S-l-o-w Down

Once again, this Christmas season, that I love so much, is slipping by too fast.  Which leaves me sad. 

Didn't we just put up these decorations?  Just put all these ornaments on the tree? 

Didn't my hubby just finish the last of the outside decorations?

Aren't the pictures going up too fast on the Jesse Tree?

Me and hubby keep sharing the same glance and thoughts -

"How do we slow it down?"

I just want to put on the Christmas music,

a favorite Christmas movie,

savor the Christmas Story,

cuddle with the kiddos on the couch

- all while pressing pause...

Making this time stretch and slow to a crawl.

The Jesse Tree Journey

As we savor this CHRISTmas season, we savor the meaning as well.

We count the days this year, to the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus,

using the Jesse Tree Journey.

Each night, we read a devotional - stories from the Old Testament,  pointing to Christ.

" A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;

from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him-

the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

the Spirit of counsel and of might,

the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD."

Isaiah 11:1-2

Each day has a picture to go with the story, and after each devotional is read,

a child finds the picture to hang.

I got some bare branches and put them in a vase.

I absolutely love this visual - as we count the days, and focus on our Savior.

(And so do the kids!)

You can download your free Jesse Tree Journey also - @

http://www.aholyexperience.com/