Getting Ready to Get Ready

Christmas is coming. That means the Advent season is upon us in just a few weeks.  With 2 kids in the house quiet time is a rare commodity.  But I don't want to miss Christmas in a flurry of Thanksgiving cooking-shepherd costume making-cookie baking-gift wrapping hyperactivity.


So now I'm getting ready to get ready to observe the Advent season again.


Advent is the four week period prior to Christmas in which we celebrate the birth of Christ and anticipate His second coming. The word "Advent" comes from the Latin "adventus" which means "coming" or "arrival". Advent is a time of reflection, confession and preparation.  In our household we light candles on each of the Sundays of Advent as we reflect on a different Advent theme. Our Advent wreath contains 4 candles: 3 purple and 1 pink. [More on that later.] The wreath surrounds a white candle, which is lit on Christmas Eve.


I've been shopping for candles, much easier to come by in previous years.  Where are the purple and pink votives this year? (!)


I'm also digging through our seasonal devotions and looking for one to do with my family--and possibly our Sunday School class.


November 29, 2009 is the first Sunday of Advent.


Don't miss the Messiah this year. It's time to get ready.