Celebrating Advent

The season of advent has never been something about which I've given much though.  Until recently, it was limited to opening an advent calendar and watching a candle lit and verse being read during the worship service each of the four Sundays before Christmas -- and of course Christmas Eve.  These last few years however, I've begun to fall in love with the sense of expectation and anticipation that comes with focusing on those hopes in the people who anticipated the Messiah so long ago.  As I shared last year, one of my favorite songs is now "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" (and if you haven't heard the group Selah sing it -- you must).  I want to pass this onto my children as I invest in their lives for Christ and so have been looking for ideas on what to do with my kids to keep our focus more on the coming Messiah and less on the Christmas lists and Santa Claus.

My initial thought was to keep it simple.  I have two advent calendars that we will do each day to count down the days to Christmas.  In addition to that, we have made a concerted effort since September to honor the Sabbath day a little better -- focusing more on family time than errands, dishes and housework.  In that Spirit, I have a huge candelabra that we never use (with two active boys around, it's WAY UP HIGH).  But I put some seasonal candles in there and thought for advent, we might give it a try: dim the lights, light the candles and read part of the Christmas story each Sunday night before we dig in to our Sunday night meal -- even if it's pizza (which it likely will be).

But as I began to think about this more and look for ideas, I found some other things that might be worth a shot.  Here's a list o links to other bloggers and moms who have shared the ways they use advent to anticipate Christmas with their families.

Truth in the Tinsel

This is an ebook available for purchase with Scripture readings and preschool appropriate crafts for each day.  Created and written by a children's pastor turned mom, I fell in love with it.  Not being super crafty, it being November 30 and having limited supplies, I probably won't be doing this daily.  But it was a nice jumping off point for me and it's in my "file" for next year.

Simple Advent Activities

I haven't spent as much time looking at this blog, but it seems similar to the Truth in the Tinsel concept, with a little less formality.  I can do this one, I think.  I love the simple ideas and the crafts are more up my boys' alley.  I can add Scripture to each day that we do something.

Advent Ideas

A fun idea for decorating a traditional advent calendar along with some fun family ideas to "slow down".

Advent Ideas for Kids

I'm still avoiding Pinterest, but I LOVED some of the pictures here with ideas.  I especially love the "activity a day" instead of object that included one to sort through toys to give away.  We'll be doing that one!

Baby Steps for Celebrating Advent

I think I've found another new blog to follow!  I also LOVED several of the ideas that people shared on here.  My favorite of course: sing "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" each night at dinner, one verse per week.  And ring bells for all you're worth during the refrain.  How awesome is that?  To highlight another couple, one family cushions the manger with "hay" (yellow strips of paper) one good deed at a time for Jesus' arrival on Christmas.  Another, to list 24 friends to pray for as you open the calendar.  I'm thinking this is a great way for our family to pray for missionaries this Christmas season!

One more simple idea from my friend, Cindy:

"We don't 'do' Santa.  Instead, we focus on Advent - doing 

a different verse or story each day and lighting a candle.   Also, we collect 

Nativity scenes which are displayed around the house --- we do a 

progressive story, moving the pieces closer and closer to the manger until 

Christmas Day when the Baby Jesus finally appears in the stable!!!  It's 

awesome.

"The book that we use is called, "Celebrate Jesus! at Christmas" - A Family Devotion for Advent through Epiphany, by Kimberly Ingalls Reese
It has the same type of activities for each day/week of Advent -
•  Lighting of the Advent Candle
•  Scripture Reading
•  "Think about it" section
•  Prayer
•  Song
•  Nativity Building"

This is a bunch of ideas to get started.  I'm so excited and I only wish I had started thinking about this sooner than this week!  I loved what one blogger said about making her lists and getting her things ready in November so she can focus on relaxing, fun and the Spirit of the season rather than stress and anxiety.  I'm halfway there and have a goal for next year!

I hope you find some things to enjoy with your family this advent.  I'd love to hear!