Continuing from my last post having the children remain throughout the church service went extremely well. So well in fact that the children are looking forward to next week’s service.
We called the area where they sat, the “Kid’s Zone” and hearing them sing loudly gave me goosebumps. Peanut felt proud in being able to sit through the service and even learned some of the routine of our service like the Lord’s Prayer comes after the Pastor’s Prayer but before the Offering.
I brought her “church notebook” with some questions in it because we know in advance what the sermons will be. I went a bit overboard with my questions but it was better to have too many than not enough. Peanut even asked me about some of the things she didn’t get to answer. Now that’s amazing!
Parenting in the Pews by Robbie Castleman gives some great advice on how and why to keep your children in church instead of hide them away in a darkened room or in a program like we had, Children’s Church. Of course babies can attend a church nursery if the baby is fussy or crying. Sometimes parents want to put their full attention into the church service.
Our Pastor recommends starting your children in church at the age of four. Again this depends on your child. A younger child may be able to be in church if their personality suits being quiet and still for a while. I kept both Peanut and Lady Ali in church as infants, put them in the nursery around the age of one but then brought them back into church around three. They were able to not only be still but to entertain themselves so there were no issues with them being too noisy.
I’m enjoying this change in our church. I pray that our members understand that children are part of our congregation and that Jesus wanted children around him even when his disciples thought they were annoying Jesus.
Tomorrow we’ll be starting Sunday School. Our church is going through some changes, all for the better. We haven’t had Sunday School in years because we didn’t have enough children to attend. We’re growing now that we have our new Pastor. So we’re going back to Sunday School and the children staying in church throughout the service.
We used to have Children’s Church run by our Children’s Ministry Leader but now she’ll be teaching Sunday School. Peanut isn’t very happy about this turn of events but I’m sure she’ll get used to it soon.
I have to make an effort to get to sleep at a decent hour so we’ll be on time tomorrow. I’ve already helped Peanut choose her clothes for church so she’s got her things organized including her Bible.
I don’t do well in the early morning. I hurt all over but I’ll be sure to sleep well tonight and start off the morning with prayer and a very positive attitude. I’ll be going to Sunday School too. I’ve missed it. So a new journey begins for me too.
Do you need to know about the true meaning of Christmas? Are you searching, unsure, feel depressed or taken advantage of by companies trying to get you to buy until you go into debt?
Watch and listen to this video and hear the words about the Real Reason for the Season.
Is it December already? It can’t be. Please someone turn back the clock, the calendar, the earth. I’m not ready, not even close to being ready. I’m starting to feel that anxiety when there’s too much to do and you can’t even figure out where to begin.
I’ve tried “to do lists” but they kept getting too long. Writing everything out on a calendar gave me panic attacks. And talking to Hubby about it does nothing. He’s so calm. He just says that it will all work out. Of course it will. The days will keep on coming and events will keep on happening but does that mean I’ll have anything ready?
Breathe in slowly…oh no where’s the new Christmas ornament I put in that place I said I’d remember?…think of a warm beach with the ocean waves flowing…how can we decorate when the house isn’t even finished being painted?…take a Klonopin…we’re losing a precious weekend due to Lady Ali’s graduation, not that I don’t want to be there and that I’m not proud, but a whole weekend!….remember the Real Reason for the Season….my first outdoor manger is set up. We have our plans for church. Peanut is really “getting’ it this year.
Uncle Jerome passed away Sunday. It’s still a bit of a shock to hear the words less write them. I know that he is no longer suffering and that his earthly body was barely hanging on. He was ready my cousins told me. And so now the grieving begins.
We’ll be traveling soon to attend his memorial service and funeral. So far the dates are set for November 28 - 29. I have to take Peanut out of school again for this. This is a tough year as this is the FCAT test year and attendance is really taken into consideration. But there’s nothing we can do.
This is the second death in less than three months for my family. With God’s help we’ll get through it.
Please pray for my Uncle’s wife, his children and grandchildren as well as the rest of the family.
Christmas is the biggest, most celebrated holiday in my house. We start decorating Thanksgiving night. And we just love everything there is to do with the meaning of the day and the season. Yes we believe that the real meaning of Christmas is Jesus’ birth.
We go all out on Christmas. There isn’t a room in our house that isn’t decorated, even the bathrooms. Call it gaudy. We don’t care. We have three Christmas trees. One is real, one was made by Hubby’s grandmother (ceramic with lights on it) and one is for Peanut (a pink Disney princess tree). We have stockings with our names on them and stocking holders. We have an old fashioned train set that goes around the real tree.
My favorite collectibles are snow globes. We have three mangers. One is made of wood with beautiful ceramic pieces. That’s the center piece of our shelf. There’s lots of candles, wreaths, door knob hangars, M&M figurines, Christmas tins, etc. etc.
We always go to Disney World around the Christmas season. The decorations there are unreal. Just visiting the hotels to see their trees and gingerbread houses is fun.
We donate money and gifts to certain charities. One in particular is Samaritan’s Purse. Our church takes part in the Shoe Box Ministry. That’s a lot of fun to do.
For our family plans, an advent calendar is a must. Peanut likes to count the days down to the special event. We cover Baby Jesus in the mangers and take the cover off on Christmas morning as we sing Happy Birthday.
Church events are also a major part of our holiday time. Christmas Eve we have an Italian Fish Dinner. The cooking and planning for that takes a long time but it’s all worth it.
So far we haven’t decided on presents but that’s a minor part of Christmas for us. We enjoy giving gifts to our children, family and friends but being charitable, sharing the true meaning of the season and honoring that meaning is what makes it special to us.
