Posted in FLYING and HGP
Jesus is the Hope of the World!
Tonight we had our first Advent Candle dinner of the season. On the menu:
Beef
Egg Noodles
Glazed Carrots
Dinner Rolls
Boston cream pie
My boys really enjoy the whole season but the one year that I didn't do the Candle dinners, that was what they told me they missed the most. Of course, dessert every week, even if it is not homemade or it is from the freezer (shh! I cheated with the Boston cream pie) and eating at the dining room table with real napkins, real china & real glasses, makes it all the more special.
I have combined a few sources from on-line, changed things from year-to-year and written portions myself of a little Advent service we do together. The whole thing ends up sounding like a Litany but my kids really enjoy the readings, the Bible verses, the songs and the whole ceremony about it (Our church is not formal like this so it is a nice change for us to be so proper and regal). I keep the service typed for each person with copies of the Christmas songs we will sing, in 3-pronged red or green folder that the kids have decorated. It is really beautiful when we have lots of guests which we usually try to include but this year seems to have started despite the fact that we weren’t ready LOL.
We don't do the usual purple and pink candles because they just don't look Christmassy to me. I made the mistake of letting dh bring home the candles this year and while he didn't do too bad, he sorta forgot that we use taper candles and that there are supposed to be one red, two green, one white, one gold and two silver. Oh well! It still looks beautiful and who knows, maybe these fat candles will last longer because by the end of Advent my tapers were usually down to just a stub of a wick to light by Christmas Eve and the Advent that I have written goes through New Years Day!
This is the first year that I went with a fake wreath though. I usually pick evergreens and holly from our yard but they too, by the end of the season, look too much like a fire hazard so this year I decided to fork out three dollars at the Dollar Store (LOL – sometimes I am waaaay too cheap) and put one together that will last for years to come. The kids were never too into making the wreath so it is one less stress that I will have to take care of for at least a few years.
My memory for this year though, will be of my oldest son playing all our songs on the piano. What a blessing that was for me! He has only been taking lessons since August and he has been so enthusiastic practicing and learning as many Christmas carols and hymns that he could. I’ve always imagined singing carols around the piano at Christmas time but never for our Christmas Advent dinners. He really made a mama proud but all my boys do.
