Celebrating Advent ~ Our Favorite Advent Resources {so far!}

Over the last several years, we’ve been slowly adding things to do during the advent season. Although Advent started yesterday, we are still pulling together a few things to do with the kids over the next few weeks, all in anticipation of Christmas and the REAL reason for the season. Here are a few of the ways that we celebrate together as a family.

Each year we’ve had a simple Advent wreath in the center of our dining room table. I arranged {fake} greenery in a basket and added in five candles ~ 4 tapers {3 purple and 1 pink} and then a larger white candle in the center {the Jesus candle}. Each week we light a new candle at night, together as a family. This year we’re also excited to pull out our Advent log ~ it’s sitting in front of our fireplace and has a place for one candle for each night of Advent. We haven’t been able to use it for several years and I will have to share pictures of it soon!

Over the last few years we’ve been cycle through the three books in the Jotham’s Journey series by Arnold Ytreeide {the three are  Jotham’s Journey, Tabitha’s Travels and Bartholomew’s Passage}. This year we are starting the series over again with Jotham’s Journey. Each night after dinner we light our Advent candles and sit down together as a family and read one of the passages for the evening. The kids have loved this series {and so have the adults!!} and it is fun because each year the stories all connect with each other.

During our Bible time for school, we are going to be using the Birth of Jesus from Grapevine. We loved our Joseph study and the fact that everyone {including Kaleb} could participate. Our Multi-Level Teacher Guide E-book retails for $7.95 and is on sale for $6.95. The Student e-book for Multi-Level retails for $5.95 and is on sale for $4.95. {Sale!! Use the code ADVENT11 for 20% off your purchase from Grapevine through 12/31/11}.

AND this year we’re going to get a little ‘crafty’ thanks to the wonderful Amanda and the Truth in the Tinsel ebook that she released a few days ago!! I’ve been going through the activities and printing things off to do with the kids. I LOVE that it has 24 activities available, but it also offers alternate schedules in case 24 seems too overwhelming for you to do.

That’s what we’ll I’m interested to know how YOU all celebrate Advent ~ or do you? Are there special traditions that you have as a family during this time? Leave a comment and share!

 

Visit these great companies!

• Red Wagon Tutorials….Science classes for junior and senior high
• Truth in the Tinsel ~ 24 fun-filled activities for the Advent season

 

Raising Rock Stars ~ Celebrating Advent

Not too long after Rick and I were married we began celebrating the season of Advent together as a couple. As we’ve added children into the mix, the way we celebrate has changed from year to year, but the main focus is still remembering the Reason for the Season.

In the center of our dining room table we have a simple Advent wreath. I arranged {fake} greenery in a basket and added in five candles ~ 4 tapers {3 purple and 1 pink} and then a larger white candle in the center {the Jesus candle}.

Each night after dinner we sit down as a family and read an Advent devotional together as a family. Last year we read the book Jotham’s Journey together and this year we are working on the second book in the same series, Bartholomew’s Passage by Arnold Ytreeide. Although the stories are geared for kids, I’ll admit that they pull me in just as much and Rick and I enjoy them too!

I’ll be sharing some of our regular weekly Bible things later, but wanted to share about Advent since it just started. Carisa has some Christmas resources too this week, so be sure to visit her at 1+1+1=1 and see some of the other Raising Rock Star posts!