The second Sunday of Advent brings LOVE

 It is a grounding time to light the Advent candles at home on a Sunday & to just have time to pause amidst the rush of December. Everyone you speak to has lists & things to do so a calm time is reflective. 

The second candle is for LOVE - love for life, for people, kindness to strangers, just a softer way of life.

LOVE can take many forms; the friends who text you a link to a post they know you will enjoy,  a cup of tea when you need it, a note to say 'thought of you', the shopkeeper asking how you are, the coffee shop knowing what you like, a morning text before you all go on your busy ways ... 

The second candle of LOVE joins the first candle of HOPE as they burn together for a while.

Spread ripples of love & kindness, 

Dee ⛪️🕯️🎶🔔

The advent candles are being lit ...

 I like to light the 4 Advent candles in the weeks up to Christmas - it is a gentle reminder, a nudge even, that time is moving on & the preparations need to be on track. 

The quiet times when they burn - first the one for HOPE, then LOVE, followed by JOY & finally PEACE is a time to just reflect on the year & on Advent. 

I lit the first two with the Advent ring just decorated with baubles because I had not got to bringing in some greenery. 

However, today, while on a trip to Wales I came across a fallen tree in the forest & it had the most gorgeous branches scattered on the ground. 

I always have a fold up bag in my crossbody bag, so we gently picked up a few pieces along with some beautiful lichen & moss & I popped them in my bag. The red bag & the silvery branches looked very festive. 

Is that not a bag of absolutely beautiful foliage? 

Once home I could not wait to add them to my Advent ring. I am trying to get a hyacinth bulb to flower in the green glass hyacinth vase. I put the branches on the ring then added the beautiful lichen / moss to the hyacinth vase & lit the candles in the order they have burnt - first HOPE which has burnt the longest, then LOVE & finally the third one for JOY. 

They will join the last candle next Sunday so they all burn down together on the last Sunday before Christmas. 

It is these little rituals we adopt that punctuate out lives & give us time to reflect on the year.  On the last Sunday I like to remember those not with us who passed just before Christmas (a beloved grandmother & an uncle) and my Mother who was a Christmas baby. They are always missed at special times, especially as my close family are not with me. 

May you have HOPE, LOVE & JOY this Advent Sunday, 

Dee 🌲🕯️❤️

The first Sunday of Advent

 I observe the countdown to Advent & the 4 Sundays that lead up to Christmas. 

Last year Ms M & I were enjoying the delights of the Winter Christmas markets in Munich, Salzburg & Innsbruck - something we can only dream of this year. 

We loved seeing the beautiful Advent Candle Wreaths seen all about that region - it is traditional to mark it with 4 candles.  I have some of the beautiful ones on this post from last year .... 

My 4 candle stick holder has been dusted down & filled with candles & it is ready to be lit in the 4 weeks up to Christmas. I love these traditional images I used on a previous post. 

I decorated the tray under my Advent candle holder with holly & ivy, the traditional Christmas combination. 

Today I found some little easy peel oranges in the fridge that were less juicy than I like so I decided to turn them in to pomander / Christingles (meaning Christ light) 

When I taught in mainstream education, we used to make Christingles in class then walk our classes to the local church for the Christingle service. 

The tradition originated in Germany in 1747 when Bishop Johannes de Watteville used an orange with a candle attached to it to remind children of the light Jesus brought in to the world during Advent. 

The orange represents the world 

The candle is for Jesus as the light of the world

The red ribbon reminds us of the blood of Christ

The 4 cocktail sticks are for the 4 seasons or 4 corners of the world

The dried fruit represents the gifts from God

The candle in the centre is lit & children carry them in to the church at a special Christingle service. It has only been adopted in England since 1968. 

I adapted mine with cloves studded in & the red ribbon pinned to a candle placed between the oranges. 

I love making spicy pomanders for the house as they fill the air with a delicate fragrance. 

However you observe the run up to Christmas, it is a good time to just p a u s e and be thankful. I will light the first of my 4 Advent candles on Sunday then every night from 1-24th December, I light an Advent candle with numbers on (something my late Mother used to do) and I love watching the candle flicker each night while we eat - it is a reminder to just enjoy the time without being caught up in the commercialism that takes over ... 

Have a blessed Advent Sunday. Thank you for your company, each & every visit & comment is much appreciated, 

Dee ~💕~

A blessed start to Advent

Hi everyone

I am hopelessly behind on all things due to work commitments but on this first Sunday of Advent, I just want to stop by & send my richest blessings to everyone as we start the countdown to Christmas.

I find this day always reminds me of the Christianity of the season & is a time of reflection.

I have lit my advent candle & I love watching it flicker each night - a few minutes to focus on the passing days & especially those who will not be with us at Christmas ...

I love my Ethiopian crosses - bought on my many travels around that amazing country. I mounted them in a vintage gold frame some time back & they keep me grounded; I describe myself as spiritual & like the observances that punctuate our year leading up to Christmas.

Tonight my candle is near the crosses & also my angel candle holder & a favourite book

May you have a lovely & peaceful start to the festive season, from my home to yours,
Dee ~💕~

The third Advent Sunday is upon us ...

I describe myself as quietly spiritual & religious -  I still observe the traditions of my childhood & they punctuate the seasons in a familiar & comfortable way!

Our home reflects Christmas as both a religious & normal celebration.

I love this corner of our home - my grandfather clock reminds me constantly of the passing of time (I love the hourly chimes more than everyone else at home ...).

The cardinal painting was inherited (I am the only one who liked it ...)

The Ethiopian crosses were all personally collected over the many visits to Ethiopia when we visited due to work over more than 5 years. They each hold a memory of the remarkable Coptic Christians there.

We have had these fabric East of India advent holders for many years - they are always filled & they go out to the girls homes ahead of the start of December. This tradition was started by my late Mother when A wondering Star was a baby & I have always continued it.

Their advent calendar went to their lovely Oxfordshire cottage ready for the festive season

Today, the third Sunday of Advent marks the passing of a beloved Grandmother a quarter of a century ago - I marked it with my large metal angel in the fireplace (I have put some led lights on it to lighten the darkness). My late Mom was a Christmas baby so the festive season is always reflective for me ...

We have also always had an advent candle in my youth & in my own home. I love to light it when I am cooking or while eating - it is just a calming reminder that Christmas is coming ....

I bought this German church some years back & I love it with its little lights twinkling ...

Our large inglenook fireplace always has its large garland with lights on. It is also a good place to display cards as they arrive ...

I will show you more of our dining room this week - it just has touches of Christmas - the little tree there has our beaded & hand painted South African decorations (newly gifted by the girls after a visit to their grandfather)

My Christmas sideboard / dresser is ready too - we use things straight from the shelves so I  love having them handy & because they are pretty too 

Our front door has its garland at last, The snow disrupted my usual gifted one but I have bought a fresh hanging bunch to adorn the door ...

I like to think that we have the balance between the religious & commercial parts of Christmas. May your third Sunday of Advent be blessed & peaceful.  Thank you for stopping by at such a busy time, 

Dee ~♥~

Ps for Jaybird - this is the lovely advent wreath of my Austrian friend - she lights the candles during each week too & I think it is a beautiful symbol that I might adopt in future x

The first Sunday of Advent ...

Hi everyone,

Can you believe that the count down to Christmas has began with the first Sunday of Advent?

Today marks the first of the four Sundays until Christmas which is 5 weeks away because it falls on a Sunday.  The Advent Sundays always bring the true meaning of Christmas in to perspective; this was how I marked it last year - the-countdown-to-christmas-begins

On this first Advent Sunday, I have chosen to light a candle in my angel candleholder.

It is to remember those who will not join us in the run up to our Festive preparations.

I hope your day has been blessed & you are getting ready for the busy times in the run up to Christmas.

At this time, it is always good to just remind yourself that you can step away from the manic consumerism of Christmas & make the festive time something special with your own family traditions which will endure far longer ...

Thank you for stopping by & taking the time to read & comment,
Dee ~♥~

The third Sunday of Advent …

How quickly the time passes - the third Sunday of Advent reminds me that there is just one more Advent Sunday before Christmas.

This was the First Sunday of Advent  is spiritual for me

The Second Sunday of Advent focused on peace & hope

This Third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday or 'Joyful spirit / time'. For us it will be about extended family & friends meeting before Christmas as we can't all be together.

The traditional colour for this Sunday is a 'rose' coloured candle so that is the colour of candles we will have too.

We are having a full house with our daughters, their partners & extended family to stay for the weekend, along with the two dogs - a very welcome family weekend.

A family meal cooked by A Wondering Star daughter & her partner while we catch up with each others news.

What could be nicer on this Third Advent Sunday than joyful times together with a freshly baked Victoria Sponge on the sideboard for tea & a lovely meal cooked by the family?

I hope your Sunday will be blessed too, thank you for stopping by at this busy time …

 Dee ~♥~

Blessings on the second Sunday of Advent ...

Hi everyone

The first Advent Sunday has come & gone & I am sending good wishes on this second Sunday of Advent. The second Sunday is traditionally about 'The candle of Peace & 'hope.'

My collection of Ethiopian crosses next to our Christmas Tree perfectly represent the spiritual & commercial conflict of the season - it is up to us to find the balance between the two.

On the second Sunday, we reflect on peace & hope. Random acts of kindness help to make the world a better place - take time to help or make a difference to those in your immediate circle & hopefully it will have a ripple effect - visit someone who is lonely, phone a friend, do a good deed where it is needed - give something more precious than money - your time!!

May your second Advent Sunday be full of blessings,
Dee ~♥~

The countdown to Christmas begins with Advent ….

How suddenly the festive season comes upon us - once again, the first of the Advent Sundays falls in November & this day always heralds in the start of the festive season for me.

 It marks the first of the four Sunday's leading up to Christmas & is the perfect reminder to observe the real meaning of Christmas; not easy when the commercial message is so powerful with hugely expensive adverts competing for our patronage. This is a message I reflect on each year ...

However, setting limits on gift spending make it more about the occasion & take some of the stress out of the event with this helpful article …

If you light a candle on this first Sunday, just pause & then steer Christmas in the direction you want.  Embrace ideas that you would like to become family traditions & which will mark Christmas in your family for years to come.

I light candles in my Ethiopian candle holders for the Advent Sundays - a reminder of the deep devotion of the Coptic Ethiopians which touched me greatly on our many visits there …

We will soon be following traditions started by my late Mother in filing the girls (now both in their 20's)  advent calendars to give to them & burning a nightly advent candle. I like to just spend a few minutes each night being thankful & reflective while watching it burn …

Traditions last through the generations, they are the threads that bind us in a common history.

Be blessed as we celebrate the first of the four Advent Sundays!
Dee ~♥~

The Advent candle catch up

Hi all

Am I the only one who has not yet got a Christmas tree up?

I have been away for a few days & everyone seems to have their trees up & I am still playing catch up by burning several days on my advent candle.

I am particularly fond of the beautiful crosses I bought on my many trips to the amazing churches in Ethiopia - this cross is the Lalibela Cross with its symbolic details.

The 4 pieces represent the 4 gospels / Angels, there are 12 apostles & a crown (Christ) around the top.  It represents the true meaning of Christmas ….

I hope your second Sunday of advent was peaceful & that your festive planning is going well. Have a blessed week & thanks for stopping by,
Dee ~♥~

Happy Advent Sunday

Advent Sunday has come rather quickly & this year it falls in November.

Happy Advent Sunday everyone - may the countdown to Christmas be peaceful & blessed - remember that commercialism is something we have invented & something we fuel.

You can step off that competitive Xmas trend & remember Christmas as it should be - a time of reflection, celebration & family time. The excess gift stresses can be put aside if you have the courage to just say …. NO!

Be blessed today & each of the Advent Sundays.
Dee ~♥~