Preparing

Advent begins tomorrow. We are in a quiet (haha! not really, I have 4 kids) state of preparation.

The St. Andrew Christmas Novena begins today and continues until Christmas.

A stained-glass window of Saint Andrew, Apostle, in Saint Peter's Cathedral, Rockford, Illinois.

(Photo © Scott P. Richert)

I took down our Thanksgiving and fall decorations and we put together a Jesse tree. We will begin tomorrow with the first of 24 readings from The Jesse Tree by Geraldine McCaughrean. I made felt ornaments last year. I would like to do a fine tuning, but with a new baby, I know this is not the year.

Our nativity scene is set, waiting for Baby Jesus on Christmas and then the Magi at Epiphany. 

We have a lot planned for Advent. I hope I am not overreaching. It will take us the entire season to prepare for Christmas, but it will be well worth it.