“Once she stopped rushing through life, she was amazed how much more life she had time for.” – Unknown
As I think I have mentioned already, this is a season of rest for me. After plowing through the year at full speed, I made every effort to keep my November and December calendar minimal, and allowing that richness of silence, peace, and tradition fill our home. I have already felt more alive these past few weeks than any other time this year. Less busy, less doing, and more room for slow days. I realize this is not always going to be an option, and I am grateful for this time. My hope is that my little ones remember their childhood Christmases as a time of excitement of anticipation, creative service, and an easy happiness….
Since today is the first day of advent, Gabe and I were talking about ways to start good habits with our kids, so we are working ideas into the advent calendar. Do you all have any good advent calendar ideas? I love making new ones and hopefully will get to share ours soon.
I was reading the meaning of the word advent and was wowed by how strong and simple it is:
Advent: “The coming or arrival, especially of something extremely important.”
Isn’t that beautiful? It makes the purpose of these next 25 days stand out so clear to me. It’s really difficult for me not to jump right into the celebrating and blare Joy to the World, bake one dozen too many cookies, and get lost in wrapping paper and holiday dresses. But, the “preparation of something really important” is a total mind set change. I am awaiting the celebration of the birth of the King of kings in a humble stable!
What are your advent traditions?? I would love to hear.
These photos are from our Thanksgiving trip to Nashville with my sister’s family. It was such a good time to have with them, and see my little ones get time with their cousins who they love so much! A few places that we got to visit while we were there: Cheekwood mansion and Christmas activities, Grand Ole Opry Hotel Christmas lights (a fun date night with my sister and brother-in-law), and Barista Parlor coffee house – magnificent.
Hope you all had a marvelous Thanksgiving. Wishing you a peace filled advent season!
x, Anna
