Our Jesse Tree Journey

The Christmas season is once again upon us. I have most of my presents purchased if not thought out, and the lights are lit up. 

It is so easy to get caught up in the Christmas craziness. We all know that, so I won't bother talking about what Christmas is NOT about.  Instead I wanted to share what we do to  help prepare our hearts for one of the most magical days of the year.


In our home, we do something called a Jesse tree.  We got the idea from A Holy Experience, and downloaded all the materials for FREE from her website.  It is a daily devotional, explaining from beginning to end the reason for Christ.  It is quite intense, and very educational. It is also beautiful and practical. We did it last year for the first time, and the girls loved putting the ornaments on the tree.  It is so detailed, that we are learning things that just slipped by us last year.  It is also good, because the older the kids get, the more they will 'get it'.

This year we picked our perfect stump, and some branches full of thorns to represent our shoot.  It sits in our dining room as a daily reminder of why we do what we do.  I highly recommend doing this with your kids. After all.... it IS why we celebrate in the first place.

Our Jesse Tree Journey...More Celebrations

I've been searching for the perfect Christmas devotional for a few years. I wanted something that teaches the meaning of Christmas through scripture, tells the stories, is written with children in mind, can be done in under 10 minutes, and MOST of all, sets our hearts and minds on Christ.

For a few years I have read the Christmas story to the kids on Christmas Eve. You know... the one told in all the Church pageants growing up. But I've been wanting more. I've been wanting something that puts together all the old prophecies and explains why Jesus IS THE MESSIAH.

After finding a few good things on line, the last few days I have read two of my friends blogs.  Both Suzin and Tammi have been talking about a Jesse tree and I finally took the time to read their posts about it but also to find the FREE down loadable version on A Holy Experience's blog.

It is EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR!!! YIPEE!! AND IT'S FREEEEEEE!!!!



It contains a daily devotion from Nov 29-Dec 25th, with printable ornaments you place on whatever you make as your Jesse tree.  Our Jesse tree this year will be our actual Christmas tree, and since we are starting 7 days late we have a bit of catching up to do, but it will be worth it.

Here is my printed version. The girls helps me cut and past, and the red duo tang in the background holds the days devotions.

And there is our first Jesse tree ornament hanging on our tree. Right next to Dora, because as much as our tree celebrates our life with Christ, it also celebrates our lives and I love that.

Every day we will hang a new ornament from bottom to top, and Christmas day we will be able to sit and look at our tree and see a tree of worship for our Christ the one we have come to celebrate.

The BEST PART????   

This sooo makes me look crafty and I'm soooooo not ;)  lol