Note: After publishing this post, I wrote and shared a complete Jesse Tree ebook.
As part of our simplified Christmas, Joe, Grace, and I have been decorating a Jesse tree.
Our Jesse Tree
How We Use the Jesse Tree Each Night
As I explained in my earlier post, the Jesse tree has become part of our nightly ritual. Each evening, before dinner, Grace helps me to light the candles in our Advent Wreath. We eat, and then Grace opens her Advent box.
Grace picked this box at the craft store a few weeks ago. There were several different styles, but she wanted the one that had a family on the top. It has a Momma, a Daddy, and a baby gingerbread man.
The baby gingerbread man doesn’t have a coat, and this distresses Gracie Anna.
Each night, Santa puts the next day’s ornament and devotional into the box, along with three Dove Peppermint Bark candies.
When Grace opens her box, she distributes the candy to me and to Joe. She’s never tried to keep it all for herself, a fact I find astounding. I struggle with sharing candy even today, and my 2-year-old passes it out like no big deal.
Anyway, after Grace passes out the candy, she gives Joe the ornament (and tells him where to hang it on the tree) and gives me the notebook. I read our Bible story from either our children’s Study Bible or from my Bible (depending on whether the story is in the children’s Bible or not, and whether the story in the children’s Bible conveys the message that we want).
We say a prayer, eat our candy, and Grace blows out the candles.
Our Jesse Tree Ornaments
I made all of our Jesse tree ornaments. It’s been a job, and I’m still not finished.
Nonetheless, I am happy with my obviously homemade and slightly kitschy felt-and-glitter ornaments. Here are the ones I’ve finished so far (in no particular order):
Creation – Earth ornament
Noah and the Flood – Ark & Rainbow ornament
Joseph – The Coat of Many Colors ornament
Isaac – Ram ornament
Isaiah – Rose ornament
King David – Crown ornament
Daniel – Lion ornament
Hope – Watchtower
Rahab – Rope ornament
Ruth – Wheat ornament
Moses – 10 commandments
Abraham – Ten & Camel ornament
Sarah – Cradle ornament
Adam & Eve and the Forbidden Fruit – Serpent ornament
Jacob – Ladder ornament
Samuel – Horn of oil ornament
Jess – Tree stump ornament
Obviously, my photos are in various states of completion, but I have, at this point, completed a full set of 32 ornaments. I love them, and I know that they are a wonderful heirloom that I’ll be able to pass down to one of my kids someday. They may not be the most artistic ornaments (they are limited by my art skills, after all), but I am pleased with them and I’m thrilled to be hanging them on the tree every night with my babes.
Jess Tree Resources Around the Internet
- Rocks in My Dryer used real items to make her ornaments (not felt like I did). Photos of her ornaments.
- Tired, Need Sleep has a great Jesse tree PDF that I used to create most of my ornaments.
- Almost all of the sketched Jess tree ornaments I’ve seen are based on sketches from the Reformed Church of America. Their daily Jesse tree devotionals are the best I’ve seen.
© 2009 – 2020, Tara Ziegmont. All rights reserved.
amylynbishop says
I love it! That is such a great tradition!
Kelli Miller says
This is a really neat idea! As a homeschooling mom, I am always looking for neat way to teach.. I can see us adapting this to fit our needs – maybe have the boys make their own ornaments, etc.
Thanks so much for linking this at 5 Minutes for Mom so that I could come across it!
HeathersHodgepodge says
I think your ornaments look great! The ornaments for our Jesse Tree are homemade as well.
MamaHall says
Your ornaments are so pretty! great job. And I love the routine your daughter has gotten into with the Jesse Tree. What a fun tradition!
Melissa says
I’ve been thinking about making a Jesse tree, but we never seem to get around to it. Maybe next year!
pamelamkramer says
That is really cool! Happy Tackle.
Miss V says
What a fun story! I love what you guys are doing, it's very special and great family time! Good job!
Love the ornaments! You're very talented!
Praying you and your family have a very Merry Christmas! 😉
Gina says
These ornaments are great, we might have to (slowly) work on these for our Jesse tree. Thanks for sharing the other links too!
New England Girl says
Those ornaments are amazing! They’re so beautiful. =)
Angela says
Your ornaments are great! I think you did a wonderful job, and more importantly you’re teaching Grace some wonderful things.
FeelsLikeHomeBlog says
Thank you very much 🙂
FeelsLikeHomeBlog says
Start now. Or in January. The ornaments really have been time consuming. I've easily spent an hour on each one, so I'm really glad I started a few weeks ago.
I still have a few to stitch and 6 or so to start.
FeelsLikeHomeBlog says
Bless you, New England Girl! I'm not sure they're amazing, but I'll take lovely compliments any time!
FeelsLikeHomeBlog says
You are very welcome. I have seen a lot of people who simply printed the ornament patterns and let the kids color them on paper. You could punch a hole and string the colored papers up on the tree with a ribbon loop. Wouldn't the kids love that? Then, you could put their ornaments away and let them look them over year after year. I think that's awesome!
FeelsLikeHomeBlog says
Sometimes, I prefer store-bought and polished, but for this, I like the homemade look.
FeelsLikeHomeBlog says
You are so welcome! It will take a long while to make the ornaments, so definitely start early.
FeelsLikeHomeBlog says
Thank you! 🙂 Grace sometimes talks over the Bible reading or colors instead, but it's okay. She's still getting the idea and learning the habits.
FeelsLikeHomeBlog says
Thank you! 🙂
FeelsLikeHomeBlog says
Thank you! I don't know about talented, but it's working for us. 🙂 Merry Christmas!
mjroberson5 says
What a very creative way to celebrate the Lord and His Word! Love it for this time of year!
Mandy the Trench Mommy says
Wow. I love your ornaments.
FeelsLikeHomeBlog says
And I love you! Thanks for the ego boost. 🙂
AmysFinerThings says
You did an excellent job with those ornaments. Wanna make some for me?! 🙂
AmysFinerThings says
You did an excellent job with those ornaments. Wanna make some for me?! 🙂
GAHCindy says
Sigh. I want to be you. I can’t do that stuff.
Tara @ Feels Like Home says
Sure you can. I’m working on a tutorial. 😉
GAHCindy says
Oh, good! I’m not crafty, but if I can get somebody to tell me how, I can have lots of fun screwing it up! :0)