We have been enjoying this Christmas season immensely:) Christmas music plays as long as we're home, which is just lovely. Our house has been decorated since the day after Thanksgiving, and I'm so inspired as I look around the room. Also, this year we have begun a new family tradition. We're officially celebrating Advent.
I'm so happy to have incorporated this into our family culture. My mom always had us celebrate Advent in our home. I have such fond memories of this festivity. It's also a wonderful way to keep our focus on Christ's birth being the reason we celebrate Christmas, and be tied in to the historical catholic (meaning universal) church. We have so enjoyed the weeks of anticipation and expectation as we look forward to Christ's birth. The girls look forward to it every night! (It's so easy to do and makes a huge impact. I highly encourage you to look into it, if you're not already observing Advent, even more so if you have children.)
We made some baskets of goodies and went Christmas caroling last week, to a local assisted living center, and our neighbors. Our neighbors didn't know what to think and only one of them actually opened the door.......quite different from the poor neighborhoods we caroled in growing up where they were completely delighted to have carolers at their door. But the assisted living center was really wonderful, as I knew it would be. We even had some of our Shepard group join us - totaling about 30 people (8 adults, the rest were children). The children were the biggest hit, of course. I think they could have cared less about our singing. They were just so happy to see little ones dressed up in Christmas dresses giving them hugs and holding their hands. ...oh, what a blessing it is to serve, even in the smallest way.
It's comin' on Christmas...and I couldn't be happier about it...sick or not!! We are blessed and so thankful. God is good!
much love to all of our friends and family. We are praising our Lord and Savior for you this Christmas season and praying for a blessed holiday.
2 comments:
Hooray!!! You're back in blogville!!! You have been missed, my friend! Some of us count on the little slices of cute happiness that you share from your spectacular family. (Have I included enough superlatives there? Are you getting the idea that we like you???)
Okay, I'll stop gushing now. But it's only because I'm working on "Self Control" as today's fruit of the Spirit :)
I love reading up on your crew. The slide is wonderful. I especially love the photos of Raegan and Reece. Those are some forever pictures.
I miss you this Christmas. Hope to catch up more soon. Thanks for the card. We smacked it on our fridge right in the center.
Love you.
Anna
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