As children, many of us had an Advent Calendar. I used to get one every year from my aunt, and they were the cardboard kind with tiny pieces of candy behind the little windows. They helped to count the days of Advent, perhaps forestalling the inevitable question "How long until Christmas?" that I'm sure I asked my parents millions of times. As I think about those Advent calendars, I have a strong memory of sometimes sneaking ahead a few days to get the treats - I'm still not always so good at waiting!

This is the longest possible Advent season - a full 28 days, since Christmas falls on a Sunday. At our house, we've been in a festive mood recently, decorating the condo and looking forward to having both kids in Chicago for Christmas (for the first time in several years!). With both of them home, and expected visits by family, their friends, and significant others, our home will be constant chaos for a couple weeks around the holiday, so it is good we have time to prepare.

Of course, Advent isn't about preparing for a big party, but instead it is about preparing ourselves, to take a moment to become more aware of the passing of time, to be filled with anticipation rather than anxiety. That's a pretty tall order! In a world of instant communication and immediate gratification, more waiting doesn't seem like a thing to celebrate. Let's get started, we may think. Get to the good stuff!

I recently read an article by Beth Allen about the three kinds of waiting. She categorizes waiting into three categories: Waste of Time, Knots in the Stomach, and Happy Anticipation.

Waiting in line at the DMV to get the REAL-ID star on your license definitely feels like Waste of Time waiting. You have to do it, and perhaps it makes sense, but it isn't how you want to spend your time. After an appointment with the doctor, when they say "we'll call you later with the test results", you might experience Knots in the Stomach waiting. This waiting might fill you with anxiety and you feel a sense of relief when it is over.

But Advent waiting is supposed to be Happy Anticipation. This is the waiting that I feel for my kids getting here to celebrate Christmas. It is the joy that you feel knowing there's something exciting on the calendar. It is the kind of waiting that is joyful, even when the time seems to pass slowly.

I wish I had bought myself an Advent calendar this year to remind me to be filled with Happy Anticipation. Perhaps next year I'll get one and plan to open one of those doors each day (with no cheating!). In the meantime, we've got 2 full weeks of Advent left this year, and I'm going to work on filling each day with joy.

God Bless!

It’s coming back! Tell your friends and neighbors, we are bringing back Baby Bulldogs. This great program is for infants and toddlers in the community. Baby Bulldogs will meet on Thursday Mornings from 8:45-9:30 in our gymnasium beginning January 19. Registration begins on December 1. Baby Bulldogs Registration

Do you have a friend or neighbor that is considering applying to the best school in Chicago? New student applications for the 23-24 school year are now open! Existing families, do not forget to register your new preschoolers. Applications are due February 1. 23-24 SAS Application