Every year I tell myself that this Advent will be special. This Advent will be the one we really make spiritually renewing for our family. We'll do a Jesse Tree, make a quilt, have daily prayer meditations with The Boyz (my children are collectively known as The Boyz), go caroling, etc. Well, very few years do any of these happen. This year, I didn't make any promises to myself about this, I decided to see what happened. Well, not surprisingly, we've done the bare minimum...advent wreath on the table, no extra meditations or prayers, but we talk about the candles and what they mean. The advent calendar is not even really working out this year...The Boyz keep forgetting to open the doors and get out the little ornaments and read the scripture verse.

I've been reminded that Advent is the cleaning up and decorating and preparing for an important guest in our home. Our decorations do not seem as festive this year, I'm not sure why. We put up all the same stuff...maybe that's it...it's all the same stuff, nothing new this year. Yes, it's nice to have the traditional ornaments and decor that brings back memories, but it's also a bit hum-drum to put up the same old wreaths and garland that have tired looking bows and silk/plastic flowers. Maybe I should go get some new picks for my wreaths and brighten them up - new ribbon or berries. We did make cookies, The Boyz helped some. Our 4 year old is my biggest kitchen helper and he helped me decorate the cookies yesterday. I think I will start feeling more into the season when my folks come into town this Friday.


We are putting on a little Christmas pageant with our homeschool co-op, though. That is new and different, so I'm kind of using that as our "extra" this year. The kids have to learn "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" for the pageant. My 6 year old is the singer in our family...he sings all the time, usually his own words put to the music of John Williams (Star Wars theme, Indiana Jones theme, Harry Potter theme). But, while we learn the words to "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" he's asking what they mean. So, here's the meaning behind the words of the song my husband likes to teasingly sing "Hark, Harold the Angel Sings":

Hark, the herald angels sing - Listen, the angels are announcing something important!
Glory to the newborn king - The king is born!
Peace on earth and mercy mild - Peace on earth and loving-kindness and forgiveness are given
God and sinners reconciled - God and mankind are brought together again!
Joyful all ye nations rise - Get up everyone, be happy!
Join the triumph of the skies; With angelic hosts proclaim - Join in the singing with the angels!
Christ is born in Bethlehem - Our Saviour is born!
Hark, the herald angels sing - Listen!
Glory to the newborn king. - All glory and honor to Him!

May we all join in the praises of the Angelic Hosts on Christmas this year and remember that Christ came to save us, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."