Just as it is a joy to light the Advent wreath, my children look forward to singing Christmas carols each night of the Twelve Days of Christmas. Fortunately, this blessed season is not over after the 25th, but only just getting into full swing.
Over at Studeo, Alicia gives the perfect reminder: Why I love celebrating Christmas for 12 Days.
For years now, it has been a dream of mine to decorate a dollhouse for Christmas. The scene is set in my mind's eye--miniature presents wrapped in foil, lights twinkling in every window, infinitesimally small wax tapers, a beribboned tree teeming with angels shading thimble-sized nativity, and, of course, a table set extravagantly for a doll's Christmas feast.
Now, given the fact that we barely put up the life-size tree this year, you can just imagine how the dollhouse fared. Still, it occurred to me a while back that I could still have a piece of the dream, something to make the children smile and let the dolls know they have not been forgotten--a miniature Christmas hearth.
We started with an unpainted wooden doll's mantel, available in the dollhouse aisle at the craft store:
One coat of Folk Art paint in "parchment" added a bit of depth:
The stockings--created by my ten-year-old daughter with the greatest enthusiasm imaginable--were hung by the chimney with care glue:
Each one is slightly different:
We added a beautiful miniature triptych, purchased a while back at our local Catholic store (this could easily be replaced by a cut out from a Christmas card or small nativity scene):
I can't resist showing you what the back of the triptych looks like:
Greens from the tree and red ribbon add a crowning touch:
Just for fun, we put the miniature mantel on the floor beside our real mantel for scale (it's too bad our fire had already burned to ashes, or this would have been a lovely picture):
Our mantel makes a timely display for the Feast of Mary, Mother of God:
An old friend of ours hopped right off the tree to check her stocking:
We are hoping to keep our minuscule mantel decorated for a while, adding new embellishments for Candlemas, Lent, Easter and May. [I say "hoping" because the things we strive for and the things we actually do are often quite different!] Another fine addition would be a miniature fireplace screen. Perhaps I will ask the production crew to work on one tomorrow.
Happy New Year's Eve, dear friends!
Last year, we made Take Along Mangers during a celebration on the Feast of St. Nicholas. We've been going through a bit of a miniatures phase this year, so it seemed only natural to recreate our mangers for the 2007 gathering, only smaller!
We started with small baskets and babies (from the favors section in the craft store--perfect for crafting with a crowd because they are sold in multi packs), ribbon, roses, lace, and moss:
The children lined their wee baskets with moss:
And wrapped the babes in lace for simple "swaddling clothes." Blue ribbon and flowers add a pretty touch in honor of the Newborn King:
Even three-year-old Maureen was able to make her own lovely manger:
Ten-year-old Margaret added sparkly trim and candy canes, making this an eye-catching ornament for our tree:
We had so many materials on hand, I encouraged the children to make as many ornaments as they liked. This beautiful young friend made three, so she would have one or two to decorate her dollhouse:
Suggestion for a Variation: These mangers would also make beautiful "Baby's First Christmas" ornaments, particularly with a change of trim and the names and years written on the side or handle. If you are anything like me and do not have these for all your children, this would make a welcome Christmas surprise.
Our wait is almost over, and the children's hearts are aflutter with anticipation toward the birth of the Christ Child. As we enter the final week of this all too brief Advent, perhaps we might succeed in brushing aside the visions of sugarplums for just a bit longer by preparing a Tea honoring the Old Testament figures whose lives were a compass for humanity, pointing the True path toward the Promised Redeemer.
My aim for this Tea was simplicity, suggesting plain offerings with common ingredients, in hopes that this menu will not add to the burdens that creep in the week before Christmas. Children are so dear, so unfailingly receptive to religious themes, and so easy to please that I have reason to hope symbolism will triumph where my culinary advice fails.
A Jesse Tea Menu
Jesse Tea
Adam's Apple
Noah's Ark
Abraham's Stars
Isaac's Bundle of Sticks
Jacob's Ladder
Joseph's Coat of Many Colors
The Burning Bush
Moses' Tablets of the Law
The Root of Jesse
David's Star Tea Sandwiches
Bethlehem, House of Bread (optional)
John the Baptist's Honey
Angelic Messengers (optional)
Pure White Cakes for Our Blessed Mother OR Flowers of Jesse (or both)
*******
How to shorten this Tea, if needed:
Host a "Tea of Promises," emphasizing God's Covenants with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David, along with the Blessed Mother as the promised "Woman" of Genesis.
*******
Recipes and Suggestions
1. "Jesse Tea"
Children love plays on words. Any type of tea or iced tea would work for this one.
2. "Adam's Apple" (Genesis 3: 6)
During the Christmas season, we are all a bit overworked. A plain bowl of apples is enough for this offering. If you are like me and forgot to put out those fun little Gummi Worms for your Tea in Honor of Guadalupe last week, you might want to add them to the bowl for effect. They could represent the serpent or just stand on their own as worms to remind us that the sin of Adam brought death and decay in the world.
Another thought would be to skip the tea and serve "Adam's Apple Cider." I prefer the visual image of the apples in a bowl, but you should do whatever is most convenient. Other possibilities: apple chips, tea sandwiches spread with apple butter, or some kind of apple pastry.
3. "Noah's Ark" (Genesis 9: 12-17)
I thought about suggesting bakery rainbow cookies for Noah's Rainbow, but did not want the tea to be too loaded with sweets. Noah's Arks (pictured below) are a cute and healthy alternative. Take a piece of celery, and cut it to a length of about two inches. Trim the bottom so that it will sit flat on the plate, and trim the two ends on an angle so that it begins to have the shape of a boat. Cut a grape tomato in half and pop it on top. The plate could be lined with a thin layer of Ranch dressing for a "sea" if you do not think it would be too messy.
[Celery is extremely choke-able, so please exercise caution when serving to young children.]
4. Abraham's Stars (Genesis 15: 5)
We still have tons of Dora the Explorer Cinnamon Stars cereal left over from our Guadalupe Tea, so this is an obvious choice for us. You might consider star cookies, white chocolate chips, or even star shaped sprinkles. Then again, for something very, very easy and impressive for younger children, just take one of the Adam's apples, cut it in half horizontally, and show them Abraham's "stars" inside. (I am a firm believer in cutting corners--and apples--when necessary!)
5. "Isaac's Bundle of Sticks" (Genesis 22: 6)
Abraham's son, Isaac, carried the bundle of sticks for the sacrifice as a precursor to the wood of the cross carried by God's Only Begotten Son on Calvary. For this symbol, put exactly eight small pretzel sticks per child into bundles, and tie them with a bit of embroidery floss, yarn, or, as my imaginative daughter Agnes suggested, shoestring licorice.
6. "Jacob's Ladder" (Genesis 28: 12)
To commemorate Isaac's son Jacob's flight from the fury of his brother Esau, and the prophetic dream he had along the way, have the children remove the floss from their pretzel sticks and arrange them on plates in the shape of two-runged ladders--or perhaps even one long shared ladder in the middle of the table.
7. "Joseph's Coat of Many Colors" (Genesis 37: 3-4)
The coat of many colors given to Joseph by his doting father Jacob incited the wrath of his jealous brothers who sold him into slavery in the land of Egypt. I can think of many ways to symbolize this coat, but here is a particularly easy one. Spread peanut butter on bread (already cut into a pretty shape, or just cut in fourths with the crust removed). Using a stencil made out of wax paper, pour colored round sprinkles over the peanut butter to create the shape of a "coat of many colors." You could also use the stencil to spread the peanut butter, adding the sprinkles afterward like glitter on glue. If you are pressed for time, do not worry about the stencil. Spread peanut butter on small bread shapes and let the children sprinkle the colors on it themselves. (The results of these three suggestions are pictured below.)
Another thought would be to cut the sandwiches using gingerbread girl cookie cutters, trimming all but the robe.
8. "The Burning Bush" (Exodus 3: 2-3)
Broccoli florets look exactly like tiny green bushes. Add a bit of Thousand Island or Honey Mustard dressing to each to remember the flame that burned but did not consume the bush. Children would probably prefer dipping the florets into the dressing themselves, but I photographed a few already completed to show the effect. Once again, please remember--I am no food stylist, and broccoli is not an especially photogenic vegetable!
9. "Moses' Tablets of the Law" (Exodus 34: 1)
Two Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies or Mini Milanos per child, and you are in business! You might want to write numbers on the "tablets" from a tube of icing, but I would suggest leaving it plain for convenience.
10. "The Root of Jesse" (Isaiah 11: 1 and 10)
Show the children a root vegetable, such as a carrot (or some fragrant ginger), preferably with the plant still attached, and explain how the root forms the base from which a plant can grow and flourish. Then let them help themselves from a bowl of baby carrots to represent "The Root of Jesse."
11. "David's Star Tea Sandwiches" (1 Samuel 17: 12-51)
The Star of David is such an easy shape to recreate. Use your favorite thin-sliced bread and cold cuts. For example, you might put American Cheese on a bit of buttered white bread, cutting it into a triangle shape. Then rotate the top bread triangle halfway, forming a Star. (This is a simple and kid-friendly suggestion. Needless to say, you could make much tastier sandwiches for this. All that matters is that you choose a filling that will not fall out of the bread when the top slice is turned.)
12. "Bethlehem, House of Bread" (Matthew 2: 5-6)
God promised that the Savior would be born in the City of David, Bethlehem. Because Bethlehem means "Houst of Bread," I couldn't resist suggesting a basket of bread, rolls, or scones for the table.
13. "John the Baptist's Honey" (Luke 1: 41; Matthew 3: 3)
St. John the Baptist spent his life exhorting others to Prepare for the coming of Our Lord, living on honey and wild locusts in the desert. My guess is that your darlings would not be interested in trying locusts, but perhaps they would enjoy a squirt of honey in their tea or swirled on the peanut butter "Coats of Many Colors."
14. "Angelic Messengers" (optional)
If you have a few Stella D'oro Angel Wings cookies left over from your Guadalupe Tea, you might want to put them on a tray to represent the Angel Gabriel (or perhaps add them to your Jacob's Ladders). Then again, you might share a gorgeous cookie like the one we found at our local bakery (below). One of these is enough for a whole family, with each child taking a little piece.
15. "Pure White Cakes for Our Blessed Mother" or "Flowers of Jesse" or both
Mary's Fiat brought our Redeemer into the world, and no Advent Tea would be complete without a vivid reminder of her. One thought would be to bake pure white cupcakes to represent her spotless, perfect purity. (Last year, we made a tower of cupcakes to celebrate the Feast of Mary, Mother of God that could be adapted with white cake, white frosting, and white sugar.)
If you are pressed for time and unable to bake, make quick "Flowers of Jesse" out of red and green spice drops, readily available this time of year. Press down the red spice drop with your thumb as if you were making thumbprint cookies. This will form the rose. Then do the same for a green spice drop, cutting it in half to form two leaves arranged around each flower.
These make a perfect final course to the Tea on their own, but the ambitious may use them to decorate "Our Lady's Cakes." I love the idea of the vibrant Flowers springing from the pure white cakes, reminding the children of Our Lady and her Divine Son. These would be great for Christmas as well.
As with the Lenten and Easter Teas, small cards with the Biblical Quotes handwritten or printed on them add to the display and reinforce the symbolism for the children. Oh, and if you decide to host this Tea for next year, here is a tip: the time to purchase pink and purple table linens is around Easter. Last March, I was able to purchase gorgeous, inexpensive pink and purple table cloths to save for Advent very inexpensively. Nowadays, everything is red, green, and gold.
Here are a few photos to illustrate some of the suggestions above. Believe me, I know these are not anything too spectacular, but I think they illustrate well how easy this menu really is. I had to laugh outright as I dipped those homely broccoli florets into Thousand Island dressing, and 12 year old Agnes beamed with admiration, exclaiming, "Mommy, you are like the Catholic Martha Stewart!" : ) : ) : ) Ah, see what I mean about children? They truly look with the eyes of love!
Adam's Apples:
Noah's Ark:
Or, if you are in the mood for something sweet, try Noah's Rainbows instead:
Abraham's Stars (an idea borrowed from the Guadalupe Tea):
Isaac's Bundle of Sticks:
Jacob's Ladder:
Suggested Steps for Joseph's Coat of Many Colors:
Three possibilities for these sandwiches:
The Burning Bush:
Flowers of Jesse:
*******
Jesse Tea, Shopping List
Produce:
Apples
Grape Tomatoes
Celery
Broccoli
Baby Carrots
Dry Goods:
Dora the Explorer Cinnamon Star Cereal (or any other "stars")
Slim Pretzel Sticks
Peanut Butter
Multi-colored round sprinkles (non-parielles)
Thousand Island, Honey Mustard, or Ranch Dressing
Honey
Tea
Bread:
White or wheat bread for two kinds of sandwiches
Bread to put in a basket for "Bethlehem" (optional offering)
Dairy:
Milk for the tea
Butter for the tea sandwiches
Deli:
American Cheese or other cold cuts for "Star of David Tea Sandwiches"
Sweets:
Milano or mini Milano Cookies from Pepperidge Farm
Stella D'oro Angel Wings (optional)
Ingredients for White Cupcakes and/or red and green spice drops
Tuesday morning, I waded through miles of wreaths, reindeer, and ribbon at the store searching for a craft to bring to a friend's house for today's Feast of St. Nicholas.
Perhaps the suave rhythms of "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" taken with the mechanical sway of a dozen dancing snowmen combined to form a Pepsi-Mentos reaction in my brain, but it seemed as if all inspiration and creativity had fled, leaving behind an empty shell of a woman, winding her way round the aisles muttering incoherently about "tiny tots with their eyes all aglow" and "folks dressed up like eskimos."
Just as I was about to take my first delirious swing at Jack Frost nipping at my nose, I remembered once again to look to the Babe in the Manger for inspiration.
We started with unpainted wooden farm baskets.
The night before, I put together small bodies and heads made from Crayola Air Dry Clay. Model Magic would work too, but the air dry clay seems sturdier. It helps to run a pearl-head pin from the top of the head into the body for extra support. (Please see my note below about pins.)
The children painted their boxes in warm shades of brown and tan,
Wrapping each babe in swaddling felt clothes and laying it in the manger:
[Margaret's Manger]
The faces were drawn on with markers, and you will note that the manger baskets are lined with a combination of shredded yellow tissue, brown paper bag strips, and green moss. Straw or raffia would be even more attractive, but I did not want the little bits of straw to wreck my friend's house. Besides, I thought it might be interesting to have the option of writing sacrifices on the strips of paper as they are completed during Advent.
The children loved toting their own mangers around today, promising to hide them away at home until the glorious Feast of Our Lord's Birth.
[Marie's Manger]
A bright red or gold ribbon, with perhaps the words "O Come All Ye Faithful" or "Noel" written in gold script on the sides, and these Take-along Mangers could be transformed into meaningful ornaments for the tree:
So there you have it--Take Along Mangers, a craft to complete during Advent or save for the 12 Days of Christmas.
And so I'm offering this simple phrase, to kids from one to ninety-two . . . . Agh, not again!
May you and your family continue to have a Blessed Advent!
*******
Important note: When creating this craft with young children, please omit the pearl-head pins in favor of tacky glue.
Of all the liturgical seasons of the year, our family's favorite is Advent. Few times are so studded with delightful anticipation, and our nightly "Advent Festivities" have been filling our hearts with gladness for as long as I can remember. The lighting of the Advent Wreath and our favorite hymns, prayers, books and treats are all a treasured part of the preparation, but this year, we are planning on a new tradition which we hope will become as indispensible as any of these--Advent Cubes.
The idea for Advent Cubes began by chance in the craft store. I noticed a promising looking set of wooden blocks in a pack of twenty-four and bought them on a whim, thinking the number might lend itself to an Advent activity, perhaps a calendar or game. After some thought, plans, and prayer, an idea began to take shape for using all six sides of each cube to direct our activities as we prepare to welcome the newborn King.
In our house, the children take turns each night snuffing out the Advent candles and leading a merry, song-filled procession round the wreath. This year, the child who snuffs the candle will have the happy task of selecting one of our pre-made Advent cubes. Each wooden block will feature six different additions to our celebration: 1. Jesse tree symbols (including O Antiphons); 2. figures for the creche; 3. a special treat; 4. a prayer or sacrifice; 5. the saint of the day; and 6. a "wild card" (which is explained in detail below).
Side One: Jesse Tree Symbols
Using the 19 symbols suggested at EWTN, plus five more found at Our Father's House, I made a set of 24 Jesse tree symbols. Although these could be put in chronological order (and you may want to add them to the tree this way), I prefer the excitement of choosing randomly, never knowing what will come up next. Here is a photo of the twenty-four symbols we will be using:
[In order from left to right: Row 1--St. Joseph, Jonah and the Whale, Sword of Judith, St. John the Baptist; Row 2--Star of David, Mannah, The Alpha and Omega, The Altar of Holocaust; Row 3--Jacob's Ladder, The Temple, Abraham's Shield of Stars and Isaac's Sticks, Noah's Ark; Row 4--The Ark of the Covenant, The Apple of Adam and Eve (with a bite taken out), The Paschal Lamb, The Pillar of Fire; Row 5--Joseph's Coat of Many Colors, The Law of Moses, The Burning Bush, The Key of David; Row 6--The Root of Jesse, The Sun, The Crown and Sceptre, Bethlehem.]
If you look very closely, you will see that eight of the twenty-four symbols are outlined in a gold square with a tiny golden "O." This denotes the Jesse tree symbols that also represent "O Antiphons," the beautiful prayers we say from December 17th to December 23. There are only seven O Antiphons, but the burning bush and law of Moses are both set apart as symbols of December 18th's "O Lord and Ruler of the House of Israel." Here is a photo of the eight O Antiphon symbols:
[From left to right: Row 1--The Alpha and Omega for "O Wisdom," The Law of Moses and The Burning Bush for "O Ruler"; Row 2--the stable of Bethlehem for "O Emmanuel," the Sun for "O Rising Dawn," the Root of Jesse for "O Root of Jesse"; Row 3--the Crown and Sceptre for "O King of Nations," and the Key of David for "O Key of David." Please take a look at Domestic-Church.com for the full text and explanation of these prayers traditionally said on the seven days before Christmas Eve.]
I used Sharpie slim permanent makers to draw the symbols, but you will note that the ink seeped into the wood in some places. You might want to try Prismacolor pencils or gel pens for a neater effect. Drawing these symbols would be an excellent pre-Advent activity for an older child in the family.
Now for the fun part. Each day, as the symbols are drawn, they are added to your Jesse "tree." Ours is made of canvas and brown poster paper, mostly because we are into canvas these days. You should create a tree using whatever is available and least expensive, including construction paper and paint. A branch from outdoors could be used for this purpose with good effect.
The tree will blossom each day with the addition of optional green leaves, cut out in advance and arranged under the blocks. I like the powerful symbolism of the bare branch becoming more and more verdant as the Birth of Our Lord approaches. We also created green and gold ovals for the O Antiphons from a rubber stamp and cardstock, but any shape you like would work. Large green leaves might be especially appropriate. You will note that the "Root of Jesse" symbol is at the base of the tree, adding to its significance.
These leaves and ovals are optional, but I think they add a great deal to the overall beauty of the project. By the way, the dates are written on the ovals as a reminder of the day each O Antiphon is said during the seven days before Christmas Eve. Unless you decide to use the cubes in a particular order (rather than pulling them out at random), you probably will not add that specific cube to your display on those dates.
Side Two: Creche Figures
Each day, from December 1 to December 24th, the child whose turn it is to select a cube will draw the figure for the family Nativity Scene suggested on the back side of the cube. By Christmas Eve, you will have a picture made by every member of the family old enough to draw (parents included if you like). Just think how precious these loving collaborative efforts will become if you date and collect them each year. If I had only thought of this years ago, I would be able to see how my children's drawing has changed and would no doubt be smiling to note the addition of each of our seven artists.
A list of creche figures for your cubes might include:
1. lamb
2. lamb
3. lamb
4. cow
5. cow
6. dove
7. dove
8. camel
9. Wise Man--gold
10. Wise Man--frankincense
11. Wise Man--myrrh
12. Mary
13. Joseph
14. Shepherd
15. Shepherd
16. Shepherd
17. Drummer Boy
18. Star
19. Angel
20. Angel
21. Angel
22. chicken
23. donkey
24. mouse
These words would go on the back side of the cube behind the Jesse tree symbols. Because they are not drawn in any particular order, I have not included the Baby Jesus. He will be drawn on Christmas Eve to complete the project.
Margaret (9) and I made two models for the paper Nativity. First, here is my large poster paper possibility:
And here is Margaret's watercolor wonder, with thatched roof, manger, empty stalls, and poinsettias:
I had originally planned on using my large poster paper version for our family's Nativity, asking Margaret to create a simple painted stable only to show readers of "O Night Divine" how easily this might be done. Upon further reflection, we have decided to use hers. Not only is it more sensitive and pretty than the poster paper model, it is much smaller for easy storage. If we are going to collect these family Nativities, I want to be able to pop them into a binder or scrapbook. There are few things more difficult to store year in and year out than large posters.
Side Three: Saints of the Season
Written on the top of each cube is the name of a seasonal saint. Every evening, we will honor the special saint of the day, occasionally reading his or her life story or perhaps making a sweet little spoon doll as a keepsake. The most important thing is that we offer our prayers to that saint and ask that he or she bless us and help us to prepare room in our hearts for the little Savior. Here is a list of saints, all of whom either have feasts in November or December or a special association with Christmas. I purposely selected 12 masculine and 12 feminine saints, so all the children will be happy. Families might also want to consider choosing name saints or other special patrons to use in their lists:
1. St. Andrew
2. St. Stephen
3. St. Nicholas
4. St. Francis Xavier
5. St. Zechariah
6. St. John the Baptist
7. St. Juan Diego
8. The Holy Innocents
9. St. Wenceslaus
10. St. Francis of Assisi
11. St. Joseph
12. St. Joachim
13. St. Lucy
14. Our Lady of Guadalupe
15. St. Alice (feast Dec. 16!)
16. St. Elizabeth (cousin of Mary)
17. St. Elizabeth of Hungary
18. St. Cecilia
19. St. Gertrude (be sure to say the St. Gertrude Prayer when your draw this one)
20. St. Catherine Laboure
21. St. Anne
22. St. Barbara
23. Mary, Mother of God
24. St. Therese of the Child Jesus
There are many other possibilities, including St. Ambrose, St. Stanislaus Kostka, St. Christopher, Simeon and Anna, St. John Damascus, St. John the Apostle, and more.
Side Four (panel to the right of the Jesse tree symbol): Treats
The beautiful thing about children is that it takes so little to give joy to their hearts and form a lifelong happy association with our blessed Faith. A piece of gum or a cup of hot chocolate go a long way. Here is a list of possible treats to have on hand, ready to give at a moment's notice when the right cube is chosen. Needless to say, each family will need to create a workable list:
1. hot chocolate
2. cookie
3. lollipop
4. chocolate milk
5. stickers
6. scapulars
7. religious medals
8. holy cards
9. hot cider
10. tea
11. "extra special"
12. gum
13. apple
14. family game of Boggle
15. grapes
16. family game of Charades
17. chocolate kiss
18. Mom tells a story
19. toy
20. Dover paper doll
21. tootsie roll
22. 15 minutes extra time before bed
23. religious figurine
24. Christmas ornament
This list is just a sample. To keep it more economical, I might repeat treats (for example, a bag of tootsie rolls would provide enough treats for about six nights if I repeated them) or emphasize more "free" treats ("Mom tells a story," "family game of Boggle," "extra reading time," and others). All that matters is that the children are happy and memories are made.
Side Five (panel to the left of the Jesse tree symbol): Prayer and Sacrifice
With the warmth and cheer of December, it is easy to forget that Advent is a penitential season. Our purple candles remind us we must prepare to receive worthily the great gift of the Christ Child. Here is a list of possible sacrifices and special prayers for the entire family:
1. no computer
2. no television
3. no drinks other than water
4. extra Rosary
5. extra Prayer of St. Gertrude
6. no sweets
7. no nagging
8. everyone does one good deed for Mom
9. everyone does one good deed for Dad
10. everyone does one good deed for Agnes
11. everyone does one good deed for Theresa
12. everyone does one good deed for Margaret
13. everyone does one good deed for Marie
14. everyone does one good deed for Patrick
15. everyone does one good deed for Catherine
16. everyone does one good deed for Eileen
17. extra Divine Mercy chaplet
18. all readers read at least one book to the little ones
19. no dessert
20. no salt
21. no snack
22. extra time spent reading the Bible
23. extra time memorizing the Catechism
24. extra time tidying
Again this is just a sample list. Children are so loving and generous that I predict they look forward to the sacrifice and prayer every bit as much as the treat! Assuming you light the Advent Wreath and celebrate at night, the sacrifice chosen would probably be carried out the next day.
Side Six: Wild Card (bottom panel under Jesse tree symbol)
I have so many more suggestions for panels that I thought perhaps a "wild card" might be in order, with each family deciding for itself. Here are some possibilities:
--Advent books for storytime
--Bible verses for memorization (give chapter and verse on the cube)
--Special hymns to sing each night
--Holy Souls (names of departed relatives, friends, and soldiers who need prayers)
--Soldiers or branches of the army (army, navy, marines) or places in the world where our troops are stationed (Iraq, Afghanistan, USA)
--Prayer intentions (for family, friends and neighbors)
--Names of priests or religious for special prayers
--Families in your homeschooling group for prayers
A combination of several of these "wild card" ideas might work too and would add interest for the children.
*******
Whew! This may seem like a great deal to think about, but the cubes are truly inexpensive and simple, and they may be adapted to suit each individual family. A few blocks, a bit of paper and pens, and you are long way toward being ready for Advent!
May God bless you and your families during this Blessed Season!
*******
Note: You should be able to find the 3/4 inch blocks at the craft store, but for information on where to purchase the them online, please visit my web log, Cottage Blessings.
Oh, and please be aware that 3/4 inch blocks might be a choking hazard for young ones. My two year old is fascinated by them, so we have been storing them well out of reach. (Sometimes even older children could put a block in their mouths without thinking, so please treat these with care.)
*******
December 2, 2007: Edited to direct you to Blessed Advent, the O Night Divine post sharing the biblical passages to go with these Jesse tree symbols.
And, if you are anything like me, there may be nothing in there.
With all the preparation we do for Christmas, both spiritual and physical, a minor detail like remembering to purchase stocking stuffers may fall by the wayside. I have, on at least one Christmas Eve, sat numbly in a room full of toys without a single thing to jam in that row of hopeful stockings.
Not long ago, my younger children were playing delightedly with the flock of colored birds we had purchased for our Franciscan birdhouse craft. At the bargain price of four for a dollar, it occurred to me these would make perfect stocking stuffers. I resolved to pay my next visit to the craft store armed with a digital camera to snap photos for a post about all the useful little gifts to be found there. True to my word, I remembered to tote my trusty camera along during our most recent run, but, sadly, the memory card was back home in the card reader.
So, as much as I would love to show you all the possibilities for stuffing stockings on a budget, this post will need to be limited to the fun things I actually purchased. Here goes:
An armload of flowers, wire and wooden beads kept a group of Margaret's 8 to 11 year old friends humming along happily for an afternoon making simple fairy dolls. While these materials may not fit in a stocking, it would be simple to prepare small individual kits (one flower, a bead or two, and a bit of wire wrapped in pretty paper, with a little clump of moss thrown in for good measure) or wrap all the materials together for a large and impressive gift under the tree. Our ample supply did not cost much more than five dollars:
To my eyes, the finished product looks like something out of Magic Cabin or Hearthsong. How do you like these beauties crafted by Mary Ellen's Katie, 9 (left) and my Marie, 6 (right)?
Miniature pre-made craft kits are also high on my list. These small Nativity ornament crafts were $1 each, and the large foam Nativity kit was only $4.99:
Children of all ages love a supply of stickers. We purchased some of these as gifts, and others for use with our ongoing Saints Spoon Doll Craft:
Move over American Girl. For $4.99, this paintable, sturdy doll furniture is for us. We have about ten different ideas for this handsome dresser:
How glad we were to discover these cozy American icons on sale for $3 each, the perfect presents to peep out of a stocking:
My mother is going to love a personalized calendar printed and decorated by her grandchildren. At about $13, it was the most expensive purchase of the day, but, after all, she is Grandma!
Thank you for letting me give you a peep into our shopping bags!
I have been collecting angels for most of my life, starting with a spritely china cherub given to me as a Kris Kringle present by my childhood friend, Margaret Mulligan. I still say a prayer for Margaret each time I unwrap that brown-curled beauty, smiling to myself to note that the wreath she bears in her china hand remains as verdant as it was almost thirty years ago.
My host of angels marks the passage of time, each one propped up like a signpost along the road of life. There is the golden angel in cap and gown, a gift from loving parents to mark my high school graduation; the Santa Lucia angel, with a circlet of candles atop her blonde braids, a reminder of my twenty-first birthday; the ivory angel who plays "Silent Night," a present from my beloved Aunt Eileen many years before she died; and dozens more, each with a tale to tell. There are also the handcrafted angels--some stitched by me when I was expecting our first child, and others given me by that same dear child and her siblings an impossibly short time later. The crinkling of tissue as I carefully unwrap each winged wonder is like a church bell bidding me me to sit back a while, reflect, and remember.
My favorite angel of all is a slight, unassuming green creation with arms outstretched in praise of the newborn King. For a decade, she has adorned the very front of our tree, edging out other more comely and costly ornaments for this seat of honor. Needless to say, there is a story to explain my attachment:
When our second daughter, Theresa, was born, I decided to handstitch intricate dresses for the new baby and eighteen-month-old, Agnes. The project left no time for an elaborate tree, so I picked up a little dwarf of a thing at the Christmas tree store. Hastily stringing colored lights around it, I hot-glued Victorian scrap art round the entire tree, transforming it from a candidate for "A Charlie Brown Christmas" to a vision of cherubs and charms and flowers. Ethereal and festive, yet disposable too, that simple tree was the perfect solution to my dearth of time.
Knowing I had spent the afternoon primping our homely sprig, my husband walked through the door that night toting a curious crimson bag. Christmas was a week away, yet I found in the bag a pine green, fabric mache angel, snapped up on a whim at the train station. She was the only three-dimensional ornament on our tree that year, and I have always treasured her as a reminder of my husband's thoughtfulness.
As a little girl, I remember dreaming about what the perfect Christmas tree would look like. It ought to have a stable below with a host of angels swirling above and the bright star of Bethlehem crowning the top. From this vision, a lifelong interest was born, yet I like to think of the collection as even more than that. In some small way, that ever growing array of angelic figures was a symbolic herald of the vocation God was preparing for my life.
As mothers, we too spend our lives collecting angels. With each new soul we welcome, either by birth or by adoption, we greet a guardian angel given by Almighty God to grace and protect our family. The dear Lord Himself has said, "See that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to you, that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven." (Mt. 18:10.) St. Jerome reminds us, "how great the dignity of the soul, since each one has from his birth an angel commissioned to guard it."
We rarely think about it, but God, Who is never outdone in generosity, blesses us twice with the arrival of each child.
This Christmas, amid the boxes and bubble wrap, I will pause a moment to pray for the people populating the memories behind each of my many angel ornaments, and I will not forget to thank God for the precious children and princely angels he has entrusted to our family.
