Advent Candles and stuff

 I had mentioned in a previous post that I am a bit Advent-candle-challenged, racing around each year searching for purple and pink candles at the last minute.  Well, this year, on the first Sunday of Advent, I actually did an advent candle craft, yes, craft!, with my kids.  I got the idea from Catholic Icing. I was a bit hesitant, but they came out great!  We melted pink and purple crayons (I used the microwave for melting, but Catholic Icing has different instructions) and painted the melted crayons onto white pillar candles.  It looks lumpy and handmade and I love it!! 

My two helpers mugging for the camera

Final product

Notice in the close up shot that our candles have been "blinged."  My little girl believes that everything is better with bling.  So, we added some sparkle to the candles, and honestly, I like it.  I must be part princess:)

One of the BIG pluses of this project is that I will have Advent candles for many years to come!  These are big 6" pillars!  

We have begun our Jesse Tree, and our Advent reading.  I have to mention a book that I purchased this year to add to our Christmas library.  It brought tears to my eyes when I first read it.

It is the nativity from Joseph's perspective.  How often I have felt compassion for "poor" St. Joseph.  The awesome responsibility of raising God's own Son must have overwhelmed him at times.  He didn't even have the benefit of an Immaculate Conception (except as his wife, of course!).  This book probes the tender and awe-inspiring thoughts Joseph may have had as he gazed upon his newborn Son.  What a beautiful book!

I hope your Advent is leading you smoothly and surely to the joy of Christmas.

Preparing to Wait

This year, we will be celebrating our first Advent and Christmas in our new house.  Typically, Advent sneaks up on me as I am digesting the remnants of Thanksgiving dinner in a pumpkin-pie induced haze.  This year, I wanted to be ready.  Since I am now working outside of the home, I knew I needed to be "on the ball"--no procrastinating or leaving anything to the last minute (except those darned Advent candles--I am always running around the first week Sunday of Advent looking for purple and pink candles--or even white candles to which I can attach purple and pink ribbons--sadly, it looks like this year will be no different as far as the candles are concerned). BUT,  I am happy to say that I have already purchased some gifts on-line and begun reading Destination:Bethlehem to the kids.
I can't wait to start reading our Advent/Christmas books!  I ordered several to add to our collection and as gifts.  My husband's goddaughter is recently married and we have decided to purchase Christmas picture books for her each year to create a collection for her and her future family.  She's a schoolteacher and liked the idea.
One of my favorite books, which I purchased as gifts this year is by Eve Bunting, called "December."

It is a visually beautiful book about a homeless mother and her son who entertain an angel disguised as an elderly homeless woman.  My favorite line is what the elderly woman says as the mother invites her to stay with them in their cardboard box for the night. "It's warm in here.  It's warm with love."  Beautiful story.


Here are some of our other favorites, old and new:
The Miracle of Saint Nicholas
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
The Christmas Tapestry
The Donkey's Dream
and anything by Tomie DePaola:
     The Legend of the Poinsettia
     Old Befana
     The Lady of Guadalupe (Dec. 12--dont' miss it!)
     Merry Christmas, Strega Nona
     The Night of Las Posadas
     The Three Wise Men


Advent, the season of waiting, builds a sense of wonder and anticipation which culminates with the birth of Our Savior on Christmas Day.  It is good to thoughtfully and deliberately plan...to wait.