I didn't figure out what to do for Advent until yesterday.
The first day (November 30), I pulled out an old Thriving Family magazine I'd saved with an advent-activity calendar. The first day's discussion was good, examining the Advent wreath (evergreen because God always keeps his promises, purple candle because Jesus is King, etc.). When I finally flipped ahead to see what was coming, though, I realized that it was still a bit too old (and complicated) for my little people. It'll probably be great when they're 5-10 years old instead of 1-5.
The second day (December 1), we thought we'd give the Jesus Storybook Bible plan a go. It's not really a "plan" so much as "read one story every day." There are twenty-one Old Testament stories and three stories surrounding Jesus' birth, so it works out quite nicely to cover 24 days of Advent. And since every Old Testament story ends with a reference to Jesus, it's very Christ-focused. That night, though, Isaac and I discussed it, and decided our kids are young enough that we really just want them to internalize the details of the Christmas story before we start trying to get symbolic with Old Testament. Some of it is easy to understand, but a lot of it isn't (for 2- and 4-year-olds, anyway). Also, the stories are long, and while my kids are generally champs at listening to long stories, the dinner table is not one place they sit quietly!
So yesterday, after dismissing the idea several times, I finally went back to Truth in the Tinsel. Last year, you may remember, we completed a good number of the crafts associated with each day's reading. This year, there was no way I was about to prepare for a craft several nights a week. We are still big-time in survival mode here, just weeks away from Toby's first birthday. I'd like to think I'll have my wits about me again soon, but right now, that seems pretty far away.
However, I saw no reason we couldn't do the same reading plan. Included with the ebook is a printable paper chain with "clues" for each reading (for example, read Isaiah 9:2-7 and listen for the word "light"), so last night I printed off the chain, had Isaac go through and cross off some of the readings we planned to skip (since we won't be home for dinner every night), and put it together. The boys get their countdown chain they've been asking for (but I've been too busy holding a sick baby to make), we get a reading plan for Advent, nobody has to feel stressed out over activities. Score.
The first day (November 30), I pulled out an old Thriving Family magazine I'd saved with an advent-activity calendar. The first day's discussion was good, examining the Advent wreath (evergreen because God always keeps his promises, purple candle because Jesus is King, etc.). When I finally flipped ahead to see what was coming, though, I realized that it was still a bit too old (and complicated) for my little people. It'll probably be great when they're 5-10 years old instead of 1-5.
The second day (December 1), we thought we'd give the Jesus Storybook Bible plan a go. It's not really a "plan" so much as "read one story every day." There are twenty-one Old Testament stories and three stories surrounding Jesus' birth, so it works out quite nicely to cover 24 days of Advent. And since every Old Testament story ends with a reference to Jesus, it's very Christ-focused. That night, though, Isaac and I discussed it, and decided our kids are young enough that we really just want them to internalize the details of the Christmas story before we start trying to get symbolic with Old Testament. Some of it is easy to understand, but a lot of it isn't (for 2- and 4-year-olds, anyway). Also, the stories are long, and while my kids are generally champs at listening to long stories, the dinner table is not one place they sit quietly!
So yesterday, after dismissing the idea several times, I finally went back to Truth in the Tinsel. Last year, you may remember, we completed a good number of the crafts associated with each day's reading. This year, there was no way I was about to prepare for a craft several nights a week. We are still big-time in survival mode here, just weeks away from Toby's first birthday. I'd like to think I'll have my wits about me again soon, but right now, that seems pretty far away.
However, I saw no reason we couldn't do the same reading plan. Included with the ebook is a printable paper chain with "clues" for each reading (for example, read Isaiah 9:2-7 and listen for the word "light"), so last night I printed off the chain, had Isaac go through and cross off some of the readings we planned to skip (since we won't be home for dinner every night), and put it together. The boys get their countdown chain they've been asking for (but I've been too busy holding a sick baby to make), we get a reading plan for Advent, nobody has to feel stressed out over activities. Score.
We're still using the same Advent "wreath" from two years ago, though I think the purple candles will be all used up by the end of this season. So far, we've managed to stop Silas from grabbing the candle mid-dinner, but the month is yet new. ;)
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