Just to make family home evening a little more simple for you, here is such a fun idea. It takes a little bit of planning but you could get it ready for tonight. I found this on a great blog called Blue Skies Ahead written by Tonii. She has so many fun ideas. I know my kids will love this and I hope it will be great for your family too!
We had a really simple, fun family home evening last night that was a good way to get my kids into the spirit of Christmas and especially the spirit of giving this holiday season. Also we are learning all about Christmas Trees this week so it worked out perfectly!
Our lesson was based on the book “Why Christmas Trees Aren’t Perfect.” I found a link online where you can view most of the story if you can’t make it to the library.
I absolutely love this book. It talks about the evergreen trees in the Royal Forest, and how each hopes to be the most perfect tree so they will be picked by the queen. Small Pine is the most perfect of all, until she gives of herself so animals of the forest will have protection, shelter, and food. Even though she is no longer perfect the queen chooses Small Pine to come to the castle, because “living for the sake of others makes us most beautiful in the eyes of God.”
The message this story shares was a great one for our family. This is a season for giving to others that have little, while we truly have so very much. I also love teaching my children that our Heavenly Father cares more about our hearts then what we look like on the outside. My husband made a great point as well: sometimes the best gifts we can give are not things. Sometimes what someone desperately needs is simply a friend to talk to, a way to not feel so alone, or to hear your testimony.
After we finished our lesson we did a fun activity that I saw years ago in a Family Fun magazine. All you need for this are some ornaments made out of paper ( I cut mine with my Silhouette and put double-sided tape on the back)
And some green and red crepe paper. We didn’t end up using the red but it would be cute for next time.
Once you have your supplies ready to go you get to decorate your very own Christmas Trees 🙂 We just wrapped the crepe paper around the kids and my husband (he really is such a great sport) and tried to have them hold their arms out a little to make a tree shape. Once the crepe paper was up we all took turns sticking on different ornaments.
Thanks again to Tonii at Blue Skies Ahead
Do you know how LONG I’ve searched for that story? I told it once at a church talent show, but never could find the source of it after I sat it aside. I know it by heart, but without a book. 🙁 You lovely lovely person…