When We Need Help Anticipating Advent

Anticipation is such a gift!

Every year we join the world in celebrating Advent and counting down the arrival of Christmas…the arrival of the King of the World. We offer up our very best in preparing our homes and our families for the celebration of the One who holds our future. Through the busyness of the season, we do our best to anticipate and grab hold of the meaning of Christmas.

In years past, I’ve often felt as if I’m missing some aspect of this anticipating. As though there’s an unidentifiable disconnect, separated by distance and time. It’s as if there’s been some small void in wrapping my head fully around the coming King – until this year.

Are you experiencing a void this Advent?

Join me over at my friend, Jill Hoven’s blog, where I’ll tell you the rest of the story and together we’ll step out of this void and into a place where God promises to prepare out hearts and minds to anticipate and receive the fullness of the joy of Christmas…regardless of how dark or empty our circumstances.

Read the rest of the story here…

And when you’re finished, come on back here and download the free ADVENT CALLS {PDF} to help you stay centered and focused throughout the season!

He wraps our hearts in peace and binds our hearts in hope for all that is good. Share on X

Before you leave…

Thank you to all those who are participating in the Blogger Holiday Gift Exchange!

It is underway, and everyone is busy putting together a special gift for their Secret Swapee. This is an opportunity for us bloggers to connect beyond our blogs, and it’s so much fun to see the special gifts being prepared and secretly delivered to doorsteps. If you missed out, there’s always next year!

Each week, it’s my pleasure to select one writer from the link-up to showcase on my blog for the entire week. As you know, I’m all about fresh goodness! And with so many amazing bloggers joining this community, I want to make sure Fresh Market Friday honors all who share the many areas they practice living out of a place of intention and passion.

So let me thank all of you for making this such a sweet place to gather every week as you share your passion for life and all the ways you practice living with intention! From how to repair broken relationships during the holiday season (Courage.Hope.Love) to sharing 12 days of Christmas cookies (The Speckled Goat)...that’s the beauty of a fresh market. It offers something of value for everyone!

I’m excited to announce this week’s Featured Fresh Find is Laura Thomas!

Laura reminds us that sometimes the seasons of motherhood can be bittersweet as we watch our little ones grow up and spread their wings. And sometimes we don’t realize how much we’re going to miss such things as being a “chauffeuring mom” until the day our last child no longer needs us to fill that role…and we feel relegated to as Laura says…”officially redundant.”

I just love Laura’s honesty, her humor and her heart for motherhood, as she expresses what so many mothers feel through every season. If you find yourself in a bittersweet season this Christmas, take heart and join Laura as she reminds us all of the joy awaiting us in the midst of choosing to be grateful for all of the season…even the bittersweet.

Won’t you please visit Laura’s and share some Fresh Market Friday encouragement…because we all need a little encouragement!

If you’re new to Fresh Market Friday, you can find more about the community here.

Sharing our #blogs on #FreshMarketFriday #linkup! This Week is Anticipating Advent Share on X

And here’s another fresh piece of goodness…

A badge for all featured writers! Just right-click on the badge and copy the link address to your blog sidebar!

A few guidelines to ensure the best experience…

♥ Write your post on your blog, just like any other post

♥ Use the linky tool below to copy and paste your post permalink (limit of 2)

♥ Add my Fresh Market Friday badge to your post. Or link up my blog in your post as a great way to invite friends to the blog market.

♥ Try to find another market vendor to encourage with a comment

♥ Consider following my blog and/or Facebook page, because connecting with you is what makes all of this so worthwhile.

♥ Please feel free to pin and connect on Pinterest also!

♥ Our Twitter hashtag is #FreshMarketFriday