2012 Advent Calendar: A Journey of Wonder

I would like to share with you a great post by one of the bloggers I read once in a while, Ann Vokscamp from A Holy Experience. She gathered a great list of things to do with kids (or without) in preparation of Christmas, in case you're missing inspiration or activities. At the end of the post amazing stories, follow the links. They can just soften your heart, if not melt it..

I already missed December 1st and 2nd on our Advent calendar! (the one where you open up the chocolate boxes...catching up after lunch today :)

And here is a printout for THE calendar.
2012 Advent Calendar: A Journey of Wonder

10 Wondrous Links for Your Advent Weekend 1. This quiet simple fun today with the kids… 2. and this will take 2 minutes and will make you smile so, really, why not? Instant grace-decoration! 3. This really might work — I want to try! 4. Doing at least one of these — and we’re writing it on the calendar for this advent… Which one did your family pick? 5. Did you see this in LifeWay’s HomeLife Magazine? We’re doing it too! {We’re printing ours out and I’m cutting out each day’s and slipping it in our hanging advent calendar. We’re all anticipation!} 6. {And you’ve printed out your Free Family Christmas Devotional? Advent begins and we’ve begun! This is our kids’ most anticipated activity of the year! {Updated: ornaments all aligned in the printout!} 7. I think this is the one craft I’d like us make new this year? Just. Beautiful. 8. and at ChristianAudio.com until December 7th — In which this farmer’s wife will read aloud to you & keep you company during Saturday chores as you begin Advent… it’d be my privilege. 9. This pattern out of paper or wood — exquisite for this weekend… 10. For the fridge this week –this makes me smile and helps me to remember — yes, yes, YES! Print out December’s Joy Dare! {Last month to chronicle your 1000 gifts, & enter to win the NikonD90 camera! Print the whole year’s collection of Joy Dares right here.} Why bother? Why bother keeping a gratitude list of His gifts? Because if you keep a gratitude list, you: 1. Have a relative absence of stress and depression. (Woods et al., 2008) 2. Make progress towards important personal goals (Emmons and McCullough, 2003) 3. Report higher levels of determination and energy (Emmons and McCullough, 2003) 4. Feel closer in their relationships and desire to build stronger relationships (Algoe and Haidt, 2009) 5. Increase your happiness by 25% — (Who wouldn’t want a quarter more happiness!) (McCullough et al., 2002) Who doesn’t want all that? Just three gifts a day. Best gifts in December is finding joy in Him and His daily grace! “… that habit of discontentment, it can only be driven out by hammering in iron that is even sharper — The sleek pin of gratitude.” ….   Go slow. Be God-struck. Grant grace. Live Truth. Give Thanks. Become the gift. May the grace and truth of our Lord and Savior surprise you all over again this weekend, friends! Click here to download the FREE JESSE TREE Advent Family Devotional {please give it a few moments to download… thank you for grace!}

Links for 2012-11-30 [del.icio.us] Posted: 01 Dec 2012 12:00 AM PST The full story at NYTimes: Photo of Officer Giving Boots to Barefoot Man ... “It was freezing out and you could see the blisters on the man’s feet,” he said in an interview. “I had two pairs of socks and I was still cold.” ... just -- stunning. NY Police Department and an unforgettable image "Then the officer said, ‘I have these size 12 boots for you, they are all-weather. Let’s put them on and take care of you.’ " ... and when you do it to the least of these --- you do it unto Christ. Beautiful. Immediate 5 minute Wonder Trip Around the World? @ The Atlantic... My. The National Geographic Photo Contest ... The kids and I couldn't get over this one. The whole world is full of His glory! Breathtaking. (HT: Amy) to those asking about Caleb's wooden advent wreaths ... ... with Christmas and Easter slhouettes, yes, he's made a few more here. What if we found to make hard jobs a joy? ... what an inspiring video clip! When a Man loves a Woman... ... @ Gospel-Driven Church ... these photos? Of grooms seeing their brides for the first time? Just --- no. words.