You guys, I’m loving all things Christmas right now. We decorated earlier than we ever have. I made an Advent calendar that I’m pretty pumped about — even if it’s an Ari fail. You can just feel the magic in the air. And there’s even a bonus one!
- Peppermint hot chocolate. Have you ever had it? My friends are probably tired of hearing me rave about it. I make it like 4 nights a week. It gives that little extra kick to regular hot chocolate. (You can make your own with peppermint schnapps or peppermint extract.)
- Advent Calendar. I had in mind that I wanted to create one this year but I didn’t exactly know what I wanted it to look like. Finally all the inspiration just jumped out at me two days before December 1st. I ate a quick dinner and told David I was running to AC Moore. Shockingly, I found everything I needed and my crafting turned out how I’d envisioned it –which never happens. So I admired it for two days and then on December 1st when we were supposed to start opening our daily gifts, we forgot. That night we were hanging out at our friends house and when we got home it was operation get Ari in bed as fast as possible. So the next morning I’m all…
Ari, do you want to open this?
No.
Do you know what shape this ornament is?
No.
Do you want to hang it on the tree?
No.
Do you want to eat this piece of candy?
Yeah. (And then immediately after the first bite…) Don’t ike it. Too hot.
It was a fail for the first few days but now she asks to get the ornament down and put it on the tree!
- Santa. Another thing that Ariana isn’t a big fan of.
- The ultimate gift. Jesus coming to earth is the reason we have so much to celebrate! Here’s what Luke 2 has to say:
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a]Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
So what are you loving this season?
Catch up on previous posts from this series here.
