When your ministry revolves around Christmas, it’s pretty rare to find someone who understands your passion, much less shares it. That’s why in July, while at a blogging conference, I made a bee line to Star from Afar’s vendor table.
That’s how I met Natalie, a mom just like you and me who loves Jesus and loves Christmas. When her children were younger, she wanted to make Christmas a meaningful time centered around the birth of Christ. She saw how much her children learned through playing, and decided to create a game in which the prize was the best gift of all…joy in the birth of our Savior.
I loved Star from Afar instantly and I’m sure you will too. Because we understand the purpose this time of year holds.
You see, Christmas is the perfect time to introduce young children to Jesus. Our whole country sets this time of year apart to focus on family, gift giving, and celebration. Our children pick up on it. This time is special, different from all the rest of the year.
There is this anticipation.
And children love to anticipate a special event. To countdown the days with excitement building and hope rising.
They love a surprise!
So what better time do we have than Christmas to lead our children to the greatest purpose for their hope?
To long for the One that fulfills their every want and desire?
To reveal each day a little bit more the wonder of God’s gift to us?
To wake up Christmas morning with the best of surprises to find the Savior is what brings us true joy?
Christmas is THE TIME to take the anticipation and wonder the season brings and tell our children that Jesus is the purpose for all of it.
The “Christmas Star from Afar” is a wonderful way to do that.
It’s a creative game that encourages your children to go on a hunt for their Star, similar to that of the Wise Men.
Everyday the Star is hidden and your children participate in a fun hide-and-seek game to locate it. Once they have found their Star they move all Three Wise Men to its location.
On Christmas morning the Three Wise Men reach their final destination when the Star is found at the stable with the newborn baby Jesus!
I so wish I had this sweet tradition years ago when we were just starting to create our family traditions of the season. Even now, my kiddos are so excited at 7 and 9 years of age to add it to our celebration this year.
If you have little ones in your life…or maybe you are looking for a way to spice up your Jesse Tree experience this year, I highly recommend inviting the Star from Afar into your home.
Your activity set includes a wooden Star, a full wooden nativity scene that matches the artwork of the book, and optional scripture to use throughout the month.
Natalie has even added some cute stable animals and handy scripture cards to her shop to add to your experience!
I am looking forward to adding the Star from Afar to our morning routine this December. We usually do our Jesse Tree devotional in the evenings before bed so it will be a fun way to wake up each morning and start our day looking for the star.
I’m planning on even adding our ornament for the day to the star. We will have something to tantalize our minds and hearts about what part of God’s love story we will be reading that day. Plus, I think it is going to be super fun to come up with places to hide the star each night!
So after meeting Natalie at the conference (and falling in love with her heart and her ministry), I brought the Star from Afar home with me. But guess what?
I brought two home! So I have the “Christmas Star from Afar” to share with one of you!
Just leave me a comment below and tell me where you think you would hide your star for your kids, and I’ll enter you to win! You have until Friday at midnight to enter and I’ll announce the winner over the weekend.
Unfortunately, I don’t have one to give everyone–BUT…I do have a discount code you can enter when you purchase “Star from Afar” through Friday!
Use JESSETREE for 10% off your order!
Just as the Wise Men “saw the star, and they were overjoyed (Matthew 2:10),” we too can follow the star this Christmas to Jesus, our true JOY.
heather says
What an awesome Christmas idea!! We have a deep tray on our living room table filled with river rocks that our kids love to play with. I’d hide the star in those rocks.
Jacki Rucksdashel says
Awesome idea Heather! Kids love rocks!
Callie Raykhonov says
I’ve been interested in Star from Afar for a while now. Such a lovely idea. I’d hide the star in the trunk in our living room.
Jacki Rucksdashel says
Oooh, tricky place! We have a trunk in our living room too. You’ve given me an idea!
Kristina says
Ooooh! I’d hide the star in the millions of legos in our boy’s room!
Jacki Rucksdashel says
That is perfect Kristina! Don’t do it barefoot though!
Ashley says
I have been so interested in this. I think I saw you post about it last year! I would hide ours in our light fixture over our dining room table … He is the Light of the World, right? 🙂
Jacki Rucksdashel says
Yes, he is Ashley! Great idea!
Stephanie Wakeem says
Fun!!! I’d probably hide the star in our Christmas tree!
Jacki Rucksdashel says
Hi Steph! Great plan–with your guy, I bet he could come up with some creative places!
Susanne says
How much fun. I would hide the star at the bottom of a chore they needed to do. The bottom of the laundry to put away or on the shelf where the clean dishes need to be unloaded.
Jacki Rucksdashel says
Susanne–I like the way you think. The one who is contributing to the family is rewarded with the find!
Janine Ford says
I’d hide the star in the pantry. Our 2-year-old is relishing in his independence and likes to chose his food lately!
Jacki Rucksdashel says
Oh! I miss my 2 year olds! Star from Afar will be perfect for him!
Becky Rosty says
My two year old twins would get so excited about this! I’d put it by their potty chairs! ?
Jacki Rucksdashel says
Hilarious Becky! I bet they look there a lot, huh?!
Jennifer Brown says
I’d hide it on a shelf with all his beloved dinosaurs staring at it!
Jacki Rucksdashel says
So cute Jennifer! So I was mailing out your books today and realized you and I share something in common! I grew up in Sachse!
Leslie says
I would give to one of my nieces and encourage them to hide their star in the box of cereal they open. Then they could talk about how Jesus is soemtimes not recognized in the dailies of our life and let’s look for Him all day
Jacki Rucksdashel says
Great idea Leslie! And so true.
Kristen Sharp says
I love all these ideas! I was thinking it would be awesome to hide it in the boy’s room and hope it gets clean in the process of their searching. ? But I do love the idea of hiding it in an ordinary spot like the shower or fridge to remind us all that Jesus can be found in every aspect of daily life. I’m really excited about this!!
Jacki Rucksdashel says
Kristen–I’m liking that whole cleaning the room thing–but I’m imagining things getting tossed about in the search!
Katherine Criswell says
I love this idea of having them search for the star every morning! What a great way to bring joy and laughter (& follow up discussion) to the morning’s leading up to Christmas. So many ideas bouncing around as to where to hide the star… maybe on the keys of our beloved piano, or in the fruit basket in the kitchen, or maybe even hidden amidst the books in our family library.
Jacki Rucksdashel says
Yes Katherine–exactly what I’m praying for–a sweet start to each day focused on Jesus!
Jacki Rucksdashel says
Congrats Callie! You are the winner of Star from Afar! So excited for you and your family to add this sweet game to your December celebration. I’ll contact you via PM. Thank you all for entering! Come back for more giveaways the rest of this month!