I haven't blogged all year. Though I have missed it desperately, I have been focused on other things. Good things. And I can't wait to get back to consistent blogging. But I need to break the silence for a moment to share the delights of training my 2-year-old boy. I simply must have some understanding ears.
I told David (I should say..I TELL him. Repeatedly. With wild hand gestures.) That the ONLY way for me to keep up with that child is to follow him around all day, just cleaning up the wake he leaves behind.
The other day, after Corin had yet another tail-training, Caiden said…Let me check his bottom. (peeking). He’s had a LOT of spankings today! Yes. He has. ‘Fraid they ain’t working. : )
A few of you are thinking…well, if she would just watch him closer or keep him occupied or keep things out of reach then he wouldn’t make those messes! The rest of you are laughing your tails off cuz you just KNOW. What. I’m . talkin’. about! Oh, how I love you for that.
And yes. He has constructive things to do. (Maybe not enough. Maybe I should just sit with him all day and teach him Latin or something.) And yes. He has messes he’s “allowed” to make. Even if I were able to muster up some parenting perfection today, He seems to transcend all. He is on a 2-year-old mission to make me work for my money. Oh. I forgot. I don’t get paid for this job. I TURN DOWN jobs that pay a lot of money on a regular basis so that I can stay at home and train this child! Would someone please check my forehead?
A few weeks ago, I
remember saying to someone that Corin (our two-year-old) really isn’t a
terrible two. He was delightful and sweet and loved to stand quietly by the
chair and play with his cars. And when
would he discover the “terrible” part.
Friends. That day has come. My doom has descended.
I am literally amazed at
the havoc that tiny little creature with the huge head can wreak upon this
house. Here are some examples from the
last few days. And this is just the
stuff I can REMEMBER! They say you blog
out the really traumatic stuff from your memory.
Everyday:
He COMPLETELY dumps any container of
toys/legos/cars/underwear he can get his hands on. Repeatedly. He often has his 5, 7, and 9-yr old siblings
in tears because they work so hard to keep their rooms clean and then he comes
in and blasts it in 15 seconds. We are trying to bind together as a team to catch him in the act but he's a sneaky little devil.
The only way to keep him contained would be to lock him out of every room. But that’s impossible. We’d have to lock him out of the house! (Hey. That’s not such a bad idea. The weather has been beautiful and you know what they say about little boys needing lots of time outside in the fresh air. Why didn’t I think about that before?)
The only way to keep him contained would be to lock him out of every room. But that’s impossible. We’d have to lock him out of the house! (Hey. That’s not such a bad idea. The weather has been beautiful and you know what they say about little boys needing lots of time outside in the fresh air. Why didn’t I think about that before?)
Sunday;
- pooped on the floor 3x before we could make it to Sunday school or get a diaper on him. David was walking around the house saying…."everybody watch where you’re walking! There’s poop somewhere!"
- Wrote in pens (more than one color) all over himself and a pillow
- (he had already pen- decorated David’s favorite chair, another pillow case and a brand new $20 book I had purchased for a student.)
Monday:
- Dropped cheerios all over the floor…then dropped the bag upside down!
- Dumped a whole bag of corn chips right in the middle of the kitchen floor,
- COMPLETELY emptied caiden’s clothes out into the middle of the floor. We’re talking floor covered with clothes. At least I’ve been simplifying and he doesn’t’ have as many clothes to dump. There’s always something positive to see, I guess.
- Dumped everything off the table in my room…
- dumped every drawer out of my “littles” holder (safety pins, hair pins, tiny little things that need saved.) Dumped.
- Dumped the DVDs on the floor. Including my very expensive exercise DVDs. I’m running out of high places to put things.
- Dumped the change box. It’s a big box. With a LOT of change. Thankfully, even with my hearing loss I heard the dump begin and I high-tailed it into my room before the whole entire thing got dumped like the other day. I usually hide it, but had pulled it out as the kids were leaving for school to give them some missions money and hadn’t put it back yet. He’s an evil little creature, I’m telling ya.
Tuesday (today):
- dumped a whole pile of napkins – spread over the floor.
- Tore up my runner’s world magazine (when I found it and he could see that things weren’t maybe going to end well for him, he said…It’s dust a doke, mommy…dust a doke! (just a joke)
- Tore the adorable tongue off of Kayla’s beloved lunch sack frog puppet that she was going to sell at school. Ripped that thing right off without a moment of remorse.
- later - on his own - he dragged the kids’ vacuum into the kitchen, plugged it in, turned it on, and began to clean for exactly one second. It’s the thought that counts. I guess.
- And it’s only 10:23 in the morning, people! My ears are nervously perked when I’m in another room…just waiting for the sound of dumping. Or the sound of happy silence. I have learned to FEAR happy silences.
I told David (I should say..I TELL him. Repeatedly. With wild hand gestures.) That the ONLY way for me to keep up with that child is to follow him around all day, just cleaning up the wake he leaves behind.
The other day, after Corin had yet another tail-training, Caiden said…Let me check his bottom. (peeking). He’s had a LOT of spankings today! Yes. He has. ‘Fraid they ain’t working. : )
At the beginning of the
day today I could see we were in for quite another ride. I walked through the house, showing him his
massive messes and smacking his leg. “You
don’t do these messes…you understand me?”
And he would say…”understand me.” But I fear he does not.
A few of you are thinking…well, if she would just watch him closer or keep him occupied or keep things out of reach then he wouldn’t make those messes! The rest of you are laughing your tails off cuz you just KNOW. What. I’m . talkin’. about! Oh, how I love you for that.
And yes. He has constructive things to do. (Maybe not enough. Maybe I should just sit with him all day and teach him Latin or something.) And yes. He has messes he’s “allowed” to make. Even if I were able to muster up some parenting perfection today, He seems to transcend all. He is on a 2-year-old mission to make me work for my money. Oh. I forgot. I don’t get paid for this job. I TURN DOWN jobs that pay a lot of money on a regular basis so that I can stay at home and train this child! Would someone please check my forehead?
But all it takes is one
of his special, sparkling looks with those too-big-for-his-head-blue-eyes and
the too-big-for-a-baby- vocabulary and it’s alright gain.
All I have to do is hear him talk up a blue streak or sing in his bellowing voice or giggle deep from his little, round, pen-covered belly and I decide not to leave him in a basket on someone’s porch.
All I have to do is hear him talk up a blue streak or sing in his bellowing voice or giggle deep from his little, round, pen-covered belly and I decide not to leave him in a basket on someone’s porch.
Did I mention we're also potty training and passie-weaning? Good times.
Gotta run. I hear a
noise!!!!!
He has been sitting on my lap offering commentary on all of these pictures...referring to himself in the 3rd person. "He is cwying? He going to church. He not wike dose cwose! He got spanking! What corwin doing? He not sad! He not cwying. He wunning. And he cwanky! He sweeping. He's a-sweep! (have you caught on to the fact that W's are L's?)
I can't quit squeezing and kissing him. He gives good kisses and hugs, too. Maybe I am paid, after all.
I can't quit squeezing and kissing him. He gives good kisses and hugs, too. Maybe I am paid, after all.
Now he's saying. "Mommy, I not want spankin! NOT spankin! I want down." It's like his brain and his body are in a constant race to keep up with one another. Oh. My. Goodness. I just let him have a drink of my iced coffee sitting on my desk!! Please. Someone tell me where I've placed my brain! I might need an extra vitamin today.
Noon update: Since this post was created,
Noon update: Since this post was created,
- We have played "airplane" repeatedly. The more dangerous the ride, the better.
- We have played "smash" (in which we take turns SMASHING each other with pillows and tackles on the bed. Followed by kisses and tickles. Repeat until mommy is exhausted.)
- He has made a flying LEAP off the bed and landed with head banging on hard floor. After a few seconds of mommy's kisses (but NO TEARS) he jumped up to go for another round of smash.
- We have attacked the frogs taking over our kitchen. Huge, imaginary frogs which require a lot of stomping and yelling to exterminate.
- I have caught him quietly pulling the books off the bookshelf. Thankfully I happened to walk through the room and caught him in the act only about 5 books into the endeavor. I made him clean it up.
- I have caught him spreading Nutella on his foot. Spreading. With his hand or a spoon. I'm not making this up.
- He is currently gnawing on a peanut shell and spitting the contents out violently to get to his precious peanuts.
- Caiden arrives home from kindergarten. Goes to my room. Comes back to the kitchen and announces. "Mommy. Your room smells like poop." I just stood there an laughed like an idiot. If you don't get the humor, this post is not for you. : ) (I feel compelled to explain lest you think there are sanitary issues.....There are three diapers in the diaper pail on their way to the big trash. But the can they are in got stopped right outside my door. Can't imagine what could have possibly distracted me. They have since been disposed of in the big trash. All is well and fresh-smelling again.)
The kids made their own Jesse Tree on the wall.
We used the paper symbols and also began collecting real ornaments to signify the stories. I got the idea from my friend Jessica Smith (Steve Smith's wife.)
Creating it was a lot of fun, and the kids enjoyed.
We used the paper symbols and also began collecting real ornaments to signify the stories. I got the idea from my friend Jessica Smith (Steve Smith's wife.)
"He, who every morning plans the
transactions of the day, and follows that
plan carries a thread that will guide him
through a labyrinth of the most busy life"
transactions of the day, and follows that
plan carries a thread that will guide him
through a labyrinth of the most busy life"
- Victor Hugo
"She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness."
Proverbs 31:27
| Make Your Own Book
(You can click the 4-arrow icon in the bottom right corner to browse the book in full screen mode.) I hope it doesn't lock up anyone's computer. It's pretty image intensive. I have a fast computer and it takes awhile to view, even on mine.
One thing that was keeping me from buying my 2010 blog book was perfectionism. After Blurb slurps all of your blog post text and pictures into a book, you can rearrange things so that they look more attractive and take up more/less space. You can of course change layouts, text options, picture sizes, etc. I decided to quit being so worried about getting it all right and just finally get it done. So it's not perfect. But that's okay. I was even brave and put it in my cart to checkout! I'm currently waiting on a little customer support for a groupon coupon I purchased. Can't wait to see the final copy! This is currently the only format of photo albums or scrapbooking that I do. We don't even usually print our pictures, but view them electronically. So I ordered the big 12x12 hardback coffee table book. I'm absolutely positive there are things that I want to change about it. But I could change things until 2015 if I'd let myself. So I just did it and I'm done. Feels good. Can't wait to see it!
(You can click the 4-arrow icon in the bottom right corner to browse the book in full screen mode.) I hope it doesn't lock up anyone's computer. It's pretty image intensive. I have a fast computer and it takes awhile to view, even on mine.
One thing that was keeping me from buying my 2010 blog book was perfectionism. After Blurb slurps all of your blog post text and pictures into a book, you can rearrange things so that they look more attractive and take up more/less space. You can of course change layouts, text options, picture sizes, etc. I decided to quit being so worried about getting it all right and just finally get it done. So it's not perfect. But that's okay. I was even brave and put it in my cart to checkout! I'm currently waiting on a little customer support for a groupon coupon I purchased. Can't wait to see the final copy! This is currently the only format of photo albums or scrapbooking that I do. We don't even usually print our pictures, but view them electronically. So I ordered the big 12x12 hardback coffee table book. I'm absolutely positive there are things that I want to change about it. But I could change things until 2015 if I'd let myself. So I just did it and I'm done. Feels good. Can't wait to see it!
Last year I decided to try "slurping" my blog into an annual blog book. Well...I never did get 2010 ordered, but it is sitting in a file waiting for a few last changes and a click to be ordered. (Pretty sure the Christmas money I was going to use to buy it got spent on something else. : ) Now I'm thinking ahead to ordering my 2011 blog book. I have been more purposeful this year about briefly but consistently journaling our life so that my 2011 blog book would be a good memory-keeper. I may decide to order 2010 as a "practice" book to see if I love the quality and the overall process with the company I'm using (Blurb.com). If I'm not crazy about the product-for-price ratio, I may shop around.
So it is quite possible that over the next couple of months you will see some additional random photos from months ago as I go through my digital folders and blog what I've missed.
I organize my photos into folders by year and month. Then I go through each month and organize and label new folders according to each date, event or subject. Then when I blog that folder, I mark the folder title with a "B." That way, I can go into "May," for instance, and see at an easy glance that there are one or two folders that I haven't blogged yet. It also makes it easy for me to find a photo from way back that I might need for a project or whatever. We also back up our photos on a 1-Terabyte external hard drive. It's about the size of an 8-track and is easily portable in its little case. We love it.
So now, without further ado: some random May tidbits.
So it is quite possible that over the next couple of months you will see some additional random photos from months ago as I go through my digital folders and blog what I've missed.
I organize my photos into folders by year and month. Then I go through each month and organize and label new folders according to each date, event or subject. Then when I blog that folder, I mark the folder title with a "B." That way, I can go into "May," for instance, and see at an easy glance that there are one or two folders that I haven't blogged yet. It also makes it easy for me to find a photo from way back that I might need for a project or whatever. We also back up our photos on a 1-Terabyte external hard drive. It's about the size of an 8-track and is easily portable in its little case. We love it.
So now, without further ado: some random May tidbits.
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| Caiden was my workin-buddy. We put up my new under-the-cabinet ipod dock! |
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| Caiden - with his cousin and bestie Kendrick. They are climbing the walls. : ) |
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| More projects - the kids worked hard helping me put together some new organizational cabinets for the boys' room. |
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| School's Out! We celebrated the last day of school. David and the kids played ball in the backyard. |
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| Then we ate cake! |
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| The extra boy on the right is our neighbor, Christopher. |
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| Ah summer....lots of time for reading!! |
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| This poor baby got a busted lip. Can't even remember how now, but I didn't even scrub his mouth too hard. Just let him fall asleep with dirt and all. It was a wowzer. It's almost December and he still has a big scar on his upper lip. |
I've been reading a lot about how Thanksgiving gets lost in the early-Christmas-shuffle. I think it's actually neat how the two holidays complement each other. And we have found some small things that help our family to really honor and celebrate Thanksgiving. Familylife has some really wonderful resources. They have a Thanksgiving bundle on sale right now. Another fun thing we do (starting this year) is set up a "harvest tree," which is a second (craigslist) Christmas tree full of autumn harvest bounty.
We have done different Thanksgiving dinner traditions for sharing our gratefulness. But usually, we simply go around the table and share something for which we are grateful. Each year in our family, it seems this time is made more poignant by the perspective gained by the losses and difficulties of the year. This year my sister-in-law's (Garen's wife Crystal) mother went to heaven on November 9. Her father and family joined us for Thanksgiving. There is something powerful about purposefully being thankful while looking full-faced at the painfulness of life. One person said, "I'm thankful for God's answers to prayer that come...no matter what they are." We reflected on the various painful changes that the past year has brought, but with such deep perspective that all 21 of us at the table want most of all to meet again in Heaven.
You can't wrap those memories up and put them under any tree. Priceless.
Family Journal
This is one of our favorite traditions. About 5 years ago we bought a big red blank journal. We pass the book around at Thanksgiving (and other special gatherings) and let everyone sign it. It is a treasure to look back and see a record of who was at our celebrations and their thoughts on family, gratefulness, and blessings. Yesterday the kids and I read through the entrys from this year so far and the kids added their entrys. I was in tears. It is a priceless keepsake. It even has an entry - shaky and beautiful - written by my Grandma Wolf before she went to heaven.
This is one of our favorite traditions. About 5 years ago we bought a big red blank journal. We pass the book around at Thanksgiving (and other special gatherings) and let everyone sign it. It is a treasure to look back and see a record of who was at our celebrations and their thoughts on family, gratefulness, and blessings. Yesterday the kids and I read through the entrys from this year so far and the kids added their entrys. I was in tears. It is a priceless keepsake. It even has an entry - shaky and beautiful - written by my Grandma Wolf before she went to heaven.
Thanksgiving Day Cards from Familylife
Growing Together in Gratitude from Familylife
I LOVE this book! It is a little book full of big stories about people who were grateful in spite of very bad circumstances. We read the stories aloud, then fill in the blanks provided with difficult or bad circumstances for which we are thankful. It has been good for us to talk together about how we can be grateful for everything - even the hard things This book offers convicting and inspiring perspective. (When we purchased this it was a softcover version. Now they offer a nice hardcover edition for $9.99!)
Let's Talk Turkey (Name cards & conversation starters from familylife)
The Legend of Squanto - Audiobook
We are crazy about audiobooks
Thanksgiving: A time to Remember - Book and Audiobook
I was a little confused before I ordered these a few years ago about what was what here, because the book comes with a CD and there's also a separate audiobook. So here's the summary: The book is full of Thanksgiving history, facts, stories and ideas. There is a CD of Thanksgiving music included in the back of the book. The separate Audiobook has a dramatized version of the Thanksgiving story. They are both awesome! My kids even ask to listen to the audiobook throughout the year. ("Mom, where is the CD with the pumpkin pie on it?")
I was a little confused before I ordered these a few years ago about what was what here, because the book comes with a CD and there's also a separate audiobook. So here's the summary: The book is full of Thanksgiving history, facts, stories and ideas. There is a CD of Thanksgiving music included in the back of the book. The separate Audiobook has a dramatized version of the Thanksgiving story. They are both awesome! My kids even ask to listen to the audiobook throughout the year. ("Mom, where is the CD with the pumpkin pie on it?")
Another favorite book: One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. You have probably heard me mention this heart-and-mind-shaping book. In short, living a life focused by thankfulness helps us to renew our mind, fight the enemy, worship in wonder. It is a transformational way of living. Not easy, but life-changing. This is one of those books that has been like a foundational building block for me. And God keeps confirming and adding to the message in my heart and mind over and over in some pretty exciting ways.
I have been watching a good library video little-by-little as I sort clothes and fold laundry. It is called "Be Still." I found it at our library. It is just a conversation with several well-known Christian voices about the practice of being still before God - of the power and value of contemplative prayer. Listening to Max Lucado, Beth Moore, Richard Foster, and Priscilla Shirer talk about being quiet has been good for me. I have been hungry for some deep stillness in my days. This video was just another "grace pocket" from God on the journey.
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| Indiana Dunes - a place we love to visit |
One of the things they talk about is why we are afraid of being still. They talk about people not wanting to face themselves and the things that God wants to change in them. This morning, I woke up before my alarm and as I tried to go back to sleep, I realized that I felt very awake and maybe this was a nudge from God to get up and talk to him in the dark, quiet house. As I meditated on the thought of being quiet and still, I realized why I have a difficult time being quiet - even in my devotions. I'm afraid I won't be productive.
In this house we have a very high respect for sleep. All six of us learn better, think better, love better and get into less trouble when we have let our bodies have the rest they need. Our family gets up at 6:30 am and my body needs at least 8 hours of sleep to function at its best. So unless a miracle happens and I get to bed right at 10:00, I usually choose to sleep until 6:30 and do "early morning" things like exercise and devotions later in the day. I actually love the feeling of getting up early to exercise or get a head start on things but it's only a good feeling if I've had proper sleep. So with all of that in mind, when I do get up before the family and have quiet time, I want it to be good! I want to feel that done what I need to and disciplined my mind and entered into his presence and had productive prayer. And I do believe that it helps to be disciplined and structured in our quiet time, but it is difficult for me to let go and just sit because my mind just w a n d e r s. And I think...if I'm not going to accomplish something in this quiet time, I'd rather be in bed!
Obviously, there is a balance to this as in all of life. I think having a short phrase of Scripture to lasso my mind when it wanders is a good thing. And as my junior high teacher said years ago...."You never know, God might be in those mind wanderings!"
Over the last 10 years full of babies, I have learned to let go of legalism and worship in the everyday - to pray during dishes and worship at the sunset and memorize scripture along with my kids. I accept the seasons of life and embrace them. But I'm not as good at being still as I want to be. It seems that I especially crave stillness this time of year. I found some good resources a few years ago that are good for really being quiet and helping the mind to be still.
A couple of other things that have helped me a different times is to walk while I pray. It helps me to stay more focused and has the added bonus of keeping me awake! A prayer list has also helped to make my quiet time more effective...it helps with that feeling of not knowing quite where to begin and keeps prayer moving along. I love to look back over the years in my prayer book.
The Divine Hours - Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime, A Manual for Prayer by Phyllis Tickle
"The Divine Hours is simply the best bood for people who want to work prayer into the fabric of their daily life." ~ Bert Ghezzi, Author of Voices of the Saints.
This is a very "liturgical" book - meaning it is planned readings for certain times of the day. It is called "A Manual for Prayer." It includes loads of Scriptures, readings & prayers for each day throughout Autumn and Wintertime. I love it. Ann Voskamp suggests stopping at regular intervals throughout the day to pray. This book is set up that way....a reading for early morning, mid morning, etc. I simply use it as a great resource for good Scriptures, thoughts and prayers for the day.
Simply Wait - Cultivating Stillness in the Season of Advent by Pamela C. Hawkins
Organized into daily readings for the four weeks of advent: Anticipation, Hope, Patience, Obedience. With readings, reflections, hymns, prayers and room to journal and sort through your own quiet thoughts. The author shares a story about attending a quiet prayer retreat at the beginning of Advent. Her thoughts have got me thinking.
I love that God is okay with me finding my way through the balance of disciplined quantity and quality quiet time with Him. I am accepting His grace and REAL RELATIONSHIP instead of an unhealthy preoccupation with rules. But I am overwhelmingly grateful to Him for ever drawing me - for making me hungry for Himself.
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| moon over the hills of Kentucky |
"Lord, the sea is so wide
and my boat is so small.
Be with me."
and my boat is so small.
Be with me."
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| The coast of Northern Ireland |
The first Sunday of Advent is quickly approaching! Sunday, November 27th marks the first of four Advent weeks leading up to Christmas. Why celebrate Advent? It's certainly not required or necessary for a meaningful Christmas season. So why take the time or energy to celebrate or recognize the Sundays of Advent? For our family, I think it provides three things: Purposefulness, Mindfulness and Fun.
Purposefulness: We plan to remember. We plan to slow down, stop. If even for a moment, once a week. We plan to be together as a family and to see the deep meaning in the sparkle and activity of the month. We plan to not wake up on the other side of Christmas and wonder where the season went. Some years even this purposefulness gets lost in the hustle and bustle. Other years we manage to
find pockets of purposeful time.
Mindfulness: We light a candle. We sing a song. Sometimes more, sometimes not. Just a little bit of time each week during December to focus on the most important things in life:
Hope (faith), Peace, Joy & Love.
Fun: It's just plain fun. Sometimes it's an evening of crafts and activities. Sometimes just a quick, special snack. Sometimes just a candle lit at Sunday dinner. And sometimes the candle gets forgotten in the midst of all the travel and family gatherings. But that's okay. We don't get our bloomers in a bunch. It is just one of those little traditions that creates a sort of glue for our family. We are family on purpose. We have fun. And we celebrate a lot - the big things and the small.
One thing's for sure - planning for Advent (or any celebration/tradition/holiday) shouldn't become a stressful burden. There are some years when we just simply don't get to it. Many times we will just do something quick and simple, just to pause a minute and remember together. Flexibility is essential or celebrating can become a burden instead of a blessing.
Some Advent Memories:
Advent 2007 Week 1
Advent 2007 Week 2
Advent 2008 Week 3
Advent 2009 - Emmanuel
Time to plan!
Sunday, November 27: Hope
Sunday, December 4: Peace
Sunday, December 11: Joy
Sunday, December 18: Love
Sunday, December 25: Christmas Day! Light the "Christ Candle" in your Advent Wreath!
Resources
A free Advent Jesse Tree Book from Ann Voskamp.
Christmas Game, Crafts, Books & Ideas from Familyman Ministries
Are you in the babies-and-toddlers stage? Check out this kid-safe wreath! I'm pretty sure this would fit in a diaper bag as a quiet teaching toy during the services of the advent season.
We got our advent wreath at the Christian bookstore in Alabama years ago. You can expect to pay at least $20.00 for a decorated advent wreath but there are cheaper versions. Another idea is to wait until they go on clearance after the season. In the meantime, use a plain wreath of greenery and just place four candles in cheap candle holders from the dollar store around the inside of the wreath.
And the easiest-peasiest way to celebrate Advent? Each Sunday (or anytime during the week), light a candle at a meal, or drink hot chocolate in the evening and talk briefly about the theme or ask everyone in the family to give one thought about the theme of the week. You don't even have to have a fancy advent wreath. And I have learned that we can certainly do without the special-colored candles. We usually just pull out whatever is in the candle cabinet that will fit in our wreath. I have also learned that celebrating these special days is much more do-able and enjoyable when we go with the flow and keep it simple. If it has to happen on a certain day and in a certain way every single time, chances are it won't happen at all.
At the very least, we can talk about it with our kids on the way to church. Explain that Advent simply means "coming." Tell them the theme for the week and remember the reason for the season together.
Purposefulness: We plan to remember. We plan to slow down, stop. If even for a moment, once a week. We plan to be together as a family and to see the deep meaning in the sparkle and activity of the month. We plan to not wake up on the other side of Christmas and wonder where the season went. Some years even this purposefulness gets lost in the hustle and bustle. Other years we manage to
find pockets of purposeful time.
Mindfulness: We light a candle. We sing a song. Sometimes more, sometimes not. Just a little bit of time each week during December to focus on the most important things in life:
Hope (faith), Peace, Joy & Love.
Fun: It's just plain fun. Sometimes it's an evening of crafts and activities. Sometimes just a quick, special snack. Sometimes just a candle lit at Sunday dinner. And sometimes the candle gets forgotten in the midst of all the travel and family gatherings. But that's okay. We don't get our bloomers in a bunch. It is just one of those little traditions that creates a sort of glue for our family. We are family on purpose. We have fun. And we celebrate a lot - the big things and the small.
One thing's for sure - planning for Advent (or any celebration/tradition/holiday) shouldn't become a stressful burden. There are some years when we just simply don't get to it. Many times we will just do something quick and simple, just to pause a minute and remember together. Flexibility is essential or celebrating can become a burden instead of a blessing.
Some Advent Memories:
Advent 2007 Week 1
Advent 2007 Week 2
Advent 2008 Week 3
Advent 2009 - Emmanuel
Time to plan!
Sunday, November 27: Hope
Sunday, December 4: Peace
Sunday, December 11: Joy
Sunday, December 18: Love
Sunday, December 25: Christmas Day! Light the "Christ Candle" in your Advent Wreath!
Resources
A free Advent Jesse Tree Book from Ann Voskamp.
Christmas Game, Crafts, Books & Ideas from Familyman Ministries
Are you in the babies-and-toddlers stage? Check out this kid-safe wreath! I'm pretty sure this would fit in a diaper bag as a quiet teaching toy during the services of the advent season.
We got our advent wreath at the Christian bookstore in Alabama years ago. You can expect to pay at least $20.00 for a decorated advent wreath but there are cheaper versions. Another idea is to wait until they go on clearance after the season. In the meantime, use a plain wreath of greenery and just place four candles in cheap candle holders from the dollar store around the inside of the wreath.
And the easiest-peasiest way to celebrate Advent? Each Sunday (or anytime during the week), light a candle at a meal, or drink hot chocolate in the evening and talk briefly about the theme or ask everyone in the family to give one thought about the theme of the week. You don't even have to have a fancy advent wreath. And I have learned that we can certainly do without the special-colored candles. We usually just pull out whatever is in the candle cabinet that will fit in our wreath. I have also learned that celebrating these special days is much more do-able and enjoyable when we go with the flow and keep it simple. If it has to happen on a certain day and in a certain way every single time, chances are it won't happen at all.
At the very least, we can talk about it with our kids on the way to church. Explain that Advent simply means "coming." Tell them the theme for the week and remember the reason for the season together.
