Some Resources for our Advent Celebrations Past and Present

We pull from lots of different places every year to use some traditional stuff and some new stuff for our children.  Over the years we have changed our "programming" to fit the ages of our children.  We have used many children's books and children's Bibles but this year we have older children and we are doing a more mature style for them.

We read a scripture reading or two, a devotional reading from one of our books above and we sing a hymn or two.  This year we added the Christ in the Carols book to read about the hymns before we sing them.  The children always look forward to that time.  I dare say they were drawn in when they were small by the eggnog/cocoa and dessert we often share but they have grown to love the reading and time together, too.  They participate fully in the reading and lighting of candles and always have since the time they could read.

Advent started last Sunday but if you are reading an Advent devotional then most of them start today... December 1st.

Here is our list with titles and authors for each resource above and a few extra not shown.

Books Shown Above

Advent and Christmas:  Wisdom from G. K. Chesterton

The Dawning of Indestructible Joy:  Daily Readings for Advent by John Piper (On my NOOK)

The Christ of Christmas by Calvin Miller

The Purpose of Christmas by Rick Warren (this was a gift from last year)

Christ in the Carols:  Thirty-One Devotionals for Christmas and Advent

 by Christopher and Melodie Lane

Christ in Christmas:  A Family Advent Celebration from Focus on the Family

Great Christmas Ideas by Alice Chapin

More from my NOOK

Christmas Footprints by Todd Stiles

Finding Christmas:  Stories of Startling Joy and Perfect Peace 

by James Calvin Schaap

Devotions for Christmas:  A Celebration to Bring You Joy and Peace 

from Zondervan Publishing

Christmas Playlist:  Four Songs that Bring You to the Heart of Christmas

 by Alistair Begg

Children's Books We Have Used

The First Christmas Tree:  A Legend from Long Ago by Helen Haidle

The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado

This is the Star by Joyce Dunbar and Gary Blythe

The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg

Night is Coming by W. Nikola-Lisa

Who is Coming to Our House? by Joseph Slate

Three books in a series by Arnold Ytreeide

Bartholomew's Passage

Jotham's Journey

Tabitha's Travels

My Son, My Savior:  The Awesome Wonder of Jesus' Birth by Calvin Miller

Santa's Favorite Story by Hisako Aoki

The Pine Tree Parable by Liz Curtis Higgs

How do you celebrate Advent?

Do you have a favorite resource?

Please feel free to share with us in the comments.  

I always love learning about new resources!

Advent Begins Tomorrow...

Some great resources I found to share...

A blog post full of resources and a free 28 day handout you can sign up to receive.  It is a great resource!

A more detailed description of the meaning behind all of the elements of the Advent Wreath.

A free resource - digital download entitled Good News of Great Joy

Scripture Writing for December Link

A December Bible Reading Plan

The Road to Christmas Study

Advent 2015 Has Arrived

I am sharing our reading plan again this year after not sharing it here for several years.  It got lost in the shuffle so I am putting it front and center for you to find again if you want it.  We would love to hear how you celebrate Advent - church services, home celebrations, food, books, music.... whatever makes this time of waiting for Jesus return special for you and your family. Leave us a comment to share something special you love about this season.

Daily Scripture Readings

Sunday November 29 - Isaiah 42:1-9
Monday November 30 - Psalm 89:1-29
Tuesday December 1 - Isaiah 55
Wednesday December 2 - Isaiah 35
Thursday December 3 - Luke 1:26-38
Friday December 4 - John 1:1-10
Saturday December 5- John 1:11-18

Sunday December 6 - Micah 5:2
Monday December 7 - Malachi 3:1-4
Tuesday December 8 - Matthew 1:18-25
Wednesday December 9 - Mark 1:1-13
Thursday December 10 - Isaiah 40:1-11
Friday December 11 - Isaiah 52:1-6
Saturday December 12 - Isaiah 9:2-7

Sunday December 13 - Luke 2:8-20
Monday December 14 - Luke 1:5-25
Tuesday December 15 - Luke 1:39-56
Wednesday December 16 - Jeremiah 33:7-16
Thursday December 17 - Luke 1:57-80
Friday December 18 - Isaiah 61
Saturday December 19 - Revelation 21:1-7

Sunday December 20 - Matthew 1:18-25  
Monday December 21 - Luke 1:28-38
Tuesday December 22 - Revelation 1:10-18 
Wednesday December 23 - Matthew 2:1-12
Thursday December 24 - Luke 2:1-20
Friday December 25 - Christmas Day: Read the Christmas story together from Luke 2:1-38

The Sunday scriptures are the Advent Candle reading scriptures. Here is what we do when we light our candle each week...


November 29 - Prophecy Candle
Scripture: Malachi 3:1-4
Song: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Reading:


December 6 Bethlehem Candle
Scripture: Micah 5:2
Song: O Little Town of Bethlehem
Reading:


December 13 Shepherd Candle
Scripture: Luke 2:8-20
Song: While Shepherd's Watched Their Flocks By Night
Reading:


December 20 Angel Candle
Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25 & Luke 1:28-38
Song: Angels, We Have Heard on High
Reading:


December 24 (Christmas Eve) Christ Candle
Scripture: Luke 2:1-38
Song: Silent Night & O Come All Ye Faithful
Reading:

All readings to be determined later...

Advent night treat for week 2...

Tonight we had some pumpkin and chocolate chip scones. (click on the link and then sub chocolate chips for craisins, take ou the orange peel and add a bit of pumpkin and there ya go) The kiddos had eggnog with theirs and I had some New Mexico Pinon Decaf Coffee with International Delights Chocolate Mint Truffle Creamer. YUM!!!

On top is some orange colored sugar, btw. I used Special Dark Chocolate Chips, too. :)

Sugar Cookies...

This is a standard recipe from my reliable Betty Crocker Cookbook (1987) that I got when I got married from Dan's cousin... Etamarie... I use it quite often.

Here is the recipe I am doing today with our Tiger Cubs for our Christmas party.

Sugar Cookies

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup margarine or butter softened
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond extract
1 egg
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
Granulated sugar for topping (I also buy colored sugar sprinkles or use other sprinkles for this)

Mix powdered sugar, margarine or butter, vanilla, almond extract and egg. Stir in remaining ingredients which have been sifted together before adding except for the granulated sugar (remember it is for the top right before baking). Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours before using.

Makes a bit of a crumbly dough but then I work it into a ball and flatten to refrigerate.


Heat oven to 375 degrees. Divide dough into halves. Roll each half 3/16 inch thick on lightly floured cloth covered board. I often do not have a cloth so I just use parchment paper. Cut into desired shapes with 2 to 2 1/2 inch cookie cutters; sprinkle with granulated sugar. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake until edges are light brown, 7 to 8 minutes or so. Makes about 5 dozen cookies.

We rolled it out, cut the shapes and then decorated...

Got a picture of the finished cookies and the boys but without permissions I won't put it here...

I will try to get a picture tomorrow night of just the cookies before we serve them. This was SO MUCH fun!!!

Happy St. Nicholas Day...

We are making cookies today...

These are traditional St. Nicholas Day cookies being baked around the world today. :)

Speculaas Cookies

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons milk
• 2/3 cup dark brown sugar
• 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons chopped slivered almonds
• 2 tablespoons chopped candied citron
• 2/3 cup butter
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large bowl, dissolve the brown sugar in milk. Combine the flour, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, baking powder and salt. Stir the dry ingredients into the sugar and milk. Mix in 2 tablespoons of almonds and candied citron. Cut in the butter until it starts to form a dough, then knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Cover dough and chill for about 1 hour for easier handling.
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Dust a wooden speculaas mold lightly with cornstarch. Firmly press the dough into the mold. Run a knife around the edges to trim off excess dough. Gently lift dough out of the mold or tap out onto a cookie sheet. Press remaining almond slivers into cookies to match the designs.
3. Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven, just until the edges begin to darken. If your cookies are more than 1/2 inch thick, bake at 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) for up to 30 minutes. Cool cookies on wire racks to crisp. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a month. The flavor will get better with age.

RecipeZaar has many variations on this if you want to check out more...

Child friendly Christmas Eve Celebration...

It is just the six of us tonight. We range in age from 42 to 3 so we had to make stuff everyone could have. I got a little inspiration from my friend Cheri and a few things from around the house. We got out a tablecloth that I made about 10 years ago and a table runner a friend gave us. I dragged out the gold charger plates, a few snacks and some fancier Christmas dishes that don't get much use and we celebrate...



What are we celebrating? Jesus Birthday... of course! :) We are watching the Nativity Story and eating our treats and drinking cocoa and just being together to celebrate our Lord! We celebrate Advent in our home... that is what the candles are for.


May you have a blessed Christmas with your family and friends and may you use the good dishes and eat the fun food and just be families but most of all, remember why we do this... a man named Jesus came to live among the human race and to live His life sinlessly and then to die for the human race. Do you know Him? I pray on Christmas that you think about that great love... and know that there is more. There is more than Santa and more than presents and more than food and more than playing and football games and parades...

there is Eternal Life in a little baby that came for us... for you.

His name is Jesus!

Have the Merriest of Days this Christmas Season!!!

Much Love,

~Leann