Welcome! I decided that today was the perfect day to launch a blog on this site. Advent begins on Sunday (November 28^th), and it also marks the start of the Christian calendar year.

So in celebration of the new Christian year, comes my new blogging adventure. I thought this would be a helpful way to highlight pieces of holiday history, as well as share ideas from my own family traditions.

I admit that it is tempting to want to take a little holiday breather after just celebrating Thanksgiving. However, I have found that Advent traditions really help my family to focus on Christ as we enter into the Christmas season. So, before I do anything else for Christmas (tree, lights, decorating, etc.), I make sure that I have my Advent wreath ready. There is a whole section on this site dedicated to Advent resources (history of Advent, how to light the candles on an Advent wreath, daily Scripture reading,etc.). I hope you find them useful!

If you don’t have an Advent wreath or candles, here is what my family uses:

		Advent Wreath by Vermont Christmas Company: This is a small wreath (it has about a 10″ diameter). I think it is the perfect size for a dinner table — you don’t want to take up too much room! Amazon price $22.95 as of 11/27/10.
		Advent Candles: I suggest ordering two sets, so you are prepared for this year and next. Otherwise, you might find yourself scrambling after Thanksgiving (like me) to find Advent candles! Amazon price $5.99 as of 11/27/10.

I also like to fill my home with music! Here are two great deals:

		99 Classic Christmas Songs For Only $1.99! Thanks to NetHymnal for the heads up on this great deal — only $.02 per song. This is an MP3 download.
		Cedarmont Kids Classic Christmas Carols For $3.99! This is my favorite CD for kids. It includes 15 classic Christmas songs. It is available as a CD or MP3 download.

And if you are wondering what to do with leftover turkey, my family LOVES to eat a turkey cranberry wreath. See our turkey cranberry wreath recipe page. And with all this talk about wreaths, check out our page about the symbolism of the wreath.

May your celebration be rich and meaningful!

Angie