tree, my sister's favorite store. (Don't tell her I said that; she'll be mad at me.) I got the miniature colored ones and the wreath at Hobby Lobby, both for half off.
Honestly, shopping for the supplies took longer than making the wreath. It was easy-peasy. The hardest part was using my cheapo glue gun. I have a callous on my pointer finger from pulling the impossible trigger. Poor me.
Start by turning your wreath upside down. Tie a small ribbon around the top so you can hang it.
Then, glue your largest ornaments around the inside of the wreath. If the ornament holder is one that pops out, pop it out. Otherwise you can leave it in, just make sure that either way it's pointing toward the back of the wreath. To increase stability, I glued them to both the wreath and to each other. It was a spidery web mess of glue gun gunk, but I don't want it to fall apart.
Then glue bulbs around the outside. I spaced these out a bit more than I should have, but I was running out of large bulbs. That is, until I called my favorite sister and she stopped by her favorite store on the way home from work and picked up some more high-quality bulbs for me. I filled in with the extra bulbs later, but it was much harder than if I'd done it earlier. I blame some other blog...I can't remember which one. She said you need at least 100 bulbs. Ha! 150 is more like it. But maybe my wreath is more bulbous than hers.
Pretty soon, you have a beautiful, bulbous wreath. Hang it up using the ribbon you tied on, and ta-da! You're done.
If you make one, be sure to take a picture and share it with me!
By the way, don't you love my mini-Christmas village? It was my mom's, and this is the first year since her passing that I've displayed it. :)
Happy Wreathing!
Luann
These wreaths have been popping up all over Pinterest as well as retail stores, and I thought it'd be the perfect opportunity to go blue. They sell for anywhere from $30 to $100 retail, and I made mine for about $15.
Supplies Needed
14" grapevine wreath
hot glue gun and lots of glue sticks
150 Christmas bulbs in various sizes and colors of your choice
I got most of my bulbs at the Dollar Tree, my sister's favorite store. (Don't tell her I said that; she'll be mad at me.) I got the miniature colored ones and the wreath at Hobby Lobby, both for half off.
Honestly, shopping for the supplies took longer than making the wreath. It was easy-peasy. The hardest part was using my cheapo glue gun. I have a callous on my pointer finger from pulling the impossible trigger. Poor me.
Start by turning your wreath upside down. Tie a small ribbon around the top so you can hang it.
Then, glue your largest ornaments around the inside of the wreath. If the ornament holder is one that pops out, pop it out. Otherwise you can leave it in, just make sure that either way it's pointing toward the back of the wreath. To increase stability, I glued them to both the wreath and to each other. It was a spidery web mess of glue gun gunk, but I don't want it to fall apart.
Then glue bulbs around the outside. I spaced these out a bit more than I should have, but I was running out of large bulbs. That is, until I called my favorite sister and she stopped by her favorite store on the way home from work and picked up some more high-quality bulbs for me. I filled in with the extra bulbs later, but it was much harder than if I'd done it earlier. I blame some other blog...I can't remember which one. She said you need at least 100 bulbs. Ha! 150 is more like it. But maybe my wreath is more bulbous than hers.
Anyway, back to the process. So next turn the wreath over and start filling in the empty spots using the largest ornaments first, then the mediums, and finally the small. Yes, I put my bulbs in various mixing bowls according to size, because I'm weird like that.
Pretty soon, you have a beautiful, bulbous wreath. Hang it up using the ribbon you tied on, and ta-da! You're done.
If you make one, be sure to take a picture and share it with me!
By the way, don't you love my mini-Christmas village? It was my mom's, and this is the first year since her passing that I've displayed it. :)
Happy Wreathing!
Luann
03 December 2013
Advent Calender
As a kid, one of my favorite parts of the holiday season was receiving our annual Advent Calender from our Sunday School teacher. It was a paper/cardboard construction, about 8"x12". It was usually a nativity scene, and it had 25 little windows that opened, each revealing an even better picture.
Today, most of the Advent Calenders sold have become "Countdown to Christmas" calendars. And while I love Santa as much as the next person, I also want my son to understand and embrace the true meaning of Christmas. I also don't want him eating chocolate every day. (They come with chocolate now! Who knew?)
[As a side note, I was so disappointed when I realized Micheal's Craft store as well as our local Target don't have a darn thing in their Christmas section that has to do with Jesus. Nothing. Nada. Zero. Seriously. Look the next time you're there. As I said, I'm not against secular traditions--my child will sit on Santa's lap and probably leave him some cookies, but it feels like Jesus is being shut out of his own birthday celebration. OK, will now descend from soapbox.]
So, being a newly minted Pinterest person, I turned to my new source (addiction?) for all things creative. I took several ideas and combined them to come up with a rustic/chic/sacred Advent Calender.
Here's how I made it.
First, I bought wide burlap ribbon rolls in three designs. At Michael's. I know, I know. I should probably shop elsewhere since they apparently don't like Jesus, but let's be honest: Me not shopping there only punishes me. And I will use their secular decorations for faith-driven purposes. Sneaky on my part, right?
So, I cut the ribbon in strips about 12 inches long. I folded them over, lining up the "flap" so the snowflake pattern would retain the snowflake shape, and pinned them in place.
I stitched up the sides to create a pocket, and also stitched up any unfinished edges as burlap tends to easily unravel. I used a zig-zag stitch to secure the jute fibers.
Then I added some embellishments. I like the combo of the rustic burlap combined with lacey lace and glittery buttons. Note: The buttons are decorative only. While I did sew them on to secure them, I didn't make a button hole. Please people. I've only been sewing for about a month, and the one time I tried to do a buttonhole....well, let's just say total disaster. Thread bunched up, needle broke, fabric seriously messed up. Anyway...
Next I added green ribbon tabs on which I had written numbers, 1-25. I sewed them on the back. Maybe I did this before sewing the sides. I can't remember. This has been a long project.
Finally, I strung the daily pockets on a long piece of white lace and strung them on our stair railing. I bought this lace at Hobby Lobby. They, apparently, love Jesus. But not birth control for the masses. But let's not get political. This is supposed to be a feel-good blog.
Now comes the most important part. I filled each pocket with a printed out Bible verse. I used this list that I stole off Pinterest. I'd give credit, but the link didn't go anywhere. Note: Some of the passages are really long. I used them anyway. Jack has a hard time sitting through the reading, but someday they will be more meaningful to him. (Yes, I'm planning on using this for a lot of years. This was way too much work for one year's use!)
Note, if you want to see the actual verses printed out, I have a Word doc I can email to you so you don't have to look up each one, copy, paste, etc. They are in the New Living Translation.
Then, the exciting part! Each pocket also has a thimble sized piece to a Nativity set. I bought set of 16 at Hobby Lobby, and supplemented the other 9 days with various trees, animals, etc. I found a small creche at Walmart that was the perfect size, but it already had a Mary and Joseph and Jesus in it. Glued in it. But for $6, I was more than willing to have my husband wrestle them out of their comfy creche.
We totally could've made the creche with some spare wood, but it was November 30, and we couldn't start the process without the stable...and finding the wood, the nails, the materials...wasn't going to happen.
So, each day before bed we open a pocket, read the verse, and little Jack-Jack gets to add a piece to his Nativity set. So far he has a sheep and a cow. We'll save Jesus for the 25th of course, but Mary and Joe will arrive a few days earlier.
Since my two-year-old has inherited my strong sense of nosiness, I mean curiosity, I put the actual figurine in the pocket right before we open it. :)
Happy Advent!
Luann
PS: Here is one of my favorite Advent hymns, written by Charles Wesley in the 1700s. It's still so relevant today.
Today, most of the Advent Calenders sold have become "Countdown to Christmas" calendars. And while I love Santa as much as the next person, I also want my son to understand and embrace the true meaning of Christmas. I also don't want him eating chocolate every day. (They come with chocolate now! Who knew?)
[As a side note, I was so disappointed when I realized Micheal's Craft store as well as our local Target don't have a darn thing in their Christmas section that has to do with Jesus. Nothing. Nada. Zero. Seriously. Look the next time you're there. As I said, I'm not against secular traditions--my child will sit on Santa's lap and probably leave him some cookies, but it feels like Jesus is being shut out of his own birthday celebration. OK, will now descend from soapbox.]
So, being a newly minted Pinterest person, I turned to my new source (addiction?) for all things creative. I took several ideas and combined them to come up with a rustic/chic/sacred Advent Calender.
Here's how I made it.
First, I bought wide burlap ribbon rolls in three designs. At Michael's. I know, I know. I should probably shop elsewhere since they apparently don't like Jesus, but let's be honest: Me not shopping there only punishes me. And I will use their secular decorations for faith-driven purposes. Sneaky on my part, right?
So, I cut the ribbon in strips about 12 inches long. I folded them over, lining up the "flap" so the snowflake pattern would retain the snowflake shape, and pinned them in place.
I stitched up the sides to create a pocket, and also stitched up any unfinished edges as burlap tends to easily unravel. I used a zig-zag stitch to secure the jute fibers.
Then I added some embellishments. I like the combo of the rustic burlap combined with lacey lace and glittery buttons. Note: The buttons are decorative only. While I did sew them on to secure them, I didn't make a button hole. Please people. I've only been sewing for about a month, and the one time I tried to do a buttonhole....well, let's just say total disaster. Thread bunched up, needle broke, fabric seriously messed up. Anyway...
Next I added green ribbon tabs on which I had written numbers, 1-25. I sewed them on the back. Maybe I did this before sewing the sides. I can't remember. This has been a long project.
Finally, I strung the daily pockets on a long piece of white lace and strung them on our stair railing. I bought this lace at Hobby Lobby. They, apparently, love Jesus. But not birth control for the masses. But let's not get political. This is supposed to be a feel-good blog.
Now comes the most important part. I filled each pocket with a printed out Bible verse. I used this list that I stole off Pinterest. I'd give credit, but the link didn't go anywhere. Note: Some of the passages are really long. I used them anyway. Jack has a hard time sitting through the reading, but someday they will be more meaningful to him. (Yes, I'm planning on using this for a lot of years. This was way too much work for one year's use!)
Note, if you want to see the actual verses printed out, I have a Word doc I can email to you so you don't have to look up each one, copy, paste, etc. They are in the New Living Translation.
Then, the exciting part! Each pocket also has a thimble sized piece to a Nativity set. I bought set of 16 at Hobby Lobby, and supplemented the other 9 days with various trees, animals, etc. I found a small creche at Walmart that was the perfect size, but it already had a Mary and Joseph and Jesus in it. Glued in it. But for $6, I was more than willing to have my husband wrestle them out of their comfy creche.
We totally could've made the creche with some spare wood, but it was November 30, and we couldn't start the process without the stable...and finding the wood, the nails, the materials...wasn't going to happen.
So, each day before bed we open a pocket, read the verse, and little Jack-Jack gets to add a piece to his Nativity set. So far he has a sheep and a cow. We'll save Jesus for the 25th of course, but Mary and Joe will arrive a few days earlier.
Since my two-year-old has inherited my strong sense of nosiness, I mean curiosity, I put the actual figurine in the pocket right before we open it. :)
Happy Advent!
Luann
PS: Here is one of my favorite Advent hymns, written by Charles Wesley in the 1700s. It's still so relevant today.
1. Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart. 2. Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone; by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.
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