What to do about the Advent Calendar?

The yearly count down to Christmas comes with changes in our house. It reminds me in an odd way of the John Lennon song Happy Christmas (War Is Over).

So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young...

For me though, ...not the war is over, but childhood has slipped by and moved us into a new phase of life...one for which I wasn't quite ready to embrace.

With our only daughter off to college for her first year, our traditions are changing.

You hang on to dear memories past and try as you might to hold back time -- you can't. You must move forward as you enter a new season in life, for if you don't -- it will move forward without you.

So, what does one do about the advent calendar? The cherished memories of you and your young together opening the next door on the Advent tree to pull out the secret little notes to read together, or maybe yours was opening a little window in a book or paper calendar, or perhaps a new treat each day...



How do you keep traditions from slipping away and help your new fledgling feel a part of the customary Christmas celebrations of the past?

To help our daughter stay part of the "old" traditions and yet move on to new ones this year, I decided to make a new card everyday she is away. I will send each one to her so that way she will have something new to open every day (just like the advent calendar). I will have something to create every day (a new way to help connect me to my geographically distant daughter). Together we will know that we are sharing that same something special in a new way. Who knows, maybe this will be a new tradition that will carry us on into the future and to her children.

Since today is already the 3rd, I sent off 3 cards; then I realized....she wasn't getting them on the days they were meant for...hmmmmm -- new tactic...create and send the cards earlier, LOL.

Day 1 Sleigh
Day 2 Dancing Santa
Day 3 Family of Deer
Day 4 Penguin shaker card

From today on I will be posting the cards I make to send to her. Hope you enjoy following along.