February 2014 - JAM Kids - Members of God's Family

Winter Continues in Iowa!   

But the days are getting longer and we have hopes that Spring is just around the corner.

 

We had a special time at JAM Kids on Wednesday, February 12.

Scripture for February  - All Are Loved by God

So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. … So then you are no longer strangers, but you are citizens with God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family,   Ephesians 2:17, 19 
  

 Welcome to Sara and Taylee!

We are so fortunate to have Yixuan as part of our JAM Kids family this year.   She is living in the United States for one year, and her home is in China.   At this JAM session, her mother shared with us about the culture of China and about Chinese New Year.

The outline of China looks like a chicken!

 

Each person added stickers to a chart and 

we discovered that this is "The Year of the Horse."  

We learned interesting things about customs in China.

 In China, the writing does not use an alphabet, it uses "characters."

Some or the important things for the new year include:
 Bring closure to all outstanding issues.   Let go of bitterness and make sure that our forgiveness is complete.  

Break any strings to past bad behaviors.

 Have a positive outlook for the new year.  
It is important to make sure our wishes agree with God.  
Proverbs 10:22 - “The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.”

Renew Relationships.   It is a good time to take a break and visit friends and relatives.
Respect.  Pay respect to the elders of the family.   We are all children of God.

Physical Reinforcement of Inner Attitude:  Cleaning house and wearing new clothes may reflect inner attitude and cause our spirits to be uplifted.

 Here is some "lucky money" in a red envelope as a New Year Gift.

Each JAM Kid should have found a "lucky money" envelope

with their things when they got home!

At dinner, we tried Chinese Food!

Let's see what we have tonight!

This is the way to hold chop sticks.

 Grace thinks it works very well to stab chicken with just one!

Gym Time was lots of fun!

 We "tumbled" and did cart wheels.

 

 

 

And then we had fun on the "balance beams."

How about putting them together a little different?

 

Let's Sing!

 

I'm being
swallowed by a boa constrictor . . .

Oh no, he swallowed my toe!

 Now Evan is being swallowed!

"God be with you, and bless you loved ones. . ."