Adventing...

Advent at the Brown house has taken on a different look this year.

Growing up Catholic I have always been taught that
Advent means 'to come'.
It is a time of preparation, of waiting, anticipating the coming of Christ.

But in the past few 'decades' it seems like we do a lot of preparing,
but not much waiting or anticipating.

I wanted this year to be different.

I didn't want to get as caught up in the preparation part that comes with Advent and Christmas as I have in years past.

I wanted to have some waiting, ...
...some anticipating.

And if I am to be honest....

I wanted a less stressful Advent.

So in my selfishness I thought it would be a good idea to engage the household preparations in stages.

First Sunday in Advent we bought our tree.

The second Sunday of Advent we put our tree up and got new candles for our Advent Wreath.

The Third Sunday we added lights to the tree.


And finally,
after a bit of waiting and anticipating....
the fourth Sunday of Advent arrived and we decorated the tree complete with Angel on the top.
(okay, maybe it was Saturday and not quite Sunday but you get the idea.)

I'm not sure the kids like or appreciate this experience of Advent,
but I know it has made my weekends considerably less stress filled.

So to anyone out there that happens to check my blog, I share with you the sentiment of my dear friend Jim...

Advent Well!