Lest We Forget..Resources, Activities and a Reflection for November 11th

Resources to help children remember those who have gone before them.

My father, God rest his soul, fought in WWII.  He was drafted at age twenty along with his brothers to serve and protect his country in the armed forces.  He always felt it was an honour.  He never spoke about the fear he felt, but only of the obedient duties that he and his platoon performed.  Growing up, I remember seeing war photos that my dad had brought back with him from the war depicting the many prisoners and horrors he observed in the concentration camps in Germany.  As the army tanks rolled down the streets, his photos showed bodies disrespectfully strewn on the sides of the road and terror on the faces of men, women and children.  At age ten, I had truly come to understand the phrase of William Tecumseh Sherman, "War is hell."  And yet, many of our fallen brothers and sisters have been forgotten by the present generation.

Let us help our children remember those who have gone before them to afford them and us the luxury to be safe and free, to be Christians, as well as to be able to homeschool our children.  In today's world of video games depicting glorified violence without consequence, misplaced reverence of pride, and morally numbing activities that confuse children and adults alike about their own identities as human beings, men and women, citizens and Christians - I'm sure my father would agree that he did not offer to lay down his life for this degeneration of humanity.   We can remember the past and current sacrifices of peacekeepers and veterans by choosing to do a few of the activities below.

November 11th - Remembrance Day, Armed Forces Day, or Veteran's Day - is a day to remember all those who have gone before us securing our rights and freedoms and those of others as well.  It is also affords us a formal opportunity as honour those who are still serving and peacekeeping around the world. 

Here are a few resource ideas to help you celebrate this day in your family.

1.  Pray and attend Mass. 
As our Pastor suggested to us, attend Mass on the November 11th and offer Holy Communion for the departed souls who have died in war.  Their souls should also be remembered with your daily prayers all November for the Holy Souls.

2.  Observe a moment of silence and reflection. 
In Canada, the population observes the designated moments of silence of the eleventh minute, of the eleventh hour, on the eleventh day, of the eleventh month.  For just a few moments, we are encouraged to stop and be thankful that others that have gone before us were courageous, honourable, obedient, and selfless.

3.  Create a visible reminder. 
Whether you place family photos of loved ones past on the fireplace mantle or paint a picture of a field of poppies, encourage your children to remember this important day in a way they can find meaningful.  Perhaps you may want to create a bouquet of red paper poppies with the name of family or friends who have served or are still serving in peacekeeping missions.  Place your bouquet in a prominent place and pray the rosary for those shown on your flowers.

4.  Read through the poem, In Flanders Field by John McCrae. 
You can find it at the bottom of this post.  Reading through the poem can not only be a little lesson on how to read poetry and identify rhyme scheme, but it is also an opportunity to better understand the role of the poppy used for celebration and memorial services on Remembrance Day in Canada. 

Perhaps you would like to use this as copy work?  We have some trace copywork sheets just for this purpose in print as well as cursive. 

Download the In Flanders Field copywork.  There are twelve pages in all.

5.  Learn about St. Maximilian Kolbe.
This inspirational saint was a Polish Franciscan Friar who volunteered to die in the place of a stranger while he was held in the Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz, in Poland.  You may want to print out our St. Maximilian saint collector trading card or perhaps complete a My Book Mini-book about him using your favourite resources at home or from the Internet.

Download our Saint Maximilian Kolbe Saint Trading Card.
Download our Saint Maximilian Kolbe Mini-book.
Download our Saint Maximilian Kolbe Spiritual Copywork.

6.  Think about soldiers as individuals.
Using our graphic organizer template, note the virtues or positive attributes (adjectives) of the image pictured in the centre.  There is also a blank template for you in case you would like to place or draw a picture of a military hero - a family member, friend, or public figure - and note the virtues or positive attributes that this person personified.

 

Download our soldier graphic organizer set.

7.  Learn more about the holiday and its meaning.
Here are a few ways that you can learn more:

-Talk to a veteran or schedule one to come and speak to your homeschool group or co-op.  Veteran's can be found in almost every parish and retirement community.  They are usually eager to share their stories and experiences with others especially young people who show interest.

-Visit a museum to learn more about your local history and veteran's from your area.  Our town is lucky enough to have a memorial museum where visitors can see authentic photographs, artifacts, maps and more from the WWI and WWII.  Local veterans are highlighted and honoured and the museum is run by the veterans.

-Borrow child friendly books from your local library such as Truce: The Day the Soldiers Stopped Fighting by Jim Murphy or A Poppy is to RememberLightburn.

Let us always strive to remember, honour and pray for those who have gone before us in obedience, courage and love.

I hope you find these resources helpful.

Blessings,
Kalei

In Flanders Field

by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

PRAY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE US .  .  . 

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,

and let perpetual light shine upon them.

May the souls of the faithful departed,

through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

 

Give the Gift of Prayer. Printable Decade - A - Day Spiritual Bouquet is the Perfect gift for all!!

Beautiful but easy family craft combines prayer and tea and makes prayer a meaningful gift to others!!

A few years ago we created this craft to give to our pastor for Christmas.  We thought it was a wonderful gift as many pastors and priests are forgotten after the Masses are said and the final blessings are given.  We like to think of our pastor as our friend, our shepherd, and also as part of our family.  Daily prayer was good, but the children wanted a little extra special way to pray for him.  Thus our Decade-A-Day Gift of Prayer was created.  We have since reorganized this project so that it is easier to make, fits into a mailer envelope, and is a bit more polished.  See our photos below to see how it all works.

In this spiritual bouquet, the sender(s) will pray a single decade of the rosary daily for a selected person.  The recipient, in return, will relax with a cup of tea daily, spiritually recharging themselves knowing that others are praying for them.  As my pastor just recently reminded me, rest and relaxation are a very important part of our lives, even though we tend to forget to schedule them into our daily or weekly routine.

For this project you will need:

5 Pre-packaged tea bags

Scissors or Cutter

Exacto Knife

Glue stick or double-sided clear tape

Templates - download below
Stapler

Preparation for Tea Bags:

Cut out “t” shaped tea bag template on outer lines.  Write the date on the days you intend to pray for the recipient of the gift.  Fold all tea bag flaps toward the center with blank sides together. Glue or tape flaps into place. Let dry very well. Place one tea bag into prepared tea bag cover.

Preparation for Booklet:

Print out page templates. Cut in half.  Using an exacto knife carefully cut the black dotted lines. Fold each

template page on grey dotted lines with print side out.

Stack pages in order. Place the cover over the stack and staple on left side at the marks.

Affix the appropriate tea bag, in its prepared cover, into the slits in order by dates selected. You will notice that the graphics match the portion of the rosary said on specific day.  For example, the Nativity will be your first tea bag designated for Monday.  Tuesday will be one of the Sorrowful Mystery covers. Wednesday will be the bag with the Resurrection, Thursday the Last Supper, and Friday the other depiction representing the Sorrowful Mysteries.

This gift can be perfect for just about anyone.  How about remembering any of these nice folks who serve you throughout the year?

Your pastor or priest

Parents, grandparents, or other relatives

Godparents of your children

Your child's catechist or teacher

The Parish Secretary or custodian

Choir members in your church

Those who help you throughout the year - neighbours or friends

An elderly member of your parish

A recent widow or widower

Your physician, dentist, pharmacist or caregiver

Your veterinarian

There are three versions available.  Each one includes a special written introduction.  One version is sent from a single individual, one is sent from a family, and the last is blank space for you to do all of the writing. 

This is the text from the single version:

Today I thought of you and was so thankful to have you in my

life. You are so special to me that I wanted to give you the best

gift I could think of - prayer!!

I will pray for you for five days and dedicate a decade of the

rosary every day for you until a rosary has been completed.

So, relax with a cup of hot tea each day knowing that I am

praying in thanksgiving just for you. May God Bless you always!!

The family version is almost identical with the exception of a change in the pronouns.

We hope that you find this spiritual gift the perfect little something for that someone special.  The kids can help put it together and it doesn't cost very much to make at all.

Click Here to download the single version.

Click Here to download the family version.

Click Here to download the blank version.

Blessings,

That Resource Team



Forgot to buy the Christmas Gift Tags? Let us Help!

Print out our fun, festive and colourful gift tags and labels for all your gift giving needs.

We haven't bought a Christmas gift tag for the last few years.  We just decided it would be more fun to make our own. 

Okay now for the truth..two Christmases ago we got so much snow that it wasn't worth it to go out to the store and get a few pieces of paper to mark presents.  So out of necessity (that truly is our motto here at That Resource Site..lol) we made some sheets of our own. 

We happily share these cheerful little tags of different sizes and designs with you today. 

All three sheets are contained in one file.  Simply print out on plain or heavier bond paper and cut apart on the lines.  This is something that can be done lightning fast with a cutter or give the kids some cutting practice and let them have fun with it.

Click Here to download these Christmas gift tags now.

The Gifts of the Christ Child

We are so glad that you stopped in today.  Perhaps we should all take a moment to stop and think about the number of presents we exchange this year.  We used to overwhelm our children with gifts in years gone by, but we learned that the less we gave the more they enjoyed our charity and that of others as well.  This time of year can be very difficult for children, and well meaning adults too.  We all feel pulled to materialism during this time of year.  Let us simply remind ourselves and our family that, traditionally speaking, even Jesus got only five presents. And if that was enough for Him, then might we suggest it be enough for us as well.

Are you trying to recount His five gifts..lol..our children did that too. Our Lord received gold, frankincense, myrrh, a little lamb, and a song on a drum!! :)

Let the truth ring out, read and reflect on 2 Corinthians 9:7.




Blessings,

That Resource Team



Here's a little Christmas planner to keep things organized this month.

Keeping things organized can help cut down on stress and prevent holiday fatigue.

Keeping things in order is a skill that many begin learning as children.  Clean as you go.  Close what you open, pick up what you drop, replace what you use and so forth.  When things get busy or even hectic at times, we sometimes forget the simple little rules that help keep things running smoothly. 

During the holiday seasons of Advent and Christmas, there are more things that require attention.  More cooking to be done, Church functions to participate in, Masses to attend, traditions to uphold, visitours to entertain, shopping to be done and so on.  How can we keep everything straight without going over budget or grumpy?  Michelle from Thinking Love, No Twaddle blog sent over these festive planning sheets to keep us all on track.  They are simple and fun.  They can be used in a myriad of ways.  Here is a peek at the pages.

Simply print out the pages you need, fill in and post where you and the family can see it.  You may want to print out one calendar page for each need.  Perhaps one for schooling details, one for church details, and one for family/community functions - visitours, co-op meeting, Christmas parties etc.

Thanks so much, Michelle, for sharing this with us.  This is just what we needed in our family! :)

May God bless you for your charity and your willingness to reach and help other homeschooling families everywhere.

Click HERE to download the Christmas plannings pages now.

Click HERE to see all of the wonderful creations that she has shared with us.

 Plan and Stay Focused

Today's reflective thought comes from St.Teresa of Avila who puts it all so eloquently for those of us who have lots on our plate during this wonderful season of Advent.
"Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you, all things are passing...God alone suffices" - St. Teresa of Avila

Blessings,

Kalei - That Resource Team

Let Us Help You Prepare Your Table for Your Next Christmas Party or Family Gathering - Free Printable Table Setting Goodies

Setting the table for Christmas festivities has never been so easy or fun.  Don't forget to let the kids help!!

Advent is a time of preparation.  So why not give your table a few thoughts and moments of preparation as well.  Dress your table for a kids' Christmas party, a Sunday Advent meal with the in-laws, a fun party at church or in the classroom.  You could even use these cute printables for your big Christmas meal too!  These printables are all bright and festive and very easy for children to prepare.  Why not let them help with the festivities?  There are quite a few pieces that we are offering including napkin rings, coasters, place mats, place setting cards, and stemmed glass markers.  We have tried to include a few different versions of items for children as well as adults.  These resources can help make clean up after a meal very easy.  Simply save laminated resources for re-use next year or recycle the worn out pieces to the bin.   We hope you find them fun and useful.

Help guests find their place at the table quite easily with these cute and bright place setting cards.  We have included six different versions to accommodate almost any guest who may pop in.  Simply print out, cut apart and write in the name on the card.  Fold and place at their special spot on the table.  We recommend using cardstock when preparing this resource as it will stand up quite easily by itself.

Click Here to download fun place setting cards.

Festive coasters help to preserve furniture as well as bring smiles to faces of all ages.  These resources come two to a page and can be printed out and heat laminated for yearly re-use.  The thicker the laminant used, the more sturdy the coaster will be.  If you will not be laminating this resource, a quick tip to think about is printing our resources using a laser jet rather than an ink jet as it will prevent ink from smearing when the glasses sweat.  These could also be disposable as well.

Click Here to download festive coasters.

Help mark your guest's formal table glass with their name.  This prevents mix ups and helps when it's time to refill them.  Many families choose to allow children to use stem glasses at formal meals filling them with punch, water with a slice of lime, or for our European visitours, wine.  We have included three different versions of this resource which you simply print out, cut apart and mark with names.  There are five markers per page.

Click Here to download the stem glass markers.

Finish off your special setting with nicely folded napkins.  If you are using cloth napkins, simply roll up like a crepe or even a burrito and wrap our napkin ring around it.  We have included two different styles and aligned everything so that cutting them apart is simple using a cutter.  Wrap and close with double or single sided tape.  There are four rings to a page.

Click Here to download the napkin rings.

Keep your table festive yet clean with these printable place mats.  Available in two piece versions that you simply glue or tape together or in a larger ledger size (11x17).  Each version comes both with and without the traditional table blessing.  We've included the blessing to help those who may not be familiar with it participate in the table grace.

Click Here to download a ledger version of this resource.

Click Here to download a ledger version of this resource w/out prayer.

Click Here to download a 2 page version of this resource.
Click Here to download a 2 page version of this resource w/out prayer.

Christmas Table Linens
Chistmas Dinnerware

 What is YOUR best effort?

Today's moment of reflection comes as a simple reminder of how we are all called to prepare for the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ in Advent.  How can we BEST prepare for our Lord's birthday?  What is the BEST we can offer to God?

The second week of Advent focuses on peace.  During the Advent and Christmas seasons we can lose the peace that should be filling our hearts because of all of the tasks that we intend to accomplish perfectly.  And of course the bigger your family or more involved in activities you are-- you guessed it, the more you struggle to keep the peacefulness of the season.  We battle with trying to keep old family traditions alive or trying to come up with new ones.  We try to keep the splendor of years gone by with decorations or activities that take us back to our childhood and we are disappointed many times when we can't mimic or create the "Best Christmas we ever had" for our own children.  So today the reflection I share doesn't come from the Bible, it doesn't come from a great saint, it simply comes from our Lord's words to my heart in Eucharistic Adoration - which I try to participate in weekly. 

"But Lord, I want to give you my best," I said.

"Your best is the most you can do without falling into sin," He lovingly replied.

Thank you heavenly Father for keeping things so simple for me to understand. :)

Have a great day and just try your BEST, my friends!!

Blessings,

Kalei - That Resource Team

Need a Sweet Little Gift for Children to Make for Just About Anyone on Their List? We've Got Just the Thing!!

Hot Chocolate always brings smiles and this gift will too!!

Homemade gifts can be so neat to make, unfortunately they are not always as fun to receive.  We sometimes even have to quietly ask ourselves, "What is it?"  We are sure that you won't have that trouble with our cute fun homemade gift today.

We are so excited to be sharing one of the most popular gifts on our "to make for others" list.  It is a neat little gift idea that will hopefully teach a bit about the meaning of being a Christian as well as be a very yummy winter treat. Similar projects have gone round the Internet, but we wanted ours to be God centered and very easy to make with your children. 

So, we created Wisdom From a Snowman for your Christmas gift giving and stocking stuffing needs.

You will need the following items for each gift you want to make:

Our Wisdom From a Snowman download, printed out, 1 per gift
1 candy cane
1 chocolate kiss

1 pre-made packet of hot chocolate

5 mini-marshmallows
1 small cinnamon heart or candy heart
clear scotch tape  - double sided is best although single sided clear tape will work too, but will show on the finished product.

To Do:

1.  Print out the file.

2.  Cut out only on outer lines, as pictured at left.

3.  Fold to make a pocket and tape closed with your clear tape.  Use double sided on the inside of the flaps or single sided tape on the outside of the packet.  We don't recommend using glue as you are enclosing food in the packet.

4.  Write the info on the "To" and "From" lines.

5.  Enclose all of the confections in the packet and seal shut with double or single sided tape.

Throw these little goodies into stockings or place them in a mug and wrap in a cellophane bag for an adult gift.


Click Here to download the Wisdom From a Snowman file now.

 Making Christmas Memories Last a Lifetime

Spending time together is the key to making Christmas memories.  Weather you are making candy houses, wrapping presents, attending church services, visiting relatives, decorating the tree or singing carols together - it's all about making the lasting memories that will stay with us for our lifetime.  Jesus came to save us from our sins and redeem us for His Father, but He couldn't convey the message of salvation and the kingdom of Heaven if He didn't actually spend time preaching, teaching, talking, visiting and being in the company of those who needed Him most.  He had to BE WITH US.  Christmas calls us to be with each other in His honour.

Read and reflect today on Psalm 133:1, "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell in unity."


Blessings,

That Resource Team

Make the Perfect Little Christmas Gift to Add in Your Christmas Cards.

Little tea bag covers spread joy and remind us to relax and enjoy the beautiful season of Christmas.

It is that time of year when we send greetings to those we value, cherish, admire and well, just simply love.  Many times we want to send a gift to everyone on our list, but let's face it, it's just not possible.  So today we have a special little gift that you can add into every Christmas card you send this year and yes, it fits.  How about a cup of warm cheer to sip and savour!!  Our holiday tea bag covers are just perfect for Christmas card gift giving.  Fast, easy, affordable and filled with a warm hug!!

To make these little gifts simply print out the files.  Cut out the templates on the lines, fold and glue.  When they are dry, add your favourite little wrapped tea bag and close with a dab of glue.  Now that is fast, festive and fun!!

We offer to two different styles to accommodate everyone on your list. 

This style is  for those who need a break.  It says, "Relax this Christmas season...Remember that Jesus is the reason for the season. 

The other is for those who need a hug or who may not be religious simply stating, "Warm wishes for a Merry Christmas!!"



We hope you enjoy this little gift.  And if you like this gift, you definitely don't want to miss any post this week as everyday will be filled with essentials for Christmas fun!!

Click Here to download this little gift right now.

Today's spiritual inspiration requires us all to take a special moment to relax, remember and accept that we can't always give tangible gifts to everyone we want.  Either we can't afford it and if we can, there is always the chance in today's day and age that others may not be able to reciprocate the same level of material generosity and end up feeling even worse about their own circumstances. 

God does not want us to feel burdened on His birthday nor does He want us to overspend, go into needless debt, or give to others without the true spirit of charity in our hearts.  For each gift we give out of love to others, we give to our Lord. 

Reflect on Matthew 25:40.

Blessings,

That Resource Team

Create a Festive and Easy Holiday Wreath With Your Children

Christmas wreath helps children be creative while reinforcing that God and His love for us eternal.

Advent and Christmas are very special times of year for Christians. Advent is our time of preparation for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Christmastide is a celebration of His arrival. Today we have a simple decorative project that you can use to celebrate either aspect of this season - Advent or Christmas. It's fun, easy and festive.

Please note:  the object of this wreath is to involve children in decorating for Christmas. The evergreen wreath symbolizes everlasting life that God gives us. The finished wreath need not be perfect or fit for a department store. Children can decorate the wreaths by sorting and developing a theme they like. Let them group and regroup ornaments already in your collection or have them create special masterpieces of their own using Melty Beads (like we did), paper cutouts, craft foam and glitter and glue.  We always try to keep fun at the forefront of any project.

WHAT YOU NEED

This project will require the following:

1 - 12" pine wreath (either faux or real varieties will work)

5-8 Christmas ornaments of one theme (either homemade or store bought is fine)

1m of ribbon or decorative cording for decoration

Wire Christmas ornament hangers, one for each ornament and a few to secure ribbons and other fun doodads you may have in your craft supplies.

1 - Over the door wreath hook, if placing on door

WHAT TO DO

Step 1: Gather, make or buy ornaments of one theme. To avoid a cluttered appearance, choose no more 6 large or 8 smaller ornaments. See Possible Wreath Themes below for ideas.

Step 2: Decide how you will attach your ribbon or cording.  You will either wrap it around or throughout the wreath or attached it prefab style.  If you are wrapping the wreath with ribbon or cording, do so now before putting on the ornaments.  If you are going to tie the ribbon into a bow and then attach it, then affix it to the wreath after the ornaments are put on.

Step 3: Using a wire ornament hook, attach each ornament to the front of the wreath. Secure well to prevent breakage. If you are decorating a door with your wreath, remember that some shaking will occur with the opening/closing movement, so be sure to secure everything on the wreath well.

Step 4: Hang on door using the over the door wreath hook or hang on wall using a picture frame hanger.

POSSIBLE WREATH THEMES

Here are some ideas to help you get started on possible themes.  Some of them are not traditional, but it is the wreath that is the symbol.  How we decorate it can be left to preference.  Think we're crazy?  Just take a look at your Hallmark, department, grocer or craft store.  You will see tons of different ideas that people suggest we purchase for our decorating needs.  Why not let the kids be creative or just regroup and reuse your favourites from your collection.

RELIGIOUS THEME IDEAS

Stars -  It shown brightly in the night sky to guide people to Christ's birth place.

Shepherds - They were among the first to hear of our Lord's birth.

Bells - They ring out to tell the good news of our Saviour's birth.

Crèche pieces - Nothing tells the Christmas story better than a Nativity scene. (See our version at left.)

Angels - The angel not only tells our Blessed Mother of what is to come, but they appear to the shepherds in the fields as well.

*If you celebrate St. Nicholas' feast day, you could also choose St. Nicholas as a wreath theme and then just leave it up for the entire season.

FUN SEASONAL THEME IDEAS

Coloured Doodads - small little craft doo-dads in all one colour - purple & pink for advent, red & green for Christmas, or stick with the traditional silver & gold if you .

All of a kind - Different sized jingle bells, bows, folded paper fans of Christmas wrapping paper, reindeer, gingerbread men or even a cultural item such as a Polynesian gourd.

Paper snowflakes of various shapes and sizes are always in style.

Children's choice or favourites - Any favourite selection of ornaments. Perhaps the child may select all ornaments made for a particular year or by a particular person over the years or around a learning theme they like science, cooking.  For example, the selection shown at the left are all things near and dear to one of our children who loves animals, plants, hugs, and presents. :)

Characters - all of one type of character from popular culture. They could include characters from cartoons, a book, TV or video series. Children can draw and cut out or create from craft clay their favourite characters from A Christmas Carol, the Mitten, Emit Otter's Jug Band Christmas, the Little House Series, works from Beatrix Potter, Peanuts®, Webkinz®, The NHL, Sesame Street or whomever. Get some fun, quality art and family time together while decorating for the holidays. This is a great way to incorporate a current unit study with the holiday as well.

LEARNING THEME IDEAS

The Saints - If you use time line figures or really like holy cards, you can create a few special paper ornament figures for a wreath all about different saints associated with Christmas or charity - St. Nicholas, St. Stephen, St. Elizabeth of Hungary for example.

Historical Figures - If you use time line figures, create a few special ones for a wreath all about Christmas during the Middle Ages or at the turn of the 20th century.

*Do not fear. Remember that the Wreath is the Christmas symbol not necessarily the things that go on it. By giving learners creative freedom, you invite more festive helpers, family bonding and memories to be created.

Let us slow down today and reflect on Revelations 22:12. 

God is eternal and so is His love for us as our evergreen wreath reminds us, but our real heartfelt desire today and everyday should be to have Him to say to us, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." 

Blessings,

That Resource Team



Decorate Your Favourite Area in Your Home With a Prayer Garland

Prayer is a wonderful way to bring the true spirit of the season to the hearts and mind of all who visit your home this season.

Prayer is simply lifting our hearts and minds to God.  There are many different purposes and methods of prayer, each bringing to light our thoughts about our Lord and the intimate relationship we have with Him.  During Advent we are called to prepare ourselves in mind, body and spirit to receive and rejoice in the birth of our Lord.  One way to rejoice in the hope of our Saviour is to pray for others.  We could pray in thanksgiving for their presence in our lives, in supplication for their needs, in contemplation for their friendship, services, or talents that God has allowed them to share with us or we could even pray for heavenly eternal rest for a loved one who has passed away.

As we get busier with tasks of the Advent and Christmas season, we can often forget to pray for others.  We remember our own families because we see them daily, but we may forget others who may really need our prayers or who have helped us throughout the year like our pastor, fellow parishioners or homeschooling families, or even our neighbours who have mowed our yard or helped shovel the snow for us once in a while. Why not create a prayer garland to help remind you and your children to pray for others.  It is very simple to do, it looks very festive and it can be a great gift to others.

To complete this project simply trace and cut out the right and left hands of various members of your family on green and red construction paper.  Cut out multiple sets of each persons hands.  Overlap and glue into place forming an evergreen style garland.  Affix to the wall with putty, a thumbtack, or rings of removable masking tape or painters tape. 

Now for the stars.  You can either use stars that you trace onto yellow construction paper or use the Star of David template we provided below and have the kids simply colour them in; then cut them out.  They will be affixed to the garland once it is put up on the wall. 

Write the name of someone you wish to pray for on each individual star.  Using red ink or green ink to write on the yellow stars stands out quite well. 

You will see in the photo above that we added a few embellishments to make the project even more festive - some ribbon and a few honeycomb paper bells.  Feel free to be creative.  You may decide to make a full garland or just parts as we have in our sample picture.

Note:  If you put your garland around a window in your kitchen and you tend to cook a lot, the heat and condensation from the kitchen will cause the finger "needles" from your hand prints to curl a bit adding a very nice effect.

If you decide to place your garlands in the dining room or kitchen, you may even want to adopt praying for your "Christmas Stars" when you gather for meals.

We hope this helps you to keep a bit more relaxed and Christ-centered during this wonderful season. 

Click Here to download the Star of David template page.

Prayer can be that gift of hope we all so desperately need in today's modern world. Perhaps you may want to reflect today on John 1:5

"And the light shineth in darkness: and the darkness did not comprehend it."

Blessings,

That Resource Team