Thank you for Walking through Advent with Us!

Thank you for participating in our third year sharing the Joy of Advent!

Each year we have been overwhelmed with the tremendous GIFT we receive—to be entrusted to share this resource of joy and deepening faith freely with all of you. Unlike many email subscriptions, this one isn’t run by AI, some faceless entity, or nameless staff. Every email has been written, art and music curated, links researched and checked by Stephen and myself (Rebecca). Often, I start updating links, revising content, and watching hundreds of Christmas Carol videos already in August, or even earlier.

This year our September, October, and November were especially, joyfully full. Why? Because along with preparing emails, adding content to the website, and updating the design, we were also launching a book!

That’s right! While 2024 was year three for the website and Digital Advent Calendar, October 1st, 2024 was the official release date for our book, The Joy of Advent.

We celebrated (and shared) with a launch party and multiple book events both locally and online. If you’d like a recap on our adventures, here are a few of our favorites.

Holy Family Radio: A Conversation with Deacon Jim Thorndill

Hey Everybody, It’s Father Edward: Tips to Have a Joyful Advent
Holy Shenanigans with Tara Eastman: The Joy of Advent with Authors Rebecca and Stephen Grabill
Busted Halo Radio Show: Celebrating Advent in Your Home with Rebecca and Stephen Grabill

You can find all our interviews and links to book reviews here, or find out about the season’s events here.

Do You Love the Book?

If you used the book and loved it, please consider leaving an Amazon review! The more reviews a book has, the higher it appears in search results. And if you gift a copy, please also share the tip below …

One special note: every printable resource mentioned in the book is available for free. Everyone who owns the book (whether gifted or purchased) can download the book printable pack for free here.

What’s Next?

Another book! I am thrilled to announce that a companion book to The Joy of Advent will be coming out October, 2025! One Star, Three Kings: The Journey of Epiphany is a picture book that melds Biblical retelling, Church tradition, legend, and historical research to re-create the lives and journey of the three magi and to explore the significance of Epiphany. I hope to share more in a mid-summer update, including cover art and pre-order link.

More website content. I’m also hard at work creating more content (and soliciting from our network of authors and creatives) for the website. Our hope is that JoyofAdvent.com will become a destination for families seeking Christmas and Advent resources and inspiration, because to share Advent is to share Christ!

Will You Share Our Joy?

If you were blessed by our book or the daily emails, there are several ways you can support us.

Give. Hosting of the website JoyofAdvent.com, the email sending service, and all content creation and graphic design are done fully in-house (as in, in our house! My “corner office” is a desk in the corner of the living room). We don’t outsource, use AI, or at this point sell advertising or sponsored posts. everything we do on the site is done in the (usually very slim) margins of full days of homeschooling, special needs therapies, and living life, and it’s done from our own family resources. A contribution of any size could help cover a month of email service, web hosting, subscription fees to graphic design tools, or even a sustaining cup of coffee. We are grateful for your gifts!
Share. We’re committed to providing an encouraging, beautiful email year after year that draws people closer to the Author of encouragement and beauty. Whether you know of a friend who might want a daily Christmas Carol or a family looking to begin a new tradition, The Joy of Advent book or email subscription may be exactly what the Spirit uses to bring them into a vibrant relationship with God. We have heard many stories of lives impacted by the book and emails. Please share the Joy, no matter what season we’re in!
Pray. We have a very small core group of prayer warriors. Would you like to pray with us? Right now we’re discerning the Lord’s direction for next projects, both book projects and whether we’re called to grow joyofadvent.com into an educational nonprofit missioned to support families in growing their household of faith.

Share the Gift!

Does it seem odd to be thinking about Advent now when another church season is almost upon us?

As a gift to subscribers, we’re giving you a Lent Road printable calendar. Use it personally to track your daily Lenten reading, prayer, fasting, and acts of service, or use it with the whole family. Discover more about Lent here. (<—Great link to share with friends!)

Finally …

We welcome your stories of growth, encouragement, or strengthened faith. Fell free to comment if reading on web, or reply to this email to let us know how The Joy of Advent materials have impacted you or those you care about. We would love to hear from you!