It's almost that time again...

candles from the first week of advent -- taken last year

With December 1 (and Advent) only 13 days away (really?!), I thought I'd re-direct you to my posts on celebrating Advent from last year. They are still my most commonly googled posts, so I'm guessing that there are a fair number of you who will be interested. ;)

Celebrating Advent :: Part 1 ~ This post talks about the tradition of the advent calendar, why I think it's valuable, some links to different ones that you can make yourself, and how we make it work in our home.

Celebrating Advent :: Part 2 ~ This post is the long list of suggestions of what to actually put into the advent calendar once you've made one. (Some of these ideas might also be useful to those of you looking for simple stocking stuffers or Hannukkah gifts.)

Celebrating Advent :: Part 3 ~ This post is about the tradition of the advent wreath and some ways to update it that include the natural world.

While autumn really might be my favorite season, nothing compares to the time of year we're entering. The more we can keep it fun and simple and not overwhelming -- for everyone involved -- the better. That's what I hoped to capture in these advent posts, and it's what I wish for most dearly for my own family. I hope to have shared a bit of that gift with all of you through these posts.

PS: Yesterday was my two-year blogaversary! I pretty much forgot it was coming up, with all this pregnancy that's been going on around here, so I didn't plan a givaway. But I want to thank each of you so, so much for taking time out of your own lives to stop in for a few minutes and catch up with me here. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. xoxox

Comments

[elizabeth]

hello grace!

i always love to see a new post from you! and i will take time later today to read your advent posts. i'm excited to take my time over them while my kiddos are napping.

[laeroport]

Happy 2 years, Grace! I was just thinking today about what advent activities we'll include in our calendar this year. I may be stealing a few from you. :)

[Sarah Jackson]

thanks for referring back to these and happy 2 years!! So glad you're here.

[dutchgirl]

Oooh! thank you! We are planning on making much more of an effort to celebrate advent this year. It's something I've always wanted to do since my daughter was born and now especially when the commercialism seems worse than ever.

And Happy Blogaversary!

[Kari]

I read all of your advent posts and thank you so much for having such great ideas and insights. Oh, and happy blogavarsary!

[amy h]

I'm thinking my older daughter is old enough for some Advent stuff this year. So thank you for all the suggestions!

Happy two!

[Caren]

Grace, it was last advent that I found your blog through an MDC thread in the Waldorf forum that mentioned your advent ideas. I've been hooked ever since! It's hard to believe it's that time again, but I am getting butterflies of excitement! It's my favorite time of year... It always takes my breath away that we worship a God who chose to be born and wear skin. What a gift! And what a powerful message to us as embodied creatures about what it means to be human!

[Elizabeth]

No way! Already? I am still coming to grips with summer being over. I can't keep up!

Happy Blogaversary!

[Thimbleina]

Happy Blogiversary.
I love your posts on advent. Since I saw your wooden advent candle holder I have been looking for one of our own

[elizabeth]

oh, wow! i am so excited to come up with an advent calendar and wreath for my family! thank you for all the ideas! this is going to be fun! we have some shelves on our living room wall that i am thinking of decorating into a winter scene . . . maybe adding to it each day of december . . . we'll see what i come up with, and i'll definitely post pictures on my blog.

thanks for your picture! you'll see that it is linked, not pictured, on my blog. it just wouldn't work. but THANK you for being willing to share.

blessings to you and your little ones (two bigger ones and one teeny one) today.

don't forget to hop over and view the stillness on my blog today.

[Hope]

Happy anniversary, Grace!!! I love your blog and always look forward to new posts from you. I wanted to know where you got that beautiful hanging tree advent wreath of yours. Is it Ostenheimer? Keep up the great work and sharing your beautiful posts with us!!!

[Carri]

Thanks for the reminder! I had completely forgotten to get our advent calendar ready!

[mandy]

Thanks so much! I've had advent crafting at the back of my mind all week and your advent info is so helpful, now I just need to push it more to the front of my mind, and then onto my work table.

[Lauren]

Grace, I love the beautiful traditions you and your family celebrate each year. They are all so heart felt, simple, and full of meaning. You inspire me to try to make the holidays as cozy, warm and full of love as your family seems to.

[erica]

Thank you for sharing all of this. Advent holds a very special place in my heart, much as Lent does in the new year, as a way to prepare, wait, hope, and have faith. I don't yet have children or even a (biological) family to celebrate with, but I will be incorporating many of your ideas into the coming weeks, simply for me. Thank you.

[emily]

you know how i feel about these advent posts. brings on the envy. and happy happy 2 years to you. xoxo.

[Joy]

How lovely are all those candles! Happy blogaversary!

[Leah]

Happy blogiversary! :-) Lovely, lovely ideas for advent! Thank you!

[Tati]

like it so much.
this year, i'm doing my very first advent calendar, thanks a lot for the advices!!!!

[Laura J]

Thanks so much for the wonderful ideas for celebrating! This will be our first Christmas with just our little family (no big trip home) so we are really excited to start traditions of our own. Happy blogaversary, I love reading what you have to share on here!

[ida]

hello, i stumbled across your blog via via, and i was wondering where you found your advent 'wreath'? growing up my mom always made a real wreath from fresh boughs, and hung it over the table, but now i have a tiny house and table, so i've been looking for something beautiful but smaller and easier to use. thanks!

[Amy S.]

I just posted a link from my blog to yours! Love this post! Thanks for sharing!;)

[Ella]

thank you so much linking to these posts again. i have been thinking of you and remembering so many of the lovely ideas you gave me last year. time to read...

xo.

[Kirstin]

Hi! I just found you through Little Red Caboose. I LOVE all your neat crafty advent ideas. I'm going to become a regular reader. Thanks for sharing all your neat ideas. If I wasn't already converted to Waldorf methods through Little Red Caboose, you would have turned me. :)

[Amy]

What a lovely blog! I'll be coming back often. I had an idea for your list of advent gifts. Pillow cases. Fun holiday fabric, very easy to make, even for the complete novice. They could get them in the beginning of advent and use them until the holiday items are packed away. They can be reused each year, or a new one each year.

We started the advent with out daughter this year and I made embroidered ornaments for each day of advent that corresponded to Bible verses my husband selected. So each night we lit the appropriate candle(s), she opened the bag to see who/what was in there, we read the verse and talked about it. Next year we want to add some activities and songs, but the ornaments made for a fun thing to open, that was not gift oriented. After we were done our Advent time she got to hang the ornament on the tree.

I blogged about it, calling it Advent Journey if you want to check it out.