Advent

Our Advent Activities

I love Advent! It is a time of waiting, a time of anticipation, and a time of preparation. We prepare our houses and most importantly, our hearts, for the coming of Christ. 

The world today is in such a rush. It seems like in years past the Christmas items would hit stores right before Thanksgiving. This year at one super chain store one aisle had Halloween candy and the next aisle over they were putting out Christmas stuff!

This Saturday past (one day BEFORE the first Sunday of Advent), in another store, the entire Christmas section was on 60% off and many items were already on clearance.

Every year we have tried to incorporate family traditions for Advent and Christmas. Some have been more successful than others... Since we keep our tree until the end of the Christmas season (which is not December 26th!), we tried to go and buy our Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. Well, the lot was abandoned and closed down, oops! A sign said free by some pre-cut trees laying on the ground, so we put some money in the donation box and got a tree, but missed on the tradition of cutting one down that year. Now we put our tree up the first Sunday of Advent, but don't fully decorate it. Each Sunday of Advent we add a part of the tree such as lights one week, ornaments another, gifts below it one week, you get the idea.

Here are some of the other Advent traditions our family is doing this year:

I got this little tree on clearance THIS WEEKEND and it is our Jesse Tree for Advent

Here is one of our Jesse Tree ornaments we are using (from healthy-family.org)

Another thing we do: set up the animals only in our Little People manger

Mary and Joseph get to journey around our house during Advent! The kids love moving them around!

They started their journey this year on our printer, LOL! 

We celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas on December 6th - more to come then!

Our Advent calendar

Cian's turn to open a window

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This little guy is a fun addition to our Advent. He does arrive here on the first Sunday of Advent. Lol!

This is also new this year! A Charlie Brown tree!

I love this line and think it is a great reflection for Advent: 

“I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It's not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love.” – Linus Van Pelt, “A Charlie Brown Christmas”

Who or what do I know is like this little tree?

Who or what in my life just needs a little love?

How can I give of myself this Advent to those in need?