Emily asked about Advent. I’m glad she did because I usually remember to pull the stuff out about a week after it begins. This is a good reminder to me to get it going on time (ie: go to the basement and find the box of Advent stuff; soon).
Here’s the post I wrote last year on it with a few minor modifications. Here you go!
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I wasn’t planning to post what we do for Advent, but since a couple of you have asked more specifically, I’ll give you a little run down.
First, we have the Noel Calendar, which I got from John Piper’s church a few years ago. (I looked for it on their website and it appears they do not have it this year. I heard somewhere else that they are revamping it, so perhaps it will be available again next year.) I really like this calendar and it has been a great addition to our routine. It involves reading a short line from the pamphlet, and sticking one of the little figures on the scene. In the true spirit of something, our girls usually argue over who gets to put baby Jesus in the manger on the 25th, so I mixed it all up this year and nobody knows who gets to do it yet.
Next we have Celebrating the Life of Jesus: Daily December Devotions for the Family. I ordered it directly from the author, Brenda Poinsett, several years ago. It is not showing up on her website right now, so it would be worth an email to her to ask (it was cheap, like $3 or something for the book); if she doesn’t have any more, ask her for permission to copy mine and I’d be happy to do that for anyone (I’d need you to pay for copies and postage, though).
And then there’s the Jesse Tree, which I posted about last night. I made my ornaments based off the list here. I used to also copy pictures of these, along with the verse so the girls could color them while we were reading about it. Last year God’s World News sent out subscriber emails in which they included a downloadable pdf of all the Jesse Tree symbols to coincide with the poster along with appropriate scripture. Each symbol gets its own page so you can print them individually for coloring purposes, or you could make your own ornaments out of them, whatever. I made sure this was kosher before posting this here (made sure last year, am hoping this is still kosher!).
And that’s our Advent routine. I used to do the candle thing, but gave that up, too. We’ll save it for Sundays, when the church does a much better job of explaining the candles than I ever did.
What am I missing? Anything you all do that I need to know about?
Half-Pint House 
I’d like a copy too! Thanks.
Merry Christmas
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yo megan…hit me with that!
great ideas for advent. if someone were to ask me, i’d say we dust off the old “small one” video, watch “emmet otter’s jugband christmas”, & read lots of baby jesus books. now i have some other ideas!
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I would like a copy of the Jesse Tree symbols. Thank you!
I love that calendar, so I will be checking on it next year to see if it’s available.
Rhonda
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thanks a lot. m
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Hi Megan, can I please have a copy of the .pdf?
Thanks!
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We get God’s World News – and I have my Jesse poster hanging up, but I must not be on the email list! Can you send me the pdf? Also, any idea how I could get on their email list? (I think I must have changed emails since I ordered GWN.)
Thanks!
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Thanks! FYI – I’ve listed this post in my Advent “Link Love” for this week.
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I appreciate Megan mentioning my publication CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF JESUS: DAILY DECEMBER DEVOTIONS OF THE FAMILY. We used these devotions in our family for years. Other things we did are written about in my books CELEBRATIONS THAT TOUCH THE HEART (three chapters on Christmas) and CAN MARTHA HAVE A MARY CHRISTMAS? (in which I share many stories about our families’ Christmases).
Blessings on you all as you prepare your hearts to receive Jesus!
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Thanks Megan! I am embarrassed that you linked to our blog. I have been a slacker with it for months!!
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Do you know if GW subscribers will get a Jesse tree poster this year? I’d love to have one but don’t want to order it if it’s coming with our subscription.
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Hey Keri – I just emailed the proper guy-in-the-know. Sadly, they don’t have the poster anymore, so I updated the blog entry here and took that info out. Also, December’s issue will be electronic, so no hard copy poster for Dec.
Sorry for the out-of-date info!
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