November Resources
- Nadine Moreno
- Nov 15, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 1, 2022
It is November 15th!
We have made it halfway through the month!
The week after I sent out my first newsletter, I finally got my blog running! I used to have a blog before blogging was popular - back when Blogger was still a thing (did I age myself?) and blogs were more like journals than beautifully curated writing and marketing and ads.
Eventually, life got too busy, I stopped writing and took the blog down.
But I’ve talked for years about wanting one again. A space for my writing if and when I get the urge to write. Because for years, when I tried to write, I would use the excuse of not having a platform.
Then, a few weeks ago, I brought it up again, and a friend said, “You’ve been saying that for a while.”
She wasn’t judging. She wasn’t wrong.
And I hated that she wasn’t wrong. I hated that I had talked about having a blog for years and put no action behind it outside of paying for a domain to sit stagnant for a year and a half.
So… I started my blog.
What my friend did for me that day, that little nudge of a reminder, is sort of what this e-mail is for you today.
A nudge. A reminder.
Because we are going to celebrate this season well, yes?
So here is your nudge. I wanted to share some great resources for you to plan your holiday well. Some recipes for Thanksgiving, a charitable volunteer opportunity, ways to join the tradition of celebrating Advent, a Christmas playlist and things to do near you!
Thanksgiving is a great time to volunteer or donate to a charity of your choice.
Volunteer opportunities may look different depending on where you live, but there are great food pantries, homeless shelters, and other organizations that can use a helping hand during this time!
If you are near a Feed My Starving Children packing center, I highly recommend signing up to do a volunteer night! It is easy, fun, and a great way to get food to starving children worldwide. If you are not close by but would like to help in other ways, you can donate or even purchase some of their curated items to help them raise money!
As I said before this season should have us slowing down, being with family, giving thanks, and celebrating the birth of our Savior. In order to help us slow down, my family celebrates Advent.
Christmas has become an overly Hallmarked holiday, where we look forward to what we will receive as gifts rather than the blessings we already have. Celebrating Advent helps us slow down from the hustle of the holidays to be with each other, honor Him, and focus on what (and who) the holiday is actually about. Advent means "coming," so Advent is a celebration of the first coming, the earthly birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
When our boys were little, we bought Advent chocolate calendars for them at any local store. These can be found anywhere from the Dollar Store to Costco. Now they have sock Advent calendars, dog treat Advent calendars, and even wine Advent calendars!
As the boys got older, we added an Advent wreath and simple prayers through a booklet to help us learn how to celebrate Advent beyond daily chocolates. We light a candle each Sunday and say the prayers for that candle (as instructed in the booklet) together.
We've slowly added in books to read throughout the week, but as flawed humans, we always fall short and either do not finish our books or end up reading multiple days at once. However, some of our favorite books are:
Unwrapping the Names of Jesus (and this beautiful children's version)
A way that my husband and I love to celebrate Advent is to do a study together. The Daily Grace Co. and She Speaks both offer excellent studies as well.
Kristen LeValley published a book for Advent this year titled "Silent Nights: Advent Reflections for Hearts in Crisis." Kristen has beautiful words via her Instagram for those struggling with their faith or the church, and I have no doubt her heart for the hurting will come through her book in the most touching ways.
Hannah Brencher has a great free online Advent study she does each year. She has a unique way of bringing beautiful stories and wisdom together. I found her a couple of years ago because of her posts about Advent.
Ann Voskamp, in my opinion, is the ultimate Advent resource, though. If a complete study, books to read, or even candles feel like too much this year, follow Ann on Instagram. She posts beautiful words each day of Advent, and it will take no more than a minute to stop and read her words and focus on Jesus daily!
I will also post (as my schedule allows) during the Advent season! If you post, please tag me on Instagram so I can celebrate with you!
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