tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781474098383349170.post5314617235106476202..comments2023-07-05T22:26:40.892-04:00Comments on Splendor in the Home: Ideas for Keeping Advent and Christmas HolyChristinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00662784804825998751noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781474098383349170.post-38268191320848298682014-11-22T18:19:23.732-05:002014-11-22T18:19:23.732-05:00Your Jesse Tree ornaments look great! We celebrat...Your Jesse Tree ornaments look great! We celebrate Advent with a Jesse Tree, too, with felt ornaments I handmade. I now have an Etsy shop so others may enjoy the special tradition of a Jesse Tree, too. https://www.etsy.com/shop/PinkScissorsDesignPink Scissors Designhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16930292346890244219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781474098383349170.post-13583234799041106372013-12-09T16:27:58.721-05:002013-12-09T16:27:58.721-05:00We, too, try to wait on Christmas, focus Santa aro...We, too, try to wait on Christmas, focus Santa around the real Christmas story and remember to light our Advent candles (that's a tough one for us for some reason!) Plus, almost all our lessons during December are ones based on faith and Advent/Christmas stories.Martiannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11304352490207855367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781474098383349170.post-76399937318835553742013-12-09T10:54:32.582-05:002013-12-09T10:54:32.582-05:00Thanks for sharing all these wonderful ideas! I w...Thanks for sharing all these wonderful ideas! I will look into your suggestions!Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00662784804825998751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781474098383349170.post-36631726934797558192013-12-09T10:32:35.583-05:002013-12-09T10:32:35.583-05:00I LOVE this book: http://www.amazon.com/Santas-Fav...I LOVE this book: http://www.amazon.com/Santas-Favorite-Story-Santa-Christmas/dp/141695029X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386602707&sr=8-1&keywords=santa%27s+favorite+story<br /><br />Here's a fairly good description of the book given by one of the commenters down further on the page: "Santa goes for a walk in the woods to get in shape for Christmas deliveries. However, he gets tired and ends up falling asleep under a tree. When the forest animals gather 'round him and he tells them he might be too tired to deliver the presents this year, an alarmed fox asks, "Does that mean there won't be a Christmas anymore?" Santa replies, "No, no no...Christmas hasn't got anything to do with me." And he tells them his favorite story -- about the first Christmas, when Jesus the Son of God was born. He concludes, "Love was the gift God gave to us on the first Christmas, and it still is, you know. And this love is far better than any presents I can ever deliver." Re-energized by his remembering of the story, he and the animals return to his house to prepare for Christmas and deliver the presents."<br /><br />We also like to sing the song from Godspell "Prepare Ye The Way of the Lord" - easy words that just repeat. We just sing it like 4 or so times. :) Just Youtube it. The link I found is kind of theatrical sounding (obviously), but we don't go all out like that. LOL! You could even sing it in a round as the kids get a little older and are able to do that. I just like the song because the words are so easy to learn, even for little ones.<br /><br />We also get little advent devotional booklets from our church. They have ones that are appropriate for kids as young as preschool age, which I like. We read that each night around a lighted advent wreath. I admit that there are nights we just don't have time to light the candles and read at the table for various reasons, but even nights like last night, we read the devotion as part of bedtime routine and pretended to light and blow out two candles.<br /><br />-TeresaT.M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02462518663592243271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781474098383349170.post-6254071966068344572013-12-08T23:36:28.283-05:002013-12-08T23:36:28.283-05:00Great ideas to focus Advent and keep Christ in Chr...Great ideas to focus Advent and keep Christ in Christmas! We have such rich Tradition and Faith...we really don't need to make anything up to celebrate the beauty and love of the Birth of Jesus! We're doing the Jesse Tree for the first time at our house...what a great way to delve into Scripture!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04985386169429863305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781474098383349170.post-47081719398942161192013-12-07T10:10:10.020-05:002013-12-07T10:10:10.020-05:00It's so tough striking a balance on the Santa ...It's so tough striking a balance on the Santa vs St Nick thing. We still don't have ours figured out, but I know as the kids grow (currently 4 and 2) more questions will be asked. We love watching the CCC The boy who became Santa movie, and the Veggie Tales ones, and they do a pretty good job at explaining the story of Saint Nick and how he has sort of become the modern Santa that most kids know. But keeping everything focused on Christ, is still the most important part!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781474098383349170.post-54552745737676594852013-12-06T13:21:33.088-05:002013-12-06T13:21:33.088-05:00I just stick it in the wall (we are in a rental an...I just stick it in the wall (we are in a rental and they'll re paint it when we leave.) Mine is super simple just green felt cut into a tree shape and a yellow star on top.Mariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02483172377761642912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781474098383349170.post-90822921469034798212013-12-06T09:37:39.880-05:002013-12-06T09:37:39.880-05:00I liked the Santa quote. We compare him to Mickey...I liked the Santa quote. We compare him to Mickey Mouse. A fun game that even grown ups like to play but who isn't real (we've been to WDW several times). <br /><br />Thanks for sharing!Jen @ Happy Little Homemakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16503392846165359736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781474098383349170.post-64202401043268328672013-12-06T09:03:57.264-05:002013-12-06T09:03:57.264-05:00Oh wow - hopefully we meet sometime! Thanks for t...Oh wow - hopefully we meet sometime! Thanks for the suggestions. I went to find my mini Christmas tree which I've had for years, thinking it would make the perfect Jesse tree this year...only to remember that I gave it away last year! I might be whipping up a felt one as well! How do you put thumbtacks in? Do you stick them through to the wall, or do you have a corkboard or something behind?Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00662784804825998751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781474098383349170.post-57998530759605975842013-12-06T06:16:31.217-05:002013-12-06T06:16:31.217-05:00Hi, I'm the above Nathan's wife. He told m...Hi, I'm the above Nathan's wife. He told me your family may go to Holy Wisdom too, so I stopped over too. I know I've seen your husband pacing the back with your kids occasionally when I've been back there with our daughter. small World! also, I wanted to let you know you should sign up for Holy Hereos which helps so much with the Jesse Tree. Even if you only watch the videos about the Jesse Tree it's a great daily resource. I hang a one-demensional felt Christmas tree on our wall and use thumbtacks to hang up the ornaments daily. Hope that helps! Maybe we'll met your family after Mass someday. Mariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02483172377761642912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781474098383349170.post-26319763439202809082013-12-05T21:44:23.909-05:002013-12-05T21:44:23.909-05:00I love your ornaments for your tree! We don't ...I love your ornaments for your tree! We don't have a Jesse tree but I really would like to have one next year.Joanne @ Our ABC Lifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01058789135966108669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781474098383349170.post-16173128180012266372013-12-05T19:46:16.667-05:002013-12-05T19:46:16.667-05:00I do think that is also important for us to celebr...I do think that is also important for us to celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas and commemorate that (along with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception two days later.). For me, these are Advent highlights. My family will this year be exchanging gifts not on Christmas but on the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6th. It's important to remember Advent is for Advent and Christmas traditions are meant for Christmastide.Matthewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07929374709032473716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781474098383349170.post-82003418684173232642013-12-05T19:36:48.725-05:002013-12-05T19:36:48.725-05:00I like your quote on Santa. My wife and I also try...I like your quote on Santa. My wife and I also try to strike a balance between "there is no Santa" (which has a fundementalist feel to it) and the whole secular commercial Santa industry. I noticed you attend the forma extraordinaria and are from Pittsburgh. Do you attend Holy Wisdom at St. Boniface? It's a beautiful church and the liturgy is outstanding. We try to attend there as much as possible, although some weekends we attend Mass at our local parish. Have a blessed advent.Nathan Barontinihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05149641876919091106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781474098383349170.post-65312252669897703392013-12-05T14:24:29.011-05:002013-12-05T14:24:29.011-05:00I'm glad to hear that this has been manageable...I'm glad to hear that this has been manageable for your family. I'm hoping we can keep it up!Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00662784804825998751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781474098383349170.post-64023279800608984432013-12-05T14:22:57.855-05:002013-12-05T14:22:57.855-05:00Thanks for sharing this nice idea. I love everyth...Thanks for sharing this nice idea. I love everything I've read about traditional German Christmas traditions. I feel like they capture the magic and wonder of the event so well!Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00662784804825998751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781474098383349170.post-1425582952813565262013-12-05T14:18:08.212-05:002013-12-05T14:18:08.212-05:00I love your idea of the little quilted mats. I ha...I love your idea of the little quilted mats. I have a few table runners and things that I use, but they aren't liturgically-colored. Now that I am learning to quilt, I'll keep something like that in mind. It might be nice as a topper for our home altar - I could have various colors to use throughout the year :-)Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00662784804825998751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781474098383349170.post-90687141832524051102013-12-04T21:41:55.357-05:002013-12-04T21:41:55.357-05:00Christine,
Your life-sized baby Jesus and manger ...Christine,<br /><br />Your life-sized baby Jesus and manger are exquisite. What a treasure!<br /><br />We also have a tradition of lighting the Advent wreath and singing a verse of O Come O Come Emmanuel, at our evening meal time. After we have finished eating, my husband reads the appropriate verses from the Bible and we add the ornaments to the Jesse tree. Well, that's what supposed to happen! This year my husband seems to be late home from work more times than not, and he isn't here to be part of our tradition. So I decided we'd light our candles again just before our younger children go to bed, and have the hymn and readings then. Sometimes traditions need adjusting!<br /><br />God bless you!Sue Elvishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04461161335483760142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781474098383349170.post-54571233686069412192013-12-04T21:03:20.975-05:002013-12-04T21:03:20.975-05:00We have tried to combine the true meaning of Chris...We have tried to combine the true meaning of Christmas with Santa. We do Santa, but spend Advent focusing on the real meaning of Christmas. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We do a Jesse tree. I just put up a post about our ornaments and the readings to go along with them. It might help.<br />http://mountainofgracehomeschooling.blogspot.com/2013/12/our-jesse-tree-ornaments.htmlMonique G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04098070604153085200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781474098383349170.post-79191802319422658332013-12-04T18:14:12.155-05:002013-12-04T18:14:12.155-05:00We love our Jesse Tree. Yours is great too.
Blessi...We love our Jesse Tree. Yours is great too.<br />Blessings,<br />EmilyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781474098383349170.post-21350159280253772572013-12-03T17:59:18.920-05:002013-12-03T17:59:18.920-05:00I too have been having misgivings about Santa. Tha...I too have been having misgivings about Santa. Thank you for sharing what you wrote. He's coming this year but I am seriously going to take that to prayer and talk it over with my husband. we have the same Little People set and the children have always enjoyed it. Anabelle Hazardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00106609754311503527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781474098383349170.post-5456812083478486842013-12-03T12:53:43.086-05:002013-12-03T12:53:43.086-05:00Thanks for thoughtfully sharing all of the ways yo...Thanks for thoughtfully sharing all of the ways your family celebrates advent, as well as sharing the struggles...I enjoyed reading your reflection. Cyndi (embeddedfaith.org) Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05413363698600440396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781474098383349170.post-61136002273894687322013-12-02T23:26:06.288-05:002013-12-02T23:26:06.288-05:00We use what we've named the 'Waiting Tree&...We use what we've named the 'Waiting Tree'. It's a small tree, decorated by daily additions of tiny books from an Advent count-down calendar. Each book tells a small portion of the journey, up to and including, the Nativity. As a German child, I was told that the Christ-Child, accompanied by helpful angels, delivered my (unwrapped) gifts on Christmas Eve - also the time that our tree went up, real candles and all.Birgit Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05755393803510129974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781474098383349170.post-59125718507137636102013-12-02T19:33:05.560-05:002013-12-02T19:33:05.560-05:00I also like "People Look East" for Adven...I also like "People Look East" for Advent.Courtneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06397886444398204729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781474098383349170.post-69482330826876682222013-12-02T19:31:51.246-05:002013-12-02T19:31:51.246-05:00We do a Jesse Tree, but I also specifically search...We do a Jesse Tree, but I also specifically searched for an Advent calendar that was Nativity focused when my oldest was small. We have this one, though there are many (even a Little People one!): http://www.amazon.com/Kubla-Crafts-Nativity-Fabric-Calendar/dp/B00413SG6M/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hg_19<br /><br />As for an Advent song, I've always liked this one. Sweet and child-friendly: http://www.elizabethfoss.com/reallearning/2009/12/final-days-of-advent-all-the-candles-are-lit.htmlCourtneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06397886444398204729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6781474098383349170.post-3219151618798894612013-12-02T18:22:25.141-05:002013-12-02T18:22:25.141-05:00Hi Christine,
I don't know if this helps but ...Hi Christine,<br /><br />I don't know if this helps but I found this link with Jesse Tree readings: http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/activities/view.cfm?id=545<br /><br />A blessed Advent and Christmas in advance to you and yours! Blessings and prayers from the Philippines! :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09480867421569198707noreply@blogger.com