The Advent Tree is Up!

Happy Advent y'all!  Today is the first day of the season of Advent...the time of preparation for the coming of Christ at Christmas and the start of the liturgical new year.  Advent is the time of spiritual reflection as well as anticipation counting down the days until Christmas.

Today's message at church was Hope...The purple 'Hope' Advent candle was lit...expressing our longing for peace, healing, and well-being of all creation.

Our Advent tree is up!  This is the same tree I started last year.  I added festive numbered treat cones...one for each day of the Advent season.  I added peppermint candy and placed a "Christmas Bucket List 2012" tag inside each one--my list of things I want to do during the season...Attend a holiday home tour, go Christmas Caroling, watch all my favorite Christmas movies, and all the other traditional Christmas holiday activities.

I bought these printable cones on Etsy last year...you can find them here.

Pedro and Pepi have been busy little elves this weekend...baking gingerbread cookies.

So, I've been running from store to store to find the perfect gifts, trying to get them wrapped, finishing up all the Christmas decorations, baking, and trying to pack it all in.  Tonight we are relaxing on the sofa watching our favorite shows...Amazing Race, Dexter, and Homeland.

Y'all have a great week!