Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room

I'm one of those people that puts up their Christmas decor before Thanksgiving. It's not because I love Christmas more than other holidays, but it's because I want to be able to really enjoy the entire month of December. Those days between Thanksgiving and Christmas are so easily filled with parties and dinners and gifts and travels.  I wanted to really slow down and prepare for Christ's birth this year. I wanted time read to the kids and help them (especially Hudson) to anticipate the celebration of Christ's birth.

I also was kind of whining to the Lord, telling Him that I needed another hour in the day to just sit in the living room and prepare my heart for Christmas. And, in a weird way, the Lord answered the prayer. I am not a morning person, but Nora has decided to start getting up an hour and a half earlier than the rest of the house. So, the Lord gave me an extra hour (even though that's not how I would have answered that prayer!) to sit in the living room with the Christmas lights sparkling. I'm reading an advent book and trying to use that time to slow down and prepare my heart.

The words from a song we sang on Sunday keep playing over and over in my mind. It's not a Christmas song, but it is ministering to me this season.

There's nothing worth more that will ever come close

No thing can compare, You're our living hope

Your presence, Lord

I've tasted and seen of the sweetest of loves

When my heart becomes free and my shame is undone

Your presence, Lord

Holy Spirit, You are welcome here

Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere

Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for

To be overcome by Your presence, Lord

Let us become more aware of Your presence

Let us experience the glory of Your goodness

And that is my prayer - that the Holy Spirit is welcome in my heart as I celebrate this Christmas. I want to be so aware of His presence and His goodness. 

I want to pass this concept on to my family. A simple advent calendar is the tool that I have chosen to use this year. 

My best friend cut me 25 wood slices from a tree branch. I sanded them and cleaned them up. Stencils and black paint created the bold numbers that I was wanting. My husband drilled a small hole in the top of each ornament and baker's twine finished up the project. 

We are going to use the Jesus Storybook Bible for our readings. I wrapped the cover in Christmas paper, just like I used to wrap my text books in high school. There are 24 stories (including the birth of Jesus and the wisemen) and I love that each story (even Noah and creation) point to Jesus and His coming to earth. 

After we read the story, we will place a numbered ornament on the little Christmas tree in Hudson's room. 

Hudson has loved helping me prepare the ornaments. He was quick to remind me today that we were going to read and put up the number 2. 

My hope is that this daily activity will help us to prepare our hearts and "become more aware of His presence." 

PS. Next year, before December, I hope to have some advent ornament sets (like this one and other variations) to sell in CoveyCreations. Be on the lookout!