Sunday, December 2, 2007

Advent on the Hilltop

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. It is our tradition to skip church and stay home and have home church, when we begin the years Advent celebrations.

This is how we are celebrating this wonderful day. First we woke up early and had a wonderful breakfast of bacon, eggs, biscuits and fresh fruit. Kidding, we never do that. In fact, I think the only day we do that is Christmas morning. Needless to say, I am not a morning person.

Back to advent; D and I slept in, which was hard because the girls knew we were going to do our tree today and to say they were excited would be and understatement. EVERYTHING THEY SAID WAS SAID IN ALL CAPS SINCE THEIR EYES OPENED AT 6 AM!

We got up and had some coffee and read the paper. After hearing MOM IS IT TIME HUH? HUH? MOM IS IT TIME? We ordered pizza and began our Advent celebration. As we sat around the table eating pizza, we lit the first candle of the advent season the Prophesy or Hope candle. We read Isaiah 9:2-7

Here is a part of what we read.

6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, [b] Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.


Then we pulled out our tree from the wall where we it sat waiting to be decorated and the fun began. The boys put the lights on; and oh the memories. G breaking bulbs, possible electrocution, girls ringing all the bells they found in the Christmas boxes they were unpacking all over the living room, while Reba sang O Come O Come Emanuel. (Who in the world put it on the County Christmas station?) We’re a sophisticated lot let me tell you.



It’s a darn good thing this holiday is really about the Birth of Christ. My advent Wreath is beautiful (I think) and I have the advent readings and books all organized and ready to go. I'm totally on top of it.



As for the Christmas decorations; well, while we may not be creating beauty, we are at least creating memories.

3 comments:

Tonya said...

Wow, I like that tradition! We always do Advent, but start the candle thing in the evening (getting ready to do it soon here). Do you get to miss church all of December? Hmmm, sounds good to me. :-)

Tricia said...

Tonya, no we don't skip every Sunday of Advent.

We skip the first Sunday of Advent, because we do our tree then.

I like to set a tone for the Christmas season with the family.

I don't know, it is just nice to get it started off at home.

The kids would totally revolt if we took every Sunday off. The boys especially, they love youth group.

We also do the candle thing in the evening normally, but we do the Sundays Advent at lunch because D is here.

D is not always home for dinner so we do it without him some during the week, but I want to make sure he is part of it on Sunday.

Renae said...

Very nice. We celebrate advent, too, although we are already behind. We used our candles at Thanksgiving. :)

Peace to you,
Renae
http://reflective.homeschooljournal.net