Advent Calendars

The highly anticipated ritual of opening those little doors in the Advent Calendar as a child was definitely one of my favourite things. I suppose it was because I knew that in 24 sleeps it would be that magical day when I got lots of presents (and let’s face it – who doesn’t like presents!). I had to share this ritual with my sister Kelly. I’m sure there was more than one occasion when we bickered about whose turn it was to open the door – and of course behind the door was a little Christmas picture but more importantly – a chocolate!

And so, it is apt that on the 1st of December 2008 – I begin my blog ‘100 things that make my heart sing’ with an entry about Advent Calendars.

Now that I have children of my own – I am able to re-visit the excitement of opening those little doors. Last year, we made one for us and various members of our family out of a Christmas tree shaped series of drawers. I trawled the internet for little Christmas sayings I could write out for each day and had much fun hunting for little trinkets that would fit in each drawer. The idea was that each year we could re-fill the drawers with new trinkets and so start a small family tradition.

The month of December is a very special time for me because my daughter Kitty was born on the 22 day. She will be 4 this year and so heartily embraces the opening of those little drawers, it makes my heart sing to see her little face so filled with excitement. She knows that December means her birthday and three days later Christmas….it is a wonder that she can sleep at night with the thought of the treasures to come. The Advent calendar helps us as a family bring our focus in to the joy of living day to day, in the moment so to speak. There is so much to look forward to.

This is what is written on the little piece of paper, rolled up in the first drawer…..

1 December
And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?
Dr Seuss