March Forth! Marssige Edasi!

While Advent officially began on Sunday, tomorrow is the first day of December and is the day when the boxes on little Advent calendars will start to be opened. Here are a few Advent-related resources that we will be using with our family this year. Hope you enjoy them!

Changing tracks
This is an Advent calendar that has a bite to it. On each day of December leading up to Christmas, count the appropriate privilege/blessing and pay the fine. Send the money to a group that fights poverty.
1. 10 ¢ for every hot water tap in your house
2. 75 ¢ for every vehicle your family owns
3. 5 ¢ for every pair of jeans you own
4. 25 ¢ if your family subscribes to the newspaper
5. 5 ¢ for every bed in your house
6. 3 ¢ for every beauty/makeup item you own
7. 3 ¢ for every pair of footwear
8. 3 ¢ for every light switch in your house
9. 20 ¢ for every tub/shower
10. 10 ¢ for every flush toilet
11. 2 ¢ for every bar/dispenser of soap
12. 15 ¢ if you have dishes to eat off of
13. 15 ¢ if you have cooking pots in your cupboards
14. 5 ¢ for every window in your house
15. 10 ¢ for every outside door
16. 20 ¢ for every television in your house
17. 5 ¢ for every magazine subscription
18. 25 ¢ if your family has more than 25 CDs
19. 5 ¢ for every meal you had meat with this past week
20. 10 ¢ for every non-water beverage you drank yesterday
21. 25 ¢ if you have a snow blower or a gas/electric lawn mower
22. 3 ¢ for every item of hair care stuff
23. 15 ¢ for every bedroom in your house
24. 5 ¢ for every blanket in your house
25. 15 ¢ for every gift you received this Christmas

1 Matt. 1:18-23
2 Matt. 1:24-25;2:1-4
3 Matt. 2:5-10
4 Matt. 2:11-16
5 Matt. 2:17-22
6 Matt. 2:23;Luke 1:5-9
7 Luke 1:10-15
8 Luke 1:16-21
9 Luke 1:22-27
10 Luke 1:28-33
11 Luke 1:34-39
12 Luke 1:40-45
13 Luke 1:46-51
14 Luke 1:52-57
15 Luke 1:58-63
16 Luke 1:64-69
17 Luke 1:70-75
18 Luke 1:76-80;2:1
19 Luke 2:2-7
20 Luke 2:8-13
21 Luke 2:14-19
22 Luke 2:20-25
23 Luke 2:26-31
24 Luke 2:32-37
25 Luke 2:38-40;John 1:5,14,16

Responsive reading
One: Holy Child of Bethlehem, whose parents found no room in the inn,
All: We pray for all who are homeless.
One: Holy Child of Bethlehem, born in a stable,
All: We pray for all who live in poverty.
One: Holy Child of Bethlehem, rejected stranger,
All: We pray for all who are lost, alone, all who cry for loved ones.
One: Holy Child of Bethlehem, whom Herod sought to kill,
All: We pray for all who live with danger, all who are persecuted.
One: Holy Child of Bethlehem, a refugee in Egypt,
All: We pray for all who are far from their homes.
One: Holy Child of Bethlehem, in you God was pleased to dwell,All: Help us, we pray, to see the divine image in people everywhere.

Advent Counter
wrap presents
plan a party
choose the book we read before bed
shop with Mama
shop with Daddy
have lunch alone with Mama
have lunch alone with Daddy
take a family walk after dark
choose the family game after dinner
get help making a Christmas gift
watch “Rudolph”
watch “Frosty”
watch “Electric Christmas”
watch “Jesus”
attend the Tree Lighting ceremony
attend "The Nutcracker"
make gingerbread houses
eat out
take an evening drive and look at Christmas lights
get two hours of play time with your parents
write letters to Santa
put Santa letters in the fireplace: "The smoke carries them to the North Pole, just like magic."
tape a large sheet of paper to the refrigerator door and draw
make no-bake cookies
have hot apple cider and popcorn

If you have any other ideas, we would love to hear them!

Evelyn