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What is your favorite part of the Christmas story? One of mine is when God sent angels to shepherds in a field, to tell them Jesus had been born. And when the shepherds heard the amazing news, they set off on an journey to search for baby Jesus.
I want our family to be like the shepherds, looking for Jesus each day leading up to Christmas. So we’re taking our daughter Aster on an ADVENTure this Christmas with Shepherd On The Search, an newDaySpring Advent Activity set.
I love how this set includes a cute plush toy shepherd, a box that looks like a manger and the story of the shepherd’s search is captured in a beautifully illustrated children’s book.
The ADVENTure will begins at our house on December 1st {Aster’s birthday} when we hide our shepherd and let our girl go searching for it in some silly place. And, I have a feeling she and her daddy are going to be hiding it from me as we move the Shepherd closer to the manger each day of December.
Whether you’ve got children, grandchildren or know someone who does, I can’t think of a better tradition than playing hide-n-seek with a shepherd and making Jesus the focus of our Christmas fun this year!
ENTER to WIN a companion Christmas CD
Share your thoughts and let me know if you plan to join us in this Christmas ADVENTure. Simply leave a comment below (click here if you are reading this via email) I’ll be giving away Christmas Reading Music CD to one of you! And I’ll let you know how to can get more ideas and fun activities to do with your Shepherd on the Search!
I ordered this so I can do this with my grandchildren but they will just be with us on Christmas. Any suggestions on how to use this since I can’t use it like elf on the shelf for the advent season. I want to share the Christmas story and thought this would be so good. Can this be used in one day or is it just for the entire advent season?
Thank you
Pat
This was an answered prayer, I have friends doing the Elf on a Shelf and I wanted to do something similar with my son (who is 4) with a great message so I am excited to start this adventure with Shepherd On The Search. I just placed the order so hopefully we can start on the 1st. Is there a hash tag we can use to share pictures and get ideas? Thanks Renee, have a blessed Christmas 🙂
Yes, I will join.
Would love to win this for my grandchildren!
Merry Christmas to all!
This would be the perfect way to share the real story of Christmas with my family.
Love this. I will be ordering for both my children’s families.
Good Morning Renee. Can I purchase The Shepherd on the Seach Advent Activity Set in Canada? I would love to purchase this set for my daughter and for the children at our Sunday School!! We hear so much about the Elf on the Shelf, but the Shepherd on the Search gives the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God Bless.
Hi Tammi! Yes, DaySpring,com ships to Canada. Just go to this link and it will take you directly to the page where you can order. 🙂 https://www.dayspring.com/the-shepherd-on-the-search-advent-activity-set
After reading and re-reading your story, listening to your focus on Jesus for Christmas…I suddenly feel a “surge of energy” to awaken and recognize that I could volunteer at the local hospital in the kids unit and use this story. I already play a beautiful Grand piano = and shall be doing music of THANKs and going into Christmas very soon. This book theme would be lovely for the kids there == I have not ever done this and I feel a nudge this morning from my awesome God to check this out today when I get to the hospital to see what NEW JESUS IN MY CHRISTMAS AWAITS ME.
I have been “bogged down” so very much with depression for about 3 weeks and need a BOOST like this to FIRE MYSELF UP!
I can do it if I get my attitude right with my GOD! Thanks!
Joyce!! I was so excited to read your message. I LOVE your idea of volunteering at the hospital in the kids unit and sharing this story. 🙂 Praying God keeps encouraging your heart with ideas and that you chase down joy and kindness each day in December. xoxo
I love this! I’m a kindergarten teacher and hear all the time about Elf and the Shelf. I really want to keep the focus on Jesus this Christmas. This will be perfect to use in my classroom with my students. I know they will have a fun itme seaching for the shepherd while learning about the true meaning of Christmas!
I love your idea of reading the book and sharing this with the kids in your class! How fun to have them look for the shepherd each day!
This is the first I’ve heard of the Shepherd!!! This is so much better than the Elf as this teaches the wonderful story of the birth of Jesus!
I think my grandsons would enjoy hiding and finding he shepherd.
Oh I bet your grandsons would love it. I can’t wait to start this new tradition with our family. I have a feeling it’s going to be fun for us all. 🙂
I love this activity!
I’ll be ordering it to do with my grandsons ?
Thank You very much for sharing
You are so welcome. I love sharing what we’re doing and seeing all the comments. It’s going to be a really fun new Advent Christmas activity and tradition for us all :)!
Thank you for sharing your life with us……this is precious….Bless you
Oh how sweet! I have never seen this before! This is even more fun than elf on the shelf! I will definitely be ordering this for my grandchildren! What a great way to get them to focus on Jesus and His birth!
I know. I love it too!!! 🙂
I love this idea. I just heard about the shepherd about a week ago and would love to do this with my family. I am looking forward to starting advent this coming Sunday. Can’t believe it’s almost Christmas and love keeping CHRIST in Christmas.
I think it’s going to be a fun family activity – even for us big kids! I can’t wait to get creative with hiding the Shepherd and telling Aster the whole Christmas story as we get closer 🙂
So exciting….and I love your hair Renee!! I will be going to China with my daughter to bring home my first grandbaby (he is about 2 1/2 we think). What fun it will be to share this with him.
That is so excited Jeanne!! And I love that you’re going to get one to share with your new grandson. He will love it!!
I am ordering this now for my great nephew who is 2 1/2 years old. His mom and dad read to him every night and this will be a wonderful addition. Looking forward to receiving the set and sharing it with him.
I love that Donna!!
What a wonderful gift to share with grandchildren!!
Love this!!! How precious!! 🙂
I love that you got one for your niece and nephew! And I love the idea of showing them their birth announcements and how that mirrors the verses in the Bible. I’ll be sharing more ideas in early December. Happy Thanksgiving!!
Renee,
Can you point me to the links where you talked more about the shepherd last December?
My mom just got this for our daughter.
I got a Shepherd on the Search activity set for my niece and nephew yesterday. I am excited to read the book with them on Thanksgiving and hope I can participate in the fun of hiding and finding the shepherd. I’m excited to see what they name the shepherd. Your mention of the birth announcement gave me an idea to use with the kids. I can bring their birth announcements and then talk about how the verses in the Bible were the birth announcement of baby Jesus. I look forward to learning how I can get more fun ideas for what to do with the Shepherd on the Search kit.