Rebekah's Insights

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On Sunday, after setting the tone for the reason for the season, we took the opportunity to deck our halls with holiday decor! Since prior to moving here, we always traveled for the Christmas season, we were too busy and exhausted to put up the tree or decorate much, so as a family, we have greatly enjoyed choosing and creating our own holiday traditions. This was the second year we watched the excitement dance upon the faces of our little ones as they unwrapped beloved ornaments and placed them on the tree. Liam loves to spread them all around, but Aine chooses one branch which she feels is particularly nice, and tries to hang ALL of her chosen ornaments THERE. :) This year they hung candy canes on the tree to share with others when they come to visit, and learned about the Legend of the Candy Cane. The children enjoyed helping me light some tin lanterns I bought for them this year, and created the perfect chance to review what they learned earlier in the day about the Light of the World.

Monday, being the first of December, was a lovely day to awaken to snow again! We read our new December poem and the children opened the first window in their Chocolate Advent Calendars. These advent calendars seem to be a staple here in England for celebrating Christmas, though I had never before heard of them. They are made by a variety of candy companies, i.e., Cadbury, Nestle, etc., but are all basically a box with numbered windows which hide a chocolate behind. Never being ones to turn down chocolate, the children LOVED it! (It was a thoughtful Thanksgiving gift from a dear English guest, who celebrated her first Thanksgiving ever with us on Thursday.) We also continued the Advent Scripture Reading Calendar, which we began reading yesterday. This particular calendar, which I made myself, offers the added benefit of teaching how to count backwards, which as one would expect, Aine finds highly abstract and Liam, highly exciting! We completed our decorating, so we can begin on cookies tomorrow.

Did any one else do anything special? Do you have a traditional way of counting down the days and/or celebrating advent? I have decided to type up a mini-curriculum plan as I go, so I have something to reference in subsequent years. Undoubtedly, each year will be unique as the LORD leads us in teaching these young ones about Himself, but I do like the idea of a common thread, and there is no use in reinventing the wheel each year, is there?

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Celebrate the Child
Who is the Light
Now the darkness is over
No more wandering
In the night
Celebrate the Child
Who is the Light

from Celebrate the Child, music & lyrics by Michael Card