Over the years Advent has become a cornerstone for us in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Starting in 2016 when our kids were 3, 5 and 6, inspired by a friend, it's grown to become our own cherished tradition. If you want to start practicing Advent next year, here's an honest mid-way through Advent reflection I wrote on our first year, and here's an overview of how we've generally practiced Advent and why. It's a bit different every year as traditions ebb and flow, kids grow up and schedules change, but it's still a cornerstone for which I'm so thankful.
This year we started on November 28th with a big brunch (the same brunch we'll have on Christmas morning as it were - sausage rolls and jam rolls) and decorated our tree with a dear friend from church before all of us curling up for a couple episodes of The Chosen. The perfect kickoff to Advent and Christmas!
Which brings me to this year's Advent, with older kids (11, 13, 14) who have their own schedules (friends, hockey, youth group, etc.) and me working almost full-time. Gone are the days of slow and reflective mornings around the Advent candles and unhurried bedtime routines. I loved the season of being a stay-at-home-mom and how it afforded more time and presence of mind for traditions such as this, but if a good tradition requires the perfect circumstances, it's not very likely to continue, and thankfully Advent does not require perfection at all.
Throughout the month we've been aiming to read a chapter each day of our Advent devotional (this year it was Let Earth Receive Her King by Alistair Begg) though to be honest, we weren't very consistent this year. We've also been going through the New City Catechism with the kids at suppertime, one chapter per night, and we rarely fit in both. I share this so you know that it's not perfect at our house and that if we missed a few days of our advent readings, it wasn't the end of the world. We just picked up at the current day's devotional reading and jumped back in.
Chloe's Sunday school class at church made their own Advent wreaths this year so we lit her candles and our church used our Advent candleholder for the lighting of candles each Sunday service. Lily actually was the one to light the forth and final candle this past Sunday and read Isaiah 9:1-6, which you can watch below if you like.
Aside from the readings and candles, this month has been full and sweet. We hosted a Christmas party for our church's pastoral team in early December and in my spare time I did Christmas baking. As always, I made early grey tea thumb print cookies and classic sugar cookies (both recipes here!) and tried two new ones this year, both from this blog. Mince pies are so traditionally British and Christmassy, but I don't think I'll remake them next year, but the pecan shortbread cookies are a new favourite! Homemade Irish Cream (aka DIY Bailey's) was a 10 minute project I made again this year. Really perfect for gifting and sipping by the tree!
This year was our first year with a truly enormous tree, which we bought last year during Boxing Day sales. It's 9 feet! It's nice to know we can leave for Christmas visits and our tree won't be dying and becoming a fire hazard while we're away! And also I loved having it up for so long this time. I am completely convinced by artificial trees now, though I'll always be wistful for that fresh pine or spruce smell that a candle just can't replicate.
While busier than years past, this Advent was still so meaningful, and accomplished it's primary task, just like the Apostle John's, in preparing us for the coming King. Jesus and Christmas, we're ready.
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