christmas crafting - advent

I made our little family an advent calendar.
you could make one too. It's not too late!

We're filling it up with sweet bible verses and sweet treats.


















The hessian was super hard to sew on so it gave the whole think a rustic jaunty look... lets say it was intentional.

I hope this humble calendar of ours helps to focus on the little baby sent by God to earth and that each gift of a sweet treat reminds us of the sweetness we enjoy in knowing him.

Here is some more Christmas pinspiration.

lucy and the baby jesus

This year was Lucys first time in the church nativity play.

She was given the choice of being a sheep or an angel. 

After educating her on what each character was, she chose an angel.

I must admit I felt the temptation to get my "stage mum" on. 

(Flap those wings. Flap, flap, flap. And smile!)

It was pretty cute. 

After all her enthusiasm and wing flapping off stage I think she became just a little overwhelmed and stood on stage staring out into the congregation. 

The best part (for Lu) about the whole thing was the baby Jesus lying in the manger. 

After church I was dragged up to look at, poke and kiss his sweet little face.

This is how we learnt that baby Adi and baby Jesus are two different people.*

*although I think it means that baby Jesus is a plastic doll with those freaky eyes that are supposed to close when you lie them down but after some time only manage to get halfway there leaving the appearance of a scary zombie baby. 

Merry Christmas

hope you had a wonderful day
remembering the tiny baby
who grew up to be our saviour.

Too many babies

We've been reading Lucy the story of Christmas.

The angels she gets.
"Angels. Flying. Sky. La la la"

And the shepherds.
"Sheep"

Even Mary and Joseph.
"Maayee. Jopis. Man."

But little baby Jesus? It's a bit complicated.
"Baby Adi?* Baby wawa?**"

There's always next year.

*baby Adi is Lucy's new cousin.
** Baby Wawa is what Lucy calls her little
Sister. Give you clues to her name?

Advent grace

I struggle so hard to be an organised person.
It's not something I find easy at all.
Each year I have the best of intentions for advent. I think of all these wonderful things to do.

This year I have fretted and fluttered about like a little lost bird. I've searched Pinterest for trendy DIY gift ideas. I've researched food to make. Roast dinners, cookies to bake with Lucy. I've thought about family and trips to see them
About how many hours we will spend I the car and about how Lucy's naps will suffer. I've thought about family dynamics and how to make people happy.

But in all that flapping I've forgotten to be still.
My homemade advent calendar went up on the 13th. My reading plan sits with only one day ticked.

I've forgotten to be still and remember the joy behind all the presents and food and family.

I forgot to remind myself of the little baby was born king, grew up to die and became our saviour.

But you know what? Advent doesn't have to start on the first of December. It's a
Mighty fine idea to do so but it's not the hard and fast rule. It doesn't even have to end on the 25th. So I'm thinking of the grace that Jesus came to share and giving it to myself. Won't you join me?

If you forgot advent this year why not start today?
Read the story of Christmas, sing a carol with your mum, do something each day to say thank you God for sending your son.

a very lucy christmas

Christmas is so much more fun when there is a baby around!

We spent Christmas this year with Myls family.

Cute owl Christmas outfit courtesy of my mama.

baby's first (captured on camera) stand courtesy of L.Bob.

Lucy and Uncle Brendan doing what they do best on the way home from Church.

the twenty-fifth

I had a lovely Christmas day.

It started at church at 11pm for the midnight Christmas service. I was reminded that our saviour came as a little baby just like the one in my belly.

The next morning we had church again. We're keen.

We had nine people for Christmas in our little apartment. 

After that it was lunch and presents time. I'm not really sure why we give presents at christmas but it sure is nice. I got some really lovely things.

My favourite part of Christmas is cooking. I thought the camera had run out of battery so I only have one photo of the cooking and none of the rest of the day.

I made a roast chicken, cauliflower cheese and sweet potato. My mum made a roast pork, roast vegis and apple sauce. Dessert was cassata ball, trifle, choc-peppermint mousse and mum's famous fruit cake.

I was pretty full by the end. Sooo tasty!

We ate under some shade in our backyard. We had afternoon naps. We went for a walk round Glebe point. It was a really warm day but not so warm that it was unpleasant.

I <3 Christmas.

Merry Christmas

Sufjan's Christmas

I just love Sufjan Stevens.

His Christmas album has been on repeat every christmas (and often in between) since I got it.

This Christmas he has put out a new Christmas album.

You can't buy it yet but you can listen to the whole thing right here on my blog!

Hooray. There are some great tracks on there. I especially like the Carol of Benjamin the Bearded.







Sufjan Stevens - Gloria! Songs for Christmas, Vol. 6 by rawkblog

Come thou long expected Jesus

Image Credit- Amazon.com

Christmas is on Saturday. Only 5 sleeps till we celebrate the birth of our Lord.

A fantastic book to read to prepare your heart and mind for Christmas is "Come thou long-expected Jesus." It's a series of sermons preached about Christmas over time. There are some old ones like one from Martin Luther and newer ones such as John Piper and Joni Eareckson-Tada.


It's really great to focus your mind on God in a time that goes a bit present crazy. There are some really great insights on the different parts of the Christmas story. There is a reading for just about the 24 days of advent. I wish I were disciplined to read one a day but alas I am not. I really enjoy sitting down and reading one with Myles every now and then though.



On some other Christmassy notes.

Here is my tree for the year. I like to go for the non-traditional tree.

Kinda looks a bit like a scary spider. Oh well.

Here are the Christmas cards I made this year... well I'm still making them. And then I'll send them. They should arrive before Christmas.

PS. I made a facebook group to see who is reading my blog. Go ahead and like it. :)