The Family Book of Advent

I was contacted to write my first book review on this blog! Hard to explain how excited this made me. Not only that, but the book came in the mail and I adore the book. Whew. It's a book about family together time and preparing our hearts for Christmas. Basically my favorite two things in one book.

The book is called The Family Book of Advent by Carol Garborg. I love Advent. Advent is what the month of December is supposed to be about: preparation, contemplation, expectancy, joyful anticipation. Our Savior is soon to be born. He came in a very strange way. None of us would have written the story this way: The King of the Universe born in a bunch of straw in a dusty stable. The whole story can become cliche if we're not careful. The shepherds right next to the wise men right next to the barnyard animals might seem normal by now. But this was not a normal moment. From the moment everything fell apart in the Garden of Eden, all of creation was waiting for this little babe to be born. And here He comes. God with us. Emmanuel. That's what Advent is all about.

The book has a lesson for the 25 days of December leading up to Christmas. Each day has a short written lesson, an interactive advent activity, a thoughtful question for conversation and a short prayer. The very back of the book has a list of props and supplies you will need for the 25 days of advent activities, so in theory you could look through this list, make note of what you don't have on hand and run to Target one time to be prepared for all 25 days. Now if that doesn't make you feel like a super-mom, I don't know what will.

The Family Book of Advent seems most appropriate for elementary and possibly middle school aged kids.  But I'm going to try it with my family. I don't think you can start too young for family devotions and dinner table traditions leading up to Christmas.

The book is available on amazon by clicking here. And on the Christian Book website here.