Object:
snow paraphernalia (boots, shovel, and so forth)
First Thoughts: Advent gives us a great opportunity to participate in the spiritual practice of waiting -- of preparing ourselves for the coming of Christ. Most of us aren't very good at waiting and tend to spend the four weeks of Christmas jumping straight into celebrating. Our calendars become even fuller, our lives noisier; there is no empty space where Christ might enter. In our lessons with the children, though, we're going to help them understand the importance of Advent through four key lessons: waiting, watching, praying, emptying. We begin with waiting.
