Advent 2.0

Ok, so the family advent time last year was… too much.  It was annoying.  Looking at pictures and reading verses before bedtime when Jason and I were oh-so-ready for our oh-so-silent victory lap on the couch with our books and our dessert was just more than sweet baby Jesus could cover.  Most nights we finished the candle-lighting and scripture reading in a frenzy, yelling forcefully urging the boys into bed and OHMYGOSH TURN OFF THE IPAD WE’RE DONE LOOKING AT PICTURES.

It was nice.  But we’re over it.

So this year.  On to something else.  We are keeping it SIMPLE this year.  Here’s what we’re going to do:

I still have the candles I made last year and even though they are sorta ugly, they were such a pain to pull off that I’ve decided we’re keeping them.  However.  They will not be upstairs in the boys room.  BAD IDEA.  They are on the dinner table this year.

1. We will light candles at dinner time.

2. We will remove one loop off the advent chain because FUN!  Advent chain!  And the boys made them BY THEMSELVES on Sunday so that’s a win, no matter which way we look at it.

3. And I’m going to teach the fam the following section of Isaiah 9 in American Sign Language – one section per week-ish, leading up to Christmas.

 

————
Portions of Isaiah 9: 2-7, edited for length and general goriness (“shirts soaked in innocent blood” and what have you), with 5 and 7 year-olds in mind.

The people who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light.
For those who lived in a land of deep shadows—
    light! sunbursts of light!
You repopulated the nation,
    you expanded its joy.

—
For a child has been born—for us!
    the gift of a son—for us!
He’ll take over
    the running of the world.
His names will be: Amazing Counselor,
    Strong God,
Eternal Father,
    Prince of Wholeness.

—
His ruling authority will grow,
    and there’ll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.
He’ll rule from the historic David throne
    over that promised kingdom.

—
He’ll put that kingdom on a firm footing
 and keep it going
With fair dealing and right living,
    beginning now and lasting always.
The zeal of God-of-the-Angel-Armies
    will do all this.

————

How hard can it be?  I think we’re going to nail it this year.

I’ll report back.