Last year my family celebrated advent for our very first time. It was truly a wonderful experience as we focused on the birth of our savior for the entire month of December.
With the children, we read through Truth in the Tinsel by Amanda White.
Every day we read through scripture leading to the birth of Christ. Once we were done with our reading, we made an ornament that went along with the scripture for that day.
The boys loved it and so did I.
It gave us a chance to savor the month of December as we set our eyes upon God’s grace and the love that he has for us to have sent his son.
It also gave us a chance to really think about Jesus today and our hope in his second advent.
This year we’re going to go through Truth in the Tinsel once again. We didn’t fully complete the book last year, so I’m hoping we’ll make it to the end.
With the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving, I wanted to remind you that Advent starts Sunday. Can you believe that?!
So if this is something you think you’d like to do with your children this year I’d encourage you to get the book today. The activities are easy and all planned out for you.
I want to wish you all a blessed Thanksgiving with your family tomorrow and here’s to a fantastic Christmas season ahead!
Other Posts of Interest:
What is Advent? This Year Let’s Celebrate Christmas Intentionally.
Do you celebrate advent? Let us know in the comments below what traditions you keep with your family during the Christmas season.
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I really like how you make ornaments with them too. How fun.
I also enjoyed the time of Advent when the kids were young. We’d light one more candle on the mantle each week. We talked about the many witnesses to Jesus birth. John The Baptist, Shepherds, Star & Wisemen, Mary & Joseph. It wasn’t the traditional meanings to the candles, but it meant we could have many more candles. As it got later in the month, we might have 7 or 8 candles. Don’t forget inn keeper, sheep, etc… the kids can get pretty creative. As they got older, they told me the story as they remembered it. Often, there might be a treat of hot cocoa and cookies to go with this special family time.
And I always played a game with the wisemen in the nativity. I’d start them across the room, and move them about once or twice a week when the kids were in bed, closer to the stable. I let the kids play carefully with the nativity too; so it was on a low table they could reach (not under tree to invite disaster). The set was very old and beat up, and it was something hands on for them.
I have celebrated advent each year and it sure makes Christmas so much more meaningful. It’s hard to get away from the shopping list and focus on what it’s REALLY all about but whenever I do, I feel so much peace at Christmas. I love this post and the reminder that it’s right around the corner.