Each family has a invented a type of Advent calendar–envelops, pockets, boxes, whatever– with the day of the month on it leading up to Christmas morning. Each day has a verse of scripture taken from the lectionary for 2007 (year A in the three year reading cycle of the church scheduled for these four weeks anticipating Christmas). At the beginning of each day are the things you will need to place in each pocket or box or envelope for the day of expectation. Oh, you will need one nativity set to use specifically for this month starting on Sunday December 9th. Then pieces of it will be put out from then on. Place the baby Jesus of this nativity set in the December 25 pocket or put it out on Christmas Eve when your kids are sleeping. You also may want to read ahead and plan (such as on Dec 20 you’ll make or buy a Gift for Jesus that you’ll then consider giving to a thirsty or hungry person –it will be helpful to know ahead of time so you might buy the gift as a family on the weekend before).