Last year, we read through a "Jesse Tree" which is just a list of daily Scripture readings which skim through the Old Testament leading up to Our Lord's birth. I used the Lovasik Children's Bible rather than the actual passages since my children were grade K and under. In theory, you add an ornament to your tree each day representing what you learned, but I had them do a book of related coloring pages instead. We'll probably repeat something like this again next year.

This year, keeping it simple, we're reading a chapter each day from Destination Bethlehem. I think it's a printed book too, but I have it on my Kindle and read it myself last year. It's a fictious story of a boy's life (I think it moves between two boys if I remember correctly) during the year proceeding Our Lord's birth. It begins with a trip to the Temple during which Zacharias loses his voice. Later, the story has them on a journey thanks to the required census. The author finds plenty of reasons for the boys to encounter or  hear about the "main players"  of the day -- Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph, etc. As my children will largely be "off" homeschool for the majority of Advent this year, I thought this would be a good vacation read. : P

Thanksgiving weekend ... if you don't have a plan for Advent yet, now's a good time to make one!


I wanted to share this Jesse Tree resource if anyone is planning to study Christ's ancestry with their children during Advent.

http://www.sanctussimplicitus.com/1/post/2013/11/keeping-it-catholic-monday-advent-edition-the-jesse-tree-mini-unit-giveaway.html

Available is 26 lessons (more than enough for this year) which includes the Bible story (you can use any Bible or Children's Bible, but the lessons map to this one), a paper ornament to color and cut out, and related readings from Anecdotes and Examples Illustrating the Catholic Catechism. There are printable activities for each day as well if you have time to incorporate those.

I've just cleaned up the room to make room for Christmas decorations in the coming weeks. I stagger the decorations, and do things very slowly. We always keep our tree until Epiphany.

Anyways, I'll be putting out the Advent wreath. I'd like to do the "O Antiphons" this year but I have no idea what I will have the energy to do.

I'll also be pulling out the Nativity set sometime tomorrow and deciding the best place to put it. As the family grows, the safe places are becoming more rare.

I try to teach an Advent hymn each year.

This year I would like to focus on changing my language to reflect the season of Advent but keeping it charitable to good-willed people. So when they say "Merry Christmas" next week, I might cheerfully return with "Thanks, I hope yours will be merry, too" and mentally say a prayer for their conversion so that it will truly be merry. And to some people who might understand, I will just say I'm keeping Advent right now.

Quote from: Mabel

I'll also be pulling out the Nativity set sometime tomorrow and deciding the best place to put it. As the family grows, the safe places are becoming more rare.

Yes, I have a similar problem. The place where we've displayed our nativity set and Advent wreath previously has been taken over as our main homeschooling area. I have to find a new solution and the options are quite limited.

I will also likely be gluing some pieces back together. Several times. Good thing I have a lot of glue...and the little people don't know where I keep it.