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The only consistent tradition we have in December is bedrest for a very pregnant Mommy. So this year, since we are in the off season, I want to put a little more thought into celebrations and add meaning to our Holidays. Also, my background is pretty anti-liturgical and I don't many heirloom type holiday traditions to cling to. In fact, it was only recently that I actually figured out what an Advent wreath and candles were for. I owe this discovery to my friend, Billie, the theology professor, homeschooling Mom and Echeumenical (sp?) Christian. That being said, I am pretty excited and pleased with myself about our Jesse Tree (http://www.kingofpeace.org/advent/advent.htm) Which, since we are spatially challenged, is a Jesse Doorframe around the bedroom that three of my children sleep in. Using my Appleworks drawing program, I created 25 nice 4"X4" squares with borders and typed in it the name and reference of each person in the tree, for example, the first one is "Adam, Genesis 2". We cut these squares out and taped them around the door; nine up, seven across, nine down. The last one on the bottom right is Jesus, all in purple and gold instead of black and white. Daily, starting December 1, one of my children will take down the square, draw a picture representing that person (Adam is a man, Jesus has a manger and a cross) and then must look up the Scripture reference given, reading it to the family. We'll do one a day until Christmas day. This is participatory, more spiritually nourishing than those calendars that have chocolates inside, and takes up NO SPACE! I can't wait! Additionally, I have my very first ever advent wreath on the table! Yesterday, I took the big girls to JoAnn fabric to find something that would do for an advent wreath. This store has every Christmas decoration imaginable, some tasteful and some not-so-much, yet no Advent wreath. Umm . . .okay . . I guess I'll do something ELSE I've never done before. I bought a styrofoam ring, a very long strand of fake greenery, four candles (No pink and purple anywhere! We got white instead.) and some very festive shimmery snowflake garland. I told the girls wer would go home and MAKE our wreath. All the components cost $10.41 including tax!!!! I've always dreamed of this! Going into a craft store and buying stuff and planning with girls . . . . .: ) But I digress, We brought it home and we, I mean I, had it together, on the table, ready for next Sunday, within 30 minutes. I added a few fake cranberries and pinecones that I had in our decorating bins My husband, who has a critical eye (and uses this power for both good and evil), said that it looked gorgeous! I am pleased too. Now all I need to add are four choruses about Christmas that we will learn up through the fourth week. Maybe I should call Billie. |
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Posted by Beth/Mom2TwoVikings