Attempting Advent

Growing up in a church that didn’t participate directly in Advent, I have come to adore this tradition as an adult. (I think everyone has, actually. It seems like Advent has made a splash in evangelical churches in recent years. It must have a great PR team.) And as a parent? Oh, man. It’s the best. Each year we attempt an Advent calendar with daily activities. “Attempt” because I try really, super hard not to set unreasonable expectations. For instance, our activities are things like “read a Christmas book” and “make an ornament for a friend”. I try to scale my real desires of “create a 6′ ice-sculpture” or “feed every homeless person in Texas” back a little.…