Simple Saturday: #gettinginthespirit

#gettinginthespirit

First hashtag-titled post…check.

Today, I would love to share how I’ve been #gettinginthespirit of this beautiful, wonderful, expectant, exciting season. And I would love to hear how you’ve been #gettinginthespirit, too.

We Light the Candles

My family has been celebrating Advent for as long as I can remember. Every December, we would go through “We Light the Candles”, which is a daily guide to scripture reading and a little story that relates to the specific week of Advent. I really treasure the simplicity of the messages of this (kid-friendly) book and the fact that you get to sing a Christmas carol together at the end of each lesson.

The Gospel of Christmas by Patty Kirk

My mother-in-law gave me this book for Christmas last year, and I have so been enjoying it this Christmas season. The author, Patty Kirk, also happens to be an English professor at my alma mater, John Brown University. She takes such a unique view of what happened the first Christmas season and the significance in how and why we celebrate it today.

The Ella Fitzgerald Holiday Pandora Station

I’ve been cranking this holiday station up for the past few days at work, and it’s definitely getting me excited about Christmas and all that comes with it. I really love the soulful touch that Ella Fitzgerald brings to the classics, and then there’s a nice mix of other Christmas tunes to enjoy, too.

Panettone

I’ve already enjoyed a few loaves of this seasonal treat. If you haven’t ever tried panettone, it’s a very eggy, buttery loaf of bread (that comes in a gift-like box from the store) that’s studded with dried fruit. It’s fabulous toasted with butter for breakfast, or we really love it as French toast. You can buy a panettone for yourself at Trader Joe’s, Kroger, World Market, or at your local grocery store.

So, that’s what has been filling me with the joy and wonder of the season lately.

How about you?

(Comment below or tweet with the hashtag #gettinginthespirit)