The weekly “little of this, little of that” feature at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
Leila here.
We didn't take one picture this Thanksgiving!
It's like I don't have a blog or anything. (Or a family to record the events of, but honestly, I can only do so much.)
I want to be sure you have the memo about Advent starting tomorrow. After thirty-five years of trying to live the Liturgical Year, it always surprises me, even when I know about it beforehand. I think it's that Thanksgiving is just exhausting to the person who is also in charge of remembering Advent.
That said, I hope we are all keeping it stress-free.
Well, low stress.
Well, try not to panic.
If you must go on Pinterest, gird the loins of your imagination beforehand, or the vintage rustic modern Victorian Scandinavian DIY onslaught will get to you.
Nothing is more important right now than preparing our own heart and the hearts of those entrusted to us for the incredible gift of Christmas. But this is a simple matter — not always super easy, but simple. Today on {bits & pieces}, along with our usual fare of random interesting stuff, I will round up some things we've said in the past, in hopes that it will be of service to you.
I do think that if you spend a little time reading it now, you will reap the benefit of being calmer later. I hope so, for such is my wish for you.
Advent thoughts from the archives and elsewhere:
- How Advent patterns our thoughts about creating an environment for the complete education of our children. You can look at the sidebar under “Happy Home: Advent” for some of my early posts.
- Make sure you check out how to make an Advent wreath from greenery you find around the yard or on your walk. This post also contains Advent prayers and thoughts for your own understanding.
- A lot of what is suggested out there in this crazy world of ours arises because of a felt need to create a lot of activity where there may not be many children around. In a household of lots of littles, where school and plays and dances and shows are all being juggled together with parties and one's own expectations, there is the need to slow down. That's why I keep saying, leave room for wonder.
- As you are thinking about gifts your children may treasure for years, maybe consult this post with its list of tried and true book favorites. (If you can't see the books, disable your pop-up blocker or open the post in another browser.)
- I find the Jesse Tree lovely but overwhelming. My suggestion to you, if you are in the same boat, is to make your goal to produce a set of Jesse Tree ornaments that is complete some Christmas in the future. Step one, get a box you can live with for a while. Step two, decorate it or not. Step three, have a Jesse Tree ornament decorating session with the kids, call it a day, hang up what you have, and later put what's made into the box. Pack it up with your Advent stuff, and next year pick up where you left off.
- Tuck away for the coming weeks this post on the O Antiphons (much more limited than the Jesse Tree) — a printable resource that combines writing preparation and Scripture devotion. I think the original post I link to has been changed, but the image can just be dragged onto your desktop — either from my post or from the Catholic Culture one — and printed out for your own use.
- That should be more than enough to get you started! You'll notice that there's not much busywork here. There is certainly no Elf on the Shelf. Keep it simple, keep it beautiful.
In other news:
- I enjoyed this little piece called It Takes a Pirate to Raise a Child. Reminded me of when I said this about “books that build character.”
- Relatedly, a dear reader asked what I thought about E. D. Hirsch's Core Knowledge (not to be confused with Common Core, although sort of). I wrote a long, dense post about this topic, actually, so if you have some time, why not read it?
- Or, just watch this funny video — “Millenials in the Workplace — of how your children will turn out if you don't raise them right! No pressure, though.
A blessed Feast of St. Andrew to you all! Maybe you would like to join me in praying through his intercession this Advent. We always have you, our readers, in our prayers. Thank you for praying for us!
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sibyl says
Happy thanksgiving, Auntie Leila!
I know what you mean about being surprised by Advent every.single.year. Five days ago I was in the religious bookstore near me to find Peter Kreeft's Prayer for Beginners, and was confronted by a display just inside the door bearing boxes of Advent candles. And I was the dope who stood there with a blank look on her face, saying, “What? THIS Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent? How is this POSSIBLE?”
Then imagine my pride when I came home with the box — a week early! usually we're scrambling with the leftover stubs from last year until about Wednesday of that first week.
Jen says
Advent wreath and candles – check.
Advent calendar for each child – check.
Maybe next year we can branch out and do a Jesse Tree, but for now, these two things are what we can reasonably do. We will also try to go to daily Mass on M-W-F.
I love Advent!
Thanks for the reminders and ideas.
priestswife says
Happy Thanksgiving!
This is when I am glad to be Byzantine Catholic- the Nativity fast (Advent) always starts on November 15th- it doesn't move, so no surprise! But things always seem to 'ramp up' when Roman-rite Advent starts
Dyan says
Happy Thanksgiving! I've never been able to get to the Jesse Tree, but this year I found the website of the Erie, PA diocese. If you search “Jesse Tree” on their site, they have some lovely ornaments to print out, and they are in color. They also have prayers for each day. It lowered my stress level this year. Thanks for sharing.
Katie N says
The Church Ladies also put out a lovely set of printable fine art Jesse Tree ornaments for those of us that are a bit behind on our planning this year. http://church-ladies.blogspot.com/2013/11/printab….
Corrine says
“A lot of what is suggested out there in this crazy world of ours arises because of a felt need to create a lot of activity where there may not be many children around.”
I read this sentence and the light bulb came on. You've nailed something I've always felt but could never quite articulate.
Lisa says
Thanks again for your guidance. I've learned to “just say no” when I know I just can't do a thing beyond my own basics, but I'm always striving to be/do better. This has started off our Advent just right!
Natalie says
Thanks so much for sharing this on FB recently. As a mom with 4 from kindergarten down to newborn I’m always trying to simplify and build good habits.
I must say, though, that the Jesse tree has been an absolute gift to us over Advent. Years ago some of the women at my church got together and did a Jesse tree ornament swap where we all brought enough ornaments for everyone to leave with a complete set. We have loved it. Every night after supper we light our Advent candles, talk about the meanings behind the candles, and then discuss and hang another ornament. It takes about five minutes, and it has become such a meaningful part of our Advent preparation. I also love that it all lives in a box in the attic, and that I don’t have to think about how I’m going to teach the kids to anticipate the Incarnation. I just pull the box out of the attic, and it’s all there at my fingertips.