Christmas 2013: Jesse Tree

We started our Jesse Tree this week. It's a tradition Mr.Pate and I started several years ago, and one of my favorite things we do. This is our first year including Griffin. So we explained what the tree was and that we would be adding an ornament each night. Each ornament will help us learn about what happened in the bible leading up to Jesus being born.

We asked Griffin what Christmas was. His response was "Christmas! Ho-ho-ho! Merry Christmas!" Which was such a cute and spirited answer, but it shows you how quickly we can lose the "reason for the season". We don't even push Santa, and Griffin already associates the holiday with him. (Disclaimer: we are not an anti-Santa family. I get peoples reasons for each of the different ways to handle Santa at Christmas and they all are valid and good. But we determined we wanted to have Santa around as a fun aspect of Christmas, but we are not going to push him as a real character who our kids have to be good to get presents from.) It was very fun to teach him that Christmas is Jesus' birthday, bc Griffin loves birthdays. He walks around singing happy birthday all the time.

Anyhow, we have a devotion book that has a devo on each ornament for the tree, so we read that together. The first night's was on sin, so we got to emphasize what sin is and who saves is from that. How precious it is to hear our son answer "Jesus!" when we ask questions.


(If you're interested in doing a Jesse Tree, there are TONS of free devos and ornaments online. We bought plain ornaments and drew the pictures on them, super good drawings haha!)

- Mrs.Pate via my iPhone

Advent... Coming... Preparing for Him.

Advent. 

You might be seeing this word all over the place in your Facebook or Instagram feeds today. Just what is Advent and why are people talking about it? 

from Wikipedia

Advent is a season observed in many Western Christian churchesas a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. The term is an anglicized version of the Latin word adventus, meaning "coming." It is the beginning of the Western liturgical year and commences on Advent Sunday.

Basically Advent is the time from Dec 1st-25th (or countdown to Christmas), when we spend time each day focusing on the biblical reason for Christmas and on the second coming of Christ. But it can be many different things to many different people. 

Growing up, we had (and my mom still has) a large Santa with little numbered pockets on it for the "countdown to christmas". Each pocket would be stuffed with some kind of small present for Misty and I. Hands down this was both of our favorite thing about Christmas growing up. The presents were always really small things but it was the exciting anticipation of knowing we had something to check each day. Loved it. 

Here at the Pate house, we have what is called a Jesse Tree (more on this below) to help us celebrate Advent. Mr.Pate and I have been doing this for three or four years now. And this year my sister got me an awesome advent calendar that I also hung up called "The perfect advent calendar". It has an activity to do each day, a scripture to read and a short focus or spiritual challenge from that scripture. Very neat and oh so cute. 

So I thought I would link up several great ideas I have seen to help you brainstorm what your family can do this year to celebrate the advent season this year. Enjoy! 

1. Jesse Tree:

Jesse trees are an old tradition that is being rediscovered all over the United States. It is based on Isaiah 11:1 - "A shoot will spring forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots" and is a way of teaching the Old Testament background for the Messiah, and showing how all of God's promises have been fulfilled. The Advent season is a wonderful time to reaffirm God's faithfulness, and the lessons of the Jesse tree help do so.

A Jesse tree can be a small tree, a banner, a tree branch, a mobile, or any other thing used to hang ornaments. A special ornament is hung each day of the Advent season, and a corresponding short reading teaches the story and meaning for each ornament. 

Mr.Pate and I used the picture suggestions of Ann Voskamp, bought a cheap set of ball ornaments one year and drew with paint pens and sharpies on them. They are rough! haha! But full of character and fond memories. We use Ann's free devo that you can find here. 

For other Jesse tree info or devo's (there are tons of them), I recommend just googling or Pinteresting "Jesse Tree". 

2. Make your own schedule:

Several of my friends have just sat down and made there own advent activity schedule for the month. So one night they may read Christmas books, one night go see Christmas lights etc. The point is to be intentional about being together and making memories. Here are two friends ideas and a Pinterest find :-)

The Tillery Times: Advent 2011

A Mama's Bag of Tricks: Advent 

Passionate Homemaking: Great List of activities

Christmas Activity List @ Christmas Harts 

All Things Simple's Advent Activity List

Advent with the Jesus Storybook Bible