First things, first, though:  I am totally ripping off all the images from THIS BLOG:  http://alicia-lafamille.blogspot.com/2011/11/our-christmas-tradition-jesse-tree.html which you will want to go read because this is a mommy with young children who has actually been using the Jesse Tree for a few years and making it a family tradition for Christmas.

Tradition + eternal meaning = important!  And fun!!

Robin has put together a whole box of goodies for Advent.  There is a book called The Jesse Tree.  It has scripture readings each day through Advent and a couple of devotionals to choose from , depending on the age of your children.  But let me just say – every adult who participates will learn. too.  The really fun part is that there is a corresponding ornament for each day’s devotional and you get to see the story of Jesus through God’s dealings with His people all the way from Genesis to the birth of our Savior!

Alicia (who has very groovy taste in music, I might mention) posted these great examples on her blog (along with bite-mark and “kid-scribble” explanations.  You, of course will have to provide those yourself.  They are not included in the set!

You learn.  You hang the ornament on the tree.  And everyday after that, when you see that ornament, you recall the plan of God to share His love with us down through the ages.  Perfect!

I wholly encourage you to get your family one of these keepsake, limited edition sets.  Contact Robin moslander123@gmail.com.  Each set is $85 plus s & h.  Good investment.

THIS YEAR, I am thinking of displaying the whole set for the whole season.

The blogger of My Sweet Savannah (www.mysweetsavannah.blogspot.com) offered this idea last year (a foam-board covered in fabric and framed, I think…it was a screen save…need to find).  I may put a portion of scripture on each card so I may meditate on them all season long.

I will let you see what I end up with. 

No kidding – I was reading some one else’s blog, who just happens to be my brother Joe’s wife, Rockin’ Robin.  And it was just such. a. good. post.  I loved it!  She wrote about blogging and all the things a blog is about it.  In one, single post, Robin journaled a Sunday in their household and she presented her recommended book list.  She shared her Christmas wish list and the secrets from her daily planner and to-do list.  She gave a lighthearted and interesting glimpse into theirs lives, these people I adore, and I was just loving it.  I laughed right out loud on some of it and was like, “Awwwww…” on other parts.  I decided about halfway through that I would recommend it to my blog readers as a peek inside the mind and heart of sweet Robin (Elise-the-Niece’s mom, for those of you who know Elise), my friend and sister, Bible teacher, women’s leader, accomplished realtor, amazing mom and wife to the Joe-Joe.  My sister-in-law love, Robin.

READ IT HERE

I just love this woman and enjoy her writing.  So imagine my surprised delight when I showed up in a list of special people in her life at the end.  I promise that is not why I am recommending this read.  I just love Robin and think you would, too! (And thanks, Robin-for the mention!  You know I’d trust you with my life, right?)

A Few of My Other Fav Bloggers~

Facebook is taking over the universe and some of my favorite bloggers have practically dropped off the face of the earth, rarely-if-ever posting.  But most people are not as graphomaniacal as me.  But among the favorites in my blog box,  some who do still blog regularly, giving me food for thought, are:

Carol Ann Kelly.  She blogs, she FBs, she tweets and she gets more done in a single afternoon than I do all week, I am sure.  Always bright, funny and encouraging, always bringing a smile, read her here.

Marie and I worked together in ministry for a brief time, but she was a gift to me and is planted deeply in my heart.  One of the most intelligent and thought-provoking women I have ever known, Marie can pierce me with a thought (whatever current truth she is personally wrangling with) so deep I think about it for weeks.  She just did it again with her post, “Delicious Ambiguity.”  Read Marie here.

Joel is a thinker.  He is ever reading another mind-boggling book or listening to the intelligesia speak and then summarizing it for his readers.  Saves me lots of time.  He also gifted me with my top book read for 2009, and really probably in my top-20 all-time books, From Eternity to Here, by Frank Viola.  Sometimes you get the right book at the right moment and Joel made that happen for me.  Thanks, kiddo!  Read Joel’s thoughts here.

Not only does she write openly, honestly and poignantly for her new ministry, For Girls Only (she is going to save this generation), Mary V. blogs the story of her little family: her love for her husband and their little boy and the challenges they have faced and overcome these past few years.  The woman blogs!  You can read her delightfully entertaining escapades here (where she also just wrote something very nice for me, so sweet- thank-you, Mary) and her passion for following and taking the next generation of godly young women with her, here.

There are more.  I will talk about them another day.

Thanks, blog-family (those mentioned and those on the blogroll).  Thanks for the words that inspire me, the thoughts that blow my mind, the things you share that touch my heart, the ideas I’d never have considered and for giving me a glimpse into your minds and hearts.  Thanks for baring your souls, being gentle with mine, and exposing your fears as you cheer the rest of us on.  As long as you write, I will read! …Jeanie

Joe brought me a present from his beautiful wife and my sweet sister-in-law (aka: Robin – sister of my heart) when we met in Springfield a few weeks ago.  She made me some perfectly earthy cinnamon and all the spices of autumn-seasoned pumpkin butter, beautifully presented in a prismed  jar.  She also sent some of her delicately tangy and ambrosial apple-pear jam.

Breakfast.  The most scrumptious meal of the day.

I brought them home and showed them off under the pretense of sharing, but I hide them in the refrigerator, moving them frequently, so that on early, dark  mornings I can toast some thick slices of multi-grain bread and have one of each: apple-pear jam and pumpkin butter (with real butter, of course…does that go without saying?).  And my black coffee.  My very dark, very strong black coffee.

Black coffee.

In my soul, I am Julie London and this is how I sing about black coffee (and anything I am really into).  Yeah.  That’s right, I am this passionate about black coffee.

A good start to my morning…Jeanie

NOTE TO SELF:  Call Robin because I am almost out of my delicate, almost-floral bread spreads.

See Robin’s home and current projects.

Here are a couple of Robin’s chalkboards from what were formerly old thrift-store framed art.  Also, check out Robin’s favorite curtains made from toile she purchased at WalMart and the three large windows she covered in curtains she made from $1-yard fabric from the same decorator’s paradise! (Do I see “Robin’s egg blue” on those walls?  Haha!  Your name just lends itself to these comments and phrases, Robin!)

Next project:  The wood piece above is an old optometrist’s cabinet that Robin plans to paint.  The French impressionist painting on the left below was a $2 find at the Salvation Army in Aberdeen, SD.  The classic English boy and girl prints also came from “Sally’s.”

Here are Robin’s empty frames, hung for the beauty they possess all by themselves. And an invitation to imagine what might be!

Thanks for sharing a glimpse through your Aberdeen, SD windows, Robin.  Now, dear readers, you send me your pictures.  Show me what makes your home really your home in snapshots of vignettes and rooms.  E-mail them to jeanierhoades@yahoo.com -or- the other email!

We are taking home tours!…Jeanie

NOTE TO SELF:  A new chalkboard in a cool frame (painted, naturally)!  The one I have actually was a chalkboard.  How very un-original!

click on images above for a better view