Adding A New Tradition to the Alexander Home.......The Jesse Tree

What is a Jesse Tree? 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. visit http://www.crivoice.org/jesse.html to read more on it and to get ideas for your own tree. Well, I guess one might find the whole idea a bit "hokey" but I love it. I've been contemplating over the years what to do for an advent calendar in December. I thought about giving elf gifts each day that were hiding on the tree, giving treats each night, and all sorts of expensive and crazy ideas! But this will be our 1st year counting down the days with bible stories and ornaments to match each story. The Jesse Tree sits by our dining room table and is already decorated with 25 ornaments that correlate with the Jesus Storybook Bible. I love that bible cause each story points to the King. That is what we use for family devotions and the girls recognize it. So we finished making our ornaments for the tree today and the girls are very excited. Now, we put our own twist on the Jesse Tree and took stories from OT and NT. We went right up to the crucifixion. I think it's important to remember WHY Jesus was born. So, we'll give it a whirl this year and begin a new "Tradition" in the Alexander home!