advent

December 12, 2020December 26, 2020

Orthodox Christmas Gift and Stocking-Stuffer Ideas

Hi friends, it’s that time of year again! I’ve been a mom for almost ten years now, and with 5 children, I have a lot of experience with managing the holidays with little ones! We have all witnessed the difficulty of keeping Christmas about Christ and not about all the presents. I personally come from a broken and blended extended family, which at the holidays often makes the presents multiply exponentially. This is something we struggle to keep in check.

I also get asked a lot by other “mommy friends” for Christmas/St. Nicholas Day gift ideas, so I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite go-to items for Orthodox families and my best advice on keeping the number of presents under control and maintaining our focus on Jesus. I have relied on both Orthodox and Catholic sources for my religious gift suggestions, as you will see below:

December 5, 2020December 26, 2020

Children’s Book Recommendations for Advent and Christmas

Hi readers! In a previous post, I have discussed how my family practices Advent, so I wanted to follow up with a guide of what you could be reading with your kids during this season to prepare for Christmas. It’s tempting to jump on board the Christmas train as soon as Thanksgiving is over (or even right after Halloween!), but as Orthodox Christians, we believe it’s important to observe a season of expectation, waiting, and even penitence before we start celebrating. This may look differently in each family, but one way we, a Western Rite Orthodox family of 7, mark the season of Advent is through books.

November 29, 2020December 26, 2020

How One Western Rite Orthodox Family Observes Advent

In my eight years since becoming Orthodox, my husband and I have worked to establish liturgical traditions in our home that will give our children and ourselves spiritual stability. Walking through the life of Christ every year with the seasons of the Church helps to create defaults of habit and discipline that were lacking in our faith prior to our conversion. We have 5 children under the age of 10, so what works for our family in this stage of life may be different than what would best serve your own family. However, I have collected below some of our favorite family practices for the season of Advent which I hope may be helpful to you in beginning your own traditions.