Music and Coloring: 2 of My Favorite Things

Our Advent Calendar lists "Listen to Christmas music and color Christmas pictures" as our activity for the day.

Yay! I love music and I love to color!

We have been enjoying the activities on our calendar very much the past few weeks.

I needn't worry about remembering to turn the page each day, for Mary Clare and Sarah are always up bright and early in order to RUSH in and do the job :)

Each day's activity helps us, in some way, to "prepare our hearts" for the celebration of the coming of Our Lord which is almost here!

It reminds me of when I was expecting each of the children...how those last weeks are SO FULL of anticipation, energy, JOY, excitement, and WAITING.

Can you imagine how magnified those feelings must have been for the Virgin Mary as SHE awaited her "Little Arrival"?

And, what about dear, good, Joseph, her husband? Talk about a MISSION! Wow! I love to think back on my own wonderful husband as he would "kick into gear" when the due date of one of our babies would draw near. He always made sure that the gas tank was FULL...that the vehicle was pointing OUT toward the road for easy exit...that his cell phone was in his pocket and turned ON...etc...

We have a friend who understood  these habits in my husband all-too-well for he has 8 children of his own...and he knows that my husband works several hours away from home...so HE would keep HIS gas tank FULL when my due dates were nearing, as well...just in case he was called in to duty as a good friend to help in a time of need should I have to get to the hospital with my husband not at home!

Even though they are men...this reminds me of the "Visitation" in Scripture when Mary traveled to her cousin Elizabeth, to help her in her time of need while she awaited the birth of John, who would come to be known as, "The Baptist".

I think I've mentioned on Benmakesten before...that our family takes part in the tradition of "Kris Kringles" during Advent. The name means "Christ Child". We draw a name from a basket and we become that person's "secret helper" during Advent...then, on Christmas morning, we give them a special little gift, thus, revealing our identity to him/her.

I enjoy seeing the kids dart about the house "on the sly" trying to help their "Kris Kringle". Beds are made before the sleepy person gets out of the bathroom to do his/her own chores...Daddy's lunch was mysteriously packed the other day...sometimes, breakfast in bed "appears" next to a delighted brother or sister...toys are cleaned up...pencils sharpened for school, etc...

Although it doesn't sound "like much"...to us, it is the essence of "preparing our hearts".

Loving one another, joyfully serving each other, and WAITING together, for the big celebration to come.

Often, it is said that today's world is such a far cry different from the one in which The Holy Family lived.

However, I think, upon a closer inspection, it is also very much the same.

I suppose it depends on how we approach "life" as a family; don't you think?

We CAN take time to sit and meditate quietly together...to make music with one another...to read stories aloud...to take walks outside...to rest and relax and help one another.

We needn't be swept away by the commercialism and materialism or relativism of "the day".

We can CHOOSE to immerse ourselves in this beautiful, holy, wonderful season of "waiting".

Today, my little family will listen to music and color some Christmas pictures.

How will you prepare your hearts as a family this week?