Begin Again.

I'm glad it is Christmas, this was quite possibly the most trying Advent for me in my adult life. Trying does not mean bad, just draining emotionally. I was challenged to change, lost a loved one, and had to deal with a few pedestals I'd put people on.

Change sucks. I'm bad at it, and prefer my old ways, however, once in a while it becomes necessary to examine one's actions. Sometimes in doing so, we realize, we have already changed. Then the difficulty comes in knowing although you are content with the change, others preferred the "old you". What to do, what to do? If I had my way, which I never do, I would force change upon others, but this is not practical. How can the blow be softened to others. First prayer seems to work wonders, secondly, patience. Thirdly, wine. Yep, a little vino goes a long way, for both parties.

Every day is a new chance to begin again, not just projects that go unfinished, but relationships, resolutions, and life. Every day is a clean slate, full of opportunities to do good, have fun and love. Christmas is the greatest ever reminder of this. For generations the people of God turned away from him, but in one moment, because of one child, they ( and we) could begin again.

Merry Christmas!

Paving the Road to Hell

Good intentions run rampant here. Whether it be my desire to write a worthwhile blog, or my volunteering or most importantly raising my kids right. My desire and intentions are good, I promise, but the results, maybe not.

Life has a funny way of sidetracking me. I really wanted to make Advent special here, on the blog, but my 8 hour a week part-time job turned into a 20 hour a week job without me noticing. I have begun to sacrifice things I enjoy, like writing and baking for running around taking kids to lessons. I have given up daily mass, because I have to be at work at the same time. I used to read, now I cram things into my brain as quickly as possible. There is no joy in that.

How do we find peace and solace in the busy-ness and chaos? I truly do not have a solution. My one hour of adoration a week is not cutting it anymore, may prayer the rest of the week is stale, and I know I need life in it, but right now, I do now have it in me to figure out how.

Advent Pages and Traditions

I hope to be able to post as many great sights as I can this year. We have many Advent traditions in our home, and I hope to share a few you.

Here is your first taste. The USCCB has come up with a lovely series of Advent pages, including my first Tradition, the Advent Calendar. Every year my husband painstakingly puts together the Playmobil Advent Calendar. 25 tiny boxes are assembled and filled with items such as microscopic baby hedgehogs, mice and birds. Eventually, these will fill the scene of the year. However, usually, at least one child gets eager, and rips into 20 or so days well before St. Nick's day. I then get the joy of fishing out the microscopic mammals from my vacuum canister. Thank you USCCB for making a Virtual Calendar, one without any clean up required!

The Advent Calendar provides a way for us to count the days, and in tradition, are filled with scripture. Often as the O Antiphon days arrive, the window has the Antiphon of the day in it. No Hedgehogs involved.

Getting Ready for Advent

It does make me laugh a bit to think about preparing for a time of preparing, but such is my nature. Advent with kids does take a few days of preparation. Not only do I have to find all my "Advent Accessories" but the remaining remnants of Halloween (ie that pumpkin on the porch) need to be dealt with. But, it is not just about the "stuff", it is about the mental preparation for the season. It takes me a week of reminding everyone that Advent, like Lent, is a season of prayer and fasting.

When the world around us is throwing Christmas at us before Halloween, we need to step back, and prepare to prepare. Our home is in the world, but not of it. Our preparations for Christmas are not limited to buying gifts, decorating and baking, but preparing our hearts. Sure, baking is part of that, in every cookie we give away, we are giving a bit of us, and for some kids in the house, giving away cookies is a sacrifice.

What are you doing to get ready to prepare the Way of the Lord?

From this priest I know

An Old Friend, Fr. Dennis Paul of St. Isadore's in Bloomingdale, IL.

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY ...October 26, 2009

Outside my window... Wet, soggy leaves, and too many dead plants

I am thinking... I need a day of sunshine!

I am thankful for... A roof over my head, a good husband and 3 beautiful kids.

From the learning rooms... Lots of Young Indiana Jones notes from the WWI study

From the kitchen... A nice steaming hot mug of loose leaf tea

I am wearing... Chesterton Conference T-shirt, even though I didn't make it to the conference

I am creating... A scarf for hubby to scooter in.

I am going... to take dd to ballet, then to buy pants for the ever growing boys.

I am reading... Theology and Sanity, by Frank Sheed

I am hoping... This is a great week

I am hearing... Rain on the windows

Around the house... children are singing

One of my favorite things... Big orange pumpkins on the table, fresh picked by our farmer

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

We pray for their return

I sincerely hope that before the 500th anniversary of the split, the two can be reunited. G. K. Chesterton, we pray for your intercession.

My favorite Doctor

Let nothing disturb you; Let nothing frighten you. All things are passing. God never changes. Patience obtains all things. Nothing is wanting to him who possesses God. God alone suffices. -Teresa of Avila

For her Feast Day I am making triple Chocolate Cake, because she is the only saint I can find on record singing the praises of chocolate, and that is enough of an excuse to make a cake.

In all seriousness, I have come to love her for her strength. She gives me hope, when you read her, you see her flaws, she was not always a perky happy women, even in her life of faith, but she was honest and pious. I can only hope to be both.

Thursdays are for Thankfulness

Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses. -Alphonse Karr

I've been thinking, as dangerous as that may be, about the state of the world. In that line of thought I've noticed far too many, myself included, are not thankful. From now until Thanksgiving, I hope to spend Thursdays expressing my thankfulness for everything I can think of. I encourage you to join in via the comments box.

I am thankful to have eyes that can see the trees changing colors, to have ears that hear the birds as they move south for the winter and mouth to praise God for both.

I am thankful to have 3 beautiful children who can drive me nuts, it is a gift to be able to have 3 people enough like me to help me see my flaws.

I am thankful for my husband, who loves me, and has been my best friend for 17 years now, I savor the early days and look forward to the future.

That's just a start, I could go on literally forever. Feel free to jump in!

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY October 12, 2009, from Deb's Daybook

Outside my window... Sad looking Purple Brussel Sprout plants that never bloomed.

I am thinking... It is dark far too early

I am thankful for... a quiet day

From the kitchen... Slow roasted pulled pork , leftover from a family park, and much better the second day.

I am wearing...Dark wash jeans, a batik print shirt, pumpkin colored vegan shoes

I am creating... a bag from a shrunken sweater

I am going...to ballet with a child

I am reading...My planner, trying to fit everything in

I am hoping...that it was a good idea

I am hearing... the tv, much to my dismay

Around the house... are remnants of yesterdays birthday bash

One of my favorite things... the grey skies, filled with red blowing leaves

A few plans for the rest of the week: WWI study, and hopefully a few cool fall hikes

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...