HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS 2023

We had the BEST time having a Birthday Party for Jesus! Of course we started off our time by singing Happy Birthday to our Lord: 

We reviewed the meaning of the Advent Candles, and talked about Christ's hope, peace, joy, and love. 

Speaking of LOVE, we had to recite John 3:16 and 17 because that sums up the whole reason for why Jesus came at Christmas: 

Thanks to everyone's contribution, we were able to have a delicious brunch party! We loved the strawberries with whip cream, cinnamon rolls with frosting, French toast sticks with syrup, tater tots with ketchup, fruit platter, various juices, and a veggie platter. 

We played a few rounds of Snatch: 

And we also played "Guess Who". A student said "Merry Christmas" in a disguised voice, and the person who had their eyes closed had to guess who it was: 

We also got to sing some Christmas hymns together! Enjoy some short clips of the songs:

Go Tell It on the Mountain

Angels We Have Heard on High

Hark the Herald

We also recited Luke 2:10-14 as part of our worship to Jesus. 

And now, the long-awaited Secret Santa REVEAL! They were so funny about trying to trick people up until the last second:)

I LOVE this video of the kids opening the presents! You'd think they had won the lottery. The pure excitement over something so simple is a beautiful sight to see. 

I loved having my daughter Ellie at the party. She always enjoys meeting the kids in my class, and gets the biggest kick out of having conversations with them. 

Yes, she is silly, just like her mama. 

Merry Christmas, everyone! I am looking forward to getting all of the photos for "Craft Time With Mrs. Johnston" ! I've already gotten 2 pictures. Can't wait to see the rest!

WEEK 2: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe 2023

I LOVE this quote in the book. To me, the "untamed" part represents the holiness of God and his hatred of sin, his majesty, his immense glory in which we would not even be able to stand if we were in his presence...and his GOODNESS is represented through his display of humility, servanthood, sacrifice, unconditional love, forgiveness, and his plan for our salvation through INCARNATION!!! This. Is. Mind-blowing.

He is so, so good. 

On Monday, Aslan was waiting for them at the door of our classroom. It was so wonderful to finally meet the King of the whole wood, the Emperor Over the Sea, the rightful true King over all of Narnia.

 

Because Aslan came to Narnia, the "thaw" happened...the snow started to melt away, and signs of Spring were evident.

This week, I explained to the students that we would not be having snacks and gifts to go along with each chapter, because the reading itself would be a gift in itself. And the content did not disappoint! 

I will not restate the things that I have already shared with you through my email to each of you parents. I hope you will ponder those things in your heart.

I do want to share with you some beautiful works of art by your children. They each drew Aslan! The only help I gave them were the placement of the eyebrows, one line for the top of the nose, and the outline of his face. The rest were done completely on their own, using the guided drawing video. 

(A special shout-out to Silas who did this entire drawing and coloring with a cast on his hand!             Way to go!!)

“But what does it all mean?”                                                 asked Susan when they were somewhat calmer.

“It means,” said Aslan, “that though the Witch knew the Deep Magic, there is a magic deeper still which she did not know. Her knowledge goes back only to the dawn of time. But if she could have looked a little further back, into the stillness and the darkness before Time dawned, she would have read there a different incantation. 

She would have known that when a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor’s stead, the Table would crack and Death itself would start working backward.”