Ten years later..

you are still who I most want to enjoy the dance of life with!

Happy Anniversary!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our home

to yours!

7 Quick Takes #121

1. A week of trying to take in and take hold of the events of last Friday at Sandy Hook Elementary. As the mother of a kindergardener next year ~ and a soon to be born baby many of my thoughts have centered around wanting to hold them very close and how to make this a better world to have to them go out into.
2. This was definitely helped by some of the wonderful posts I found around the web: by Sarah, and Colleen.
3. The wonderful actions of others such as the many police officers who are showing up to create human walls between mourners and protesters.
4. Touching, elegant tributes such as that by the judges and contestants of The Voice.

5. In the rest of life; we are continuing to make ready ~ cards are sent, out of town packages are mailed and while the weekend will include a lot of wrapping (hopefully while watching It's a Wonderful Life) I'm feeling in good shape for Christmas.

6. Baby #3-wise ~ We have the new car seat, newborn clothes are washed, and once the cradle is set-up and hospital bag is packed (hopefully this weekend); will also be in 'good shape' awaiting baby's arrival.

7. Happy Winter, now we await with hope and wonder the coming of the Light!

For more of this week's Quick Takes please visit Conversion Diary!

Why I love my husband: Vol 6

    Usually I have no problem coming up with an anniversary gift for my Hubby even with our anniversary coming three days after Christmas.  I'll pull from the traditional gift suggestions for the given year or give something referencing something that happened in the the marriage in the past year.
   This year however I'm struggling, between preparing for Christmas, the coming baby and trying to be intentional about Advent activities with the kids.  Plus I'm currently uninspired by the traditional gift suggestion of tin (really 10 years should be represented by something tin!).
   Mentioning this to my husband, he laughed and pointed out that as I had spent the last several months growing and nurturing within a child of the marriage I could have an extension until the right gift came to mind.

Perhaps he is right.


Inspired by Kaitlin of More like Mary ~ More like Me

Year of Faith: A review

The Year of Faith: A Bible Study Guide for Catholics   
Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J.
Our Sunday Visitor, 2012


     The study that can be performed individually or in a small group, lays down the foundation for the Year of Faith and the scriptural origins of our faith over the course of 6 lessons.  The guide recommended a lesson a week when used as part of a group study and I found that to be a doable pace completing the study individually.

     Each lesson begins with a quote from Pope Benedict's Porta Fidei the apostolic letter announcing the Year of Faith and then Father Pacwa using scriptural references and questions walks you through the tenets of the Church's faith.  I very much liked this approach for it allowed me to grow in understanding both of what our Holy Father aims for this year of renewal of faith to be about, and ways to accomplish that.  Each lesson contained different concepts to investigate and ideas to consider, later bible passages to study, discussion questions and finally several suggestions on how to put the lesson's central idea into practice.

     Overall I liked the study very much; I felt each lesson was well presented and well documented with quotations from the Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  Each lesson builds well on the one previous.  I also found the discussion questions to be interesting and 'put into practice' suggestions to be challenging but very doable. I would recommend this bible study as part of anyones observance of the Year of Faith.

This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on The Year of Faith. The Catholic Company has great gift ideas for all seasons of the liturgical year, be sure to check out their Advent selection and Catholic Christmas Gifts.

Reflection on Gaudete Sunday

Gaudete Sunday

A repost from Advent '10

   

  

As a child I loved to try and count how often I would hear my name or a variation of it during mass, I always lost count somewhere along the way, usually during the homily.

 
     Now as an adult I have an even greater appreciation. It feels so right and fitting during this season of reflection and prayerful anticipation to pause and focus on the happier aspects of this time of year. When preparing for a big test; it takes hard work and study ~ but ideally it includes taking a break from the intense focus and having some fun ~ more importantly remembering why I'm studying so hard.

Focusing on improving the place within our homes and hearts where we invite Christ to live is a good and worthy goal, but for today let us lighten the purple with some Christmas white and rejoice in the idea of the gift long ago given and that he desires with be with us wherever we are on the journey if we but invite him.

Quick Takes #120

1. The usually December craziness is made more so by the many, many appointments this particular month brings with it ~ last week had appointments on three days, and this week on four ~ but on the upside Liam's tubes are in place and functioning well and his yearly well check went well.  Midwifery appointments were unremarkable and NST's only significant for everyone vanishing just as I was about to be discharged making me late for pre-school pick-up. Yay for understanding teachers!!
2. My enthusiastic congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with a sincere hope that her experience with hyperemises gravidum is brief and rest of her pregnancy is complication free.
3. Kelly Jo of The Dr & The Mrs ( a lovely blog you may not yet be reading) and I have formed a laundry load a day pact in anticipation of the coming loads of little clothes a newborn brings.  So far I'm doing well, and am realizing that this plans allows for clean clothes fairly constantly ~ and folded clothes whenever I get a chance.
4. Speaking of Baby #3, the car seat is ordered and will hopefully arrive before the baby.  Clothes and blankets have been washed ~ leaving just emptying the cradle and washing that bedding as the outstanding important 'get ready for baby' tasks.
5. Christmas cards mailed ~ aided this year by my favorite preschooler, the stamps may not all be straight but placed with great enthusiasm for sure.
6. Lisa Jo of tales of a gypsy mom this week created a wonderful video tribute to the spaces we all work and create.
7. Plans for the weekend ~TREE!! Having traveled the last several years it has been awhile since we had a tree in the house; so excited!!

Please visit Conversion Diary for the rest of this week's Quick Takes round-up.

St Nicholas (observed)

   Owing to Dr Daddy's crazy work schedule and that none of the little people yet read a calendar ~ the Bishop graciously agreed to postpone his visit until this weekend.

Filling our shoes with clementines, and chocolate filled gold coins as well as gifting a book and movie each ~ we were all most grateful his visit and ever generous spirit!

Early Advent traditions and plans

    Today I'm joining with Molly Make Do & Carrots for Michaelmas to highlight and celebrate the traditions and customs of Early Advent ~ in our home we have set out our:


Advent Wreath ~ We have a lovely Celtic inspired wreath that my husband has had for years.  Previous  years we've put it on the dining room table and lit candles on Sundays.  This year we have set it up on our kitchen table and will attempt to nightly light the appropriate number of candles and say or para-phrase the prayers from Welcome Baby Jesus.

Advent Calendar ~ We've done a calendar (simple open a window a night version) with Lisbeth the last couple of years.  This year we have two, figuring that Liam was old enough to want to participate but both might struggle with alternating nights.

St. Nicholas ~ Being half-Belgian I grew up leaving my shoe out for whatever offering Saint Nicholas might want to leave as he journeyed by, this continued into my adult/married life.  Wanting to focus on teaching about Advent this year with Lisbeth I haven't talked much about St Nicholas ~ perhaps next year.


Still to do ~ aka coming soon: Setting up the creche.