Rowena of "Warrior Girl" has begun a challenge to countdown to Christmas, in a creative way.
This takes me back to the yearly Advent trees I created with my children. Each day would open to an activity that we would do together. We decorated the tree, baked cookies, made ornaments, visited Santa, made a wreath, made a gingerbread house, just to name a few of the activities we did.
This takes me back to the yearly Advent trees I created with my children. Each day would open to an activity that we would do together. We decorated the tree, baked cookies, made ornaments, visited Santa, made a wreath, made a gingerbread house, just to name a few of the activities we did.
I had read a story by Madeleine L'Engle,"Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas" many years ago and I always loved what they did to prepare for Christmas.
There were always several advent calendar: the homemade tree for our activities, a felt one I made with a tree -ornaments were pinned on each day, and a chocolate one for each of the children.
Each day was special and always ended with a Christmas story.
The joy and anticipation of the season has been missing for a couple of years. I went through the motions. Losing my Mom made celebrating very difficult.
This year though, I feel the need to countdown daily, and try to bring that joy back. A time to anticipate the Lord's birth and share love and peace.
Today is my daughter's birthday. I always called her my Christmas baby - now she is a young woman of 26! Where has the time gone!
Dec. 1 was always a time to celebrate her birthday. It was the first window opened. Tonight we sang happy birthday to her and we talked for a while. I love you dear daughter!
I also sent off gifts of ornaments for Louise Gale's swap and a Secret Santa gift as well. Making those gifts and sending cards has begun the building of lovely feelings.
We received our first Christmas gift today - a tin of cookies. A nice way to start December.
Check out Rowena's blog for her Creative Countdown to Christmas. I will be doing an activity a day, sometimes creative; but no matter what, it is a chance to build joy.
Each day was special and always ended with a Christmas story.
The joy and anticipation of the season has been missing for a couple of years. I went through the motions. Losing my Mom made celebrating very difficult.
This year though, I feel the need to countdown daily, and try to bring that joy back. A time to anticipate the Lord's birth and share love and peace.
Today is my daughter's birthday. I always called her my Christmas baby - now she is a young woman of 26! Where has the time gone!
Dec. 1 was always a time to celebrate her birthday. It was the first window opened. Tonight we sang happy birthday to her and we talked for a while. I love you dear daughter!
I also sent off gifts of ornaments for Louise Gale's swap and a Secret Santa gift as well. Making those gifts and sending cards has begun the building of lovely feelings.
We received our first Christmas gift today - a tin of cookies. A nice way to start December.
Check out Rowena's blog for her Creative Countdown to Christmas. I will be doing an activity a day, sometimes creative; but no matter what, it is a chance to build joy.
