An Unexpected Blessing

Our Thanksgiving preparation began like every year. There was a rush of company cleaning and a trip to buy groceries. The menu was planned. The beds were made. And then it started.

At first, it was just a few flurries. Soon, those tiny specks changed to large flakes, and the ground was covered in white. It was snowing!

Other than being pretty, one might wonder how snow could bless a Thanksgiving gathering. It blessed our family in three ways.

The snow added a holiday mood.

Who can resist the holiday spirit that comes with a snowfall? It prompts finding Christmas music on the radio and singing along. At least one of our guests serenaded her cat with Christmas songs as they traveled home.

 

A kind of hush seemed to separate our home from the rest of the world.

I love the quiet that comes with snow. It is a kind of blanket that calls us to stay inside with our family, safe and warm. What a delightful blessing on Thanksgiving! Of course, the entire day was not spend inside, and part of what happened next reminded me of years past.

 

Some of our guests seldom see snow. 

I remember being 10 years old and praying for snow for Christmas. Living in our part of the Midwest, we seldom had a white Christmas, but nonetheless I prayed for it.

I was tickled that it snowed on Thanksgiving eve this year. Several of our young visitors reported that they don't get snow in their area. Instead, ice was much more likely to be the winter weather.

Snow lends itself to snowball fights. And, yes, that did happen this holiday.

So a beautiful snowfall was an unexpected blessing on Thanksgiving here. Did your family receive an unexpected blessing at Thanksgiving?



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Notes from Carol

I am blessed to have two new releases. They are tween devos from Zonderkidz. What people are saying about the devotionals --

• The super fun feature about this devotional is it is interactive. Each devotional encourages drawing or something else artistic right in the book.  Amazon Customer
• Got two grandsons who are creative and zany. Carol McAdams Moore has given me a tool to give to these young men that will incorporate their love of the wacky to the Creator of their minds.  Cleo Lampos

For boys -                                          For girls -

                          


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copyright (c) 2014 Carol McAdams Moore

Sidewalk Doodle Art

Sidewalk chalk and a group of kids in church ministry (VBS, camp, mid-week activities). . . That's all you need to get 'em thinking about what the Bible means to them. Chalk out a prompt and let them doodle their responses.

What if one of their awesome creations was published in a book? Zonderkidz has made a sweet offer to two winners of our Doodle Race.

What is the Doodle Race?

Doodle Race - Ready! Set!! Doodle!!!

How can kids and adults get involved?

Doodle Prompt for Girls

Doodle Prompt for Boys

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Tweetables

Do you have a heart for ministering to tweens? Check this out!   Tweet this!

It's a doodle race. Yep. Boys vs. Girls   Tweet this!

Enter this race for a chance for your drawing to appear in a Zonderkidz devotional.  Tweet this!


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Notes from Carol

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you will come back often! Let's connect on Twitter and Facebook too!


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copyright (c) 2013 Carol McAdams Moore

Patio Tic-Tac-Toe

Yesterday, my facebook, friend Heather Riggleman, posted some great summer fun ideas for kids here. Since I had already prepared this post, I decided to go ahead and add to her already awesome list.

Are you a parent or a church camp worker? Here is an inexpensive idea for creating a patio tic-tac-toe game that will be sure to entertain on a summer's day.

Materials

• Sidewalk chalk
• yard stick
• 10 dessert-sized paper plates (5 of one color/design and 5 of another color/design)

 

 

 

 

Steps

1. Using the yard stick, draw a tic-tac-toe board
2. Give each player 5 paper plates for playing pieces.
3. Enjoy the game!

Tips

• Use a level, concrete surface to draw the board.
• If it is a windy day, choose alternate game pieces (such as shoes vs. flip flops)
• It is a rainy, create the board in the garage or on a covered patio. 

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Notes from Carol

Hey Everyone!

Have you started your doodle for the Doodle Race? This is going to be FUN!!! And it's an awesome way to spread God's Word!

Read all about the Doodle Race here!



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copyright (c) 2013 Carol McAdams Moore