Fall is here!

I've been a nanny for the past 4 1/2 years. In those years I've learned more about living and loving through the gospel than any other time in my life. I nanny for a precious family of 3 children (Jake-2, Caiti-4, and Maddie-6). I not only get the joy of helping raise them, but of being used by Christ to pour truth into their lives where they aren't hearing it elsewhere. I love Jesus with all that is in me and every day I pray He chooses these kiddos to be His own. I love them, almost as if they were my own. And... I really really love crafts and baking. :)

So, here is a blog dedicated to those things! I'll post craft ideas, baking with kids secrets, and stories of Christ working in these kids. If you have stories as well, please share! And give me craft and baking ideas please!! Enjoy! :)

MUSIC!!!!

My kiddos love music- singing to it, dancing to it, talking about it, etc... So, I've found a great way of instigating questions or conversations about Christ is being intentional about music we listen to in the car. This morning we had The Village Church kids album on. It's full of truth with catchy music. The kids love it and it started a conversation reiterating sin and why Jesus had to die on the cross, and what that means for us. Jake is only 2, so he's not quite grasping it. But he will say "Jesus die. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus loves me. Thank You Jesus." It entirely melts my heart. You can find that album here!

FALL CRAFTS!!! 

Fall and winter crafts are my favorite. I could easily do a blog dedicated to just that!! The following craft is probably my favorite I've ever done. It's called the Thanksgiving Tree. I saw a fancy version of one is a decorating magazine, and made it my own child one.

What you'll need:

• Decorated plastic sticks (or you could go all natural - we decided plastic would be better so it lasted longer). We got ours at Michael's for like 78 cents! Ours have cute little pumpkins and leaves on them.
• 1 sheet of colored felt. Brown looks the best, but my girls wanted to mix up the fall colors. Any color will work really!
• Raffia
• Floral foam
• Colored paper to cut into squares
• Crayons/markers
• Scissors
• Hot glue/hot glue gun

Instructions:

Stick the tree in the center of the floral foam (hot glue it in if you want to guarantee it doesn't come out). Pull the felt around it and tie it in place by the raffia. One the kids have written on squares what they're thankful for, punch a hole in the squares and tie extra raffia or string around it, then hang them on the tree. It's so simple and an easy craft for kids to be involved in. 

These are the kids trees. We made them last year,
so this year we've decided to add more things that we're thankful for.
It is currently the centerpiece of our table. Everyone loves it!

I let the kids decide what they wanted to write. This is Caiti's. 

She loves princesses and anything to do with them, so naturally, she's thankful 

that she gets to make wishes like Cinderella. :)

Here's a close up. If they can write, definitely have them write their own.
 It adds to much character to the trees.

Oftentimes childcare (whether you're a nanny or a mom or a grandma who watches the kids) can go unnoticed. I daily remind myself that 1) this isn't about me, 2) it's about Him, and 3) I have a hope and joy in me that I cannot shake...how can I keep that to myself?

So, a word of encouragement:

Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 

Galatians 6:9

Whatever you do, work heartily as to the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance of your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Colossians 3:23-24