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A Few Advent Pictures

Advent Wreath ~ Advent Readings ~ Advent Box

St. Nicholas stockings hanging along the stairwell

Charlie Brown tree with Advent Ornaments

 for Abi ;~)

Advent ~ Daily Plans

to see all of my Advent posts click on the banner:

2012's Advent Planning page is here; I will be updating for 2013 soon.

On the mornings we are home we will gather in the family room, light the Advent candle(s) for that week, sing a verse of O Come, O Come Emmanuel, read a scripture passage, and pray the following prayer:

Advent Prayer to Jesus

You are our eternal salvation,
 The unfailing light of the world.
Light everlasting,
You are truly our redemption.
Grieving that the human race was perishing
through the tempter's power,
without leaving the heights
You came to the depths in your loving kindness.
Readily taking our humanity by Your gracious will,
You saved all earthly creatures, long since lost,
Restoring joy to the world.
Redeem our souls and bodies, O Christ,
and so possess us as Your shining dwellings.
By Your first coming, make us righteous;
At your second coming, set us free:
So that, when the world is filled with light
and you judge all things,
We may be clad in spotless robes
and follow in Your steps, O King,
Into the heavenly hall.
Unknown Author, 10th century

(I found the prayer here - the same site we are taking our Advent wreath prayers and scripture from this year.  I  will print out a copy for each child - now that I have ink.)

Then, the children will take turns reading a poem from Come to the Stable and opening the Advent box (a small papier mache box, which I painted purple last year).  The box will contain a chocolate treat, a mini ornament to put on a small Advent tree, and a note about a special activity for that day.

Advent Week 1

Can I say, "We are easing our way into Advent this year." and get away with that?  With classes all day Monday, a birthday on Tuesday, and me working extra hours Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday to make up for time off last week, and the printer running out of ink ~ this past week was pretty much a bust when it came to Advent-keeping. 

I did decide what to use for my personal Advent devotions, which I am enjoying.

• Christ in the Carols by Christopher & Melodie Lane 

I did find some chocolates that my dairy & egg allergic 11yos can have, which I will use as our daily treats each morning when we open our Advent box.

I did choose a book for the kids and I to read during our Advent Morning Times.

•  Christmas in the Stable ~ Poems selected & illustrated by Beverly K. Duncan

I did make a list of area activities and dates as well as family traditions and acts of service, and I am working on putting them in little cards to go with the Advent box along with a scripture reading.

 I did get the Saint Nicholas stockings, which we will decorate tomorrow after church.

We did make our Journey To Bethlehem last night, and then we came home, got into our pj's, drank hot cocoa, and listened to C.S. Lewis' The Last Battle.

Tonight we are watching a Little House on the Prairie Christmas dvd.

How was your first week of Advent?