Before you are fooled into believing that I have actually learned Latin well enough to come up with that phrase,  let me tell you that it actually comes from a church year/liturgical reading from the time of the Epiphany. Epiphany means “manifestation” and is usually associated with the manifestation of the star that guided the Wise Men to the Christ Child.

I encountered the phrase while our family read together the beginning of a very special Advent book called Jotham’s Journey: A Storybook For Advent.  I’ve been hearing about this book and the two others in the series for years from friends (Thanks, Betsy!), and finally borrowed one to use this year. (Thanks, Sarah A.!) With a reading for every day of the Advent season, the book follows 10 year old Jotham in his harrowing separation from his parents due to a childish and rebellious act.  It takes place in first century Israel (can you guess where Jotham ends up finding his parents again?), and is an engaging read for all ages.  Each day’s reading is followed by a relating passage of Scripture covering many of the prophecies regarding the birth of Christ. I am learning so much and can’t wait to hear how the story unfolds!

We have really enjoyed adding a celebration of Advent to our family’s traditions in the last several years.  It seems to slow things down a bit and make space to truly worship and place ourselves intentionally in a state of longing for the Savior ~ One who is already ours, but that we take for granted so often.

  Last Saturday ~ the day before the first Sunday in Advent, Robert brought down all of the Christmas decorations from the attic. We usually cut down a tree and decorate it the day after Thanksgiving, but due to poor Buddy’s death, our tree trimming was put off a day.

 We’ve been going to the same beautiful tree farm for several years now, and the kids have been going on the same yearly tractor ride back to the owner’s driveway where the tree is measured, paid for ($3 a foot ~ and our ceilings are only 7 feet high!), and loaded up in the red Texas truck.  This year we treated ourselves to a hot drink at Starbucks afterward (it was COLD and WINDY), and then headed home to pack up Thanksgiving leftovers and head to a “Leftover Potluck”.  The next day Kayla was the designated star-put-er- on-er (an extremely coveted position here!) after all of the decorating was done ~ and all to the magical tunes of the Dean Martin Holiday station on Pandora. Love that old style!

 We have a couple of other Advent traditions including “Jesse Tree” readings in the mornings (pic soon!) and Advent bags ~ the most favorite of all, of course, because there is one for each day of December, and inside are found small treats, money, or coupons for special outings.