Day 2 of Advent

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Our mom always loved this story because the people at the church give the very rough Herdman kids a chance (albeit grudgingly at first). It ends up being what the kids need to turn their lives around, and the rest of the characters, who thought they had it together, learn the true meaning of Christmas in the process.

-MaryClaire

Learn more about the book at GoodReads

Include us in your day! Tag @piperandleaf and #piperandleafadvent

Scripture Reading for the Day

John 1:9

The true light that gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

Activity for Today

Paper Snowflakes

Get into the holiday spirit and bring a touch of winter indoors by making paper snowflakes and hanging them around your home!

In our family, Caleb is known as a paper snowflake professional. One time, for a Christmas Party, Caleb made paper snowflakes out of 2 reams of paper, filling the room with over a thousand paper snowflakes! As you snip and fold your paper snowflakes, remember: practice makes perfect! Who knows, after a few (or a thousand) snowflakes, you might just catch up to Caleb!

Follow the link below for an easy step by step on how to make paper snowflakes just like Caleb! Use the snowflake designs found in the link as inspiration or free hand your own! Whatever you choose, no two snowflakes are alike so be creative and let the snow fall!

Learn how to Make Beautiful Paper Snowflakes!

Baked berry tarts, merry and bright, bursting with Christmas spirit.

Let's spill the tea about Briar Patch Brew...

Eloquent Description

Brashly lacking austerity with its velvety, full-bodied texture and taut finish, the name does it justice. The pain suffered to harvest this delightful tea only accentuates its specialness. Blackberry bushes taunt all suitors to earn the right to taste their deliciousness. Not settling for mere dried-fruit status, the Briar Patch welcomes the usual cast of svelte surrogate tea pals: hibiscus and rosehips along with lemongrass and sage.

Ingredients

  • Hibiscus
  • Blueberries
  • Blackberries
  • Elderberries
  • Currants
  • Sage
  • Lemongrass
  • Natural Flavor

Steeping Suggestions

For hot tea, steep one tea bag in 8 to 10oz of 212 water for 7 minutes. For iced, use half the water(same temp), steep for the same time, and add ice after you pull the tea bag out.

Someone Else's Thoughts

“This tea is my favorite P&L tea thus far. So refreshing and fruity. I only drink this one iced. I bought this 1lb bag so I can make sure I always have some brewed concentrate in my refrigerator. I also bought a P&L Tisane Tumbler so I can make it on the go. It really is that good!”
– Kelly Bensen

All about The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

  • Fun Fact!

    There is a new movie out this season based on the book starring Lauren Graham, Judy Greer, and Pete Holmes. Check out the trailer, and maybe you can go see it at a theater near you!

    Check out The Movie Trailer on YouTube!

    Learn more about the book at GoodReads 

  • The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

    I happened to look at Imogene and I almost dropped my hymn book on a baby angel.
    Everyone had been waiting all this time for the Herdmans to do something absolutely unexpected. And sure enough, that was what happened. Imogene Herdman was crying.

    In the candlelight her face was all shiny with tears and she didn't even bother to wipe them away. She just sat there-awful old Imogene-in her crookedy veil, crying and crying and crying. Well. It was the best Christmas pageant we ever had.

  • About the Author

    Barbara Robinson is the author of the beloved children’s novel The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (Harper, 1972), considered a holiday classic and recognized as an ALA Notable Children’s Book. It received several awards, including the Georgia Children’s Book Award and was included in School Library Journal’s Top Hundred Children’s Novels list in 2012.
    Robinson began her career writing short stories for publications like Ladies’ Home Journal and Good Housekeeping before publishing “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” in McCall’s in 1971. The story of the Herdman kids inspired her to expand it into a novel and write two sequels: The Best School Year Ever (1994) and The Best Halloween Ever(2004).

Learn how to Make Beautiful Paper Snowflakes!

Briar Patch Brew & The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, a match made in heaven.

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