Here is the first week of my Advent tree calendar. On this calendar I pray for people and places–for healing, in gratitude, for restoration. I doodle, pray with words, let go of words, doodle, listen, pray more words if they come, and generally, try to be present to God and the person. (Note the addition of Advent lights on the tree.)

Here is the first week of the Advent box calendar. On this calendar I write an Advent word each day. I think about the word but also listen for what God or the word might say to me. Check out my friend Cindy O’s calendar on her website Mostly Markers. (Many years ago Cindy handed me beautiful, colored markers and gave me permission to doodle and draw poorly.)

It’s not too late to print a calendar and start the one-day-at-a-time countdown or countup to Christmas. Go to the Handouts page of this blog and find the list of calendar templates.