So Much Advent Goodness...

Looking for some advent inspiration? Want to do some clicking around?

Here's the best I have to offer:

Comfort and Joy is like an Advent Toolbox. There are lots of ideas for things to make and food to bake and goodness to create. Tangible, touchable, tactile traditions are waiting there to become yours. None of us will every do them all in one season, but there are more than enough from which to choose to find something that suits you and your family.  Truly though, in Comfort and Joy, there are more quiet moments than active ones. There are short meditations that don't require too much time on your part, but keep you grounded every day in the waiting of the season. And there are essays of encouragement--every day a whisper into your womanhood that acknowledges that this season isn't easy, but it is rich. There's more: opportunity for community if you want it, printables to keep you organized, a podcast to focus your prayer life and encourage your self-care strategy. It's all here.

By the Manger in the Morning is a movement underfoot in the community of Blessed is She. It's a daily journal of scripture and prayer, a quiet focused few moments each day that will nourish you with strength and grace aplenty. It's not too late to journey with us. A digital version of the sold-out bound version is on sale here. Just be sure to print the pages back-to-back and fold. It's never too late to jump in!

How to pull your children into the season? In our house, we begin with some well-chosen pictures books. There are some detailed lists from which to choose here. 

Grab a Mug and a Book

Advent and Christmas are wonderful opportunities for giving heirloom books. Over the years, we have gathered many, many books into our family's library. This list is a great one to print off and take to the library or to send to grandparents or godparents who might want ideas for gifts.

Advent and Christmas with Tomie de Paola

I think it's safe to call something a classic when it's been around for more than 20 years and it's going strong in its second generation. When my big boys were little, I created a way to homeschool through Advent--hitting all the important things like reading and writing and research--while making Advent the subject of study for everything. we put "regular school" aside for the season and we learned a whole lot in a very meaningful way.  In years since, we've employed this strategy every year in lots of different iterations. But this was the first all-encompassing Advent unit. It's a way to relax into the season, embracing all its richness, instead of making Advent an add-on.

A Christmas Read Aloud Around the World

Here's a way to explore the cultural traditions of Christmas around the world. 

One Quiet Moment with God

We remember that the prayers of the Church associated with this season are devotions and not potions. They work on our souls and bring us closer to God. So, it's not late to jump in even if you missed the beginning. We love the St. Andrew Christmas novena. You can learn a little about it here and download a beautiful free printable for a reminder.

Little Love Notes for Advent

My oldest daughter is my youngest daughter's godmother. Last year, unbeknownst to me, she resolved to do something special with and for her every day. She left her a note for her to find every morning, with a little chocolate and an idea for something to do together that day. This year, she gathered all the notes and ideas and resources in to an editable document to share.

Thinking Ahead...

Tuck away a book or two for this fun Epiphany idea. 

Free Printable: Little Love Notes for Advent

My oldest daughter is my youngest daughter's godmother. Last year, unbeknownst to me, she resolved to do something special with and for her every day. She left her a note to find in the morning, with a little chocolate and an idea for something to do together that day. I was so struck by her gestures that I shared a Little Love Note on Instagram. You loved the idea!

Lots of you asked if I'd ask Mary Beth to tell you all about her sweet daily acts. 

I did. And she did.

She made you pretty notes that you can edit to suit your family. AND she made you a little list of helpful hints and links so you can pull this off. 

Trade you?

I'm gathering a list of friends with whom I can share thoughts and links and recipes and good stuff in a newsletter every once in a while, but not too terribly often. Would you leave your email address for me and I'll send you the Advent Little Love Notes files?

Here's a sneak peek (Shhh. Don't tell Sarah!)

Get the Newsletter and Printable Advent Little Love Notes!

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Post Election: Gifts for a Cluttered Soul

In the days before Election Day, so much noise rose to a crescendo, yet I was barely aware as the intensity built. I took in information at every turn, but rarely did I let anything go. I’m left with a ringing in my ears and throbbing behind my eyes, the result of a constant blur of tweets and Facebook posts, newscasts, and radio ads... 

Today, I want only to create space and hear the Holy Spirit. Read the rest here.

Storybook Year at Thanksgiving

Are you living a storybook year? Our book-a-day selections for this month come from Chris Scarlett, who graciously shared this list and her notes with me (and you!). A book a day and then some from now until Thanksgiving. Thanks so much, Chris!

For The Younger Set:
My First Thanksgiving (board book) by Tomie dePaola (super simple for toddlers)

Thanks For Thanksgiving by Julie Markes, illustrated by Doris Barrette (bright, bold colors and simple rhymes)

 Countdown to Thanksgiving by Jodi Huelin, illustrated by Keiko Motoyama (family-oriented)

Thanksgiving Is Here! by Diane Goode (big, busy family)

 1, 2, 3 Thanksgiving by W. Nikola-Lisa, illustrated by Robin Kramer (doubles as a counting book from 1-10 and 10-1)

 The First Thanksgiving Day: A Counting Story by Laura Krauss Melmed, illustrated by Mark Buehner (1-12, brief rhymes, nice pics)

Thanksgiving by Brenda Haugen, illustrated by Todd Ouren (sweet overview)

Thanksgiving Is... by Gail Gibbons (colorful, brief highlights)

The Very First Thankgiving Day by Rhonda Gowler Greene, paintings by Susan Gaber (lovely illustrations)

Fancy Nancy, Our Thanksgiving Banquet based on Fancy Nancy written by Jane O'Connor, illustrated by Glasser, Fletcher, and Drainville (we completely missed out on this commercial brand, but I think this one is charming for girly-girls and their moms)

Saying Grace, A Prayer of Thanksgiving by Virginia Kroll, illustrated by Timothy Ladwig (pioneer girl)

The Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving by Ann McGovern, illustrated by Elroy Freem (basic, gets the job done)

Thanksgiving by Dana Meachen Rau (simple school-type overview)

This Is the Feast by Diane Shore, illustrated by Megan Lloyd (bold, attractive pictures, rhyming)

 Thanksgiving Treat by Catherine Stock (a grandpa story)

"Potluck" For School Aged Children:
 Let's Throw A Thanksgiving Party! by Rachel Lynette (nice photos, very doable recipes and crafts, will click with Family Fun magazine fans)

P is for Pilgrim a Thanksgiving alphabet, illustrated by Helle Urban (written at two age levels, with poetry and prose, fact-packed and gorgeous)

 Oh, What A Thanksgiving! by Steven Kroll, illustrated by S. D. Schindler (modern schoolboy imagining a parallel life as a Pilgrim kid, fun)

 N. C. Wyeth's Pilgrims, text by Robert San Souci (BOGO alert--art appreciation and educational)

 The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh (vintage Caldecott, lovely wording)

Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving by Eric Metaxas, illustrated by Shannon Stirnweis (check out the Catholic connection here)

Squanto, Friend of the Pilgrims by Clyde Robert Bulla, pictures by Peter Burchard (old school bio, sparsely illustrated)

 Squanto's Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving by Joseph Bruchac, illustrated by Greg Shed (one of the best Squanto books out there)

 If You Were There At The First Thanksgiving by Anne Kamma, illustrated by Bert Dodson (classic series, Q&A format)

The First Thanksgiving Feast by Joan Anderson, photographed by George Ancona (beautiful B&W photos of re-enactors at Plimouth Plantation)

A World Of Holidays, Thanksgiving by Marilyn Miller (overview, colorful photos)

 The Pilgrims' Thanksgiving from A to Z by Laura Crawford, illustrated by Judith Hierstein (organized as an alphabet book, would be a good way to kick-off or wrap up a mini-unit study, pretty)

The First Thanksgiving by Linda Hayward, illustrated by James Watling (interesting early reader)

Three Young Pilgrims by Cheryl Harness (attractive and very well-researched)

Eating The Plates: A Pilgrim Book of Food and Manners by Lucille Recht Penner (foodies might like this chapter book)

1620 Year of the Pilgrims by Genevieve Foster (a meaty chapter book)

 1621: A New Look At Thanksgiving by Catherine O'Neill Grace and Margaret M. Bruchac, photos by Sisse Brimberg and Colton Coulson (detailed)

 Giving Thanks: The 1621 Harvest Feast by Kate Waters, photos by Russ Kendall (parallel stories of Pilgrim boy and Indian boy at Plimoth Plantation)

Thank You, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving by Laurie Halse Anderson, illustrated by Matt Faulkner (Can you say perseverance? Charmingly told, girl power--in a good way)

 Sarah Gives Thanks by Mike Allegra, illustrated by David Gardner (more straightforward than the previous title about Sarah Josepha Hale, a good complement to it)

 A Thanksgiving Wish by Michael Rosen, paintings by John Thompson (missing departed grandma, a wishbone story, not a downer)

 Fat Chance Thanksgiving by Pat Lakin, illustrated by Stacey Schuett (kids' initiative brings neighbors together)

 Thanksgiving On Plymouth Plantation by Diane Stanley, illustrated by Holly Berry (bland title for an imaginary time-travel tale with grandma as teacher using comic speech bubbles, very kid-friendly) 

 The Thanksgiving Door by Debby Atwell (an elderly couple is included in a family meal at an ethnic restaurant)

 The Firefighters' Thanksgiving by Maribeth Boelts, illustrated by Terry Widener (whole lot of action here for one day)

Turkey Bowl by Phil Bilder, illustrated by C. F. Payne (let's hear it for the boys in this family football story)

 The Memory Cupboard: A Thanksgiving Story by Charlotte Herman, paintings by Ben F. Stahl (people and memories are more important than things, don't miss this one)

The Pilgrims of Plimoth by Marcia Sewall (quaintly written in first person, present tense)

The First Thanksgiving by Jean Craighead George, illustrated by Thomas Locker (well told, Dutch Masters-style paintings)

Thanksgiving Day, A Time To Be Thankful by Elaine Landau (overview that would be nice for a schoolish report)

 The Thanksgiving Bowl by Virginia Kroll, illustrated by Philomena O'Neill (cute, far-fetched, convoluted tale)

Thanksgiving Day Alphabet by Beverly Barras Vidrine, illustrated by Alison Davis Lyne (use this one to summarize and review the whole unit of study)

One For The Oldest Students:
Thanksgiving, The True Story by Penny Colman (nice reference for fact-checking teens or parents)
Junior high and high schoolers may enjoy reading some from the previous level aloud to siblings (or children they babysit). 

A REWARD IF YOU ARE STILL WITH ME HERE:
 The Perfect Thanksgiving by Eileen Spinelli, illustrated by JoAnn Adinolfi (Hilarious. Highly recommended. Shhh. We will be reading this one to all the big Scarlett kids on Turkey Day this year. Thankfully, most of our families fall somewhere on the continuum between the extremes of the Martha Stewart-ish and the "redneck" clans depicted here.)

For more about our Storybook Year, please visit  here. 

Together By the Manger

Pull up a chair. I have something so special to tell and show you that I asked Christian to make a video. May I have a moment or two of your valuable time?

For further details and ordering information, click here. But hurry! Advent is so soon and these need to be ordered and shipped very, very soon to get to you well before the first Sunday. 

Let's make it the best Advent yet.