Keeping Advent

Advent Journal

Dec. 4th:  Our Advent Rituals

A few days before my mom died, the two of us were cuddling on the couch like only a mother a daughter do, talking about everything that I could possibly think of because, surreal though it seemed, we had all finally realized that the cancer was in fact going to kill her and she would soon go to be with the Lord.

Since she died in October, the prospect of approaching holidays was on my heart. I distinctly remember my mom asking me this question: "Will you always think of me on Christmas?" Rolling my eyes at her and laughing I answered: "Think of you?! Mommy, you are Christmas to me!" 

While obviously Christmas is about Jesus and not my mom, what I meant by that emotion-based statement is that for twenty-nine years of my life, my mom had been the keeper of our Christmas memories and the keeper of our Christmas traditions.

And now it is up to my sisters and myself to use those happy memories to pass on those beautiful traditions to our own children. Through these rituals they will learn the meaning of Jesus Incarnation and birth. And through these rituals I will keep my mom in my heart at Christmas, as she had hoped. 

On our kitchen table (remarkably, I've managed to keep little hands from touching so far) sits our Advent Wreath (with white candles because I haven't gotten to the store yet to purchase the correct colors), a jar of hay (borrowed from the chickens ;), and a small creche. 

After the dinner dishes have been cleared, baths have been taken and pajamas are on, we return to the table as a family to perform our Advent Rituals. 

First, we discuss the acts of kindness each of the boys have performed that allows them to add a piece of hay to Baby Jesus' creche. Whether they shared a toy or held the door open for someone, I am pleasantly surprised to find that both my four and two year old have performed at least one charitable act each day thus far.

Next, we accompany Benjamin Bear on his journey, cuddling on the couch and reading from our Advent Storybook: 24 Stories to Share Before Christmas by Antonie Schneider.

Finally, the highly anticipated opening of our magnetic Advent Calendar door takes place. They each wait patiently for their turn every other night. My mom gave us this calendar when I was pregnant with our first and goodness would she be pleased if she could see how my boys' faces light up as they carefully open the little door to discover which figurine will be added to the manger scene that night.

Our final Advent Ritual happens once the boys are in bed. Each night Mary, Joseph and their faithful donkey travel around our home. The first thing the boys do in the morning is search every room in our tiny house for this trio of Little People figurines who will eventually end up in the stable under the tree on Christmas morning, complete with Baby Jesus. This was one of my favorite traditions growing up and continues to fill my heart with happiness now that I get to be the orchestrator behind it!

And that is how our family is keeping the Advent Season in our home and in our hearts this year.

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Head on over to Like Mother Like Daughter for some Advent inspiration!