Double Sweetness

There's an added sweetness to our scripture reading each night.

Chocolate.

Yum.

I had bought those advent calendars with FAKE chocolate behind each door.  The idea was for them to unwrap each night as we read. 

The kids thought they were neat.  But a few minutes after Isaiah had eaten his first "chocolate," he said to me, "Mom, these chocolates aren't very good."

And then he added, "Does Dove make an advent calendar?"

(He must be a food snob's son.)

So, that very night, I went to the grocery store to purchase Hershey's kisses and Dove chocolates.  (Hershey's is definitely the lesser of the two, but it's better than faux chocolate candy by far.)

3 bags.

And every night as we gather, we choose a chocolate from the bowl.

Truth AND chocolate.

Double sweetness.

(Does it get better?)

And, because I promised Shelane I'd post the readings, here they are:

December 1: Christ Chosen as the Savior in the Pre-Existence (Abraham 3:22-28)

December 2: Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden Partake of the Fruit, Making the Need for a Savior a Reality (Moses 4: 1-25)

December 3: Abraham Willing to Sacrifice Isaac and the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 22:1-18)

December 4: The Stem of Jesse & Isaiah Prophecies of the Peace Christ Will Bring (Isaiah 11: 1-9)

December 5: Christ is Despised & Rejected (Isaiah 53)

December 6: Balaam Prophecies that A Star Shall Rise Up Out of Jacob (Numbers 24:15-17)

December 7: For Unto Us a Child is Born (Isaiah 9: 2, 6-7)

December 8: Alma Prophecies of Christ (Alma 7: 7-13)

December 9: King Benjamin Prophecies of Christ (Mosiah 3: 1-11)

December 10: Nephi Is Given Explanation of Tree of Life Vision (1 Nephi 11:12-33)

December 11: Samuel the Lamanite Prophecies of the Signs to be Given at Christ's Birth in the Americas (Helaman 14: 1-8) 

December 12: The Story of Zechariah & Elizabeth -- the Angel Gabriel Appearing to Zechariah (Luke 1: 5-9, 11-15, 18-22)

December 13: The Angel Gabriel Appears to Mary (Luke 1: 26-38)

December 14: Mary Visits Elizabeth (Luke 1: 39-56)

December 15: The Angel Tells Joseph to Wed Marry (Matthew 1: 18-25)

December 16: John the Baptist is Born & We Learn of His Mission in Relation to Christ (Luke 1: 57-80)

December 17: The Word Coming to Dwell in the Flesh (John 1: 4,14 and Luke 2: 1-20)

December 18: Wise Men Come Seeking Jesus; Herod Asks Them to Return and Tell Him Where Jesus Is (Matthew 2: 1-11)

December 19: Simeon Blessing Jesus At the Temple (Luke 2: 21-35)

December 20: The Flight Into Egypt and Herod Slaying the Innocents (Matthew 2: 13-18)

December 21: Returning to Nazareth from Egypt (Matthew 2: 19-23)

December 22: Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem at 12, Growing Up Years (Luke 2: 40-52)

December 23: Moroni Urges Us to Come Unto Christ and Be Perfected in Him (Moroni 10: 32-33)

December 24: Story of the Nativity (Luke 2: 1-20)

I am so loving the discussions that are happening each night.

Happy Reading!

December Traditions

We're expecting our own nativity around here any day, and it's pretty much all I can think about.

Today was spent cleaning my house: folding laundry, vacuuming, mopping the floor, cleaning the bathrooms, watering plants.

I love a clean house.

Mr. C. was out in the yard chainsawing fallen limbs from a snow storm a few weeks back.  The boys were happily helping him all afternoon: hauling wood, playing in a makeshift clubhouse he'd built them this morning in the yard while they were yet sleeping.  I am reminded quite often that he's a great dad.

Little Miss mostly followed me around and chatted throughout the afternoon.  Then we went out to walk for a half hour after I'd put dinner in the oven.  Isaiah went with us.  We walked our neighborhood streets and looked at the Christmas lights and chatted with each other.  It was peaceful and calm and I couldn't help but say aloud, 

"I love this time of year."

Last year, at the beginning of December, we started this tradition.

This year we're doing it again, but also adding something else into the mix.

Which necessitated my project of the last few weeks.

Made the pockets.

Covered each one with different Christmas papers.

Cut out squares for numbering 1 thru 24.

Glued on the numbers and hole punched each pocket.

Strung them together with raffia.

Strung it up underneath the holiday mantle.

 Selected advent readings for each day -- beginning with Christ being chosen as the Savior in the preexistence.

Tucked the readings inside.

Viola: the finished product!

The truly sweet part is what happens as we do this.

The natural questions that result, the testimonies that are borne, the spirit that is so strong in a room aglow with soft lights and warm, listening hearts.

It truly is magical.

After our scriptural reading, we read the first chapter from Dickens' book.

And you know what?

I remembered why this quiet evening ritual was my favorite part of December last year.

So happy to be doing it again.