Advent is upon us

This is our second year in a row of making our own advent calendar.  Last year we bought a box of cards, stamped the numbers of each day on the envelopes, and inside wrote out a Bible verse and something special to do each day (such as make popcorn, have a cup of cocoa, watch a Christmas film, or go ice skating).  Adrian and I alternated writing out the fun activity so it was a surprise to us as well on the alternate days.  As you can see below, we hung them with clothes pegs on a string and voila we had a pretty advent calendar.

This year, we are doing something equally easy:  I have made a paper chain out of a paper bag and written the days of Advent on them (Day 1, 2, etc.).  We are going to read a portion of the story of Jesus each day using the Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones as well as do something fun like read a new Christmas story book, have a little treasure hunt for chocolate, drive to see some Christmas lights, or color a nativity scene.  I am still working on this, so any ideas are welcomed!  We are hoping that advent becomes a time the children really look forward to - a time of anticipating and celebrating Jesus' birth.  There are some great ideas and suggestions on "from the nato's" blog.  It doesn't have to be anything complicated, but I definitely encourage you to try this out this year.  Please let me know if you do!