the why/wherefore

Growing up, I wasn't familiar with the term "Advent calendar," but every night before Christmas, I moved (or watched one of my siblings move) a felt Mary on a donkey one step closer to a manger. Every night I ripped off a link from a green and red paper chain whose 25th link was gold. I had friends who each day they could punch through the top paper to a chocolate beneath.

A homemade Christmas Chain

Now that our family is spread apart, I thought that we could help create both a sense of anticipation and surprise together. Each day someone will post something--a memory, thought, scripture, picture, image, video, etc.--to help us look forward to celebrating Christmas. I imagine that, in past years, we'll call each other and be thinking of each other on Dec 25, but this is a way that we can be in touch beforehand, too.

 love, Amy

p.s. this chain was from http://www.metrofamilymagazine.com/Creative-Parenting/Web-2011/Christmas-Chain-Countdown/