Amon's Adventure - A Book for Easter

Amon's Adventure - A Book for Easter

A few years ago, the kids and I discovered a book called Jotham's Journey by Arnold Ytreeide.  It is a story designed to be read during the advent.  Mr. Ytreeide gives several ways to schedule the readings, but basically you read a story each night leading up to Christmas. Each lesson ends with a scripture to consider and a short thought related to the day's reading, making it perfect for family devotions.

The story is about a ten-year-old boy, Jotham, who crosses Israel as he searches for his family that he was separated from. Though he faces thieves, robbers, and kidnappers, Jotham also encounters the wise men, shepherds, and innkeepers until at last he finds his way to the Savior born in Bethlehem. 

I really didn't know what to expect when we started the book.  However, my kids loved it.  Each night they begged me to read more.  They didn't like to have to wait till the next night!  I have to admit I was tempted to read ahead more than once. It was a powerful story! This year, we are reading a book by the same author called Amon's Adventure. It is the story of Amon who happens to be the son of some main characters from Jotham Journey.  In this story designed to be read during Lent, we follow Amon's life and intrigue around the temple in Jerusalem during the time when Jesus was approaching His passion.

It is again a page turner.  The kids can't wait to read the next part of the story.  I love that it is a unique way to present the gospel to the kids.

I will say that Jotham's Journey did have a few intense parts.  However, my kids were fine with it.  It kept my 2 oldest attention the best.  (They were 5 and 7 at the time we read it).

I highly recommend these books as a family tradition!

John 3:16 Valentine's Day Printable

I made this to put in an

 8x10 frame in the kitchen

as Valentine's Day decor. 

Reminding us all of 

the greatest love this

Valentine's season. 

Download Here

Happy Sunday! 

Free Printable Verse- Psalm 73:26

I am going to try again to have a free printable verse each Sunday. 

If you have any problems downloading them please let me know. 

If you have any verses you would like to see this year

I'd love suggestions!

Download Here

I hope your sabbath is restful and renewing!

Christmas Card Prayers

It's that time again! I've been addressing (with my horrendous handwriting) & stuffing envelopes. Soon your mailbox will be filled with "picture perfect" families showing you their most stylish clothes and biggest smiles. 

A friend told me Sunday that she saves her cards & uses them to pray for her friends & family throughout the year.  What a great idea! 

As I was addressing cards I thought why not say a prayer for each family as I address cards. Of course there was Dora blaring in the background and I had to break up a few fights but as I came to each friend I was reminded of marriage difficulties, friends who are having trouble conceiving, financial problems, even friends and family who don't know The Lord. I didn't spend 10 minutes on each card. I just said a simple prayer while addressing each envelope. It was wonderful to sit down and pray for others. So often I get caught up in praying for only what is directly around me. 

So as you address your cards this season I encourage you to use that time to say a quick prayer for your friends and family. 

Or if your boycott the whole Christmas card idea (we did last year) say a simple prayer for each family that choses to send you a card. 

I love getting cards! Who doesn't? But how awesome would it be if everyone used them to pray specifically for each other. 

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,¹⁰ so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 1:9-10

We Are Back! Philippians 4:8 & 9

We're BACK!

I know, I know, we went to 
this amazing Art of Homemaking conference! 
We met the Duggar family twice! 
We were all pumped up! And then we 
just went MIA for several weeks. 

I apologize. To be very honest our family has been going 

through a difficult time and it's not a 

situation we can let the whole world in on.  

We had to choose to keep posting 
as if nothing was going on or we 
could stay completely silent. Quite frankly it 

was just easier to just not post anything at all. 

We definitely want to remain genuine so I do feel it 

was the best decision. Although our hearts remain broken,

we desire this blog to be a ministry to other moms and we feel 

 it is time for us to precede. 

It does feel good to be missed! I was actually 

shocked to find that people noticed we 

had not posted in several weeks. 

We look forward to the weeks ahead! 

We have an even crazier 

December than most! We have what 

we call "Celebration Week"! 

Within 10 days in December, 

3 of my children and

 Jessica have birthdays and Jared & 

I celebrate our anniversary! 

(yes, that's A LOT of presents!) 

I can't promise a post everyday or the most creative 

original Christmas ideas. But I can tell 

you we are going to strive

 hard to share with you all the Christmas 

blessings we have been given this year

and how we celebrate them with our families! 

I wanted to start with this verse. 

This is my family scripture verse

 for this week. It's so important to remind myself and teach

 my children to think about true, right, Godly things.

 I don't know about you, but if I don't take every thought 

captive and test my thinking according to the verse below

 before I know it am headed down a road of sin, 

self pity, judgmental attitude, etc.  

Don't forget you can click on the

link and download it for your 

family! 

Download Free Printable Here

Blessings to you all! Thank 

you for waiting patiently

for our return!

Weekly Verse- Psalm 34:11-14

Download Printable 4x6 HERE

Free Printable Weekly Verse - Psalm 62:8

Download for free here

Blessing #3: Another October Birthday Celebration

October is a busy birthday month around the Pool household. However today's celebration was slightly different. Two years ago on 10-10-11, our oldest and only son, John Mark prayed to receive Christ as his personal lord and Savior. So today we celebrated a different type of "birth" day!!!

We are so proud of this decision our son made and want to help him celebrate it year after year. We talked a lot about his Christian faith today, some of things he believes, and questions that He has. It is exciting to watch him grow in his walk. 

On the kids birthdays, I usually interview them about things they like so we can see how they change each year. I decided to try to do something similar with John Mark today. Below was some of his answers. 

Favorite Bible Verse: Matthew 12:34 

Favorite Bible Story: Job

Favorite song: City on our knees 

Favorite Christian artist: Toby Mac (I don't see this one changing anytime soon)

He also said he wanted to be a preacher when he grows up although astronaut made the list too!!!

I asked him what were his plans to grow deeper this next year? He quickly replied that he had to go to church camp!!!  

We love this boy!!!  Can't wait to have additional "birth" days to celebrate at our house!  

Creating a Blessing Out of Chores

I do not like cleaning. 

I do not like chores. More than anything 

I do not like laundry. 

Thankfully I married a man 

who doesn't care or notice if I don't do any of 

those until he has no clean underwear left. :) 

At the bible study I attend weekly 

the topic was "Organizing My Morning".

(Something I desperately need help with) 

Within the lesson there was a list of a 

few ways to fellowship with 

God throughout our day. 

What struck me was it listed all the chores I hate to do and 

ways they could become less of a chore and more of a daily blessing.

*The initial idea came from our lesson but I changed and added a few things and verses. I also added practical ideas that were discussed in my small group and some that came to mind after looking over it several times. 

I love printables!

(mainly because I have a terrible memory) 

I plan to keep mine in the laundry room 

where I keep all our cleaning products. 

This is nothing fancy, just a reminder of 

ways you can fellowship with God throughout your day. 

My favorite, that I have never thought of, is to pray for each family member as you fold their clothes. I might actually get my laundry folded before it's time we wear it again! :) 

I also love the idea to recite scripture 

every time you change a diaper. 

I only have one in diapers now but 

man if I had done this from baby #1

 I would have the whole bible memorized! 

I pray this is a blessing to you as it was to me. 

Simple Ways to Fellowship 

with our Lord Throughout the Day

Download Printable Here

Weekly Verse 5- Ecclesiastes 3:1

Download 4x6

Download 8x10

Weekly Bible Verse 4- Psalm 37:23-24

Click Here to Download

Weekly Bible Verse- 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Download a printable version and print as 4x6