Advent season. A time of expectation and anticipation. Of yearning.
One could say that life is a constant Advent season: we are continually waiting to become, to discover, to complete, to fulfill. Jochen and I are daily reminded of this as we re-live the childhood sense of wonder from a 5 and 7-year old perspective this Christmas.
Like most boys their ages, Toby and Joshua are dreaming of St. Nicholas and Star Wars toys. Toby is convinced he'll see Santa this year if he can just keep his eyes open all night, and Joshua is counting and rec
ounting the days until Christmas. This is part of the joy of Christmas, along with reading Christmas stories with them, singing Jingle Bells and The Twelve Days of Christmas over and over again, and decorating our tree and house together. Advent is rightfully a time of anticipation, but it is also much more.
One could say that life is a constant Advent season: we are continually waiting to become, to discover, to complete, to fulfill. Jochen and I are daily reminded of this as we re-live the childhood sense of wonder from a 5 and 7-year old perspective this Christmas.
Like most boys their ages, Toby and Joshua are dreaming of St. Nicholas and Star Wars toys. Toby is convinced he'll see Santa this year if he can just keep his eyes open all night, and Joshua is counting and rec
ounting the days until Christmas. This is part of the joy of Christmas, along with reading Christmas stories with them, singing Jingle Bells and The Twelve Days of Christmas over and over again, and decorating our tree and house together. Advent is rightfully a time of anticipation, but it is also much more.That's why earlier in the month, the boys drew homemade cards for relatives and helped Jochen select gifts for a four-year old homeless boy named David at a local shelter. And on Friday afternoon, the four of us will stroll down to the local middle school to help load food baskets with canned goods to be delivered to 350 needy families in Ventura. A group of families at our church participate each year in this event so that our kids-- no matter how small-- are given the chance to experience the joy of giving as well as receiving.
Yesterday we opened our home up to our neighbors on Fremont Street. Surprisingly, there were families we've barely met who joined us to chat over a cup of hot apple cider. For a few hours we munched on German Stollen and Lebkuchen and shared the warmth of candles, a lit fire, and Christmas cheer.
For me, there is something almost magical about spending time with friends and family at Christmas, lighting the Advent wreath each day, and teaching our children to celebrate Jesus' birth by giving and sharing.
May this Advent be a magical time for you; may it usher in a season of hope, transformation, and peace in your home in 2010.
TRICIA
