Making a Prayer Journal and Bible Notebook

A few years ago my best friend made me a prayer journal for my birthday. It has seriously been one of my most favorite gifts I've ever received!

This past week in our KONOS Inquisitiveness unit, Xander was instructed to make his very own prayer journal. I was more than happy to show him mine and help him make his own!
 

My prayer journal

I love that she organized verses into topics for easy reference and even added a few poems and hymns. She even put my favorite verse on the front! 

We used a small photo album we purchased at the dollar store and simply turned the decorative cover sheet over so we'd have a nice white background. I wrote out his favorite verse and put it on thop of the cover which he then decorated with stickers.

 Back cover

 

Front cover

On the inside I wrote out some of his favorite verses. He's already in the habit of highlighting verses he finds that he really enjoys, so I am encouraging him to write them out and add them to his journal too. 

Here's one he's already added

I also gave him 4 index cards all with different prayer topics so he could list the names of those he felt led to pray for. He has a card for friends, family, unbelievers, and healing. He may want to add more in the future, but I thought that was a good start! If he was younger, I would have had him put pictures of the friends and family he's praying for instead of having him write their names. I still may suggest it!

I have a separate journal I use for studying the bible and taking notes. However, I decided just to add a small notebook to the middle of his prayer journal for any questions or thoughts he may have while praying/reading.  

I just put the front cover of the notebook under the plastic to secure it. 

This little notebook/journal has already come in very handy, and I think it's helping lead him into a deeper level of study and prayer. I hope it gets as worn out as mine!

Tabernacle Study: Breastplate Cookie Craft

We are currently 5 weeks into our KONOS unit study on honor. One of our topics for the next few weeks is the Jewish Tabernacle. We have already learned about the building itself and are now studying the laws and practices of the levitical priests. Since the book of Leviticus can be a bit intimidating for a 9 year old ( and his mama ) we are doing as many hands-on projects as possible!

Yesterday, my oldest son needed candy for a DNA project he's working on for school - And since we all know that you can't buy candy for one child and not the other, no matter the circumstances, I decided we would make a cookie model of the Jewish High Priest's breastplate. I wanted to use jelly beans but was quickly shot down by both boys. Apparently there are kids that don't like Jelly Bellys! Who knew?! It was decided M&Ms were the way to go - which suits me just fine :)

First, we rolled out our sugar cookie dough. Next, we used a tiny square cookie cutter ( bought for a Minecraft project ) to cut out our squares. Then, Xander put an M&M face down on each cookie. 

Next, I rolled out a bigger piece of dough, cut it into a large square and had Xander place 12 of the small squares ( gems ) on top of it in 3 rows of 4. 

After watching it like a hawk for about 10 minutes it was done. . .  and only slightly crisp on the edges. Nothing a little stroke of the knife won't fix! 

 

 

If I were to do this again I would bake the cookie pieces individually ( duh! ) and put them together with frosting. I'm still happy with how this turned out though. . . .

. . . and I think Xander is too!