Advent

And we are made of the dust of this earth and we are made of the happiness of heaven and we are flesh and we are spirit and we are of two worlds longing for the home of His world.

The authority of God made all of creation. But it was the affection of God that made all of His children. (Prov. 8:31)

We were made by Love! For love! Made in the image of God to look like His love!

The Christmas story is a love story, the whole blue marble of the world spinning on the axis of His love… Could anything be better?
- from Jesse Tree Advent Devotional at A Holy Experience

I am so thankful, and probably unnatually excited, for the Advent season this year.  We "did" Advent well when my kids were young.  And then, in the last couple of years, we found ourselves out of the house almost every night- sports practices, church activities, life...  Sadly, the quiet waiting and watching for Christmas, for Jesus, perhaps became just another "thing" to do by the end of the day.

But the season has changed.  We have few of the obligations of years past.  We once again know the gift of time together.  We have none of our Advent "stuff" with us- none of the calendars, not the wreath, not the nativity scenes, not the decorations.  And maybe, maybe even because of that- this year I anticipate this month of preparation even more.  We have one single candle, standing in rice in an empty salt shaker.  We made a simple line of paper cones to serve as our Advent calendar this year.  And we are taking turns creating the Jesse Tree ornaments each night. 

Every night, we take a turn, to light the candle, and read a bit.
And as always, our Lord and His Word are ever sufficient. 
Could anything be better?

(photo credit:  nasa.gov)