Hi, my name is Jen. I am a planner. I love to plan. The further in advance, the better. And if I can include color-coded charts? Awesome.

So, at Christmas, you can imagine… I have elaborate plans. Plans for parties with delicious food paired with perfect playlists. Plans for presents thoughtfully wrapped up with coordinated paper and fabric ribbon. Plans for big, bushy, beautiful, well-lit Christmas trees. Plans for meaningful family prayer times and an Advent season spent fully focusing on Jesus (“the reason for the season”). I make plans for everything to be just perfect.

The only problem... Things don’t always go according to my plan. 

And so, during the four weeks of Advent, I invite you to follow a different sort of plan… A plan to fully embrace the gifts of hope, peace, joy and love that God offers us.

It is my hope that the readings in Embracing Advent will remind you during this busy time of year that we are not just planning for parties and presents. We are preparing to welcome Jesus into the world and into our hearts.