Advent is such a magical time for us at home. It’s not about the red and green decorations (we haven’t got any) and it’s not about decorating the house and tree (we live in a small townhouse so … no room or storage). No, Advent is about actively anticipating our rescuer, Jesus.
Here are some of the activities we do every day together that fit with our normal routine each day but adds an exciting element of anticipation.
Everything needed fits inside a shoe box that lives at the top of my daughters’ cupboard during the year.
Morning Music
In the morning, we pump some silly tunes to get us out of the bed and dressed. We get our bodies moving to “Happy Birthday, Jesus” from the Slugs and Bugs Christmas album.
"A Slugs & Bugs Christmas" sets the stage for a family celebration of this most wonderful holiday complete with laughter, dancing, reflection, and celebration.”
I first learned about Slugs & Bugs from Sam Smith, author of The Green Ember. His wife used to follow my old blog back in the day. It’s been lovely following his journey as a fantasy Christian children’s author.
Advent Calendar
Several years ago I printed off the advent cards that correspond to each chapter of the Jesus Storybook Bible chapters and peg them to a string along our lounge room wall. Each morning, one of my girls gets to turn the card over to reveal the picture from the story. Print out your own copy and laminate them and you can use them year after year, like us.
A few years ago, my parents, who are missionaries in Germany, also joined in the advent fun and sent the girls advent calendars. Previous years there were Lego advent calendars and another there were brown bags for each girl to open every morning with a small toy or treat inside. This year we have a wooden house with drawers for each day. Inside there’s a segment of a Lego set they will need to put together over the month (a lesson in delayed gratification).
Advent Readings
The Jesus Storybook Bible is our go-to advent reading over the years. I’ve downloaded the videos and we watch each animated reading of each 24 chapters leading up to Jesus’s birth in the morning after breakfast (and all of our jobs have been completed).
Manger Scene
This set has been with us for almost a decade. I really wanted a manger scene we could have set up that the girls could play with to their heart’s content. Now that my daughters are 7 and 9 they’re a bit too big for it … but they’d be genuinely sad if it didn’t find its way out of the advent box this year. It’s set up front and centre in front of our TV.
Evening Music
As things wind down in the evening, My husband either reads the same chapter from Jesus Storybook Bible or we listen to the audio if he’s out. We then pray together and then hop into bed and listen to more soothing Advent music.
Rain for Roots’ Waiting Songs
eine blume’s o come