Advent

This year we are enjoying our Advent season in several different ways. We choose to focus on the love story between God and His people during this special time of year. I made an Advent calendar with pockets last year, and this year I found a great activity (thanks, Katie!) to use with it. We draw a new character each day, and place it on the colorful poster of the scene of Bethlehem. It started with Isaiah, Zechariah (the prophet), and Micah. I love how we are telling the whole story!

I got a new sign for my kitchen from Rustic Pine Designs. We decided on this verse (Luke 1:49) as a family one day at lunch. (JT had suggested “ALL HAVE SINNED. Romans 3:23” but, while completely true, it wasn’t really the inspiring message Jim and I were going for!) The verse fits perfectly with Advent, and it happens to be Haley’s Cubbies verse this week.

We went to see A Charlie Brown Christmas at a local high school drama production with the Bonnells over the weekend. It was cute! I love that a public high school is using a Christmas production that includes a recitation of Luke 2.

Speaking of Luke 2, JT started looking up and reading verses from Haley’s Bible the other day. It was amazing, and my heart practically burst. He started with Luke 2:14. Now that he knows the New Testament books in order, he can look up anything in that section of the Bible. And since he is blossoming quickly into a reader of all things, he sat and read me several verses he knows. What a blessing!

Sunday we went to the Living Nativity at Discovery Baptist Church in Gig Harbor. It is amazing, and they have expanded the marketplace to be phenomenal. The kids just loved it. Haley got to go up and meet “baby Jesus” in the final scene.

Then we got hot cocoa with candy canes. A good end to a fun evening with Grandpa and Grandma Cole!

Jim managed to get our Christmas lights up in between rainy days, after the snow melted, which is great!

Also for Advent, the kids open a traditional window calendar daily (no candy!!) from Aunt Gena and Christmas books from Grandma and Grandpa Keene on Sundays. Haley has a “good deed” jar from her class at school that we draw each morning and try to fit in that day. Phew!