Fun for kids, Kid Ministry, Mouse's Christmas Gift, My Faith, Parent and Child Connection

Thursday Thoughts — Be a light!

Hi kids! I’m back again with another Thursday Thought!

Be a Light!

Have you ever been in a room that is completely dark? It can seem very scary! A cozy candle or nightlight can illuminate the darkness and give us a warm and safe feeling.

Sometimes the world can seem dark and confusing, filled with pain and heartache. There doesn’t seem to be light or hope anywhere! The world needs light!

Jesus said in the Bible, “I am the light of the world.” In a dark world, he is the one that can make a difference. He is the one that can change things. He is the one that can change people’s hearts.

A dark world needs Jesus, the light of the world.

When we put our faith in Jesus to be our Savior, he changes our hearts from the inside out. In Matthew 5:14, he says that people that follow Jesus are lights. He says in Ephesians 5:8 that we should live as children of the light. What do you think that means?

You can be a light for Jesus by the way you live. What are some ways that you can be a light to others this week? I would love to hear your ideas!

Craft idea: Make the candle that I am holding in the video. Here are some photos:

I got the idea for this craft from Krokotak.com

Fun for kids, Mouse's Christmas Gift, Parent and Child Connection

Exercise and Play Games with Mouse’s Christmas Gift

During the pandemic, I noticed my friend and former co-worker Heidi Stan making some wonderful videos with her daughters to help kids stay active and have fun even during quarantine. I liked and shared them on my FB author page.

Fast forward to Christmas season! I was planning a virtual storytime with my friends Glenys Nellist and Kathy Bostrom and we were brainstorming. What could we do to get kids playing games and having fun?

I thought of Heidi and her girls, and asked them if they would be interested in doing a video for me. THEY SAID YES!! See the video above for the wonderful result! Here is a listing of all of the games.

Table of Contents for Mouse's Christmas Gift Games
Mouse’s Christmas Gift Games

I hope you enjoy these fun family activities! Thanks Heidi, Bexley and Jorie!!

During our Virtual Story time event, we also played a Scavenger Hunt Game. Here is a copy of a longer version for your family to enjoy! We set a timer and raced to find each item, but you can make up your own rules!

Scavenger Hunt
Fun for kids, Mouse's Christmas Gift, Parent and Child Connection

Mouse Ornament inspired by Mouse’s Christmas Gift

This week I teamed up with some author friends Laura Sassi, Jill Roman Lord, and Tama Fortner to create ornaments inspired by our picture books. It was loads of fun! You can see all of the the ornament ideas on my Instagram or Facebook page.

I had seen the idea many places, but I had never tried it for myself. I recruited my daughter Chelsea to help me. We created this YouTube how-to video. We had so much fun making it!

YouTube Video link: https://youtu.be/6zy727A5yLc

Hope you can use the idea with your family!

Merry Christmas!