Category: Uncategorized

Pepparkakor Recipe

Human behavior - Organism

By Jessica Wolstenholm

Make Pepparkakor for Christmas – just like Sunday School Lady and Marcy in the Why Do We Call It Christmas? DVD! Download the recipe plus a coloring sheet that goes along with the scene from the DVD. Click here to download the Pepparkakor recipe and coloing page.    

How Parents Can Learn Gratitude as They Teach Their Kids

Emotion - Psychology

By Jessica Wolstenholm

When my kids were just 6 and 4 years old, I wanted to make sure we practiced some kind of actual thankfulness during the Thanksgiving holiday. I mean, that’s kinda the point, right? With Christmas easing out Thanksgiving in the stores (and even trying to sneak up on Halloween!), I thought it was important for […]

Series Spotlight: 321 Penguins!

Penguins - I Scream, You Scream

By Jessica Wolstenholm

This week we’re featuring a series on Minno starring our favorite polar pals, 321 Penguins! About 321 Penguins 321 Penguins stars twins Jason and Michelle who discover their penguin figurines come to life and get to adventure in space with their new friends Zigdel, Midgel, Fidgel, and Kevin! Along the way, they learn Biblical truths for everyday […]

Walk with the Wisemen: An Elf on the Shelf Alternative

Yellow -

By Jessica Wolstenholm

It’s not that I have anything against that creepy little elf. It’s just that. . .well. . .he’s a little creepy. We’d managed to dodge the Elf on the Shelf phenomenon until my daughter started kindergarten and they did a version of it in class. All the kids began talking about where their elf showed […]

Family Resolutions Series: Getting Spiritually Fit in 2012

Religious text - Family

By Jessica Wolstenholm

We’ve spent the last couple weeks discussing our New Year’s resolutions. So far our concentration has been on making changes that will improve our physical bodies. This is because most of us focus our attention, especially during the first few months of the year, on losing weight and getting into shape. But what about our […]

Christmas Traditions Around The World

Image - Photograph

By Jessica Wolstenholm

Do people around the world celebrate Christmas the same way? The celebration of Christmas is a worldwide holiday! However, each country creates its own traditions and celebrates the birth of Christ in unique ways. This makes for endlessly creative and diverse manifestations of this one holiday. Here are some examples of world Christmas traditions in […]

The History of Yule Logs, Stockings & Other Christmas Symbols

Christmas Day - Christmas Tree

By Jessica Wolstenholm

What are some popular Christmas symbols and how do they fit into the story of Christmas? For centuries before Christ, residents of Europe dealt with the long, hard winter months by celebrating midwinter festivals. Some familiar Christmas symbols, such as decorating with evergreens, originated in these winter festivals, and were adopted by Christians as they […]

Who is Santa Claus?

Santa Claus - Online shopping

By Jessica Wolstenholm

Who is Santa Claus? Jolly Old Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, Santa! Who is he? Where did he come from? It turns out our beloved Christmas icon originates with from a bishop in the church in the 300s. Legend says that Saint Nicholas gave money to the poor, and later the church declared December […]

The History of Christmas Traditions in the US

Chocolate cake - Icing

By Jessica Wolstenholm

There are so many Christmas traditions in the US! Where did they all come from? America is often called a “melting pot” and its Christmas traditions can be seen the same way! It is a country of immigrants from all over the world who each brought their culture’s unique traditions to the New World. Read […]