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Martha in VA
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| Posted: Nov 30 2006 at 7:44am | IP Logged
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I live in a neighborhood where the folks are especially enthusiastic about decorating their homes for Christmas. Probably half of the 40 homes on our street are already TOTALLY jazzed up for Christmas. We're talking blinking lights, inflatable snowmen, electronic reindeer. It really is beautiful (but a bit blinding at night) however our house - still with fall decor - looks like Scrooge's dwelling comparatively. I don't want to fall into the keeping-up-with-the-Joneses syndrome however I'm struggling to know what the balance is. Usually we do put out lights and wreaths but I'm wondering what it looks like to be PREPARING for the arrival of Jesus but not celebrating his presence with us yet. I hope that makes sense. Maybe I'm wanting to make a statement to our neighborhood without appearing Scrooge-like. Anyway, I would like to hear what others do.
Thank you,
Martha
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Courtney
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| Posted: Nov 30 2006 at 7:54am | IP Logged
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Martha, sounds like you and I live in the same neighborhood! We are about the only ones without any lights up yet. Every year before now I have put up decorations the day after Thanksgiving. I, too, want to find that balance. I'm already itching to get some things out. Tomorrow we're putting out the advent wreath, advent calendar, nativity, and all our advent books. I think we're going to wait until the 15th to put up the tree (I can't hold out till Christmas Eve  ). I'm interested in others' thoughts.
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Courtney in Texas
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Mom to Candace 10/97 ,Christopher 4/00 and Connor 11/11
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Mary Chris
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We had neighbors with trees up and lights out TWO WEEKS BEFORE Thanksgiving! We are the only folks on our little 4 house block without lights up. I will have to come back later to link to some of the ideas I found on the great blogs from this group.
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Blessings, Mary Chris Beardsley
mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92
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marihalojen
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Could you do a color change? Our Dollar General and Winn-Dixie both have the most vibrant purple ornaments (balls mostly) really cheap. Place those on the wreaths and then change them out for red and green later?
If only there was a giant inflatable Advent Wreath with add-on flames...now that would make a statement in the yard. 
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Carole N.
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| Posted: Nov 30 2006 at 8:19am | IP Logged
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We also go through this every year. The boys put the lights up on Christ the King, but I told them they could not turn them on. As far as I am concerned it is still fall. So we have a hay bale and pumpkins in the garden and unlit lights around the house. No wreaths or decorations--yet.
My plan is to put the Advent wreath and the greenry and lights out the First Sunday of Advent. I will wait as long as I can to put the tree up. This becomes harder every year since we still use a cut tree and finding a tree close to Christmas becomes a challenge.
Last year, we bought the tree and set it in a bucket and waited until closer to Christmas to declorate. I liked Katherine's idea about the Advent tree. I may try to incorperate this into our Advent celebration.
This year I have a new creche for my Nativity. I want to set this out earlier as well. But since I leave my tree up until Epiphany, I try to wait until closer to Christmas.
I am interested in new ideas and thoughts.
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Carole ... in Wales
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Natalia
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| Posted: Nov 30 2006 at 8:26am | IP Logged
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I posted somewhere else that Kmart has a beautiful line of purple ornaments and decorations this year. They are from the Martha Stewart collection. I bought a beautiful wreath for our door.
Natalia
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stacykay
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Our lights are up, but not on. Yes, we too are the "scrooges" of our street!
Last year, we made a construction paper advent wreath, that we put in the middle of our front window. It took a few sheets to make the wreath big enough. We added in all the "candles", and then added a "flame" each Sunday of Advent. I have read, can't remember where, thought it was here, but couldn't locate,..  some great ideas for lawn advent wreaths. Anyone have any idea what my tired (3 with croup) brain can't recall?
I did notice lots of people taking in the window advent wreath last year (we are 4 houses from the neighborhood public school.)
Recapping, we turn on lights and decorate tree and house the first Sunday of Advent, and they stay up until Epiphany (sometimes a little longer !)
God Bless,
Stacy in MI (with little boys eagerly awaiting tomorrow's "potential" snow!)
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Martha in VA
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stacykay wrote:
Last year, we made a construction paper advent wreath, that we put in the middle of our front window. It took a few sheets to make the wreath big enough. We added in all the "candles", and then added a "flame" each Sunday of Advent. I have read, can't remember where, thought it was here, but couldn't locate,.. some great ideas for lawn advent wreaths. Anyone have any idea what my tired (3 with croup) brain can't recall?
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Ooh, I would love to learn more about lawn or window advent wreath ideas!! That sounds wonderful and may be just what I'm looking for!
Martha
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Mrs.K
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We hang our Moravian star up on the Saturday before the first Sunday of Advent, but that is our only ourside decoration until closer to Christmas. We lived in NC for a couple of years and bought our star there. We leave it up until Epiphany. We like this because it is like a hint of what is to come, like the star appearing for the Wise Men to follow. We usually put up some other lights the week before Christmas when we get a Christmas tree and decorate inside as well.
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Christine
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I shared how we go about decorating our house for Advent on my blog a couple of weeks ago, The Beauty of Advent. I applaud you for not wanting to rush Christmas and for wanting to observe Advent.
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Christine
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Erin
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| Posted: Dec 01 2006 at 5:07am | IP Logged
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Mrs.K wrote:
| We hang our Moravian star up on the Saturday before the first Sunday of Advent, |
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So what is the Moaravian part exacatly?
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Erin
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Christmas decorations vs. Advent
