Need a fun idea for a family ministry outreach?

Need a fun idea for a family ministry outreach?


Idea: Host a "family" gingerbread house building party!

In early December I attended a fantastic event at Harbour Shores Church in Indiana. I was so impressed with how it was organized, and saw great potential for other churches to duplicate the morning with the families in their churches.

Step One-- Invite families

Families registered online and decided if they ordered one, two, or more gingerbread house kits. They prepaid for the event.

Step Two-- Buy supplies, light refreshments, and prepare the work space

Event organizers made sure to have work space set up in the church gym, and enough gingerbread kits for everyone.  In addition to the gingerbread house kits, extra frosting and toppings were provided and laid out at each work station.

Light breakfast food was served as the participants arrived. The menu included fruit, muffins, doughnuts, juice, and coffee.

There was also a station to do a sticker/coloring craft if the participants wanted to do so.

Families mingled, found their work stations, and ate their refreshments.

Step Three-- Read a Christmas story and present the gospel

I attended the event and read Mouse's Christmas Gift. This was a great way to introduce spiritual truth into the event. After the story, I took approximately 10 minutes to present the gospel, using an object lesson.

Step Four -- DECORATE the gingerbread houses

After the devotional time, families worked together to decorate their gingerbread houses. So much fun and so many smiles!

The entire event lasted just under 2 hours.

Gingerbread Houses + Mouse's Christmas Gift = Special Morning

I had a great morning today with Harbour Shores Church! A big shout out to Lora Schultze and her crew for all their efforts. It was an honor to share Mouse's Christmas Gift with everyone!

#wewillmakeadifference

#wewillbealight

#wewillcelebratejesus

Mouse in a Matchbox - Craft Idea for Kids

This week I am heading to Springfield, Missouri to celebrate Thanksgiving with my brother and extended family. On Saturday, I am doing another Story Time Event with Barnes & Noble. 

This is the craft that I am bringing to share with the children. 

I can't believe I haven't shared this craft on the blog yet. 

Isn't it cute?

And so easy to make!

The craft is one of four ideas in the FREE DOWNLOADABLE teaching guide that Zonderkidz helped me format. 

I purchased the matchboxes (and emptied the matches) at Meijer. ($1 for 10 boxes).

 I cut pieces of felt for the blanket, 

and I cut make-up remover cotton pads into two pieces for the mattress.

 The paper doll is from the download. It comes in three sizes, but I chose the smallest size, made a screenshot, and created a document so that I can print a bunch all at once on white cardstock. 

Finally, assemble it!

I tell each child that Mouse loves to hear their stories. 

I hope many children end up telling Mouse their stories in the days and months to come.

FREE TEACHER/ACTIVITY GUIDE for MOUSE'S CHRISTMAS GIFT

This is content that I am reposting because you will not want to miss out!

Have you heard about the FREE, DOWNLOADABLE Teacher / Activity Guide that Zonderkidz helped me create for Mouse's Christmas Gift? 

It is perfect for parents, teachers, Children's Ministry leaders, Awana leaders, or anyone who is interested in teaching spiritual truth to children. 

It includes teaching lessons, application worksheets, and crafts. 

Here is the link to the download.

FREE TEACHER/ACTIVITY GUIDE

Merry Christmas!

Blog Tour #4 - Read. Discuss. Do! with Rebecca J. Gomez

A big thanks to Rebecca J. Gomez for reading Mouse's Christmas Gift and creating a Read, Discuss, Do! activity to go along with the story. Click below to access her blog and learn more about the idea.

Read. Discuss. Do! with Rebecca J. Gomez on her blog

If you haven't seen her Read, Discuss, Do! activities, you will want to look into more of them. She has fabulous ideas for how to spend quality time with your kids connecting over children's books.

Blog Tour #1 Mouse travels to Australia! Click link to my interview with Kellie Byrnes!

So thrilled to be invited to join Kellie Byrnes on her blog for the first stop of the blog tour. It is amazing to me that through the Internet we can become friends with people all over the world. Kellie lives in Australia, so this week's give-away is specifically for people living in Australia. I hope the Aussie's love Mouse's Christmas Gift, too!

Here is the link to Kellie's blog post: Kellie Byrne's Blog Post with Mindy Baker

Thanks so much for hosting me, Kellie!

Launch Party -- Sunday October 7--Hope to see you there! Look at what I'm giving away!

If you attend my LAUNCH PARTY, you can enter to win one of three give-aways.  

#1 It's a mini tree, mini tree-topper and mini ornaments for your child to decorate for Christmas. Also included is a mouse ornament that will fit into a matchbox bed. Mouse loves to listen to your child re-tell the story of Jesus' birth!

#2 It's a nativity set with 19 kid-friendly pieces. You can add this to your family's Christmas traditions.

#3 It's an autographed copy of Mouse's Christmas Gift! 

There will also be free drip coffee and kids' crafts.  

I will be selling a limited number of copies of Mouses' Christmas Gift.  

(I can accept cash or checks only.)

Hope to see you there!

October 7

2-4p.m.

The Well Coffeehouse in Downtown Fishers

5 minute Friday - VACATION

I traveled a few miles this June.  School let out for the summer, and I left for Spain and Italy with a group of students and co-teachers.  We had a blast!  Here are a few of my favorite pics:

Parque Guëll in Barcelona

Las tres profesoras en Toledo

Roma

Roma

Island of Capri

Next, I hit the road to celebrate my parents' golden 50th anniversary!  Kudos to them for staying together for the long haul.  I am proud to be their daughter.  We celebrated at my brother's new home/farm in Springfield, MO.

Next stop, Ohio!  Another anniversary--my husband's parents celebrated a 60 year milestone which Google tells me is the "diamond" anniversary.  Amazing. We spent the weekend swimming, barbecuing, and eating homemade ice cream. A lot of it.

Finally, my family and I went to Michigan--to Macinac, Island and the Upper Peninsula. This was our first time in the area (except for me when I was six years old so it still felt new).  We enjoyed ourselves!  I can't even begin to tell you how relaxing the bike ride around the island was. I loved it!!
I highly recommend it for your next get-away.

Our bike ride on Macinac Island

Upper Peninsula

I have more photos of my experiences on Instagram at @mindybakerbooks.  It is such a treat to travel and see new sights and places with the ones I love.  I treasure each moment! Where have you been lately and what have you been up to?  I would love to hear about it!

Book Review of I WANT YOUR SMILE, CROCODILE by Denette Fretz (AND BOOK GIVE-AWAY)

A few months ago I interviewed Denette Fretz about her upcoming book, I Want Your Smile, Crocodile.  I'm happy to announce that her book now available!  Link to buy book on Amazon

I am thrilled to be able to review this book on my blog as part of a four stop blog tour.  (If you missed the first three installments, you will want to go back and read them!  They are linked below, along with my original interview with Denette)

The give-away! 

If you would like to win a copy of Denette's book, simply leave a comment on this entry of my blog.  Post by May 20 at midnight EST, and on May 21, I will randomly select a winner. 

And now for my thoughts about this beautiful book!

This book is full of heart and adorable humor, and is sure to become a family favorite. Yet behind all of its darlingness, it drives home a very important lesson for every reader, from the youngest child, to the oldest adult.  We are designed in God's image, created for a purpose, and that makes us valuable! I love that Denette's book has this underlying seed of truth. 

I know for me, it is easy to look at other people's talents and unique qualities and feel inferior, saying to myself "I wish I was more like _____."  That is the exact struggle of the main character, Jack the meerkat.

The truth is that God does NOT want me to be like _____, he wants me to be ME! Living in the special way that he created me to live, and walking out my purpose on this earth.  I got on a little soapbox there...

Back to the book!

In the book, Jack wishes that he could be... 

• a crocodile, 
• an elephant, 
• a jellyfish, 
• a chimpanzee, 
• a porcupine, 
• and a polar bear, 

...imagining himself with each of their special qualities.  

But, as he begins to "impersonate" each animal, there is always something that just doesn't... quite... work out. (Insert clever humor and delightful illustrations that complete the storyline).

Personally, my favorite instance was when he got a sore bottom from the spine of the porcupine and needed the ice of the polar bear! :)   

There are other instances where the illustrations really "add depth" to the storyline. 

• For example, the chimpanzees give Jack's swinging "ratings," as in a gymnastics competition. 

• Jack's crocodile grin scares the crowd, and they flee in fearful desperation. 

• The zookeeper is not mentioned, but he lovingly follows Jack to bring him home even though along the way he encounters quite a few personal injuries. 

I was absolutely amazed at the clever word play and rhyme. As a writer, I know that this effect is very hard to achieve, and Denette's text packs a punch that fits the spunkiness of the character and the whimsical illustrations! Bravo!!

• Example: "Give me your swish, Jellyfish. I long to float the seas. I'd dive, I'd play, I'd glide, I'd sway, and twirl your dance with ease."  Fretz's lyrical words "fit" with the natural movements that a jellyfish would make. 

• She then transitions with, "nix the swish...I'm not a fish. I'm a sky kind of guy."  Her word choice is perfect, and a great introduction to the chimpanzee scene.

I really enjoyed reading this book, and I believe this story will not only connect with kids of all ages, but also with the adults who read it.  

Sneak peek inside: (You just can't help but fall in love with Jack!)

My original interview with Denette Fretz

Blog tour -- Interview with Denette by Glenys Nellist

Blog tour -- Read, Discuss, Do with Rebecca J. Gomez

Blog tour -- 6 extension activities with Laura Sassi

Remember, the give-away! 

If you would like to win a copy of Denette's book, simply leave a comment on this entry of my blog by May 20 at midnight EST, and on May 21, I will randomly select a winner. 

About the author:
Denette Fretz's passion is creating imaginative, engaging stories that help children understand and apply biblical principles.  A veteran elementary educator, Fretz resides in Medford, Oregon with her husband, a sassy cat, and a spastic Jack-A-Bee.

Denette, fantastic job! You have written an amazing book. I can see that it is a reflection of your beautiful heart.  Best wishes to you!

WORD SEARCH for MOUSE'S CHRISTMAS GIFT

I created a word search to correspond with MOUSE'S CHRISTMAS GIFT.

Enjoy!


Word Search--click here

TURKEY OF THANKS--fun idea for your family at Thanksgiving

Looking for a fun Thanksgiving tradition for your family?  

Make a TURKEY OF THANKS! 

 (Baker Family Turkey of Thanks 2009) 

1. On a posterboard, piece of butcher paper, draw a body of a turkey. Add eyes, beak and gobbler. Or print off a fancy cut-out from the Internet on colorful paper.

2. From colorful construction paper, cut out multiple feathers.  I like to make 5 feathers per family member or guest on Thanksgiving Day.

3. Each family member/guest writes something that he/she is thankful for on a feather.

4. Everyone takes turns sharing what they have written on their feathers, and then they tape them to the poster.

5.  Explain that we are thankful to God for all of these wonderful things that he has blessed us with.

6. Once everyone has their feathers taped onto the poster, it creates a colorful TURKEY OF THANKS!

OPTION:
--Do one or two feathers per night for several nights before Thanksgiving.  Try to memorize the Scripture verse(s) together as a family.

--Look up Psalm 100 in the Bible and read it aloud together as a family.  Notice verse four. "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name."

--Pray together as a family in short sentence prayers thanking God for the things that you wrote on the feathers.

Sample:  Lord, I thank you for our family.
               Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for our home.
               Thank you, Jesus, for dying on the cross for our sins.
               I thank you, God, for our dog, Buddy.

My kids (Throwback from 2009)

GOBBLE!🦃 GOBBLE!