Advent Reflections for LittleHearts
Born out of friendship, faith, and late-night moments with little ones, these cards were created to help children experience the wonder of Christmas, not just in lights and magic ,but in the story of who God is and why Jesus came.
written with love by Carly Maletich (a trauma therapist and mom of two) and illustrated by Cierra Biles (a designer, illustrator, Clinical Prosthetist, and mom of two), each card invites families into the gospel story with hope, comfort, and joy even in the middle of life’s messiness.
Created to help families pause amid the seasons's rush, this two deck Advent Set invites families to find moments of reflection together. Each day, you'll find one card for your child and one for you – gentle companions for slowing down and connecting heart to heart.
behind the collab:
Check out our little shop
& step into the Magic ofAdvent
take a look at our advent cards today!
If printing and prepping just isn't in the cards this year, we’ve got you.
Our Advent packs come ready to go and ship right to your door, so you can skip the hassle. We do the work so you can use those little pockets of spare time to pause, reflect, and enjoy the reason for the season.
Our Why:
Cierra and I were working together in the Sunday school toddler room when she started venting about advent calendars and how hard it was to find cards that were both gospel-centered and age-appropriate for kids, I laughed and told her I had given up on the search and just started making my own. I pulled out pictures of the 25 words I’d chosen to reflect the character of Jesus, and the candy cane sketch I threw together with my 4-year-old one morning at 3:30 a.m. when he couldn’t fall back asleep. From that messy, ordinary moment, these cards were born.
Both Cierra and I carried the same hope: that our children would experience the wonder of Christmas, not just in lights and magic, but in the story of who God is and why Jesus came. In addition these cards were co-created after Cierra’s brother died suddenly in 2024, leaving behind his wife and two year old daughter. As I worked on the writing of each card, I often thought of her niece—who lost her father overnight. I wanted these cards to speak into that reality too. To be a reminder that even in grief and loss, the love of God still holds us. That the gospel makes sense not only in joy, but also in sorrow, in the ache of a broken world.
Sources: Each card is rooted in the message of the gospel and shaped by the wisdom of voices who have guided my own journey with God. This includes N. T. Wright, Tim Keller, Dallas Willard, Scot McKnight, Henri Nouwen, C. S. Lewis, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. My hope is that, as you read, you not only hear the echo of these teachers but also find comfort their words translated into metaphor. May each card open a doorway for your family, into conversation, into wonder, and into the deep conviction that we are held and loved by God.
Looking for a moreBudget friendly Option?
We offer digital downloads
If printing and prepping just isn't in the cards this year, we’ve got you.
We believe everyone should have access to beautiful, meaningful art—no matter the budget. That’s why we offer digital downloads you can easily print at home! We’ve worked hard to keep our prices as accessible as possible, so you can enjoy our work in a way that fits your life. If one of our physical prints isn’t in the budget right now, we’d be more than happy to offer you a digital version to print yourself. Just reach out—we’re here to help!
My name is Carly Maletich. I’m a licensed clinical professional counselor, a certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction instructor, and a trauma-informed, body-based therapist. Although much of my work centers around athletes, performers, and veterans - so much of my heart is in working with women who are simply tired of running on empty. I help women learn to set boundaries with clarity and compassion, to trust themselves and to reclaim rest as something sacred, to come home to their bodies.
Earlier in my life, I thought I wanted to go to seminary. But I realized my calling wasn’t to study theology, but to walk with people through the sacred work of healing and becoming more fully themselves. In helping people get honest about the thoughts, beliefs, and patterns that keep them stuck, together we turn towards the truth with love and courage. I try to turn fully toward the complex and layered truths in my own life, and it’s in that space that I continue to encounter God’s mercy, grace, and mystery.
Writing the words for these Advent cards, was a walk with God. Every word came from the same truth I bring into therapy and motherhood: I believe we are deeply loved as we are, and that we belong to God.
Carly Maletich
The Author
My name is Cierra Biles. I am a designer, illustrator, and clinical prosthetist. Illustrating children’s books has always been a quiet passion of mine. I am the kind of person who can spend hours sprawled out on the library floor, flipping through picture books meant for little hands and big imaginations.
This project brought that part of me to life. It gave me space to express how I have always experienced God through image, metaphor, and the felt sense of wonder. Late at night, as I sat with the text for each card, I found myself reflecting on the mystery of how God moves in our lives. From that stillness and my son’s love for polar bears, these illustrations began to take shape.
I love what I do, and I find deep joy in the playfulness and whimsical nature of these cards, knowing they might help children feel seen and loved for exactly who they are, right where they are, in the sacred ordinary of everyday life.
Cierra Biles
The Illustrator
