Advent Storybook

I wanted to share with you all a book that our family has been reading since 2009. I wanted to have my children focus more on the birth of Jesus and what the season is REALLY about instead of PRESENTS, PRESENTS, PRESENTS!!!! I found this really cute story book about a bear who follows a star to Bethlehem. There is a page reading everyday with a picture so it's really short. I also wanted to add bible verses so I read the book and added verses to read each day which go with the theme. Below is a picture of what the book looks like and I added the link so if you wanted you can take a look inside the book on Amazon.com. Just click on the picture below and it will take you there!

I couldn't stop at this! I wanted something visual that we could all see to symbolize each reading and the journey the little bear takes. There are titles to each days reading like: The Eagle, or The Star With A Tail!  So I made a huge Christmas tree out of felt with 24 spots for an ornament each time we read the book. The christmas tree turned out REALLY BIG!!! Bigger than I expected!!!! I would probably make it smaller next time but that would mean my ornaments would have to be smaller too! It was so much fun making these ornaments with the kids. I even had help from the kids I nannied for at the time! We all had fun making this. (A shout out to one of my BIGGEST helpers: Thanks for the help Sarah!)

I know December has already started but you can still go out and get the book and catch up a few days reading on the first day. If you enjoy it, next year make a tree with ornaments that match each reading! It doesn't have to be Martha Stewart style! Just do your best! It's better when it has it's own family FlArE! =)

Here is a picture of our tree and below I will put the bible verses I added to our book which match the reading for the day!

I made it like a scroll so it can be rolled up each year and the ornaments just Velcro on to the tree.
If you want more info on how I made the ornaments and/or what I did for a specific day, just leave me a comment and I will reply! =)

These are the verses I found that go along with each days reading. If you think of one that I didn't put down, USE IT! The more verses the better. I have a feeling as years go by we will just keep adding verses to each day of reading. I can't wait for the day my kids will be able to look them up and read them to us! Happy Advent!!!

1. The Star with a Tail: Hebrews 13:5
2. The Eagle: Deuteronomy 32:10-14 & Exodus 19:4-6
3. The Blind Man: Psalms 27:1 & Psalms 119:105
4. The Giant: 1 Samuel 17:32-51
5. The Ant: Matthew 21:21-22, Matthew 17:19-20, & Mark 11:22-26
6. The Man in Red: 1 Kings 17:12-15
7. The Rosebush: Romans 8:38-39
8. The Beggar: Acts 9:36-42 & Galatians 6:2
9. The Well: Psalms 86
10. The Pear Tree: Psalms 136
11. The Angel: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 & Proverbs 27:17
12. The Lamb: 1 Corinthians 13:4
13. The Dog: Titus 3:14
14. The Robber: Mark 2:1-12, Numbers 14:18, Psalms 103, & Ephesians 4:31-32
15. The Cane: Joshua 1:9
16. The Crown: Luke 15:24
17. The Precious Stone: Proverbs 15:1-7 & Proverbs 4:6-7
18. The Bird, the Hare, and the Squirrel: Ephesians 6:18-20
19. The Wolves: Proverbs 24:17 & Proverbs 25:21
20. The Donkey: Hebrews 11:6
21. The Animal Train: Isaiah 9:6
22. The Apple Tree: Matthew 8:23-27
23. The Ox: Exodus 34:10 & Psalms 103
24. The Manger: Luke 2:13-18

UPDATE!

A sweet man named Eric commented below that he made document with all of the verses typed out for each day of the advent and he shared the link with us! I will be the first to say, THANK YOU SO MUCH ERIC!!!

Click HERE to be taken to the document to print it out to add to your Advent book!