Celebrating the Season of Advent

How do you do advent?

Is it different then when you were a kid yourself?

Growing up we always had a chocolate advent calendar, the kind that had the paper doors you open to find a small treat inside. I didn't actually know this was an "advent" calendar. I treated it more like a countdown to Christmas.

In fact, I have never done anything for advent that had anything to do with scripture...ever.

I knew I wanted to make a tradition for our family.

But where would I even begin?

Now that Behr is almost two, I decided to go all out! We purchased our first Nativity Set as a family. Yes, it took over six years of marriage and decorating for Christmas to get our first Nativity Set...

Last year, I came across Naptime Diaries' advent calendar too late, just a few days before Christmas. So in October, as soon as Jessi announced her Advent Calendars were available in her shop, I placed my order!

I emailed family and asked them to write Behr messages, share verses, and even offer a small gift if wanted.

I had plans of making Behr an advent calendar a la pinterest, but stumbled upon this Countdown Calendar and was smitten. I like the classic style and the ease of using it year after year (instead of keeping track of individual bags and finding a wall long enough to hold them all.

And then panic started to set in.

I have never done this before.

How am I supposed to teach Behr about advent if I had never learned it myself.

And then Amanda White came to my rescue. She wrote a simple, sweet, yet comprehensive Advent e-book that laid it all out for me. She even offers coordinating crafts, supply lists, and paper chains to go along with her lessons.

This year, I think I am going to keep it simple. We will hopefully be reading a bit of scripture each day. Talking to Behr about Jesus and watching him continue to delight in the season. I will save the crafts for next year...when I am juggling two kids, but at least a year of practice under my belt.

What are your family's advent traditions? 

I would love to know more about what you do to celebrate the season.

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