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Friday, November 29, 2013

squeeze them closed!


Hi friends! I hope those of you in the states had a marvelous Thanksgiving Feast yesterday. We were welcomed to share it with a friend's family since we couldn't make it back to DC. :)

All week long, I've been getting emails about sales SALES SALES!! It's in my face everywhere and disturbs my peace momentarily until I close out of my account. Instead, my husband and I have been fielding all sorts of mini fires with the kids pulling beds apart and the puppy AND deciding what traditions we want to really start living as a family, starting with this weekend.

What do we want our Christmas to be like? How do we begin the season of Advent ( a season of penance and waiting symbolized by the color purple on the Advent wreath with a little rose candle thrown in on the 15th to celebrate that Jesus is really coming soon, both at Christmas and at the end times.. a cause of joy. Sorry for the details, but it is a big part of my life that some of you may not celebrate so I can't throw the word out there without explaining it a little!)? With a big bang jumping right into decorating everything? Or quietly with no decorations at all until we get a little closer?

We've tried various approaches in the past. And with the firm belief that what we are surrounded by affects our internalization of life's events, we have come up with a bit of a mixed bag. We are going shopping for the kids whose parents' are in prison that our parish supports today. Our tree is up and lit, but not decorated. We'll have the nativity up without baby Jesus so the kids can "play/pray," a very montessori approach. I need to get a new Advent wreath so that we count down to Christmas each Sunday. And of course we have our Calendar count down made by Grandma. :) We'll do our full-fledged decorating on the 15th (rose candle Sunday).

Enjoy the season and I hope it gets you ready for the coming of Jesus- in our world, homes, and most especially, in our hearts.
image:allposters.com












Friday, November 22, 2013

welcome


I don't like to pick up around the house. It shows. Don't judge ;). And I've given myself plenty of reasons not to lately! But as I look at my kids' rooms, I see that they are indeed learning from me. It's just not what I want them to be learning. :) As I think about my weekend and wanting friends to stop by, I cringe looking around the house after a week of projects coming and going and a very full life and schedule. So I set to work.

And I was inspired to write.

One of the things I want is for people to walk into my house and know they are welcome in tangible and intangible ways. Some people have that way about them and you can just feel it. It takes a good measure of work to keep things up, graciousness in serving, and ease about the things you own (which can be hard when we have little kids who can break anything at any minute). It's not probable to have all of these talents naturally combined into one person unless one grows up in this kind of culture. But it can be done as I've been so fortunate to have experienced. So as I thought again about my home, I thought about my kids and husband who will come home and who might come over. This (above) tells anyone walking in that I'm ready for you. I can't think of a better thing to have on my table on a daily basis. If that alone inspires me to pick up, it is enough!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sunday, November 10, 2013

babyface

How is the mission seeking, my friends? I have gone missing! Not really, but we are expecting #4 sometime next summer! And I haven't been feeling good.

But how do I feel about it? GREAT, of course. Because we all know that in this age and culture, you don't go for four unless you want to. I see this child as nothing less than a blessing, making our home even more full of life, love and laughter. With the characters we have around here, this picture I found seemed appropriate!
(image: baby-connect.com)

So more to add to my blog topics: baby fun! Have a wonderful Sunday.