Advent

This year I would like to take time to savor and enjoy the Holiday preparations. Usually it's a mad dash and I can get a little wiggy around the Holidays. Since we're homeschooling I have a bit more flexibility of what we do. Another homeschooling family I know does Christmas school during advent instead of their regular studies. I'm attracted to this idea for many reasons and it seems like a way to teach about the true meaning of Christmas.




I've been praying about what to do exactly. Two things happened to make their way into my inbox this morning. Talk about God's timing :) THIS is from Holy Heroes and is a family Jesse Tree project. Here's part of the newsletter I received...

Ever make a promise to build a "Jesse tree" with your family during Advent?
Did it work, or did you get eventually get lost in trying to figure out what to do, how to do it, what day you were on...and how many days were left? Confusing? Disheartening? So last year several thousand families joined us for the Holy Heroes Advent Adventure to help them make Advent a time of joyful preparation, not anxious project management. Are you really busy? Really rather leave the work of planning to someone else, so you can enjoy precious moments with your children anticipating Christmas? Then join us this Advent to benefit from the experience and input of other busy families like yours--and let us do all the hard work. The "Jesse Tree" is a great way to learn a little Scripture every day, to try to accomplish something lasting for their children with just a few moments each day of Advent. The Jesse Tree helps you follow the revelation to the Jews, leading up to the birth of the Messiah--through tracing Jesus' family tree. You learn so much about God's plan for our salvation when you do. And there's no better way to capture your children's imaginations and create lasting memories. We can help through this year's Advent Adventure, because we're making the Jesse tree a key focus of every day's activities. So all you have to do is open a daily email, click on a short video, and follow along as our children explain to your children how to make their own Jesse tree and fill it up every day, connecting to your children in a way they'll never forget. And you can also get other activities, blessings, prayers, coloring pages--loads of fun and FREE activities. Take your family on the fun and easy “Holy Heroes Advent Adventure!” It’s free, it costs you nothing, nada, zilch. And you'll get 22 daily fun, easy, free--and time-saving!--activities for Advent.

I don't think it can get any easier than this. We're going to give it a whirl this advent and I'll be sure to blog about it.



The second thing I came across was a literature based curriculum for advent using Tomie DePaola's books from Elizabeth Foss. My library actually has most of the books used, so again, not much of a financial cost. And I must say, for those of you who have a wide range of ages, there's plenty for all to do. HERE'S the link.

And lastly, if one has more time [HA! HA!], HERE'S a link for even more Christmas activities!