the reason for the season...

advent is one of my favorite times of the year - preparing for the birth of christ. beginning on the sunday nearest the feast of st. andrew (nov. 30th) - it continues through christmas eve.

one of the most basic of all advent traditions is the advent wreath...with 3 purple candles and 1 rose candle...one for each week. i love the lighting of the advent wreath each week - especially when all the candles are lit at christmas.

what am i most excited for at christmas?

to start a new tradition for jonathan and me - getting back to christmas eve mass. as mike and i got older, mom and dad grew away from christmas eve mass and presents on christmas day. it's a tradition that i love - with the carols, the darkness, the first glimpse of the nativity, and it's simply not the same 'ending to advent' on christmas day.

this year, we're bringing christmas eve back.

but before advent begins, i'll soak up a little shrek the halls and the original grinch who stole christmas...and a recap of a christmas story (which until last weekend, jonathan had never seen).

cool advent & christmas finds...
advent 2007 • ewtn
jimmy's christmas quick picks • life teen
the novena to the holy family • ewtn


{keep the novena to the holy family in your mind...it begins on december 20th, and we'll be asking something very special of you.}