Advent Ideas

Gentlemen;
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
I know the turkeys not even cooked yet but I wanted to post some ideas that I was going to share with “the men” last year but just didn’t have the means to convey the ideas. Advent, Christmas, Year End Traditions I know you’ve got ‘em; good and … those chains to break… Well; I thought it’d be cool to have a spot where we could share the memorable “traditions” (traditions you strongly recommend avoiding or and those that have been inspiring) Now, just in case nobody wants to take the first step on the Ice; I found (literally) one of those “Life’s little Instruction Book” type books about Christmas. I’ve taken some highlights and then blended some of our family traditions to start off the list. Your mileage may vary depending on the make and model...so in no particular order or level of priority…
Advent Ideas
1. Offer to babysit new parents (or those without family support) so they can have a night out.
2. Help a child make red and green paper chains. Hang them all over their bedroom.
3. Call a nursing home and request names of residents who don’t often receive mail. Send each a beautiful card (signature optional)
4. Offer to get to together with someone who doesn’t have a big family (or the family is far away). (Our family often invites others to share Thanksgiving Dinner).
5. Write a letter to someone who had a positive influence on you this past year.
6. Make a promise to yourself that when you see someone taking a picture of their loved one or family; go to them and offer to take the picture so they can also be in the photo. (I’ve had this done and it is the best picture we have of the family and since then; whether on a trip, at a concert or the beach; I offer and it is a great feeling!)
Outdoors
7. Initiate a sledding day with homemade devices.
8. Start carrying an extra ice scrapper and give it to someone who might need one in a parking lot.
9. Stop and make a snow angel; whether you’re alone or with your teenager. Pull over and do it. (Remember dancing in Courageous??).
10. Remember to be courtesy and acknowledge courtesy with a wave in holiday traffic.
11. Shovel someone’s driveway and try not to get caught.
a. If you don’t get caught see how many times you can do it before they figure it out.
b. If caught don’t expect/accept payment or reward.
12. Take a basket of Christmas Goodies to a notoriously grumpy neighbor; being anonymous isn’t required.
13. Before going to bed every night of the Christmas Season; ask yourself; “whose life did I make brighter today?  And/or Did I make anyone’s life darker? If you did- make it better/right.
Gift Giving; i.e.: physical presents
14. Spread gift opening out over time.
15. Offer to hide the gifts of a friend with small children who might “snoop”.
16. Put pebbles inside children’s gift boxes to add some mystery sound effect to the gift.
17. Ask older children what they are giving for Christmas
18. If you Hide gifts (for your family or a friend) write down where you hid each of them!
19. If you’re disappointed; don’t complain or lecture, learn acceptance and forgiveness. Give them a clean slate in the New Year. (not limited to gift giving).
20. Purchase a special Christmas ornament each year for each of your children so when they move away they’ll have their own ornaments for their tree.
21. Throughout the holiday season, give your family the gift of a sweet disposition. (I like that one!)
Shopping
22. If you call a store; ask the clerk if they were helping another customer (before the phone rang); Offer to hold and wait your turn.
23. Be nice in the store and on the phone with a sales person; they’re often wearier than you are.
24. Don’t go into a store ten minutes before closing time. (As a former retail person; this is good all year long).
25. Trade places with someone in a line who looks like they’ve had a hard day.
Singing Fun
26. Go Caroling
27. Learn the second verses to popular Christmas Carols.
28. Make up your own silly verses to the Twelve Days of Christmas.
At Home
1. Although Clement Moore’s It Was the Night Before Christmas is part of culture it is fiction. Read Luke 2 with your loved ones on Christmas Eve. Taken further; don’t read the first story without reading Luke 2.
2. Set up Luminaries in the front of your driveway or sidewalk “just” for Christmas eve.
3. Offer to help wrap gifts for someone or help them set up their Christmas Decorations.
4. The “envelope” on the tree (posted earlier on this blog). Also it’s many variations.
5. Write to the men and women in the service (whether they’re deployed or state-side; either friends, relatives or members of your Church).
6. Don’t expect anything for Christmas; the Gift of Jesus should be enough.

Look forward to reading your responses,

Cheese