Halleigh is going to be a black cat.  I haven't started the costume... I am a slacker, I know. I just can't make myself do it. I am feeling totally uninspired to make this stupid costume. UGH!

I just had to tell someone...

Here are the next two ornaments fromt the Jesse Tree project; the tent and the ark.  Four down, twenty-one to go.

I love Christmas. As a kid we had an advent calendar for a while, and it seems like a couple years we had those cardboard ones that each day you opened the door and got a piece of chocolate out.

I have wanted to make a advent calendar for a long time, and now that Halleigh is going to start to remember traditions, I thought that it is time to start some.  I like the idea of placing the focus of Christmas more on Jesus and less on presents and Santa. What better way to do that than to celebrate the advent season daily. So that is what we are going to do... with a twist.

So, my friend and fellow blogger, Erin has wanted to make a Jesse Tree, and she suggested that I look into making one as well. I had never even heard of a Jesse Tree, so I did a little research, starting with Wikipedia, and here is what I found...

The Jesse Tree is named from Isaiah 11:1: "A shoot will spring forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots."  It is a vehicle to tell the Story of God in the Old Testament, and to connect the Advent Season with the faithfulness of God across 4,000 years of history. Basically, it ties the Old and New Testaments together. Each day there is an ornament that represents the lineage of Jesus, starting with creation, the fall (Adam), the flood (Noah), followed by Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac, etc. 

I like the idea of the advent calendar, but I LOVE the idea of the Jesse tree. Not enough importance is placed on the Old Testament telling the story of Jesus.  I want my children to understand that the Old Testament speaks to us and is as relevant to us as the New Testament. It isn't just a collection of great children's stories! And what better way to teach that than to combine the Old Testament in the preparation and celebration of Christ's birth? There is none.

Anyway, so Erin and I have started our Jesse Trees. We got the first two done, creation and the fall. Here are the pictures of our finished products...

If you want to try this out, follow the directions below, and let me know! We can compare out mosaics!

Type your answer to each of the questions below into flikr search. Using only the first page of returned images, choose your favorite and copy-&-paste each of the URL’s into the mosaic maker (3 columns, 4 rows).

The questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you attend?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What do you want to be when you grow up?
10.What do you love most in life?
11. One word to describe you.
12. Your Flickr name

I love REAL SIMPLE.  I had a subscription for a couple of years, but the last year I haven't gotten it and I miss it.  Miles gets Sports Illustrated and I get Time Magazine. I thought that I would really enjoy that, but I have decided that I would rather have Real Simple. I was at the checkout stand a couple of days ago and the December issue of REAL SIMPLE was calling out to me… I had to buy it. And I have been oh so savoring my time reading the issue, feeling like I am rationing out the pages, in order for it to last as long as possible. ha ha ha I know, I am obsessed.

Miles laughs at my love of REAL SIMPLE, since one of my explanations as to why I love it was that, "it tells you how to do great things like getting rid of stains and other cool stuff."  I think that, contrary to recent post on both our blogs, REAL SIMPLE has more information that directly pertains to my life.

So, I tore out the subscription page and as soon as my Time Magazine subscription is up, I am sending it in. It will be a sweet reunion.

Today Halleigh and I had the first session of, mommy and me, swimming lessons. Driving home I got to thinking about how learning to swim is a metaphor for parenting… bittersweet.  Lovingly teaching, supporting, pushing, catching, and guiding them to be comfortable swimming/living on their own.  As I sit here typing this, tears streaming down my face, I realize that I am tired and overly emotional about stupid swimming lessons, and that I have barely begun the parenting journey.  Nonetheless, I am already starting to feel Halleigh becoming independent of me, which IS what I want, but it IS very hard! First weaning, then walking, now swimming… See… it’s bittersweet!

Let me preface this by saying that I am not a poet. I was an English major/ teacher because I love literature, not because I am able to write poetry.

Swimming Lessons

Little fishy you seem to be

Born for the water, asleep in a float toy.

Loving the shower; Loving the bath,

Droplets of water cling to your lashes.

Streams of clear water never a bother.

Little fishy you seem to be

So full of life, zest some may call it.

But not on the first day of lil’fishy class;

You cling to the side unwilling to jump,

The strange environment exposing your need.

Little fishy you seem to be

Not having fun, just sucking your thumb.

Why was the pool your nemesis today?

Normally you smile and play, splashing and kicking.

But not on this morning; you smiles are gone.

Little fishy you seemed to be

A Clam, you’d best be described as

Clingy and scared, all uncharacteristic,

Begrudging the fact that this is not over;

Five weeks of learning, Five weeks foretell.

Little fishy you seem to be

Dreading the next week when we have part two.

Maybe with some practice you will warm up

To the idea of swimming and learning to jump.

You can learn how to swim without losing your need

Little fishy you seem to be

Needing your mother, but afraid of a loss.

Ready to grow in so many ways, I know that

Swimming will bring you much joy in your life.

But I’ll cherish your need holding it close to my heart,

It will be gone all too soon and we’ll swim apart.