I love Christmas. I love the smell of the Christmas tree and the music we play all the time. I love making cookies and wrapping presents. I love watching movies with my family we’ve watched since the kids were little. In all of that I want to remember the reason for Christmas. Not just a generic, “Let’s read the Christmas story,” but a concentrated effort. Every year I try a slightly different thing and sometimes I return to past favorites. This year I’m trying Gentle Advent from my friend Lara.
(I was given a copy of Gentle Advent for free, these are affiliate links, and I might sprinkle a few Amazon links in here as well)
A Charlotte Mason Advent plan
I started reading through the lesson plans and I realized, “This is a Charlotte Mason Advent plan.” There’s lots of artwork, it’s gently leading, and it’s not busywork.
As I read each day I felt myself calming and looking at how to slow down.
I need to slow down.
I hurry too much, and I stuff too much into my calendar. It’s not a good habit in the least bit. Especially not at Christmas. Christmas seems like a time that should be peaceful and calm.
Not full of hustle and bustle.
So I hope this year to have a gentle Advent.
I hope to enjoy looking at artwork depicting the Christmas story.
I hope to enjoy simple craft projects. Emphasis on simple, all too often I make my life complex.
Fun recipes, because cooking is what we do at Christmas, right?
And lots of Christmas music. I play Christmas music in my house nonstop once it’s the day after Thanksgiving.
Why tell you about a Gentle Advent now?
Because the nearer we get to Thanksgiving, the more we will fill up our schedules.
I’m already looking at a November that is booked solid. I’m currently protecting one weekend as unscheduled. That weekend already has stuff encroaching upon it, and I’m fairly sure I forgot to write down a few events. I had forgotten events and I canceled a few others, this weekend was my free weekend and I snuck away for a date night with Jeff.
Life is busy
If we do not protect our calm, we will be caught up in a flurry of going and moving. I don’t want that this Christmas. I am tired of busy.
Will you join me in a Gentle Advent this year?
Gentle Advent is available for $23.99, and I hope you will join me in participating.
Once you’ve bought the course, check your email and join the Facebook group. I’m clicking over to do that as I’m writing this (because I kinda didn’t join at first because I failed reading comprehension). Lara’ sharing extra stuff in the group.
Then click on over to the course (you don’t have to download it to your computer, it’s all online). I’m hoping I’ll see some of you over there.
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