My all time favorite Christmas hymn is O Come, O Come Emmanuel and I've got a video of me playing it to share with you.
I'm excited to mark this season of waiting with two new (to us) activities.
The first is that the girls and I will be doing Truth in the Tinsel each morning for our Bible time in school. The past couple years I have tried to do Ann Voskamp's Jesse Tree devotionals, but have found the girls were NOT getting the idea. The Truth in the Tinsel is geared towards younger kids and each day the girls will make an ornament that goes with the daily theme.
The second thing that is new to us is the beautiful, handmade cradle to cross wreath. Ann Voskamp's son makes these and I've been on a waiting list for quite a while. I was thrilled to receive mine in the mail a couple months ago.
Each night we will light a candle and move it towards the center. I haven't decided what we'll read each night around the dinner table, but likely it will be a portion of the Jesse Tree devotional I'm doing on my own, or readings taken from an advent book my family used when I was young.
What sorts of things do you do to mark this season of advent?
I love those ornaments that go with your advent reading. Very sweet! This is the second year we are reading Ann Voskamp's Jesse Tree devotional. My kids are quite a bit older than your girls. We have also read from a devotional book where our nativity pieces travel around the house each day until Christmas. Baby Jesus doesn't arrive at the manger until Christmas morning, all wrapped and ready to be the first gift opened. That has been one of my favorite traditions!
ReplyDeleteI love those cradle to cross sets. I've seen them around and they are tempting me but I think we have enough for Advent for now :) I didn't realize they were made by Anne's son! The boys have been really motivated by our 'gifts for the King' activity which has really made me happy. O Come, O Come Emmanuel is one of my favorites as well. Thank you for the video! And your new header is so simple and beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI also love Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel. And also In the Bleak Midwinter. Thanks you for sharing your music with us.
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