When I was a girl, one of the simple joys of Christmas was opening the doors on the paper advent calendars I would get every December. Usually it was nothing more than a picture that I revealed, but there was joy in the anticipation of discovery. Much like opening the cover of a new book to discover the story waiting inside.
When my kids were young, we had a wooden advent calendar with little drawers we would open each day. Inside the drawers were pieces of a nativity set that culminated in the arrival of baby Jesus. As the kids got older, I included Bible verses in the drawers for them to read as well, so they could experience the story at a new level.
Last year I started a new advent tradition for myself since the kids are out of the house. I selected an advent devotional and read it each day of December leading up to Christmas. It was a great way to get my head and heart in the right place for the busy holiday season. When our own Angie Hunt revealed that she was releasing an advent devotional this year, I preordered a copy that day. Ready to continue my new tradition.
Then came the opportunity to participate in a mini advent calendar of sorts with books. I was invited to participate in a reader appreciation event where each author would offer a book for free on one of twelve days. Now, I’m sorry to say that this event has already been going for several days, but over half of the days are left for you to grab a free book, so I thought it would still be worth sharing. Plus, we had a bonus book added at the last minute for an extra day of goodies.
Here is the line up:
Dec 1 – Lacy Williams https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08L8QJN2Z
Dec 2 – Misty Beller https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C2BV1ZB2/
Dec 3 – Kit Morgan https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZL3LWY2
Dec 4 – Linda Ford https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B18R825W/
Dec 5 – Kathleen Ball https://dl.bookfunnel.com/dnyb2090ig
Dec 6 – Josephine Blake https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0BTQ86FRH
Dec 7 – Denise Weimer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNQLPHY3
Dec 8 – Elva Cobb Martin https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNJ4D5G1
Dec 9 – Lynnette Bonner https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XBTJ5BK
Dec 10 – Kari Trumbo https://BookHip.com/PNWZKNB
Dec 11 – Cat Cahill https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YX3DP7J/
Dec 12 – Karen Witemeyer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CHQYMSHM/
BONUS DAY – Dec 13 Janith Hooper https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072M6JJG9
Each book is only free for its assigned day, so just like those advent calendars, you have to wait patiently for each new day to bring its unique gift.
Did you use advent calendars when you were a child or when you raised your kids?
Do you do anything special for advent?
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I went to a Christian school, K-,8, where the whole school gathered daily and lit the candle(s) while singing, “O come, O come, Emmanuel.” My parents also lit a candle each night, and we read scripture together and prayed.
As a mom of many, I have carried on the tradition with a twist. I pick a variety of Christmas-themed scriptures, we light a candle(s), and the kids take turns reading a daily scripture and praying. Then, we have a piece of chocolate and sing and dance around the house to a different version of “O come, O come, Emmanuel.” My oldest is now living on her own, hours away from us, but we call her every evening, at her insistence, 🙂 so she can join us in celebrating Advent.
That’s a beautiful tradition, Gena. I love it! Thank you for sharing.
How fun to see this post!
We did have an advent calendar with our kids but the best one was from the parents of our German exchange student. This was a narrow rope with little mittens hung on it with numbers for the days of December. When it came it had a gift in each mitten, think candy and small gifts. The most exciting gift was a piece of the Berlin Wall. Yes, this was in the early 9o’s. We refilled those mittens for many years.
Hi, Karen. I bought my children a chocolate Advent calendar each year but I’m an empty nester this year so that tradition is finished until grandchildren arrive. I have read an Advent devotional for the last 3 years written by Ray Pritchard. Both are e-books and have a link at the end of each day’s reading to a YouTube video of a Christmas carol. I’m really enjoying them.