Welcome! Val and I have put together this journal because we want you to have a place to come during the month of December and celebrate the season of Christmas. We thought maybe we could all learn a little something, and that we could also have lots of fun! We will be doing crafts, making ornaments, visiting fun sites, and playing games! There will be something for everybody. We will also remember that "Jesus is the Reason for the Season", and anticipate His birth on December 25th. I hope you enjoy this journal. It is being put together with love just for you! Please put this journal on alerts. There will be an entry on each day of December. Have fun!
First I thought we'd talk a little bit about Advent. Advent is the season before Christmas. This year Advent begins on Dec. 3 and ends on Dec. 24. Advent is Latin for "arrival" or "coming". During the Advent Season before Christmas we anticipate the coming of the Baby Jesus on Christmas morning. We also anticipate the Second Coming of Jesus if we are Christians, and work to further prepare ourselves. Many want to skip over this part of the season, and go right to Christmas. Advent is a season of preparation as well as a season of joy. Let us think of ways we can better prepare ourselves for Our Lord when He comes.
Advent began in the year 380 in the Catholic Church. There are four Sundays in Advent. Many Christians celebrate the season of Advent by lighting an Advent wreath. Traditionally, the wreath is made of four candles in a circle of evergreens. Three candles are violet and the fourth is rose. Each day at home, the candles are lighted, perhaps before the evening meal-- one candle the first week, and then another each succeeding week until December 25th. A short prayer may accompany the lighting. If you would like some prayers to go along with an Advent Wreath, go HERE. Have a fun and holy Advent season!
Sources:
Celebrating Advent-Christmas
Advent 2006
game: The Nutcracker Game
Gospel reading: Luke 21:29-33
Oh this is so great! Do you plan to make it like an advent calendar online with somethign different for every day leading up to Christmas? It is such a great idea! I like the welcome in christmas ornaments, too--very cute!!
ReplyDeleteGod bless!
~Gette
What an awesome journal; so lovingly created by such talented people. Thank you for taking the time to do this for us. You and Val did a wonderful job. Like a lot of people, I'm going through a pretty rough time right now. This journal *lifts* my spirits. I look forward to the futured entries. God bless both of you.
ReplyDeleteHugs, and prayers too,
Barb - http://journals.aol.com/barbpinion/HEYLETSTALK
What a wonderful thing for you and Val to do. I love it. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteAngela
Ok, I'm signed up for alerts. What a great idea. I love it.
ReplyDeleteSonya
What a great idea and a nice thing to do. I will be reading! I like the entry on "Advent." I didn't know this before.
ReplyDeletePam
Love this idea!! Would you be hurt if I did a little promo in my journal? ;o) - Barbara
ReplyDeletegreat great great!!! can't wait to read more!!
ReplyDeleteBecky
Very nice. Thank you both. Paula
ReplyDeleteThank you, thank you...a spiritual view of the season. God bless you both. Linda in Washington
ReplyDeleteThank you both. I can't wait to read more.
ReplyDeleteBarbara
what a nice thing to look forward too. I never heard of advent before, thank you for letting us know what it is. I have this on my alerts.
ReplyDeleteCindy
What a nice idea! I will put this journal on alerts for sure ! Thank You !
ReplyDelete'On Ya' -ma
I did not know the history of Advent and that is started so early in the year 380 A.D. I will visit here and look forward to what people comment on with prayers. mark
ReplyDeleteA nice spin... the real meaning. Thanks for doing this Krissy... we are never to old to be reminded what it's all about.
ReplyDeletehugs
d
http://journals.aol.com/nightmaremom/Thisandthatandhockey/
Krissy & Val this is a wonderful journal. Thank you both so much. Look forward to every entry.
ReplyDeleteLove & hugs Sylvia xx
(((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGSTOYOUBOTH)))))))))))))))))))))I have put this journal on alerts.I think its a great idea.HAve a wodnerful day.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting reading and a NEAT Journal! Way to go, girls! I onlce did an advent project for church. I learned things, I'd never known before from doing this project. I made a planetarium (I think that's what they are called) and also had a candle wreath, and different candals were lighted (added on) as we progressed through Advent. Recognizing Advent made Christmas even MORE special to me, still, for doing all that. Merry
ReplyDeleteKrissy and Val, what a nice idea. I put you on my alerts. BTW. Have you been getting my alerts since I went public again?
ReplyDeleteJulie
http://beta.journals.aol.com/midwestvintage/JulieLosesitMyWeightLossJourney/
Krissy~This is a wonderful idea! I am so glad you are focusing on Jesus being the reason for the season yet keeping it fun too! Afterall. we can have Santa and all that without upstaging the baby Jesus!;-) Best of the season to you & yours~ xox Deb
ReplyDeleteThis is such a wonderful idea Krissy! Thank you so very much! :o)
ReplyDeleteLisa
Great idea! I look forward to coming here and reading! :) The focus has shifted about as far from Christ as it could during the Christmas season. It's focus has turned into shopping and a "me,me,me" attitude. We're trying very hard to teach our boys about JESUS and the REAL meaning for this time of the year, and the reason for every single days of our life.
ReplyDeleteGOD Bless
Christy
As I said to Val, what a wonderful and joyous idea to make a Christmas journal. I just love it! I can already tell it is going to be fantastic.
ReplyDeleteHoliday hugs, Barb
Bless you both, Krissy and Val, for this wonderful site! I've passed the link along to many friends and relatives. I know what a great deal of work goes into a site like this ... and we're very appreciative of all the love and effort you put into its creation. God Bless You, both : ) Peace Be With You ... Love, Cathy
ReplyDeletehttp://www.serendipitymom.com
what a cute idea girlies! I played the nutcracker game and I'm so glad it give you a clue at the end. ;) I look forward to seeing your christmas fun stuff! Hit me up for some special christmas questions lol
ReplyDeletelove xxxxxxxxx Deirdre
Great idea! My kids and I will follow along!
ReplyDeletebe well,
Dawn
Great idea
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to this and it might focus my thoughts in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteJenny <><
Krissy-Added ya-thanks this is a great idea and I appreciate your effort.
ReplyDeleteMichele
http://journals.aol.com/glensfork4/these-are-my-thoughts/
this is great, thanks Kristina for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteIve missed you! how have u been?
love,
Meg
ps. I have a private journal now..that I update time to time...if you want to be a reader please email me! :)
thanks!
This is awesome! What a special way to count down the days until Christmas. This will by my Advent Calendar. LOL I'll open a page each day before Christmas and get a surprise! Thanks so much for thinking to do this!
ReplyDeleteHugs, Kathy
Leave it to you gals to come up with such a giving sharing thing. I'll be looking forward to your daily informational post. You know you have God's blessing don't you and you have mine. I am scheduled for surgery Friday, December the 1st and will be out of commission for about two weeks but will catch up with you as soon as I can.
ReplyDeleteBlessing to you both.
Marlene-A Poet's Point of View
http://journals.aol.com/mkolasa101/PurelyPoetry
love,natalie
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely idea, I`ve put it on alerts. :o)
ReplyDeleteSandra xxxx
What a lovely Idea, you are on my alerts, will look forward to coming back as I love the Christmas season
ReplyDeletetake care both of you Lynne xx
Very cool! super Fantastic! : ) Hugs and GBU, Shelly
ReplyDeleteWhat a good idea Krissy! I'm off to get my candles!! Julie :)
ReplyDeleteYah know, I wanted to share something I do with my kids. We make a birthday cake for Jesus...we put his name on it and sing happy birthday to him.....Kids love that....-Raven
ReplyDeletebRILLIANT IDEA,I love the snowflake thing,I have been making them all the time LOL!!Well for a great cause too,it is a great way to send greetings across the world. I will be back.Well whenever AOL allows that is.Probs again all week.Take care God Bless you both.
ReplyDeleteAstoriasand http://journals.aol.co.uk/astoriasand/MYSIMPLERHYMES
Great idea, Krissy. You're on my alerts. I also enjoyed the lesson about Advent. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteSusan
what an awesome idea,a christmas journal. Love the entry
ReplyDeleteangelrose
Such a lovely and thoughtful thing to do. I've put you on my alerts. Now I'm off to make snowflakes!--Sheria
ReplyDeletehttp://journals.aol.com/aimer/on-my-mind/
As Catholics we've observed Advent all our lives, thanks for putting it all so eloquently. I think of you, John & Val all the time and love her emails! Prayers will continue for you all. Much love xoxo CATHY
ReplyDeleteLovely idea! I'll come back for a visit again, in the meantime, thank you for starting this.
ReplyDeleteJimmy
This is a great idea, and something fun to look forward to in the dreary cold month of Dec. Thanks !
ReplyDeleteLuv ya,
Promise
I think this is a lovely idea...have a great holiday...hugs and love,
ReplyDeleteJoyce
What a great idea for a journal - shall visit again :-)
ReplyDeletejenny
http://journals.aol.co.uk/jmoqueen/MyLife
Great idea and entry. I "LOVE" Christmas but I am not religious.
ReplyDeleteDianna
http://journals.aol.com/sazzylilsmartazz/SazzyKreationz/
I love this idea! I also enjoyed learning more about Advent.
ReplyDeleteGod bless!
penny
Hi Krissy and Val!! Hope you're all doing OK. I love this journal- it's a great idea! Thanks for reminding me that Advent is starting- I need to get out my calendar for my boy. We've been counting down the days for the past three years! God Bless!! Love Carolyn
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