So, it is time...time to begin seriously preparing for Advent. Are your candles ordered? I scoured Amazon and decided on these. They are solid color candles and are supposed to be dripless. If you don't have your Advent candles (and you plan to use them in a wreath) order or get to the store quick! (Michaels and Hobby Lobby often carry Advent candle sets. Of course you don't have to buy them in a set, you can buy individual colors.)
That's one thing you can do to be prepared (and often the thing I forget until Saturday before Advent!!)...but what else?
Create a Holiday Binder
Over the past few years I've been collecting resources for the holiday season. I have a great make-ahead Thanksgiving menu that I clipped out of the newspaper in 2007 and have used ever since with a few adjustments to suit my family. A Santa Lucia bread recipe. Several cookie recipes. Poems to read. Lists of books and movies we own (so I won't forget them). A large stack of activity pages I found on various websites to keep the kids occupied while I wrap gifts. A list of our favority holiday shows to record. Lots of scraps of ideas scribbled down. A plan for an Epiphany house blessing. I bet you have some of this bits and pieces, too.
- Find a binder and binder dividers. If you are like me, you have plenty of these around the house. One just needs to be found and cleaned out. I use, and recommend, a 3-ring binder with several pocket inserts. You can divide it up into seasons (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany) or by topic (recipes, crafts, fun stuff to do around town, etc - I find this the most useful for me).
- Print a blank calendar. This year mine runs Nov 30th - Jan 7th (Feast of St Andrew to the day after Epiphany). Mark your calendar with important dates (parties, local events, feast days, etc)
- Use it and then don't forget to store it in your Advent box for next year, or whatever box will be the first you open to get ready for Christmas.
Make a plan to attend local events
The holidays are such a good time to get out and get to know your neighbors and community. Make good use of local events! We will be going to our local small town tree and town lighting, a gingerbread contest that benefits a local charity, several particularly well-decorated homes, ice-skating in an outdoor rink, for example.
- Try to find several events that can be attended during Christmastide. Our culture does most of its celebrating before Christmas even gets here, so it can be challenging to keep celebrating after the 25th. I usually try to find several events or activities that will be ongoing after Christmas and save them for the 12 Days of Christmas.
- Look for events on small town websites and in newspapers. Ask around, check out facebook pages, and pay attention to signs and other analog notices (posters in store windows, for example).
Get the house cleared and ready
This is a good Advent activity for the whole family. Start thinking about where decorations, the tree, etc will go. Clear surfaces to make way for those decorations. Plan where you'll move that furniture to accommodate the tree.
So many years I've left this for too late into Advent and felt harried. While you don't have to do all this BEFORE Advent, it certainly helps to begin before Advent and have a plan for getting this done.
- Give the house a good deep-cleaning. Then you'll just need to do touching up and some minor cleaning as the season progresses. Clean out the coat closet a bit to make room for guests' coats. Encourage the kids to do a purge of their rooms for give aways and junk.
- Clear out pantries, fridge and freezer. And stock up on food storage supplies. You'll probably be doing lots of baking and making ahead, so be prepared and get these ready.
Begin a good devotional practice for your family
Obviously, this is the MOST important thing you should do to get ready for Advent. And while purchasing a devotional is helpful, it isn't the only way. You can find free ones only...or just plan to spend some good time in bible reading and prayer with your family. If you do decide to purchase one, there are so many good ones out there for kids, kids and families, adults, teens.
In a separate post, I'll recommend some we've used (purchased or free), but don't let yourself get too bogged down trying to find the "perfect" thing....you won't find it. Maybe all you can do this year is light Advent candles and say a few words of prayer - that's ok! Just select a book or activity that seems like something you can easily stick to for the season ahead and give it your best.
- Make that devotional time a priority. It can be hard to find the time in a busy schedule. Think about your days - when are you all gathered as a family naturally? If you homeschool, first thing in the morning might make sense. If your kids go to school, perhaps just after dinner. If you can't do it every day at the same time, that's ok - even a few times a week is great!
- Make that devotional time appealing. What will your kids enjoy (and what makes sense for the time slot you've selected)? Snuggling on the couch in front of the fire? In the morning gathered around the table with hot chocolate or tea? At night with dessert? Maybe sitting by the Christmas tree with only the tree lights on?
Be watching for a follow-up post with suggested devotionals and activities. (Here you go!)
Above all, take a cue from the Grinch...
"He puzzled and puzzled till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas... perhaps... means a little bit more!"
That goes for Advent, too!
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