I love this! In years past I've felt I had to do all the things - the Hallow series, a different devotional/journal with every Bible study or small group, my own reading, on and on and on. This year, I decided on just one devotional and to spend this Advent in quiet, restful prayer. Making my heart ready for Him at Christmas. <3
Claire - I always feel so seen by your writing. This is no exception! I have been leaning more and more into the simplicity of all the seasons. There’s so much vying to steal our attention from what truly matters. We have The Wonder of the Greatest Gift advent calendar by Ann Voskamp that we sit down and read together every night. It’s one of my favorite things! We light our Advent candles on Sunday’s and reflect on the weekly theme. We also celebrate St Nicholas’ feast day and that’s…about it. I did not get a devotional this year and don’t really have anything else planned. I’m also not going to feel guilty about it! Thankyouverymuch. This year has been really, really tough for our family. We’ve had many health struggles (as have all families with littles post-pandemic). I want to rediscover His hope. It’s been a dark year and I want to draw my eyes and heart towards the light.
Part of me is so excited that I found Catholic influencers on Instagram (a world I had no idea existed until finding this podcast and following the account.) I truly enjoy seeing people's home altars, their Catholic decor, their journals. I love finding small Catholic businesses to support by buying cute saint dolls or Catholic wall hangings. But sometimes, it really can spark that feeling of "less than." I'm not holy enough. I'm not doing enough to create my "domestic Church." I'm not organized enough to remember to cook a special meal for feast days. Looking at all of the different preparations and goals for Advent makes me so overwhelmed. It's nice to have "permission" to sit back and remember that Advent isn't about the cute wooden advent calendar or the family photos of everyone in the appropriate liturgical color.
Our Advent plan: One of those cute Instagram Catholic businesses called Be A Heart sells a darling doll of Mary and a little plan for "Mary on the Mantle." Kind of the Catholic version of Elf on a Shelf. She came with all of these cards like "Pick out a toy you would like to donate" or "Do a chore for your sibling without telling them" or "Write a letter to a grandparent." Really nice little things to remind kids of what the season is about. I already know I'll forget to do it a few days, and I'm leaving myself some grace for that.
We are going to light the Advent calendar every Sunday and sing O Come Emmanuel and do the reading as a family.
I'm going to do the Hallow Advent series. Low stress -- I can just put on my headphones before falling asleep each night and meditate.
I'll also be playing Matt Maher's The Advent of Christmas alongside all of the secular and/or Christmas music that I love.
Thank you for introducing me to the Joel Clarkson music! I love it, and it will be played in our home all winter! And I also appreciate the permission/encouragement to pare down...I ramped up on Advent in 2020 since everything was at home that year...and now that life has picked back up, I accept that it’s not realistic or helpful to keep all those things in play.
Amen! Last year, upon returning from France, I felt challenged to kick right into the holiday spirit. All of them. I just wanted (needed) to sit and mull over my Pilgrimage experience. So, I didn't join the other Pilgrims for their Advent book club and I didn't go all in on holiday decorations. The extended family gift exchange didn't happen because I'm the one who coordinates it. It was a stripped down year-end holiday season. What DID happen was a handful of deaths and funerals that had my world turned upside down including my mother-in-law and a long-time family friend who I grew up with in the old neighborhood. I watched people from the very young (19) to the old (79) be buried and my heart needed a break so I kept things low-key which helped me physically. This year, however, I grabbed that book the Pilgrims read last year and plan to work through it on my own. I plan to keep my pilates routine that I just started this summer and tweaked this fall so that I can remain physically well for my family during the demanding season of joy and jolly. I also plan to try out the new adoration opportunities at my church. We haven't had a routine adoration for many years and our new pastor is working to fix that. This newsletter issue is perfect and iM sure those who really need to hear your message will be most grateful.
Yes to all of this! It says something that I’m thankful for my favorite writers (you included) who are going quiet and simple this year. I will be lighting my advent candles each night, and reading from a book called God With Us- Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas. I last read it the year my first was a newborn and I still recall the peace I found in the daily meditations. I will also try to get to daily mass as much as I can.
I love this! In years past I've felt I had to do all the things - the Hallow series, a different devotional/journal with every Bible study or small group, my own reading, on and on and on. This year, I decided on just one devotional and to spend this Advent in quiet, restful prayer. Making my heart ready for Him at Christmas. <3
Amen! I feel like both Lent and Advent have become completely overwhelming with the amount of options available of things to do/options being pushed.
Claire - I always feel so seen by your writing. This is no exception! I have been leaning more and more into the simplicity of all the seasons. There’s so much vying to steal our attention from what truly matters. We have The Wonder of the Greatest Gift advent calendar by Ann Voskamp that we sit down and read together every night. It’s one of my favorite things! We light our Advent candles on Sunday’s and reflect on the weekly theme. We also celebrate St Nicholas’ feast day and that’s…about it. I did not get a devotional this year and don’t really have anything else planned. I’m also not going to feel guilty about it! Thankyouverymuch. This year has been really, really tough for our family. We’ve had many health struggles (as have all families with littles post-pandemic). I want to rediscover His hope. It’s been a dark year and I want to draw my eyes and heart towards the light.
Part of me is so excited that I found Catholic influencers on Instagram (a world I had no idea existed until finding this podcast and following the account.) I truly enjoy seeing people's home altars, their Catholic decor, their journals. I love finding small Catholic businesses to support by buying cute saint dolls or Catholic wall hangings. But sometimes, it really can spark that feeling of "less than." I'm not holy enough. I'm not doing enough to create my "domestic Church." I'm not organized enough to remember to cook a special meal for feast days. Looking at all of the different preparations and goals for Advent makes me so overwhelmed. It's nice to have "permission" to sit back and remember that Advent isn't about the cute wooden advent calendar or the family photos of everyone in the appropriate liturgical color.
Our Advent plan: One of those cute Instagram Catholic businesses called Be A Heart sells a darling doll of Mary and a little plan for "Mary on the Mantle." Kind of the Catholic version of Elf on a Shelf. She came with all of these cards like "Pick out a toy you would like to donate" or "Do a chore for your sibling without telling them" or "Write a letter to a grandparent." Really nice little things to remind kids of what the season is about. I already know I'll forget to do it a few days, and I'm leaving myself some grace for that.
We are going to light the Advent calendar every Sunday and sing O Come Emmanuel and do the reading as a family.
I'm going to do the Hallow Advent series. Low stress -- I can just put on my headphones before falling asleep each night and meditate.
I'll also be playing Matt Maher's The Advent of Christmas alongside all of the secular and/or Christmas music that I love.
A wonderful analogy, the nesting. Thank you for "permission" to find joy in doing less.
Thank you for introducing me to the Joel Clarkson music! I love it, and it will be played in our home all winter! And I also appreciate the permission/encouragement to pare down...I ramped up on Advent in 2020 since everything was at home that year...and now that life has picked back up, I accept that it’s not realistic or helpful to keep all those things in play.
Amen! Last year, upon returning from France, I felt challenged to kick right into the holiday spirit. All of them. I just wanted (needed) to sit and mull over my Pilgrimage experience. So, I didn't join the other Pilgrims for their Advent book club and I didn't go all in on holiday decorations. The extended family gift exchange didn't happen because I'm the one who coordinates it. It was a stripped down year-end holiday season. What DID happen was a handful of deaths and funerals that had my world turned upside down including my mother-in-law and a long-time family friend who I grew up with in the old neighborhood. I watched people from the very young (19) to the old (79) be buried and my heart needed a break so I kept things low-key which helped me physically. This year, however, I grabbed that book the Pilgrims read last year and plan to work through it on my own. I plan to keep my pilates routine that I just started this summer and tweaked this fall so that I can remain physically well for my family during the demanding season of joy and jolly. I also plan to try out the new adoration opportunities at my church. We haven't had a routine adoration for many years and our new pastor is working to fix that. This newsletter issue is perfect and iM sure those who really need to hear your message will be most grateful.
Yes to all of this! It says something that I’m thankful for my favorite writers (you included) who are going quiet and simple this year. I will be lighting my advent candles each night, and reading from a book called God With Us- Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas. I last read it the year my first was a newborn and I still recall the peace I found in the daily meditations. I will also try to get to daily mass as much as I can.