It's beginning to look a lot like Advent

This Sunday was the first Sunday in Advent, the four weeks leading up to Christmas in which we remember Jesus's birth and anticipate his return. I think I love Advent even more than Christmas itself. I love the sense of anticipation, the music, the parties, the food, but even more than that, I love the constant reminders during the Advent season of the essential mysteries of my faith. Expressed through the songs of the season, I am reminded of "the incarnate deity" who "comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found;" that "the wrong shall fail, the right prevail with peace on earth good will to men;" and I am encouraged to "rest beside the weary road and hear the angels sing." At no other season are these messages so much a part of the fabric of ordinary life, even amid the inevitable commercialism and cheesy renditions of "All I want for Christmas is You." The lights all around remind me of the need for "the Light of the world;" the gifts remind me of God's gracious gifts; even the food reminds me of the spiritual feast that God Himself provides in sending His son.

So over the next four weeks, I'll be devoting my posts to various Advent musings alongside pictures and stories of our own Advent preparations, like our book tree:

This year, inspired by various pictures online, we decided to make a tree out of books. Our first topper proved to be no more than a cat toy, but we did finally solve that problem.

May this Advent season be a peaceful time of reflection for you, even in the midst of holiday craziness.