I cannot express my gratitude, my mom left the Church when I was so young, I don't remember Advent. I am a bit of a hermit, but you two make it not so lonely coming home to my Church. Thank you thank you thank you and God Bless You and yours!
Welcome home! We are so happy to be walking with you and will keep you in our prayers. Fr. Mike Schmitz in one of his podcasts recently gave a shout out to everyone who feels alone... living alone, going to church alone, etc. Jesus sees you, and there are so many people praying for you. You are one of the family!
So many good ideas! I wish I had seen this 10 or 15 years ago when we had our own very lean Advent year. I knew there wouldn't be much else that year, so we went to church and prayed more as a family, went to free family events around town, decorated using plants from our garden or things we could find around the house, and spent more time together. Advent did seem bleak and dark that year but somehow Christmas itself was very joyful and happy for all of us. It was honestly about the best Christmas I've ever had.
What a beautiful story! It's wonderful how God has a way of turning our sorrows into happy times. You had us with "so we went to church and prayed more as a family".
We celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12 with a Mexican supper. We also read Tomie De Paola's The Legend of the Poinsettia and Las Posadas. Love that day, too! We've always enjoyed our Advent wreath, too, even if our "wreath" was four brass candleholders with candles.
I made my own advent calendar years ago- a big piece of black felt and 24 yellow felt stars that I cut out myself. I didn’t use a pattern so all the stars are different, some bigger, smaller, crooked, some seem to be dancing or drooping. It’s not very expensive and of course it’s reusable. -I also decorate with fruit that we eat throughout the season. -and it’s not an advent thing so much but years ago I bought a bunch of card stock and now I make my own Christmas cards. I get inspiration from store cards or library books about decorating. One year I simply wrote “Rejoice” in a fancy style and included a Bible verse within. If little kids want to help, their artwork is often hilarious and distant relatives like that stuff. Thank you for your channel! I just found you guys and I appreciate your work.
This is such an important video. I think some parents get so overwhelmed and bummed they can't do an Instagram-esque Advent that they just don't do anything. Lighting a candle in the Advent wreath and reading from the Bible is simple and can be memorable. Lowering the lights makes feel even more special. Planning something as a family that brings the meanings of each week's candle to real life situations is also inexpensive and memorable. I could keep going but I'll stop. I'll get on a rant about everything being commercialized. 🤣
Yes- sometimes it's good to step back and realize Advent is a beautiful church season on its own without all the extras. Arriving at Christmas frazzled and exhausted is no fun- been there, done that!
I love how you start this video first off! This is a perfectly timed video for our family. I have been given so many empty advent calendars and have been feeling guilty about not filling them (with treats and honestly junk) so hearing you talk about this just gives me a breath of fresh relief that I can say no to things. The idea of some free online advent calendars are definitely the way I think we will go this year and my kids can just enjoy the advent calendars for show and remind them how close are are coming to the big day!
Sounds like you have come up with a good plan! Some of the online calendars are really beautiful and fun. We always enjoy them here, and we hope your family will, too. Have a blessed Advent!
Thanks for sharing these great ideas. It's especially helpful since my work hrs were cut & I'm trying to find a place to move to in the city. We sometimes get mailed donation items from our diocese office, which is over 520 miles away. I'm so very grateful that you're here with us !
@@catholicmomanddaughter Thank you. I pray for you all. I've really been enjoying watching all your videos from the beginning. You really made me laugh so hard in the spring picture book from a couple of yrs ago.
Hi Jennifer and Kate. These are all wonderful ideas. On the Advent Wreath candles, I’ve been known in difficult years to reuse the candles from the previous year if there was enough of the candle left. The past several years I’ve gone to Hobby Lobby and got my candles there on their % off sale of candles. I just got mine last week because the purple and pink ones go fairly fast as we get closer to Advent. Just a thought. On a separate note, your picture of the Blessed Mother and Jesus is so beautiful! I’ve not seen that picture before. Do you know where I might find one? God bless, Linda Hardesty
We, too, have be known to buy candles at Hobby Lobby on sale or reuse old ones, Linda, so we stand with you! The picture is one of our favorites, and we received it as a gift many years ago. It's called L' Innocence, and The Catholic Company on line has many different versions of it : www.catholiccompany.com/linnocence-wall-pallet-sign-i131435/
Thank you for sharing this idea. Because you are so right with all the $$$$ I love that you are sharing what you have found 💜🙏I do have a question about your links (Free Jesse Tree from Loyola Press. It also goes to the Free printable Lucy Crown) Am I missing something? Thank you as always
Love these suggestions! Advent can be a strain on both our time and budget. It’s a good reminder that we can enjoy the season without overdoing it.
Amen! It is no fun when you feel anxious wondering if you can "do and buy" it all.
Lovely channel , hope your channel grows 🙏🙏🙏🌟
Thank you so much! We hope so, too. Please pray for us :)
I cannot express my gratitude, my mom left the Church when I was so young, I don't remember Advent. I am a bit of a hermit, but you two make it not so lonely coming home to my Church. Thank you thank you thank you and God Bless You and yours!
Welcome home! We are so happy to be walking with you and will keep you in our prayers. Fr. Mike Schmitz in one of his podcasts recently gave a shout out to everyone who feels alone... living alone, going to church alone, etc. Jesus sees you, and there are so many people praying for you. You are one of the family!
So many good ideas! I wish I had seen this 10 or 15 years ago when we had our own very lean Advent year. I knew there wouldn't be much else that year, so we went to church and prayed more as a family, went to free family events around town, decorated using plants from our garden or things we could find around the house, and spent more time together. Advent did seem bleak and dark that year but somehow Christmas itself was very joyful and happy for all of us. It was honestly about the best Christmas I've ever had.
What a beautiful story! It's wonderful how God has a way of turning our sorrows into happy times. You had us with "so we went to church and prayed more as a family".
I love this, and this channel
We celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12 with a Mexican supper. We also read Tomie De Paola's The Legend of the Poinsettia and Las Posadas. Love that day, too! We've always enjoyed our Advent wreath, too, even if our "wreath" was four brass candleholders with candles.
OLG is such a fun and festive feast day. We love your ideas, Jean!
Great ideas. Thanks!
You are very welcome- have a blessed Advent!
Thank you for the great ideas!! ❤ Happy Holidays
You are very welcome, Jaimie. God bless- enjoy the season!
I made my own advent calendar years ago- a big piece of black felt and 24 yellow felt stars that I cut out myself. I didn’t use a pattern so all the stars are different, some bigger, smaller, crooked, some seem to be dancing or drooping. It’s not very expensive and of course it’s reusable.
-I also decorate with fruit that we eat throughout the season.
-and it’s not an advent thing so much but years ago I bought a bunch of card stock and now I make my own Christmas cards. I get inspiration from store cards or library books about decorating. One year I simply wrote “Rejoice” in a fancy style and included a Bible verse within. If little kids want to help, their artwork is often hilarious and distant relatives like that stuff.
Thank you for your channel! I just found you guys and I appreciate your work.
These are all wonderful ideas! Thanks so much for sharing. The decorating with fruit really intrigues us- can you share more?
This is such an important video. I think some parents get so overwhelmed and bummed they can't do an Instagram-esque Advent that they just don't do anything. Lighting a candle in the Advent wreath and reading from the Bible is simple and can be memorable. Lowering the lights makes feel even more special. Planning something as a family that brings the meanings of each week's candle to real life situations is also inexpensive and memorable. I could keep going but I'll stop. I'll get on a rant about everything being commercialized. 🤣
Yes- sometimes it's good to step back and realize Advent is a beautiful church season on its own without all the extras. Arriving at Christmas frazzled and exhausted is no fun- been there, done that!
Thank you. I so want and need to simplify for the sake of time and energy. And most importantly so I can give my time and energy to God.
You are so welcome! We're glad the video was helpful. Have a blessed Advent!
I love how you start this video first off! This is a perfectly timed video for our family. I have been given so many empty advent calendars and have been feeling guilty about not filling them (with treats and honestly junk) so hearing you talk about this just gives me a breath of fresh relief that I can say no to things. The idea of some free online advent calendars are definitely the way I think we will go this year and my kids can just enjoy the advent calendars for show and remind them how close are are coming to the big day!
Sounds like you have come up with a good plan! Some of the online calendars are really beautiful and fun. We always enjoy them here, and we hope your family will, too. Have a blessed Advent!
Thanks for sharing these great ideas. It's especially helpful since my work hrs were cut & I'm trying to find a place to move to in the city. We sometimes get mailed donation items from our diocese office, which is over 520 miles away.
I'm so very grateful that you're here with us !
We are praying for you as always, Lena. We hope you find a place soon. Hugs!
@@catholicmomanddaughter Thank you. I pray for you all. I've really been enjoying watching all your videos from the beginning. You really made me laugh so hard in the spring picture book from a couple of yrs ago.
Lol, Lena- in those old videos we are trying so hard to be serious, but then our usual craziness breaks through. Glad to hear you are enjoying them!
Thanks so much girls. 💜💜💜
Our pleasure! Have a blessed Advent :)
thank you!
You're welcome!
Thank you for this video!!
You are so welcome! Have a blessed Advent :)
Hi Jennifer and Kate. These are all wonderful ideas. On the Advent Wreath candles, I’ve been known in difficult years to reuse the candles from the previous year if there was enough of the candle left. The past several years I’ve gone to Hobby Lobby and got my candles there on their % off sale of candles. I just got mine last week because the purple and pink ones go fairly fast as we get closer to Advent. Just a thought. On a separate note, your picture of the Blessed Mother and Jesus is so beautiful! I’ve not seen that picture before. Do you know where I might find one? God bless, Linda Hardesty
We, too, have be known to buy candles at Hobby Lobby on sale or reuse old ones, Linda, so we stand with you! The picture is one of our favorites, and we received it as a gift many years ago. It's called L' Innocence, and The Catholic Company on line has many different versions of it : www.catholiccompany.com/linnocence-wall-pallet-sign-i131435/
Thank you for sharing this idea. Because you are so right with all the $$$$ I love that you are sharing what you have found 💜🙏I do have a question about your links (Free Jesse Tree from Loyola Press. It also goes to the Free printable Lucy Crown) Am I missing something? Thank you as always
Thanks for the heads up! We have fixed the link- it should go right to the Jesse Tree now :)
@@catholicmomanddaughter Thank you for all your ideas and help😊