Lent, Just 16 days left, or just the Beginning?

Isn’t it amazing how our own dirt doesn’t seem as gross as others? A few weeks ago we bought a new Washer & Dryer. I was getting the old ones cleaned up to sell at our garage sale and saw all the build-up that had been there for quite awhile. I must have seen it each time I put a load in the wash and never did anything about it or even let it bother me. What if I was looking at it as an outsider? There is no way I would want to wash my clothes in that machine. So how is it I can I live with that dirt each day and do nothing, but yet I would judge others on their housekeeping with the same results?

What a connection to our life and how we judge other people and sometimes forget our own shortcomings. They always say you notice the flaws of others that are likely flaws of yourself.  It seemed appropriate to think of this during Lent. What a great time to clean up your body and soul.  The simple task of scrubbing yuck off my wash machine opened my eyes to a Lenten opportunity to try and remove some of the dirt from my life. 

For those who are unfamiliar with Lent, it is the 40 days beginning at Ash Wednesday and leading to the Easter Triduum and the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. In these 40 days many Christians give something up that they enjoy, “sweets, chocolate & my son even gave up his I-Pod”. In the Catholic Faith adults are asked to fast (no eating between meals) and abstinence from meat on Ash Weds and Good Friday along with abstinence from meat on Fridays during Lent. Some may look at this as a silly practice and if you are only going through the motions then it is silly. If you can take that sacrifice and use it to focus on God then it is far from silly. Every time you desire what you have given up it can be a very faith growing experience when you instead turn your focus to prayer.

These sacrifices and added practices may be to better you physically and spiritually.  Body and soul are both gifts from God to be cared for. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?  For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body. ” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20“  So don’t feel bad if you try to exercise more or eat healthier, just remember why you are doing it. It is amazing how much you can accomplish with God as your trainer.

At our church we are encouraged to think beyond just “giving something up”, and led to thinking also of Prayer, Almsgiving (service to the poor), along with Fasting. Our theme at church this Lent is “Give Up, Take-Up, and Lift up”. “Give up” of course leads us to the normal sweets and chocolate, but it could be bad habits that don’t make you an example of God’s love.   “Take up” a good practice or two, spend more time in prayer or reading the bible, participate in a study or daily devotion, volunteer more , donate more, speak kind words. “Lift up” work harder at being more positive to others, lift up your worries and struggles and your life in prayer to God however small and petty they may seem. Don’t be afraid to try to do something you’re not sure you can accomplish. I am guilty of this. Isn’t the struggle what it is all about? Challenge yourself to do something you WILL need Gods strength to get it done. 

This may seem late as there are only 16 of the 40 days left.  For me sometimes these last few weeks are the hardest or maybe I realize it hasn’t been that hard and it may be time to evaluate if I have done enough? Has it been easy so far, it really depends on the day and how bad I want dessert! Is my focus in the right place or am I going through the motions and ignoring the dirt each time I see it.  Jesus was born in to this word to fulfill the promise that God made. His sacrifice for our sins gave us all the gift of grace, the chance at forgiveness and salvation. I am considering adding more these last few weeks to really steer me towards the celebration that will come on Easter weekend. You don’t have to wait until next year to try to grow in your faith and closeness to God, join me even if you haven’t started anything yet.  Don’t let your dirt continue to build up until you look at yourself and say EEWW! Start today “Give up, Take up, and Lift Up” you won’t be sorry and hopefully what you gain will continue throughout the year even after the Easter celebration.

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 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