I warned you that I am a bit obsessive. It’s part of my cheerful, optimistic, ‘more is better,’ out look on life. If one day a week of blogging is good, then daily must be even better. Why have one cup of coffee when you can enjoy a whole pot? If having two Advent calendars is special, then more would add to our Christmas joy.

You can see how we ended up with five children.

I’m not very good with limits or boundaries, especially on things that are fun. I am more of a ‘have your cake and eat it too’ kind of girl. Mind you, I’ve never really understood that expression. What would you do with the cake except for eat it? How does “having it” differ from “eating it?” Help me out bloggy friends.

But I digress…

Back to Advent – I ran out of time last night to share what types of things we include in the kids’ calendars. And you thought the post was long enough as it was – ha!

Advent Calendar Gift Ideas

1. Pack of gum
2. Piece of candy – I bought a bag of chocolate gold coins and put 4 in each child’s calendar
3. Tea candles – the dollar store had some adorable 3 packs
4. Markers – I found a package of Window Chalk and gave one to each of the younger children
5. Polly Pockets – This can cover several days. I put the doll in the first box, the shoes in another and purses/clothing in still another one.
6. Toy animals – Another fantastic Advent Calendar gift item. They are small and often come in sets. I break open the package and distribute the animals in different boxes.
7. Work gloves
8. Sand paper and other wood craft supplies for my wood carver.
9. Small tools
10. Coupons for an ice cream cone at McDonalds or a game night with Mom and Dad

Although I love to buy presents for the family, the Advent Calendar is not really about the gifts. It’s more about the celebration of December as a special, holiday month. It’s the joy of having something small and special just for you. The children are just as delighted with a 3 Tootsie Pops as they are with a bigger toy. As we count down to Christmas Day, we think about how the prophets foretold the coming of Christ as a baby and His second coming as a reigning King.

A homeschooling friend with 9 children (she definitely has the More is Better syndrome, right De’Etta ) has a wonderful tradition of making the four Sundays in Advent special. Her family reads scripture, lights the Advent candle and opens a small gift. Here’s a quick look.

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God– children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. (John 1:10-13)

Kathy

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