The envelopes just kind of hang mostly closed. It’s not the greatest system. I might add a little button for next year. I’ll have to look for Farrar’s book after Christmas and give that a try next year. Do you use an actual advent candle thing or do you just light some candles?

I’m going to have the kids put the nativity together next year on their own. That seems like a great idea.

Thanks for all the tips!

We’ve used an advent wreath for the last 3 years, and our kids love it. You can google the instructions/purposes. We love how the light “grows” more and more until Christmas day, which is a great way to talk about different John passages. This year we’re reading from Jon Farrar’s advent devotional, which is nice, too.
Each evening at supper, we light the candle(s), read the devo, and put up another figure on our nativity set.
I love the idea of putting the Scripture in the envelope, too, to have them thinking about it during the day!
Sorry this is so long….

A nativity sounds like a neat idea too. Ethan has liked having the Scripture reading at night. It’s given us a chance to explain passages in Isaiah that we probably would not have thought to discuss before.

I’m hoping to continue this tradition with my future kids. Of course I’ll have to teach The Fiance and (future) kids Spanish first, but that’s just a minor detail, right?

On another note, you and the boys (all 3 of them, ha!) are always welcome here.

I loved reading about Nines. I hope we are starting a tradition with the boys that they will have fond memories of. They are already having tons of fun and we’ve only done it for 2 nights. We’ve started in Isaiah where the prophet fortells the coming of Christ. I think we get into Luke the week before Christmas.

If you are ever in the mood to do advent you are welcome to skype in with us or come down when finals are over. I’ll be praying that you do well on your exams!

Anyway, growing up, we did a mini-version of Advent. I know that the version we did comes from Colombia, but I’m pretty sure its a Latin American Catholic tradition. Its called “Novenas” which translates to Nines. It consists of getting together the nine days before Christmas in anticipation of the birth of Christ. There is some singing but mostly its reading of scripture (I believe Luke in particular, but not sure). Its easily my favorite Christmas tradition and the one I miss most by not being home. There is a certain joy in coming together for fellowship in expectation of the birth of Christ especially when it consists of a tradition that’s been in my family for a long time.