Advent 2010

December starts the advent season. Advent is preparing our hearts for the celebration of Christ's birth. To prepare my heart and life for this month of excitement and celebration of my Savior, I've decided to do some advent activities. To not rush through the season, but enjoy all the sounds and the sights...the shopping and the people.

Last year, I did something every day. It was hard. Right now, our schedule just changes too much for me to have another "list" of things to do. I didn't want advent to be just another thing that I had to get done each day. I want it to be worshipful. If I have too much on my plate and my advent activity doesn't get accomplished, then I feel like I failed. So this year, I'm changing it up a little. Instead of doing something everyday, I'm choosing 5 areas of my life where I can serve others.

1. Friends

2. Neighbors

3. Church

4. Community

5. Family

6. My husband

These are areas that God has really laid on my heart. I want to look for ways to serve these people all month long. I have specific things for a few of the above. I have already been able to serve my sweet friends through the brunch and it was a beautiful day that blessed me; We'll be taking goodies to our neighbors once again this year; Ken and I have chosen our child from the Angel Tree so we can attempt to make someone's Christmas a little brighter. What I love about choosing a child (who is a 5 year old little girl), is that I pray for this child...whoever she is, I know she is in our community and she needs the love of our Lord, just like I do.

I haven't decided on the exact specifics of how the rest of advent will look, but my main goal is to reflect Christ. I know that in trying to bless others, God always surprises me and I end up being touched and moved in ways that are unimagineable.