7 Quick Takes: Advent

Last weekend, we began the journey of Advent in our home. Not only was our home filled with much excitement and preparation but so was my Instagram feed full of green foliage and sparkling gold baubles. It seems we weren't the only ones in full Christmas swing.

As we prepare for another ‘first’ in Hong Kong, we have been thoughtful about what we want this season to look like for our family. Although we were here for Christmas last year, it felt very different. Having landed on Hong Kong soil just less than 2 weeks before, we were still navigating the most basic necessities in life such as food, transport and a place to live and make home. Christmas's prior to that, were very stripped down for us. We chose to start marriage and family life with as little of the Christmas commercial fanfare as possible. We are not great fans of santa, kitch Christmas decor and an overload of gifts. 

A favourite tradition which we introduced for Sierra's second Christmas was an advent calender, with a daily reading, age appropriate thought to ponder and meaningful activities. We have really tried to place emphasis on thoughtfulness around the true meaning of Christmas leading up to the day, rather than everything else that so easily consumes us at this time of year. And that’s not easy, and more and more something we find ourselves having to fight for. We have kept that advent tradition with the girls each year, sans last year. 

7 Quick Takes on Advent in our home this year...

1/ We have a tree! And this is a first. I’m not sure we ever thought we would be the Christmas tree type of family, but after some thought, we decided that this would be a good addition to our advent season this year. Click a button and just 3 days later my tree arrived at the door. Yes, it’s a fake, but for us it’s a REAL TREE, in that, it really is a tree and the first Christmas tree our girls have decorated. We spent last Friday afternoon assembling it and decorating it. After a spontaneous visit into Central for the final touches (a star for the top and a wreath for our door) we were set! And yes, the tree decorating was accompanied by good Christmas carols, and an abundance of popcorn and M&Ms.

2/ On that note about popping into Central for some decorations, I have to mention that Hong Kong knows how to supply every kind of detail, decoration, accent or special touch required for times like this. There are Christmas decorations e-very-where for sale. Some I can appreciate, some I can’t stand and that’s where I consciously have to choose to not get sucked into the commercialised Christmas that just has retailers and traders wanting to make a buck out of this next ‘holiday’.

3/ Hong Kong also knows how to take decorating to the next level. Every corner of the city and every apartment block is adorned with lights, snowflakes, wreaths, bells, tinsel and even some apartments have been spotted with santa climbing through the windows. No jokes. Every mall has huge setups and interactive displays that people queue in for hours, to make a wish or have a photo taken.

4/ Santa. If you are a child reading this and you still believe in santa, stop reading here. Believing adult? Same applies to you (who knows these days??). 

So, my child is THAT child and I was THAT mom who had to apologise because my child has apparently ruined the magic of Christmas. In our home we have never centered Christmas around santa, or even spoken much of santa, to be honest. I am all for imagination, but I am not all for, what I feel, can so easily distract from the true essence of Christmas. To be honest, we haven’t made a deal of it with our girls. We haven’t told them that santa is real and we haven’t told them that santa is not real (unless they asked). They have both just never believed. That caused some hick-ups at school. I do feel bad for those who feel disappointed that their kids are now questioning the truth about santa, but I feel deeply grateful, that for us, ‘the magic of Christmas’ is hinged on something far more steadfast and trustworthy than a make believe, grumpy, old, grey bearded man. He always gave me the absolute creeps as a child. Am I the only one?

5/ So that awkward apology above took place at Shiley’s sweetest Christmas play this week. It was a highlight of the year. The Christmas play that is, not the awkward conversation. We are in Christmas school play and Christmas school fair and Christmas class party mode deluxe. We have had one play and one party. We have the fair tomorrow and the last play and party this coming week and as well as the church Christmas party. Phew. And I only have two kids. Back to Shileys play - my sweet girl was an angel and she made me so super proud. She aced her line and sang her heart out. We were even treated to Jingle Bells in Mandarin! Now we are looking forward to watching Sierra’s play this coming week.

6/ We have had fun adding school made decorations to our tree this week and Shiloh had a few days off school because she was sick, so we got our creativity on and made some angels too. There has also been a fair amount of Christmas themed baking and cookie decorating (and eating) happening each day. Looking forward to our long overdue visit to the dentist in January!!

7/ Finally, we have kept our number one advent tradition up and shared the joy of a daily advent countdown (with something to read, something to ponder, something to ask and something to pray each day) with other families in Hong Kong - designed so beautifully by some staff at Watermark. Helping us keep the main thing the main thing and experiencing the greatest PEACE and deepest JOY of CHRISTmas!

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing”

Rom 15:13