Advent Daybook - Day 3

Body:

Today is the day I take my annual excursion with my mother to the shopping mall.  We only do this once a year and though it is out of necessity, being that Christmas is coming and all, we do so look forward to it.  An afternoon of frustration as we look for meaningful gifts that don't cost a fortune is topped off by a nice dinner somewhere.  Of course this means another day of not exercising and eating too much, but hey, YOLO!
 
Mind:

School started again today which meant that I had to be engaged.  Remembering where we left off in math and phonics and such.  Wow, I'm exhausted.  

Sometimes planning to be gone the whole afternoon is exhausting in and of itself.  Making sure everyone knows what to be doing to keep them busy.  Making sure all the chores will get done.  Making sure that someone is in charge of making dinner and making sure they know what they are doing.  Wow, I'm exhausted again!

Spirit:

We began our day off with Mass - the feast of St. Francis Xavier, the first great Jesuit missionary.  Father talked about how we need to be missionaries to the people of this world and bring joy to those we come in contact with.  I will try to remember this today as I forge my way through traffic and mall people :)

God Bless!
 

Advent Daybook - Day 2

I just realized that I did this last year but in a different format than I was planning on doing this year.  How exciting it is when you can't remember anything...its like a new idea every time!!

Body:

Today I gave my body what it really needed - more sleep.  We had a long day yesterday and everyone was exhausted so we all slept in.  "Slept in" for me meant 7:15.  Sleeping in for some of the others meant that I woke them up at 10:00!  Thank goodness, yet again, for Noon Mass.

I also want to start exercising again before Christmas so we'll see if that happens.  I didn't do it today because I was so tired, and so behind, and besides, my shoulders are still very sore from holding my very heavy camera for the past two days.  I know - excuses, excuses.

Mind:

Today required thought, which is hard to do when your brain hasn't been jump started yet.  I was forced, forced I tell you, by my aunt to think about Christmas.  She's usually the first one, well, her and my sister-in-law, to bug me about ideas for the kids.  I found out she was originally going to call me early this morning but my mom told her it probably wasn't a good idea.  I got a reprieve until this afternoon!

We've also had some big orders for our soap which necessitated some work on my part.  I'm so excited that people are helping us with our goal to donate money to help build the St. Gianna Molla Shrine!

Spirit:

I really do love Noon Mass because the priest who says it gives wonderfully rich and insightful homilies and then they expose the Blessed Sacrament for Adoration at the end of Mass.  I absolutely love singing "O Salutaris Hostia" and so the chance to belt it out on a regular basis is wonderful.  On the flip side, Noon Mass happens right smack in the middle of the day (in case you were wondering :), and it is a bit farther than some of our other options.  Well, it worked today and Father gave a beautiful homily to start off our Advent.  Of course, I'd share some of it with you if I could remember it (there's that memory thing again - he could give the same homily every day and I'd enjoy it every time because it would seem new to me!).

Before bed each night I read something to meditate on and last night the  thought that stuck with me was that what we do today helps to determine where we will spend eternity.  Now that is something I need to remember!

Have a blessed rest of the day.

God Bless!
 

Keeping Christ in Christmas

I’m participating in the KEEP CHRIST in CHRISTMAS Blog Link-Up 2013 sponsored by the Catholic Bloggers Network. 
Be sure to visit as many links as possible, listed at the bottom of this post.

Keeping Christ in Christmas truly is a challenge in today's world, isn't it?  Try as we might, we still get caught up in all the hustle and bustle of the season.  There's always so much to do that it is hard to remember to slow down and pay attention to God in a special way.  To make it even more difficult, this year we only have a bit over 3 weeks.  Ugh!  We've just come off of a very busy week with dress rehearsals and two performances today (Sunday) and now my whirling mind has to switch gears, and switch very quickly at that.

So what will we be doing this Advent season to remind us of what it is all about?  Here are some of our favorite traditions.

* Of course we have our advent wreath setting upon the kitchen table which we light every night at dinner.

* This is our second year of reciting the St. Andrew prayer.  This short prayer is said 15 times every day between the feast of St. Andrew (November 30th) and Christmas Day.  We loved it last year so it's back to stay!

* We usually make some kind of Advent calendar.  It varies from year to year and it hasn't been made yet, so tis all still a mystery as to what shape it will take.

* We made the change years ago and every one seems to agree that the Christmas decorations don't go up until the Sunday before Christmas.  We have various purple things around the house to signify Advent but that is all.

* At Mass today the priest suggested that we all take a few moments each day during Advent to just be still and be silent so that we might hear what it is God is trying to tell us.  This is always a good suggestion, but more so during this busy time.

* On my blog I've decided to do a Daybook of sorts for the Advent season.  Each day I will be filling in things that I've done in Body, Mind and Spirit.  We'll see how that goes.

So there you have it; a comprehensive list of things that we do in our household to try to keep Christ at the forefront of our season.  I invite you to visit the blogs listed below for more great ideas.  Then please stop back here during the next few weeks to see how things are going.

God Bless!

Equipping Catholic Families: Keep Christ in Christmas

Simply Homeschool  Living Advent Series 12/1 - 12/25

Fifth of Five     Keeping Christ in Christmas - Blog Link-up 2013

Coffee Moments with Sam     The Light of Hope

Hand-Maid With Love: CHRISTmas Presence: Keep Christ in Christmas 2013 Edition

Open Window Making hay while the Advent wreath shines

Faith Filled Freebies: Keep Christ in Christmas

Written by the Finger of God: Not Christmas as Usual

On the Way Home:  Keep Christ in Christmas

Sue Elvis Writes: Bring Christ to Others

Mommy Bares All       Why Celebrate Christmas Even After #YolandaPH

Canadian Catholic Mom         Keeping The Little Ones Focused: An Advent Link-Up

Mountain of Grace Homeschooling   Keep Christ in Christmas

Em’s Estuary: Keeping Christ in Christmas

Happy Little Homemaker: December Devotion: Immaculate Conception 

Adoro Ergo Sum:  How We Keep Christ in Christmas

JoyAlive.net: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Home to 4 Kiddos        Keep Christ in Christmas

Embedded Faith          Boldly Be the Christ in Christmas

City Girl, Country Home         Emmanuel Is With Us. Are we WITH HIM?

Journey to Wisdom: Trusting in your Awkward Fiats

Joy of Nine9    Waiting in Joyful Expectation Like a Child

Splendor in the Home Ideas For Keeping Advent and Christmas Holy

Training Happy Hearts            10 Ways to Celebrate the New Liturgical Year

A Catholic Life Advent: The Beginning of the Liturgical Year & Source of Rich Meditations

Designs by Birgit: Elf on a Shelf and Santa Claus

Catholic Inspired: Faith-Centered Family Christmas

A Slice of Smith Life: How we keep Christ in Christmas

Catholic All Year: Three Reasons I love Advent

Mary the Defender: Christmas The Battle Begins

Truly Rich Mom: Keep Christ in Christmas

Day By Day in Our World: 40 Days Seeking Him and Keeping Christ in Christmas

Diapers and Drivel: Keeping Christ in Christmas

Raising Soldiers 4 Christ: Keeping Christ in Christmas

Rosary Mom   Keep Christ In Christmas With A Teenager

Tercets:           Keeping Christ in Christmas: Join Church Ministries

Campfires and Cleats How We Keep Christ in Christmas

Life Unabridged: Celebrating the Fullness of the Advent and Christmas Season

Mrs Domestic Bliss     Gingerbread Nativity

The Chic Traveller      Keeping Christ in Christmas

California to Korea     Keeping Christ in Christmas

Dominique's Desk       Keeping Christ in Christmas

 Our ABC Life:  An Advent Update

Journey Living: Anno Domini

The Road to Rome: Advent Prayer and Reflection Resources

Life of Fortunate Chances: Keeping Christ in Christmas

Quidquid Est, Est!: Reblog: Advent Posts

Gift Giving Ideas!

As you contemplate your Christmas lists this Black Friday (and beyond) I'd like to remind you of some great items for the people on your list.  It is so hard sometimes to come up with something nice, but useful, for friends and family.  I know I am not good at coming up with ideas for gifts for people, so I appreciate a good list of ideas to help me out.

The first thing I'd like to draw your attention to is The Goat Milk Soap Shop!  

Our all-natural soaps smell great and people really love the fact that they are all-natural and feel and smell so good when you use them.  This time around, however, buying our soap isn't just good for you and the people you're giving it to, but your purchase can help us to make a donation to the Saint Gianna Molla Shrine fund that our parish has.  We are building a pro-life, national shrine dedicated to St. Gianna as a place for people to come and pray and find peace and healing, especially those suffering from the effects of abortion.  We will be donating the proceeds from all sales between now and January 1, 2014 to the Shrine.  Won't you please consider helping out?

Next, is there a homeschooling mom on your list that is struggling with being organized?  Is she wanting a better prayer life or a more organized meal or chore schedule?  Why not get her a copy of "A Plan for Joy in the Home"?  It is a gift that benefits everyone :)

Don't forget that you can order Mystic Monk coffee from the image on my sidebar. That coffee is good all year long, but a definite treat for Christmas time!

Have any music lovers on your list?

Friends of ours put out this CD not too long ago and it would be a great gift for the people in your life who like peaceful, beautiful music.  You can order it from their website!

And finally, don't forget our friends over at Holy Heroes!  They have so many great gifts for kids this Christmas season.  We've loved what we've gotten so far, so why not check them out here.  

Hope this helps you in your Christmas gift-giving discernment.  Just for disclosure purposes, there is one affiliate link, two items that are my own and two that I just want to promote because I like them!  

God Bless!

Theme Thursday - Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all!  I pray that you all have (had) a joyous, grace filled day.

In the Theme Thursday tradition, here is a picture of the things that I am the most thankful for - my family, of course.

If I could, I would post dozens of pictures of all my relatives and friends and all of the things I am thankful for on this great day.  Since I can't do that, I'll make a(n abbreviated) list:

My parents, brother and extended family
My in-laws 
My faith
our wonderful and supportive group of friends
priests that form us
beautiful liturgies
a warm house with a beautiful yard
food to eat and clothes to wear
cars that still work despite their advanced age and high mileage
jobs for my husband and older kids
the talents that have been given to us
people to celebrate with
people to love me

This is just a very short list!  I try to be thankful every single day for both the good things and those things that do not appear to be so good.  Many times those not-so-good things end up being blessings in disguise.  

So on this day, may the Good Lord bless you and your family abundantly.

Go over to Clan Donaldson to join in being Thankful!

God Bless!
 

Where Does "Hurry Up" Fit In?

I got up at my usual time this morning and started the daily routine.  About an hour later I started rousing the troops, except that today, after quite a few late nights, no one responded.  I tried again with the same result.  That was when I decided to leave them be and that Noon Mass would be a fine alternative to the morning I had planned.

Since I had some time to myself I was checking out a few new things on the ole internet when I came across a post about how one woman gave up saying "hurry up".  Now I believe that I am the queen of hurry up because I probably say it in between every other word that I utter.  Had the troupes actually gotten up this morning I'm sure I would have said it at least 10 times as we tried to get out the door.

After reading, and still having the house to myself, I started thinking about what it would be like to not have to say that at all.  By that I mean, what if you never rushed around and just went with the flow, being present to every minute.  I know this is the opposite extreme and after a short time I realized that it is not very realistic.  At some point in your life you have to realize that there are time constraints, that you do need to be at a certain place at a certain time.  Teaching your children these things is important because always being late because you didn't want to rush imposes on other people and other places in a way that is not good.

So where does "hurry up" fit in? Here are some ways that I think can help to eliminate the need for saying these words so often that they become blocked out!

* Being organized goes a long way towards eradicating the need for these words.  As the mom, if I'm not on top of my game, why would my kids be?  If I'm doing something last minute that doesn't really need to be done, then why won't my kids be.  Darn those kids!  They sure to learn what they see, don't they? 

* Just because I'm organized, however, doesn't mean everyone else in the house is!  Teaching the kids to be organized ahead of time (having things ready the night before, putting away their clothing and shoes so they can find them the next day, etc) is another big help. 
 
* Realizing that there are times that really aren't as "time-sensitive" as you think they are.  Sometimes there is a little wiggle room in the schedule, or it isn't a big deal if you wait an additional 5 minutes to "smell the roses".  See these for what they are, a gift, and forgo the urge to hurry everyone along.

* Find a different way to get your point across instead of just using the same old, exasperated sigh of "Hurry up or we are going to be late!".  To get us going in the morning, either my daughter or myself has started walking through the house giving 5 minute warnings:  "Five minutes.  Time to get shoes and coats on!"  This has helped immensely (except for the days that everyone tunes those out, too!).

* Sometimes you just have to leave that straggler who refuses to get their act together behind (assuming, of course, that they are old enough to be left behind!).  Do this a few times and I think they'll start to be a bit more accountable.

In summary, I really do think that there are proactive things that can be done to let go of that urge to always hurry everyone along.  Teaching the kind act of being on time is an important one, but, as I've learned, constantly yelling "hurry up" is not the way to teach that lesson!  My biggest thing right now is to stop and think about what I say and ask myself whether it really needs to be said or not.  My knee-jerk reaction is to grumble and hurry, but I bet that if I gave it some thought, I'd realize that quite often I don't need to do that.

Sometimes I get frustrated when my plan changes, but this morning I realized that it was okay to let everyone chill and it ended up being a profitable morning all around.  I hope you have a great, un-hurried day!

God Bless!

St. Gianna Molla Shrine Dinner

I had the awesome opportunity to be the photographer for another wonderful fundraising dinner this past weekend.  Our parish is out to build a national shrine to St. Gianna Molla on our parish property.  The shrine will feature a beautiful life-size statue of Gianna and the oldest three children.  It will be a pro-life shrine and a place of peace and healing for those who have lost children or are suffering from a past abortion.

The dinner was held in our wonderfully transformed and beautifully decorated parish hall.

 

We've never done a formal sit-down dinner before, so a lot of planning and help went in to pulling this off.  Fortunately, we have a master chef and a restaurant owner as parishioners so that was a major help.

My hubby got to be a waiter and had a great time doing it.  Lookin' good :)

Drew Mariani from Relevant Radio gave the keynote address and he did a great job.  He talked about prayer and how we need to have complete faith and trust in Him.  He's had some awesome experiences and told a lot of interesting stories.
 

As I said, we haven't ever done anything like this before, so the task of feeding 200 people with a non-professional wait staff in a timely fashion was a bit daunting.  Everyone did a great job and, other than one minor incident, everything went off without a hitch.
 

Here's the chef torching the dessert.  I just love his devious little grin!  I am so bummed that there wasn't any of this creme brulee left over because it is one of my favorites and boy did it look delicious. 

The artist who designed and is making our statue came down from Canada to be with us.  He gave an interesting talk on why he designed it the way he did.  You can see part of it on the screen in the background and in the foreground, he is holding a print he did of St. Gianna that was getting auctioned off. 
 

One of the highlights of the evening had to be when our pastor got up on stage to auction off a dinner he and the other two priests from our parish will be bringing to the lucky winner's home.  They aren't cooking this Mexican fiesta, but they are bringing it, serving it and providing the entertainment.  They got a pretty good price for it, too!
 

It was a great night and I'm pretty sure they did a good job raising money for the project.  If you'd like more information about the shrine, or maybe even would like to donate to it, you can go here.

I am so grateful to have opportunities like this.  It is so fun to be able to take so many pictures and rub elbows with important people!  I thank God for this gift that He has given me and hope to continue to use my talents in His service.

God Bless!