Advent is Here! Beginning My Walk with the 40 Days of Seeking Him and Sharing about Keeping Christ in Christmas

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Today is the first day of Advent for 2013.  At Mass this morning, we had a family light the first candle on the large Advent wreath to mark the day.  The Scripture started having a focus on the theme of waiting.  And, I am sitting here feeling like a bit of a Catholic homeschool mom failure for not have everything ready to go.  Somehow I don’t think God minds if all my wonderful ideas do not come to fruition or even start on THIS day. 

 

Rather, I see Advent as a time to pull back a bit from the world (as much as one is able) and spend more time in God’s presence.  What that looks like is different for each person as is our journey through life.  I will be blogging on my journey this year at least once per week (if not more!) and hope you’ll join me.

 

 

Throughout the Advent and Christmas season, I am again co-hosting the 40 Days of Seeking Him meme.  All Christian bloggers are invited to join Trish from A House Upon a Rock and myself as we chronicle our journey through Advent. Rather than do a separate link up post for this, you’ll find the linky to add your own blog post at the bottom of the post.

 

I am also co-hosting a blog link up for Keeping Christ in Christmas with

 

Monica at www.equippingCatholicfamilies.com

Erika at http://raisinglittlesaints.blogspot.ca/

Tina at http://trulyrichmom.com/

Sarah at http://onthewayhome2.com

Chris at http://campfiresandcleats.blogspot.ca/

Birgit at http://designsbybirgit.blogspot.ca/

 

Be sure to visit as many links as possible, listed at the bottom of this post.

 

Spending Time Each Day with Our Lord

 

I’m actually awaiting the arrival of a few books I mentioned in my recent Advent Devotional post.  I may be a few days behind, but that’s okay with me.  At minimum, I can spend a few minutes in His Word by reading the daily Scripture or possibly going to daily Mass right after dropping off my one son at school.

 

Also, I hope to find one substitute shift for adoration at our parish each week.  My personal schedule makes it a challenge at times to know I can commit to a specific day and time.  However, I love being able to relieve someone who does have a regular hour and then have my own quiet hour with the Lord.

 

Spend Time Together in Prayer as a Family

I dream of the day we can have a family devotional time, but recognize between busy lives and some attitudes from different family members that 30 minutes of prayer and Scripture is not going to happen.  However, we can spend a few minutes in prayer using the Advent wreath at the dinner hour and I want to have a short time for Scripture in conjunction with making a Jesse Tree.

 

How are YOU working to seek God during the seasons of Advent and Christmas?

What does your family do to keep Christ in Christmas?

Keeping Christ in Christmas Blog List

Equipping Catholic Families: Keep Christ in Christmas

Simply Homeschool  Living Advent Series 12/1 – 12/25

Fifth of Five     Keeping Christ in Christmas – Blog Link-up 2013

Coffee Moments with Sam     The Light of Hope

Hand-Maid With Love: CHRISTmas Presence: Keep Christ in Christmas 2013 Edition

Open Window Making hay while the Advent wreath shines

Faith Filled Freebies: Keep Christ in Christmas

Written by the Finger of God: Not Christmas as Usual

On the Way Home: Keep Christ in Christmas

Sue Elvis Writes: Bring Christ to Others

Mommy Bares All       Why Celebrate Christmas Even After #YolandaPH

Canadian Catholic Mom         Keeping The Little Ones Focused: An Advent Link-Up

Mountain of Grace Homeschooling   Keep Christ in Christmas

Em’s Estuary: Keeping Christ in Christmas

Happy Little Homemaker: December Devotion: Immaculate Conception

Adoro Ergo Sum:  How We Keep Christ in Christmas

JoyAlive.net: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Home to 4 Kiddos        Keep Christ in Christmas

Embedded Faith          Boldly Be the Christ in Christmas

City Girl, Country Home         Emmanuel Is With Us. Are we WITH HIM?

Journey to Wisdom: Trusting in your Awkward Fiats

Joy of Nine9    Waiting in Joyful Expectation Like a Child

Splendor in the Home Ideas For Keeping Advent and Christmas Holy

Training Happy Hearts            10 Ways to Celebrate the New Liturgical Year

A Catholic Life Advent: The Beginning of the Liturgical Year & Source of Rich Meditations

Designs by Birgit: Elf on a Shelf and Santa Claus

Catholic Inspired: Faith-Centered Family Christmas

A Slice of Smith Life: How we keep Christ in Christmas

Catholic All Year: Three Reasons I love Advent

Mary the Defender: Christmas The Battle Begins

Truly Rich Mom: Keep Christ in Christmas

Day By Day in Our World: 40 Days Seeking Him and Keeping Christ in Christmas

Diapers and Drivel: Keeping Christ in Christmas

Raising Soldiers 4 Christ: Keeping Christ in Christmas

Rosary Mom   Keep Christ In Christmas With A Teenager

Tercets:           Keeping Christ in Christmas: Join Church Ministries

Campfires and Cleats How We Keep Christ in Christmas

Life Unabridged: Celebrating the Fullness of the Advent and Christmas Season

Homeschooling With Joy        Keeping Christ in Christmas

Mrs Domestic Bliss     Gingerbread Nativity

The Chic Traveller      Keeping Christ in Christmas

California to Korea     Keeping Christ in Christmas

Dominique’s Desk       Keeping Christ in Christmas

 

Join the 40 Days of Seeking Him Week One Link Up

If joining us on the 40 Days of Seeking Him meme, please link directly to your post.  Every week we will link up and share what we are doing, learning or how we celebrate the birth of our Lord. You are more than welcome to link up to more than one post each week if you’ve written multiple posts on the topic of Advent and growing closer to Christ.