Advent???

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I'm still learning what Advent is all about even though we began making it a part of our Christmas celebration about 10 years ago.

At church there was a wreath with five candles. Each week a family was chosen to light the candle and read scripture. That was my introduction to Advent. We had been attending this church for about 10 years and that was a first. What is Advent??? My husband and I decided that we should make more of our Christmas experience by adding a time of Advent. Our children were all grown at that time but we knew that food would bring them together....so the next year when our church brought out the Advent wreath and lit the candles - we followed it with dinner together at my house and we lit our first Advent wreath.





The tradition has continued now, I think, for 10 years. (My blogger, organized daughter told me to document the years as they went by....I didn't, so I'm not sure how many it has been.) Yesterday, we celebrated with 13 of us in attendance. The highchair has been a part of our dinners now for the last 6 years as we add God's little blessings to our family. I'm tired when the night is over, but being together - eating, laughing, and most of all focusing on the events surrounding Christ's birth has added a deeper Christmas experience for me personally and I pray for my family also.



This year I am taking it a step further for myself. I am doing personal time each day. Today was the first. I really had to force myself not to think about the things I needed and wanted to do. I sat down, forgot time...

First Advent Dinner/2007

My family just left. We had a great time together. D.Sr. and I have been preparing for this day all week. We want the little ones (7,5,4,3,10 mo.) to start being a part of our day.

Today, the focus was on Hope. We started with coloring the word HOPE on paper, then we cut it out and hung the letters on the wall. D.Sr did a great job talking to the kids about things they hoped for, then read Isaiah 9:2,6, "The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them...For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace."

The grandkids decorated my Christmas tree. I have so many ornaments; many of which were made by their parents. They hung them on the tree and often I was able to share who made the ornament and how old they were when they made it. When they finished, C. got paper and markers and made two ornaments - signed his name and wrote his age or grade on the back just like I had done to his Daddy's ornaments so many years ago. We tied ribbon through a hole and he hung them on the tree with the ornaments his Dad had made when he was 7. Needless to say my tree is very bottom heavy.

C. also asked if he could put the train set together. He and his Dad did that for me, while the girls watched. It amused D.(10 mos.) for the rest of the night, a side benefit we had not thought about. K., V. and I sang "Little Red Caboose....behind the train, smokestack on his back, coming down the track, Little Red Caboose behind the train." at least 5 times.

I read Christmas books. Reading is one of my favorite things to do with the grandchildren. The girls enjoyed sitting with me while I read. While reading, we visited the manger. We visited the manger in rhyme; we visited the manger focusing on the colors of Christmas; we visited the manger from the eyes of the animals that were in the stable preparing for the special visitors that were coming.... I love to read to children.

Games - my family loves games. They played Liars Dice together. (I was reading to the girls) C. is getting old enough that he enjoys the games too. D. was still watching the train.....

Gema washed the dishes. Thank you Gema... you always help me with that.

The day went great. I was tired when everyone left. I was snappy with my daughter as she and her family were walking out the door. We had a great day - and one unkind remark can change how the day felt. My heart is heavy about that. We'll talk tomorrow, I owe her an apology.

Next week....another Advent dinner together.