I’m terrible at doing Supermom-type things like creating traditions. Maybe I enjoy variety way too much, but there just aren’t a whole lot of Christmas things that we make sure to do year after year after year. Our primary points of consistency are a Christmas card tree in our kitchen and non-stop Christmas music starting December 1st. Other than those two things, we tend to change our Christmastime routine a lot.
Over the last few years, though, I’ve tried to be consistent and intentional about celebrating Advent. We have a beautiful wooden Advent wreath that I absolutely treasure, and this year we’re using Ann Voskamp’s new book Unwrapping the Greatest Gift: A Family Celebration of Christmas for devotions every night.
Y’all. This book is beautiful, tender, captivating, and absolutely saturated with Truth. Tonight I was all teary-eyed by the second paragraph, and I am telling you that there was an 11 year-old boy sitting around our table who was LOCKED IN to the words we were reading. The readings are simple enough for kids to understand and deeply meaningful for adults as well. One of the things I like the most is that there are two or three discussion questions at the end of each story, and that gives us a chance to dig a little deeper.
All that to say: this book is going to be a treasure in our family just like my beloved wooden Advent wreath. It’s such a simple way to pull the family together for ten or fifteen minutes every night (or morning, or afternoon, or whenever) and focus on why we celebrate this season. If you do a Jesse tree, the book works perfectly with that (there are ornaments that go with each day’s devotion, and the book will tell you how to download them), but you don’t even have to do anything extra. Just read the words. Speak them out loud over your family. Or let one of your kids read to you. The “how” isn’t the issue. This is all about the Who.
So, just because I love it and think you will, too, I’m giving away three copies of Unwrapping the Greatest Gift. I’m only going to leave the giveaway open until 10:00 central tomorrow (Wednesday) night, and then I’ll draw for winners. I’ll order the books ASAP so that hopefully the winners will have their copies by this weekend. At that point you can play catch-up or just jump right in to that day’s devotion. OR you could give a copy to a friend or family member as a Christmas gift. YOU HAVE OPTIONS.
Leave a comment if you’d like to win – and I’ll notify winners by email tomorrow night.
Happy Advent-ing, y’all!
This giveaway is now closed. Winners will be notified ASAP via email.
Would LOVE This! :)
Would love love love to have this book to start a family tradition. Have a Blessed CHRISTmas
Oh, I’ve been wanting this book!! Would love to win one 😀
Love this book! I’ve seen it at LifeWay! I would love to win this for my son and his family.
I would love to read this book.
Love Ann’s gift for words. What a meaningful new tradition for our families this could be.
It would be so wonderful to win this beautiful book. Thanks for generously offering them!
Man, I’d love to have this for free!
Just look at all your comments, all I can say is Wow!!!! Would love to win but looks like A Lot more people also want to.
I almost missed reading your blog today. I would love to get this book.
Ooh — that looks wonderful! We need something new now that our big kids are 12 and 14. We are keeping other books on hand for our littles, who are 7 and 3, but our boys could use something more thoughtful. Thanks for sharing about it, and for the giveaway.
I have the “adult” version and just love it! Sounds like this version would be great for my family.
Looks wonderful!
I keep hearing a lot of great things about this book, and it looks beautiful. Would love to win!
I’ll be ordering a copy for all of my grandkids as they arrive! It’s so beautifully written.
Southern Baptist girl here who knows next to nothing about Advent. I have a feeling this book would be right about at my level. Pick me! Please!
Me! Me! Me!!!
Newlywed here, we’d love this book to begin our own Christmas traditions!!
Oh my, can’t wait to see this book! Thanks for the fun giveaway!
Would love to have this for my 10 year old daughter !
Looks lovely!
what a sweet thing to give away such a beautiful book.
Glenda
The books sounds amazing. Thank you and Merry Christmas!
I feel like my family could really use this inspiration right now. Thank you for sharing.
I was glad to read your review. We have been considering the book and it was nice to see a positive review.
You’ve inspired me to have a daily family devotional time to help us refocus on why we’re celebrating this season!
This book looks fabulous!
I love family traditions and would love to add this to ours.
I hope I get picked!!! Ann’s blog is the only one I read as much as yours!!! Merry Christmas :)
I would love this book!
My daughter found this book when we were visiting my sister in law. She loved the pictures and wanted to keep the book. As a single mom I am not able to spend extra money very often. I would love to get this for my 5 yr. old little girl
What a beautiful way to celebrate this season with family. Also, I always love your music recommendations! Merry Christmas Sophie!!
I would love to win this! Love you and your heart, BooMama!
Would love to add this to our family Christmas traditions.
Have heard wonderful things about this book. Would love a copy for my family!!
After hearing you speak at VHCC, I love reading your antics!
This will be a great book!
What a beautiful book!
Ann’s books are all wonderful!
This will be a terrific family tradition!
I would love a copy get a copy for our family!
Would love to add this to our Christmas time together.
I’m hearing so many wonderful things about this book…I would love to have a copy for our family. Thank you for your generosity!
Such a great giveaway, Sophie!
Looks like a great book and love your blog.
Love Ann and LOVE you. Thanks for the give away. Merry Christmas!
I would love to give this to my brother and sister-in-law, who are raising their two young granddaughters!!
I wanted to buy this, but it’s a tight year with no room for extras. We are using an Advent devotional from a few years ago. But I love Ann Voskamp and would love to win this book!
Sounds like a perfect Christmas tradition!
This book has bee on my wish list! I’d love to use it to riches our Advent celebration.
I bought Ann Voskamp’s The Greatest Gift last year. I confess I wasn’t able to read it as I was coming to grips with new normal in our family – Christmas without my precious & much beloved Mother. It was just too difficult to do much but go through the motions. Mother made Christmas extra special for each of us & we all dreaded our first Christmas without her. Our comfort comes in knowing that we will be reunited with her one blessed day. We are trying to establish new traditions. Unwrapping the Greatest Gift sounds like a great way to start. Thanks for giving this ole fellow MS girl an opportunity to get this book.
Love to give this to my daughter to start a tradition with her son
I’ve heard so much about this book. Would love it for my great greatsons.
Would love this book! Thanks for the chance to win!!
I would love to win : )
I would love to win this for my family.
Would love this for my 11-year-old too.
Oh, my! How I would cherish the opportunity to read this book as a family as we celebrate the advent season. Thank you for the chance!!! Blessings!
Yes, I would love the book to share!
Oh please, oh please! I’d love to do this with our Jesse Tree.
I’d love to add this book to our Jesse Tree tradition !
I would LOVE this book!
I have heard such great things about this book but thought it was heavy on the crafts (which this mama does not do). I’m glad you mentioned that and I would love a copy!
I would love to have this to read with my girls!
I know so little about Advent. I really need this book to learn more. Thanks.