Advent Day 1 is the First Sunday of Advent.
From our second celebration of Christmas as a family, we utilized the book “Celebrate While We Wait” by the Shroeder family, published by Concordia. ISBN 0-570-03052-8.

The first Sunday, we put up the tree. I wrote about the Tree in Advent 2015 Day 1.

When the children were little, we would put up the tree, and read “The Jesus Tree”, by Annetta E. Dellinger
For those that might be interested, there is an Activity Book that has many fun activities, but with our other Advent devotional, we never really used it. It does contain the list of scriptures that we used for the Advent Chain! Many of the Activities would also go hand in hand with the Celebrate While We wait, such as creating ornaments for symbols of Christ.

Another craft that we never got to was to do a Jesse Tree Advent.
Searching for the Jesse Tree books and ornaments now brings many options from Christian Book Distributors, and Etsy crafters that have produced the ornaments for purchase.
This Jesse Tree Activity book is very similar to the one I had.

The one I had was for a felt tree, and felt ornaments. With five children under 6 that second year, I just never seemed to have the time! Oh what I would have given for the internet and Etsy!

Our whole purpose was to make the tree the carrier for the symbols that we would be hanging upon it’s limbs.

The other craft is the Advent Log – a log, with up to 28 holes drilled in order to place candles into. Every Sunday is a white candle. Christmas is Purple or Green, depending what color your other candles are.

Advent Log, made from 2×4

2×4 Advent Log decorated

Advent Log completed

When you burn the candles every day during devotions, you end up with a triangle, with the peak at the day we celebrate Jesus. Hint, turn off all fans – they cause the candles to burn unevenly. There were years that we would sit around trying to burn the candles in hopes of getting that triangle!

I hope to copy the instructions from the book here soon.

Another tool that I utilized from the beginning was Music books by Wee Sing.
I have one for Christmas, and one for Children’s Bible Songs.
These were invaluable for grasping the melody of some lesser known Carols! While that is true, the $77 low price for a copy of the Wee Sing for Christmas is really steep!

I don’t know who may ever read these, but I wanted to make some of the items known that have helped our family celebrate Advent.

I pray that any family that is trying to celebrate Christ would be blessed with His presence this season, and in the year to come, unto eternity, In Jesus’ name. Amen.

More of my Advent Devotions

Merry Christmas!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I want to thank

• Blue Letter Bible and
• Bible Gateway and
• Bible Hub

for the ability to search the Bible online.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

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Soon, we will have a gallery for the art I have created by the hand of God.

There are many organizations that support children and families. Here is one that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

• Naomi’s Heart Ministries
• Obed’s House Ministries
• Compassion