Wow! It has been so busy and it has been so long since I have been able to write. I want to say I have already started off this Advent better than any other because 90% of all the gifts have been purchased and about 60% wrapped! Now I will not have this big bubble of guilt every time I wake up, which is almost how every Advent goes and it is not a tradition I appreciate nor wish to continue. So praise God from whom all blessings flow! Now let's get to the fun stuff!
Advent started on December 1st this year and is exactly 24 days long- some years it is shorter, some years it is longer due to the fact that it officially begins 4 Sundays before Christmas if I've got that right, but mostly everyone starts counting on December 1st. I usually like to write a small reflection every day but this year it will most likely be a weekly reflection, but life is continually surprising me so I am not certain what will happen. But of one thing I am certain- Christmas will come in one form or another!
I am participating in InstaAdvent again and maybe this year I will finish! It has been hosted by Busted Halo for at least 4 or 5 years. I have only finished it once but I have a blast every year no matter how far I get.
This year my husband bought the girls a Harry Potter Lego Advent Calendar so usually around dinner time we light the candles and they take turns pulling out and putting together the piece of the day.
Here is how the first week went:
Day 1
Sunday, December 1, 2019
"The Lord is coming, always coming. When you have ears to hear and eyes to see, you will recognize him at any moment of your life. Life is Advent; life is recognizing the coming of the Lord." -Henri Nouwen
I love this quote. "Life IS Advent" We are waiting for the coming of our Lord- always. I taught my Sunday School the lesson of Hope for Christmas. I also invited two friends to play with my girls for the day. I had them trace their hands to remind them to keep our hands open for visitors especially during the Advent and Christmas season.
Lucy read The Polar Express at dinner time. I wore purple and lit the purple candle as is the main tradition.
Day 2
Monday, December 2, 2019
"Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope." -Maya Angelou
There was no school this day. I remember my husband attempting to make scented pine cones with the girls. I looked in the garage for a few Christmas decorations and lights, but mostly we were relaxing and enjoying each others company.
The picture of the day was winter coat, but it was fairly warm and we didn't really go outside. I thought it was much cuter that Lucy put on Santa's winter coat.
Day 3
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
"No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of another." -Charles Dickens
This day is also known as Giving Tuesday. It is an opportunity to give to charities and kick off the season of Christmas in a more altruistic manner. Since the girls were in school I spent the day grocery shopping and giving me plenty of time to think about the spirit of giving and kindness. I did give some change to the Salvation Army and dropped off some donations for Goodwill, but I thought I could do better this year. So I started a reverse Advent basket for food donations which I ultimately dropped off at Hermione's Jr. High because they are having a food drive contest and by today I had already collected over 25 items. I know the food bank has been there for us during hard times and it certainly feels good to be able to give in a small way back. The picture of the day was #GivingTuesday so I simply took a picture of our food basket.
Day 4
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
"God has given me the grace to see some of the seeds that I have sown bear good fruit, and I am so grateful." -Sister Thea Bowman
It was late start Wednesday but I was wide awake at 4am. I decided that would be the perfect time to start my Advent Devotional Love Came Down at Christmas by Sinclair B. Ferguson from Truth for Life ministries. It is a beautiful devotion going through 1 Corinthians 13 and how they connect to the kind of love we should find in Jesus' birth story. It was the perfect picture for believe. I also listened to Josh Groban's Believe.
Day 5
Thursday, December 5, 2019
"Whatever we are waiting for --peace of mind, contentment, grace, the inner awareness of simple abundance-- it will surely come to us, but only when we are ready to receive it with an open and grateful heart." -Sarah Ban Breathnach, author
I spent the day while the girls were at school just resting. I watched two cheesy wonderful Netflix Christmas movies. Since the picture of the day was window display I had Lucy put up her Christmas gels and I made a red and green book stack with lights.
I have been reading to the girls a couple nights a week from Little House in the Big Woods. Tonight we read the Christmas chapter which reminded me to tell the girls to put their shoes out for St. Nicholas treats.
Day 6
Friday, December 6, 2019
St. Nicholas Day aka Lucy's Birthday
"The idea of waiting for something makes it more exciting." -Andy Warhol
What a day! Lucy turned 8 years old. Neil made Lucy a birthday counting chain for her birthday so we know that makes it more exciting! Also getting to share the day with St. Nicholas is even more special. But I actually spent this day with Hermione. She had an eye doctor's appointment, needed a hair cut, and new tennis shoes- all long over due. But the biggest thing of the day was our church's annual Christmas party. My husband got me a Stranger Things Christmas sweater- it is pretty amazing!
The picture of the day was patience. Here is a picture of shoes with treats which represent the patience of my children waiting to check them in the morning.
Day 7
Saturday, December 7, 2019
"Mankind is a great, an immense family...This is proved by what we feel in our hearts at Christmas." -Pope John XXIII
Lucy's birthday party was this day so I was busy cleaning and cooking and picking up last minute items. We had tacos and extreme chocolate ice cream cake. This was a great time to take a picture of mix and mingle. There were 7 extra girls here and it was loud! They played Twister and Lucy
opened up presents of quite a few art supplies.
It was such a busy week and we are already more than half way through the 2nd week. I can't type fast enough.
I hope you and yours are having a blessed Advent. It goes by so quickly!
Love came down at Christmas and I send some of that love your way,
Larissa
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