Today we began a new tradition in the Cobb home!

The Christmas Countdown is on, and for the next 24 days we are celebrating with special family activities and Scripture passages to focus our hearts on Jesus.

Matt cut out a Christmas tree from green butcher paper, and we “hung” Christmas ornaments for each day until Christmas. Using these templates, I chose advent-themed verses and a fun family project to write on the back. Each day, the kids find the number we are on and take the ornament off. We spend time as a family in the Bible and praying together, then enjoy a Christmas craft, adventure or service project.

Countdown with us this December! Each day I will be posting our Bible verses and activity, and you are welcome to join in the fun online. 🙂

Day 1 we read Isaiah 40:1-5:

“Comfort, comfort my people,”
says your God.
“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem.
Tell her that her sad days are gone
and her sins are pardoned.
Yes, the Lord has punished her twice over
for all her sins.”

Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting,
“Clear the way through the wilderness
for the Lord!
Make a straight highway through the wasteland
for our God!
Fill in the valleys,
and level the mountains and hills.
Straighten the curves,
and smooth out the rough places.
Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
The Lord has spoken!”

We traveled to see my family this afternoon, and spent the rest of the day watching the kids run around, collecting candy at an evening parade and celebrating my brother’s birthday. It was particularly sweet to spend time with my brother for the last time before his active duty deployment begins and he has a tour in Afghanistan next year.

In the midst of the hoopla, we sat the kids down, warmed up the glue guns, and created super fun Christmas tree ornaments. Though the idea came from here, each child gave it their own special touch.

I am so grateful to God for my family this Christmas. No matter what, God always fills in our gaps and levels off our rough edges. He straightens out our kinks and smooths out our wrinkles. When we love the way God does, His glory is revealed in our lives, and He is pleased. God’s glory is meant to be seen and experienced together, and to be able to be held by the grace of our Heavenly Father alongside my family is such a blessing.

I pray you and your family are blessed this Christmas season by the love of Jesus Christ!