O Christmas Tree: Rejoice the 3rd week of Advent Dec 17, 2013

Sometimes the chaos of the season seems to steamroll any source of peace you try to schedule in. Despite the craziness last week we were able to enjoy and laugh at a few moments.

The Hunt: Last Sunday we went to get our tree. It is our tradition to cut our tree out of the pasture behind my in-laws house as we did this year. Each year it is challenging to fit it in because of other events and it is actually hunting season, deer hunting. So after church we bundled up and added our hunters orange and headed out for the tree. We were on a time schedule due to a Christmas party our daughter had that afternoon. To help us stay on the schedule we were hurried by the entrance of a couple hunters coming into the pasture next to ours. This of course made me a little nervous, even though they were well aware of our loud family of 7 a couple hundred feet from them. We decided we better make a decision between the trees we had found so far, which was an easy one since one of the two choices, and unfortunately the favorite of the kids, was about 6foot in diameter. A little too big for our house thought they had creative ways in mind to make it fit. So the boys cut down the tree and we packed it up and all loaded back into the truck all while my husband tried to keep our noise down out of respect for the hunters. Only to find we had lost the dog. So we had to drive circles around calling and whistling for her. He worried that she followed the hunters, me worried that our 12yr old dog had a heart attack in the woods following the truck. As it turns out she found my in-laws dog and they were by the gate running energetically around. So we headed out and not long after so did the hunters, probably figured we scared any deer within a mile away.

Clustered ornaments

 Decorating Party: That evening we brought the tree into the house and began decorating. The kids of course were crazy, Dad and all. Getting all the wrestling out of their system before it was no longer allowed in the living room with the fully decorated tree. Back when we just had 2 kids a wrestling match knocked our tree to the ground. Christmas music on and me trying to keep the little ones form tearing through the ornaments box it felt a little out of control. I then made a conscience effort to try to relax and not be so controlling while decorating. I still helped hand out ornaments and made sure the correct kids got to hang their special ornaments, but I actually let the kids get one out of the box after that. That is a big step for me. After the decorating was done, I only moved ornaments that I hung personally to fill in the holes, also very hard for me. You know though some of the crazy hangings really made the tree look great. For some reason the kids hung many ornaments tight to the trunk which at first I wanted to spread them out, but at the end I liked it. There was also the competition of who could hand the highest and lowest ornaments. The highest besides the topper was hung with a roll of wrapping paper and the lowest, by our 3 year old by accident. Her big brother was impressed it was so low it sits on the ground. Later I had a flash back to my days growing up and decorating the tree. My dad had made for our first Christmas a cardboard star wrapped in aluminum foil for a tree topper. As years passed my mom wanted to put angels or fancier stars atop. We kids just wanted that star. Our first Christmas my mom bought an angel for our tree topper so we would have our own. I myself would have that star as I have yet to see a star I liked as much. As it seems though I am now in my mom’s shoes as my youngest said her favorite ornament on the whole tree is our pretty angel on top. I am afraid it will be there for the long haul. 

Highest Ornament

Lowest Ornament

Final Product

Rejoice the 3^rd Week in Advent: So as I wrap this up and am on the home stretch for the shopping that has been haunting me. I listen to a short Christmas song from the clock my Mom bought us last year, which I owe her a thank you. It has many times been a breath of Christmas calm as the clock reaches each hour of each day and plays a short traditional Christmas carol. With three advent candles lit, the pink one symbolizing REJOICE as we are in the homestretch and final preparations for the celebration of Christmas. An appropriate theme as I rejoice to finish shopping and having the chance to enjoy things like our beautiful tree, Christmas shows, Christmas lights,  baking& eating, time with my children and husband, parties with family and friend, and final preparations. Rejoice to feel the Christmas spirits grow in the celebration of an amazing gift from God, the birth of Jesus.

Below are the readings for the week, which I have strayed from. Sorry for not posting them last week:

Monday Nm24:2-7, 15-17a/Mt21:23-27

Tuesday: Gn 492, 8-10/Mt 1:1-17

Weds: Jer 23:5-8/Mt 1:18-25

Thurs: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a/Lk 1:5-25

Fri: Is 7:10-14/Lk 1:26-38

Sat: Sg2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a/Lk 1:39-45

Sun: Is 7:10-14/Rom 1:1-7/Mt 1:18-24

Stay Awake! - Advent the 1st week 2013

 We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend with the chance to visit with both sides of the family. All were present at both dinners, 27 on each side. So much to be thankful for, time with family and friends, all the safe travels, and the continual blessing in our lives! As Thanksgiving falls into the past we start preparing for Christmas, the season of Advent is upon us.  There is so much craziness in the preparations, Black Friday chaos, Christmas lists, decorations we can go on and on. Just as last year I am hoping to bring in a little more of what Advent is really about, balancing the excitement and the peace of the season in our house. We ended our weekend before traveling home with Sunday mass in my home town and the homily really got me thinking.  This was part of the Gospel reading for Sunday.

Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had know the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.  Matthew 24: 42-44

The Priest began his homily speaking of how hard it is to make a long drive when tired. This caught my attention immediately as I have driven many late nights and early mornings. We just drove early morning 2 days earlier to get to my parents for Thanksgiving. He asked us to think of all the things we do to stay awake. I know just the things that work for me and I am prepared with them each time just in case.  This morning I think of all the late night shoppers for Black Friday and the effort put forth to stay awake to save some money.  For all of these worldly things we work so hard to be awake for we give ourselves the tools to make it happen; caffeine, sunflower seeds, cold air, music or just plain excitement of the event. As the priest continued he spoke of how Advent is the season of preparing. I prepared for the normal explanation of preparing for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Instead though he gave me a new look at these preparations.  Think of it as preparing for the next coming of Christ. Use the season to work on staying awake in our faith and living our life as Christ would want.

What tools do we have to help with this? Unfortunately it isn’t accomplished by a large cup of coffee. Of course we all think of the normal things, helping others by donating, working at food pantries, Christmas adoptions, the priest mentioned these but there was more than this in his challenge.  He spoke of the small everyday things to keep us awake in Christ.   

…But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the desires of the flesh. Romans 13:14

“Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Wow that is a big task. I often think of the love Jesus radiates. Can you imagine if each person in our world showed a fraction of his love what a beautiful place it would be? The priest spoke of three ideas for the season; spending time reading scripture, praying, and giving of yourself to others.  As it is worth the effort to find ways to stay awake to make it to my desired destination when driving it is also worth the effort to stay awake spiritually to get to the most desired destination, Heaven.   So for Advent I am going to work on finding more ways to put on Jesus as I start each day as Paul stated in Romans above and would encourage you to try to also.

Read Scripture: One suggestion was to read the daily readings. This is what I plan to do as a family this year for Advent, starting 4 days behind, not surprising for me.  The daily readings can be found in most church bulletins or if you do not have that at your church you can find a list for this week below. I’ll try to remember to include them on my blog each week of advent.  There are also many Advent Family Studies, which we used last year that give readings and discussion for each day or just open your bible and read.  

Prayer:  Praying for the people you know and people you don’t. Not only those in trouble but for all. If you participated in a Christmas adoption add them to your prayers.  Maybe you see someone who looks to be having a pretty rough day. Say a quick prayer.  Tiny prayers are important too. God wants to be in every aspect in our life, he has time to help us with even the smallest tasks.  I recently started using a jar to put my prayer intentions in. As I think of a need however small I add it to the jar. Then once a day I light a candle next to it. Each time I walk by it is a visual reminder to say a prayer for all the intentions in the jar. Sometimes I say the Our Father and other times it is more specific. I have opened the opportunity to my family to add to the jar.  The priest gave another suggestion for a prayer reminder. Carry something like a cross or prayer card in your pocket. Each time you felt it you would be reminded of God and say a little prayer of thanks or of need as it feels fit for the moment.

Give of yourself:  Look past the obvious list from above. Think of ways to continuously give of your time throughout the day. Consider how we treat others in our life, close to us and those we may share just short moments with as we cross each other’s paths. Use kind words and a smile. Show your understanding to the Mom with the screaming baby at the grocery store; we have all been that Mom. Take time to truly listen to what someone has to say. Avoid the need to rush to the next destination so you have time for a 2 minute conversation. Maybe with someone who lives alone from church or another Mom to help each other breath in the business of life? Both are a good use of 2 minutes. Listen to the elderly women who starts a conversation with you in Wal-Mart. Listen when your daughter sings her Christmas song from music for the 100^th time, and maybe sing along. Take time to hear your son’s aches and pains that appear only at bedtime each night and give him comfort. Be aware of those around you. Invite someone to church or to your house this season. Make a phone call to say hello. In our busy lives this is the hardest thing to give, our time.

Keep your eyes open for the opportunity to share Gods love. This opportunity presents itself more often than we think and many times just in our own home and in very simple ways.  Add more scripture, prayer and giving this Advent and STAY AWAKE as you drive through life!  

Scripture readings for Dec 1-7:

Sunday: Is 2:1-5, Rom13:11-14, Gospel Mt24:37-44

Monday: Is 4:2-6, Mt 8:5-11

Tuesday Is 11:1-10, Lk 10:21-24

Wednesday Is 25:6-10a/ Mt 15:29-37

Thursday Is 26:1-6/Mt 7:21, 24-27

Friday Is 29:17-24/Mt 9:27-31

Saturday Is 30:19-21, 23-26/Mt9:35, 10:1, 5a, 6-8

Advent: The Second Week, Who’s Santa?

There are so many Christmas traditions in families and in our world.  As we are approach the end of the 2^nd week of advent one tradition has been in my thoughts, Santa Claus. There has been two moments of awe the past couple weeks of the mystery and magic of Santa. You probably don’t remember the first time you realized who Santa was, but you can probably remember realizing who Santa really was. With a 13 year old and a 2 year old in our house I have experienced both realizations this year.

One morning this December I tried to encourage my 2 year old to do better going potty on the toilet by offering that maybe Santa would bring her some new underwear for Christmas .  She looked at me and said, “Who’s Santa?” I imagine she was too young last year to remember. This made me excited for the years of fun Santa would bring. The nights of quietly laying in bed hoping to hear Santa’s bell. The hurry to get to bed early on Christmas Eve only to find you are not able to fall asleep. Once you are finally asleep waking multiply times throughout the night waiting for it to be a “reasonable” hour to wake Mom and Dad. After two Christmas celebrations with Santa visiting, I think she now recognizes Santa Claus.

Last week I was driving our 13 year old to school and decided I to ask if he wanted to sit on Santa’s lap at the family reunion this year. At the reunion parents provide gifts to Santa and he calls them all up by name. Last year he was one of the oldest to still go up, though he seemed fine with it I didn’t want to embarrass him. He responded, “Not really.” I could see a little disappointment in his eyes and felt it in my heart. Even though it hadn’t been discussed officially I knew he didn’t believe in Santa.  I remember when I stopped believing, how bad I wanted my logical thoughts to go away and telling friends Santa is a big part of the spirit of Christmas and I still believed in that.  So I went on to talk to him about how St. Nicholas was a real person and it is his spirit of giving that has formed the tradition of Santa Claus and been handed down through generations for parents to keep alive.  He looked at me through eyes of a child saying are you telling me there is no Santa Claus and eyes of a teenager saying I know mom! I had to hold back the tears. I know he knew the truth. He was the same kid who has picked up the slack for our less than adequate tooth fairy making the on time delivery of money to his younger brother.  I think he felt like I did, now that I said it out loud he knew I knew and that made it real. I told him I loved him, dropped him at school, and shed a few tears on the way home.

I now have one child who is learning about the the jolly fellow in a red suit that flies a sleigh with reindeer and one who the belief is beyond logical thoughts. I did later inform him that Santa still brings presents to all in the family even if they are too old to sit on Santa’s lap.

“Though I’ve grown old, the bell still rings for me as it does for all who truly believe.” The Polar Express

Santa is magical for all ages in different ways. When we left the reunion last Sunday there was a gift for our 13 year old in the van with a tag reading From: Santa.  When the other kids saw it he said, “Hey Mom, Santa must have found my gift in his slay when he left”. He is now just part of the magic, not to mention he gets to sample the stash of Christmas candy :).

A couple of fun stories of Christmas symbols:

The Candy Cane:   http://justforkidsmagazine.com/candycanelegend.html

The Poinsettia:  http://justforkidsmagazine.com/poinsettia.html

Advent: The First Week, Deck the Halls!

 We normally start decorating later than others for Christmas but as the First Sunday of advent came and went I was feeling a little like a scrooge.   The only decoration so far was our advent wreath, 3 mornings had been missed on the advent calendar and our new Elf on the shelf was still sitting in the box with my 6 year old asking, ”Do you really think if we open him he will fly out of the box?”  

Please don’t think we do not embrace the magic and mystery of Christmas in our home. The decorations, music, the smell of goodies are all part of our Christmas celebration.  Somehow time just got away from me. I will blame my tardy start to decorating on the 70 degree weather outside.  A little cold weather, especially snow, always puts me in the Christmas mood. Instead the spring like weather has made me want to clean my house first. Yesterday I decided precious time was being wasted.  Snow or no snow, messy house or not, there was only 20 days left to enjoy the magic of preparing for Christmas.

When the kids arrived home from school yesterday they were greeted by the smell of a Christmas candle and Christmas music.  “No electronics or TV tonight we are getting out the Christmas decorations!,” I said. “You got the house clean!?” my six year old said excitedly. I kept telling her over the weekend our house was too messy to decorate. To my sadness not everyone responded with cheers like she did, maybe we had a house full of scrooges this year. “It takes so long to decorate,” my oldest daughter said, “and you never let us help that much because things are breakable”. Maybe I should’ve turned on the AC so it felt like it was cold outside to get them all in the mood?  Despite the lack of enthusiasm I pushed forward, while making a mental note to not be so controlling and let the kids help more, it didn’t have to be perfect.

With the door wide open to the fresh air and dusting furniture as we went the boxes of decorations were carefully and sometimes not so carefully placed around the house. Even though at the end of the evening the snow village Grinch no longer had presents in his hand and Cindy Lou Who could not stand anymore everything looked great.  We turned out all the lights, sat on the couch and took it all in. I am content to say at that point we ALL were in the Christmas Spirit.

Below are some pictures of our decorations, with more still to come. Our tree goes up later in the month and we a few rooms are not complete. As a whole it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at our home and as a bonus it was below freezing when I got up this morning!

This is my favorite Nativity scene.

The broken :) Grinch Snow Village.

My son added a Santa hat  to the squirrel made by my husbands grandmother.

Snow Village

  

Non Breakable Decorations! Missing pieces already, only the 3 Wise Men they haven't arrived yet anyway.

Christmas Dishes

Handmade Decorations.

The morning Sunrise, God's addition to our decoration!

At Church this week:

Advent Decorations: Advent begins the liturgical year in the church. The church is decorated in Purple. This is a time to prepare for the birthday of Jesus. At our church there are candles in a circle to represent the advent wreath. The number of candles lit at the beginning of mass each week will correspond to the week in advent we are celebrating.

The Giving Tree:  Like many churches there is a tree with tags for members of the community that could use a little help at Christmas time. Take a tag and gift your neighbor for Christmas. My children really enjoy this.  We try to adopt a family about our size and the kids help select gifts and wrap them.  There are many ways to help others during the Advent season, start by checking at your church for opportunities.

Communal Penance Service: This may seem like a downer to the season, but it is an important part of the season, that we unfortunately do not always make time for. Jesus’ purpose in coming to live among us was to in the end die for our sins.  So to fully enjoy the Christmas Spirit, we need to ask for forgiveness for our sins however big or small, and start the Liturgical year renewed in spirit.

St. Nicholas Feast Day: December 6 is the feast of St. Nicholas (patron saint of children). St. Nicholas was a real person who lived in the fourth century. He opened his home to homeless and secretly left gifts of food and money for the people in the night. Sounds a lot like someone who visits on Christmas Eve doesn’t it? One church custom on his feast day is for families to leave their shoes out the night before and in the morning they are filled with treats.  http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/patron-saint/

Immaculate Conception: December 8 is when the Catholic Church celebrates the immaculate conception of Mary. Our Church celebrates mass on this day.  http://www.catholic.com/tracts/immaculate-conception-and-assumption