The Tree: The tree is up, its lights are lit, and numerous homemade ornaments glued together from popsicle sticks, plastic spoons, doilies, glitter, and sequins have been hung with pride and sweet remembrances.

The Advent Wreath: The Advent wreath is centered on the dining room table atop a festive green tablecloth. We use the thick, white unity candle from our wedding day as the center “Christ” candle. We’ll start a day late, however, since I couldn’t find the right taper candles, nor could The Belgian Wonder when I sent him off on some errands. So much for staying on schedule.

Christmas Dinnerware: Then we swapped out our everyday plates for the gold-rimmed Christmas plates with holly berries around the edges. I thought those might be nice for special occasions. Then I realized we don’t host very many special occasions during the Christmas season, so I decided not to let them sit around gathering dust. Now we use them every day during Advent.

Countdown Nativity Figurines: The “Journey to Bethlehem” is set up on a small table in the kitchen. Here are some photos of our incredibly humble tradition. It’s merely meant to serve as a visual countdown to Christmas, but you wouldn’t believe the value placed upon moving Mary and Joseph forward one stone–the honor, the thrill! I’ve had to mediate disputes over whose turn it was to move them. I never had great aspirations for expanding on this little scene until I saw this amazing display. I’d love to create something like that, but I think we’ll stick with our pathetic little version. The kids still love it.

The Manger: The kids also resurrected, so to speak, another tradition that I thought they’d forgotten. We’d been given a magazine rack that was shaped like a manger. I decided to inspire some love and goodwill among siblings one year by placing a long piece of yarn in the manger each time someone did something sacrificial, thoughtful, or kind for someone else. If the manger’s bed had enough yarn and was soft enough to hold baby Jesus, maybe something would show up in it on Christmas morning. Sure enough, plenty of kindness led to plenty of yarn, so the first year some sweet little baby dolls were there on Christmas morning, one for each child. Another year, small personal-sized Nativity scenes were nestled in the yarn-bed. Another year, a picture book with a Christmas theme rested there, waiting to be read by Advent-candlelight.

Then we skipped a year, maybe two. Last night, before youth group, one of the girls came up with the magazine rack, and another girl busily snipped long pieces of yarn and placed them in a basket. What’s more, they were even kinder than normal at breakfast, serving each other cereal, milk, and oatmeal with exaggerated pleases and thank-yous.

From where I’m sitting, I can see about five strings at the bottom of the manger. What will appear this Christmas morning?

Outdoor Decor: I’ve got to step out in the freezing temperatures and tie red bows on the porch lights and mailbox today.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

And it’s the reason I haven’t blogged for two days.