Growing up in Germany, I welcomed the count-down to Christmas by opening a daily Advent Calendar door. The numbered doors were hidden in a glittery winter scene of snow-capped trees, glistening rooftops, and happy children gathering in nature around a decorated tree.
The past few years, when December 1st rolled around, I've silently asked the angels to open the advent door for today and reveal a gift in nature... But it could be anything in celebration of the light and joy of the Christmas season. A childlike expectancy sets the tone for the day and an eagerness for the happy things of God to come to me. A surprise.
Yesterday on the first day of Advent, the angels opened and delivered door Number 1, catching me off-guard. I was out in the garage looking for Christmas decorations. Distracted, when I closed the garage door, carrying a big cardboard box, LOL, I almost bumped into the tall stately sandhill crane family waiting outside the door. 
I was so happy. They were long overdue to visit. I welcomed them and marveled that now they stood equal in stature, about 4-ft. tall, with golden eyes, red-capped heart-shaped gray heads. What fun it had been to watch the family raise their little colt this year. He was exceptional, always curious, shaking things up. He dared to go where his parents never did.
And he did it again yesterday! We watched him fly for the first time! Animated, he flew down the long driveway. Never mind the construction work. Then he turned back to the front yard. Expansive gray wings hugged the sky flying in a happy circle to spread holiday cheer. Junior seemed to proudly call out... "See me, I can fly! I finally did it" His parents boasted with a trumpeting call and, then, the crane family was in flight together. A beautiful advent door on Day 1. Junior fledged, he'd come full circle. A joyful celebration of the stages of life we grow through to reach our full potential.
This morning, December 2, the advent door popped open at dawn...A beautiful heavenly view. The sky tinted in hues of golden orange and pink in the east, silhouetting the trees in the dark with the promise of a new day.
The advent calendar pictured here is symbolic...a doorway to heaven is open, and the angels are descending with gifts of love, peace, and light during the darkest season of the year. Remember you are never truly alone. God has sent His angels to watch over you and guide you in all your ways. They draw especially close to earth during the Christmas season.
Jesus
Christ said: "When ye pray, believe ye have it. Become as a little child if you would enter the kingdom." In other
words, have the expectancy as a little child and your prayers will be
answered.
Love and peace,
Rae Karen
