Hello, dears! This is just a really quick post letting you all know that I am participating in blogmas this year. I’m looking for guest posters. If you’re interested, please fill out this form. A bit about what I’m looking for: I want posts about faith, holidays, femininity, etc. Once you have filled out the form, I will try to get back to you. Take care! ❤
*I reserve the right to decline any post. This will only happen if I disagree with the moral content.
Hello, dears! Today is the first day of Advent and I am ever so excited. It will be my first Advent (I didn’t really celebrate Advent last year) and I have plenty of plans. But before we can get into those, I thought I would give you all a quick update on my life. There’s a lot to go over, but for the sake of keeping this post at a readable length, I’m going to just mention the biggest thing.
I no longer identify as Catholic. I still celebrate the liturgical year though, and I still veil, I just don’t do the Catholic parts (as in: praying to Mary and the like). So what am I now? I’m not sure, but I am currently identifying as a Non Denominational Christian and I think that label fits me fairly well. A quick note to my dear Catholic readers, I still have a deep appreciation for your religion and love you all. I even feature some Catholic characters in my writing. I’m just not Catholic. But I do think that Catholicism is valid and beautiful. *Hugs*
Anyways! Now that we have come to that understanding, I’ll go over my Advent plans. I hope that this post is an inspiration for all of you. Advent begins today, I am sorry that this post is so last minute.
For Advent this year, I am fairly nervous. I’m not quite sure how exactly to do Advent right? The one thing I keep reminding myself of is the fact that Advent is for me and God. I don’t have to do it right. I just have to do it in a way that reminds me of God and keeps me focused on Him. I’m not planning to do some of the more extreme Advent traditions. I’m scared to leave all my Christmas Hallmarks. Instead, I’m planning to focus on rejuvenation this Advent. I’ve been rushing around so much lately, my heart has become full with everything except for Jesus. This Advent my focus is going to be making room for Him. It’s not going to be easy, but as I’m learning, nothing worth doing is ever easy.
One of my favorite things to do is make lists to plan out various things. I made a to be read for Advent and a to be watched. My to be read includes The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Tis The Season by Ann M Martin, Christmas With Anne And Other Holiday Stories by L.M. Montgomery, and Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. My to be watched includes It’s A Wonderful Life, Miracle On 34th Street, A Christmas Carol (1938), Babes In Toyland, various Veggie Tales Christmas movies, The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe, The Least Of These: A Christmas Story, The Christmas Candle, The Chosen, Alexa And Katie, Girl Meets World, and When Calls The Heart.
In terms of decor, I’m planning to keep it simple and cozy. I’m going to put up a Christmas tree, but not decorate it until the third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday). I’m going to put up twinkly lights to add a warm atmosphere. I have a few fake candles somewhere which I will place around my room. I will probably create a prayer corner and add some candles there to add a solemn feeling. I will also probably steal one of my family’s many many nativity sets.
My Advent bible time is going to be gentle and quiet, with a very serious focus. I plan to start it out with praying to Jesus, then sing an Advent hymn. After this I’ll do my Little Bible Plan reading of the day, journal out some observations about it, and then pray again. Then I’ll read from my Advent book, The Dawning Of Indestructible Joy by John Piper. After this I’ll probably sing one more hymn and be finished with my bible time. I might add in some journaling if I have the time and/or the motivation.
This post is already pretty long, so I’ll only go over one more thing. Traditions! I’ve done some research and I’ve decided to pray for the families in Christmas cards, do a Secret Santa with my family, avoid sugar, do a bible time instead of TV at night starting 8:45, focus on volunteering, get a Baby Jesus manger and write down my prayer requests and place them at his feet and focus on them throughout the season, color a coloring sheet while praying and listening to Advent hymns, add a few pieces of yarn to a tiny manger everytime I bless someone else, and practice gratitude.
Also, one more thing, I’m going to be doing Blogmas this year. I’m terrified but I figure it will be a good way to get back into the rhythm of blogging after my long hiatus. I’ll post something with more information soon.
Have a lovely Advent and keep your hearts focused on Jesus, dears!
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